Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

[streaker]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

I've seen good teams blow up like that and it's ugly. When a bad team blows up, not surprisingly, it's even uglier. Ian Perrin made the comment post game that he thought Badger players have been unable to forget the past and move on. Something that's essential for a team that's losing. Seems like it's accurate to me as you usually only see performances like that from a team that is too sure it's going to win, or one too sure it's going to lose. Two minutes in and it seems like the mountain already looked way too big to climb to the boys.

I suspect if NCAA rules allowed the coaching staff would have held a post-game skating session last night.

Question: We've seen Tech, BU, and Michigan (and I guess you could throw in the tanking rodents) all skate at the KC. Who do you guys think is the best team of those?

Edit: Almost forgot the Whioux, because it seems ages ago in this long season.

It's hard to judge between BU, UND, MTU and Michigan, especially playing against a Badger team that flat out quit in the second game against Michigan and was outscored 12-1 in the last five periods.

From a Michigan fan's point of view, North Dakota looks to be the best balanced team. U-M lost to BU in Boston, close game, I'd say they are 2nd. Lost two blowouts to MTU in Houghton and survived a 1 goal win at the GLI. MTU has a better defensive system and goaltending, but only has scoring in their top two lines- but I'd give them the edge especially if Michigan's offense dries up and they get frustrated. But, this is a different Michigan team playing now with confidence. If they get any kind of decent goaltending, they can compete with any of those teams.

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

I assume you're basing your estimate on the third period, because there were definitely over 13K actual bodies in (or in front of) seats at that game. If I'm estimating high, then it was still definitely SOMEWHERE near that.

Of course, it wasn't the same electric crowd as the previous night (again, I don't think there was much of a disparity between the paid and actual attendance for that one), but that's what happens during games like this one.

No way there was 13k in actual attendees. Closer to 10k. Easily 5,000 missing from sellout. The student section was only half / 3/4 full in 216.

Doesn't matter anyway as they saw another carpet crapper, which is all too common this year.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

I've seen good teams blow up like that and it's ugly. When a bad team blows up, not surprisingly, it's even uglier. Ian Perrin made the comment post game that he thought Badger players have been unable to forget the past and move on. Something that's essential for a team that's losing. Seems like it's accurate to me as you usually only see performances like that from a team that is too sure it's going to win, or one too sure it's going to lose. Two minutes in and it seems like the mountain already looked way too big to climb to the boys.

I suspect if NCAA rules allowed the coaching staff would have held a post-game skating session last night.

Question: We've seen Tech, BU, and Michigan (and I guess you could throw in the tanking rodents) all skate at the KC. Who do you guys think is the best team of those?

Edit: Almost forgot the Whioux, because it seems ages ago in this long season.

[fritz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Pretty sorry game last night and a pretty miserable year.
I stayed to the bitter end as usual and noticed that the Badger team
left the ice immediately after the post game ritual hand shake w/o going to
center ice for the usual fan salute. Is that the first time this year
that they didn't do the center-ice circle fan salute?
Maybe they're so embarrassed that they couldn't see doing that.

[burd]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

The next thread needs to be: Wisconsin Hockey: No Where To Go But Up!

Which is indeed the entire basis for climbing mountains.

How about another phrase: "They shoot horses, don't they?"

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

I also saw that "attendance" for tonight was 13,699. There were NOWHERE near that many people in the seats based on the live stream.

I assume you're basing your estimate on the third period, because there were definitely over 13K actual bodies in (or in front of) seats at that game. If I'm estimating high, then it was still definitely SOMEWHERE near that.

Of course, it wasn't the same electric crowd as the previous night (again, I don't think there was much of a disparity between the paid and actual attendance for that one), but that's what happens during games like this one.

[NEWI Badger Fan]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Wow. Just, wow.

I don't believe that Eaves will be fired at the end of the year, but it's hard to believe that they couldn't have seen how poor this team could be after losing so many upperclassmen after last season.

I'm thinking that the next thread should be called "Wisconsin Hockey: Polishing the turd"

Suggest a slight modification:

Wisconsin Hockey: A turd is a turd. You can paint it pink, but it is still a turd.

[XYZ]

The next thread needs to be: Wisconsin Hockey: No Where To Go But Up!

Which is indeed the entire basis for climbing mountains.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

It's way worse seeing it in person from the first row of the 3rd tier. You see the disjointedness in all it's glory from up there. The D are terrible. They are not physical and they are not decisive. Also, when you watch the gals breakout like a machine and play with poise with the puck on their stick (including the freshmen) in the afternoon, then watch the guys, it just makes it all the worse. We stayed until the end and there was a good amount of cheering from the faithful that stayed, but that was hard to sit through.

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Posick just said they have some "highlights to get to after the break". I'm not even morbidly curious.

In fairness, he probably didn't say "Badger highlights." He is a professional after all.

I also saw that "attendance" for tonight was 13,699. There were NOWHERE near that many people in the seats based on the live stream.

[icebadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Posick just said they have some "highlights to get to after the break". I'm not even morbidly curious.

[Almington]

Wow. Just, wow.

I don't believe that Eaves will be fired at the end of the year

I'm thinking that the next thread should be called "Wisconsin Hockey: Polishing the turd"

Sadly I fear that Eaves isn't going to be fired either. How you keep a coach on who just had the worst season in the history of the program (worst by a wide margin at that) is unfathomable to me.

The next thread needs to be: Wisconsin Hockey: No Where To Go But Up!

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Wow. Just, wow.

I don't believe that Eaves will be fired at the end of the year, but it's hard to believe that they couldn't have seen how poor this team could be after losing so many upperclassmen after last season.

I'm thinking that the next thread should be called "Wisconsin Hockey: Polishing the turd"

[Madtown]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Fire eaves now!!! Embarrassed to say i am a fan.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Episode XXXI: A New Hope

Running out of gas is possible. The fourth line rarely sees the ice. Eaves had to actually use his timeout in the second period as the fourth line got stuck in their own zone forever and were completely gassed, iced the puck and could not change as a result of the icing. Also, Paape is the only player from the fourth line that kills penalties so McGuire and Cavallini probably each log a total of 3-4 minutes of ice time per night. They basically played with three forward lines and 4-5 defensemen last night.

I also wanted to say I really like Tim Davison's play. Yes, he makes some mistakes but he makes some great outlet passes and helps contribute to the offense. I think he should play more minutes.

Hard to say, but without Eddie we're also giving up 20 plus pounds a man to Michigan's forwards, so fatigue late could certainly play into it. I agree on Davison... he's picked up his in zone coverage as well and frankly I'd rather see the puck in his hands then Drake's lately. I don't know if our other D have just improved or he is playing that much worse, but Chase hasn't looked good comparatively with the puck since the break. Davison and Besse did both make terrible plays on the go ahead goal though.

I thought Jack D held up his end pretty well too. Hyman is probably going to be a Hobie finalist and he's probably not even Michigan's best player. It's a big job for any 4-5 guys to match up. Michigan has 10 guys at a point per game or more in conference.

Wisconsin's whole scheme depends on D to get the puck back and get it out clean to start the play. Did that a lot in the first and got the stretch passes to keep Michigan off of them. Down 4-1 Michigan pressed and we again had difficulty getting it out clean. I expect Michigan to press harder early tonight.

Back to work, boys. Win or lose, the tough games keep coming.