Originally posted by JoeGopher
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I agree with Lucia and Anastos that MSU's forecheck trap was much improved on Friday and that gave the Gophers problems on zone breakouts and transitions all game. They kept the Gophers on their heels and played much better offensively too. IMO that had a lot to do with them being out of sync all game.
The best way to beat the NZ trap is camp in front and look for dirty goals. MSU boxed well 5 x 5 and on the PP and shut that area down. Kyle Rau, who scored both goals on Friday, also commented that MSU kept them out of the paint and on the perimeter. All 4 goals ex. ENG on Thurs were dirty goals, Friday we got two.
But the Gophers also missed some golden, game changing opportunities. Both Boyd and Lettieri missed wide open nets and Bristedt hit a pipe in the third. Wilcox let in a softie by Keller and let the puck trickle in under his arm. Like any sport, college hockey can be a game of inches and missed opportunities.
MSU lost a key D on Thurs. (Walsh) and they appeared quite focused on D to fill in for him. They were strong on the walls, they were physical and executed well in the Gopher offensive zone with their own version of cycling.
The 1-2-2 trap with added physicality is strategically very effective against fast, offensive cycling teams and even if you've seen it for 10 years, if executed properly it works against teams like MN. The Gophers appeared frustrated with it at times with a few players trying some solo stunts which typically doesn't work against the trap either. Thurs. the Gophers hacked the source code on the trap and executed well for 5 unanswered goals, Friday MSU built a better Gopher trap.
Originally posted by D2D
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