Wisconsin Hockey 25-26 Hastings Year 3 - Turning the Corner?

[Timothy A]

Wow. A win and shut out to boot.

 

[solovsfett]

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Great series. Montgomery is awesome. He’s a big guy but for some reason I kept thinking of Paul Kariya. A freshman who became dominant. Montgomery could be that guy by season’s end.

 

[GoBucky18]

Was a little nervous about tonight, and WI certainly did not dominate like Thurs, but they got the job done and poured it on after the 2-0 start. Some milquetoast D play almost gave me the shakes but they pulled thru w/Hauser being on his game tonight...which is what we need.

Things get real next week at Yost. Michigan always has the weakness of playing too fast/loose w/lots of PIM. Bucky needs to make them pay.

 

[UW student and hockey fan]

Things get real next week at Yost. Michigan always has the weakness of playing too fast/loose w/lots of PIM. Bucky needs to make them pay.

Yeah, Michigan looks scary this year I will admit. However if we take care of the puck and beat them physically there's no reason it can't be a competitive series.

On a different note, this freshman class has been fantastic. Tulk and Montgomery have met my expectations as high-end CHL players, Hauser has exceeded any expectations I had for him, and Zelenov, Deering, and Osburn are all holding their own in their respective roles. Brink has been solid in that 4th line grinder type role when he's been in the lineup. Idzan is really the only one off to a slow ish start, but my concern level is pretty low overall, I could absolutely see him going on a run (like Mongtomery has been on now) further down the line.

 

[wjefwhite]

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Great series. Montgomery is awesome. He’s a big guy but for some reason I kept thinking of Paul Kariya. A freshman who became dominant. Montgomery could be that guy by season’s end.

Your talking one of the best forwards all time in College Hockey. Agree that he stands out right away much like Pavelski's Freshman year but more athletic and fast. It's the puck sense around the net and the finish for me.

 

[WiscTJK]

Yeah, Michigan looks scary this year I will admit. However if we take care of the puck and beat them physically there's no reason it can't be a competitive series.

On a different note, this freshman class has been fantastic. Tulk and Montgomery have met my expectations as high-end CHL players, Hauser has exceeded any expectations I had for him, and Zelenov, Deering, and Osburn are all holding their own in their respective roles. Brink has been solid in that 4th line grinder type role when he's been in the lineup. Idzan is really the only one off to a slow ish start, but my concern level is pretty low overall, I could absolutely see him going on a run (like Mongtomery has been on now) further down the line.

Overall, I agree. One nitpick: Osburn has been fantastic IMO, and you see the skill he has. One of the best skaters especially dodging or moving around people.

Freshman overall have been really, really good.

 

[WiscTJK]

You want to read something fun? Head over to GPL: https://gopherpucklive.com/forum/gopher-hockey/

 

[Tremelo3]

That is by far the worst I’ve ever seen a Gopher team look. I know they lost tons of talent and they are young. Maybe they turn it around like Penn St did last year. I still have no clue why a team like Minnesota got zero guys from the CHL.

As for us I agree with everyone’s points already mentioned about why we are better and having success. I’d also like to mention how some of our current Sophomores have really stepped up their game. Botterill and Phelan are both very much improved. Morrisey was nice last year, and I know he doesn’t have any goals yet, but he’s even better this year than last. He’s been elite at faceoffs, penalty killing and setting up plays. That pass to Finley last night was nice. I think Hensler has been a little better as well, especially at playing D.

And Finley deserves a big shout out for stepping up his game. Yeah he still can shoot and skate just like before. But he’s killing penalties and backchecking really well this year.

Having Palodichuk healthy and out there consistently is a huge. And I’ve liked Dubinsky so far. He’s been steady. With Schulz now back, I do believe we have the best group of 7 dmen in the country

 

[HighToTheGloveSide]

I like that Bucky did what they were supposed to do to against a struggling team on home ice - get the sweep. Getting road wins is tough in the B10 and they need to win the games they're supposed to win,

My only gripe is that I'd like to see Idzan in the lineup every night. I think his ceiling on the offensive end is as high as anyone on the team and I'd try him at LW on the 2nd line and drop Botterill to the 4th line for a couple games. It would be interesting to see him paired with two line mates that are more offense minded like Morrissey and Tassy. In my opinion, Botterill is more of a grinder that has a checking line skill set and would fit in well with Deering/Horbach.

 

[Timothy A]

I like that Bucky did what they were supposed to do to against a struggling team on home ice - get the sweep. Getting road wins is tough in the B10 and they need to win the games they're supposed to win,

My only gripe is that I'd like to see Idzan in the lineup every night. I think his ceiling on the offensive end is as high as anyone on the team and I'd try him at LW on the 2nd line and drop Botterill to the 4th line for a couple games. It would be interesting to see him paired with two line mates that are more offense minded like Morrissey and Tassy. In my opinion, Botterill is more of a grinder that has a checking line skill set and would fit in well with Deering/Horbach.

I completely agree about Idzan. It kind of makes no sense line when Strammel was on the 4th line.

We need to show a lot more excitement about sweeps the rodents! We stole their lunch and made them pay us for it. Hot diggity dang! Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[UW student and hockey fan]

I completely agree about Idzan. It kind of makes no sense line when Strammel was on the 4th line.

We need to show a lot more excitement about sweeps the rodents! We stole their lunch and made them pay us for it. Hot diggity dang! Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't disagree about getting Idzan more ice time, but I think Hastings really likes what Botterill has been bringing to the 2nd line right now, and I don't see him getting moved down. Hastings has also mentioned specifically recently how he likes the Zelenov/Kukkonen/Montgomery third line, so I don't know if Idzan moves up from the 4th line in the immediate future. Maybe he could find some success on the second PP unit, he had a nice assist on a Kukkonen goal against Alaska with that second group.

On a side note, I have found the USCHO rankings very funny this year. I am fine with #10, but Denver ahead of us with losses to Anchorage, Lindenwood, and Northeastern and a tie with Air Force? I don't really care exactly what we're ranked as it doesn't matter, but it's still a little funny.

 

[WiscTJK]

Prev Weekend: Won 5-2 Thursday over Minnesota, Won 4-0 Saturday

Record: 6-0-2 overall (0-0 OT); B1G: 2-0-0-0 0 pts (T-1)
USCHO Poll: (10); (14) +4
NPI (replaces pairwise): (1 of 63); (1 of 57) n/c
Scoring: 3.9 GPG (T-8); 3.7 GPG (12) +4
Defense: 1.4 GAPG (2); 1.5 GAPG (T-1) -1
Save %: .940 (T-4); .938 (T-2) -2
Power Play Rate: 34.3% (3); 29.6% (6) +3
Penalty Kill Rate: 81.5% (25); 82.6% (25) n/c
Penalty Min per Game: 11.3 (T-42); 13.0 (43) +1
Shorthanded Goals Scored: 1 (T-13); 1 (T-8) -5
Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 0 (T-1); 0 (T-1) n/c
Team Faceoff: 57.9% (2); 57.5% (3) +1
SOG taken: 288 (10); 216 (16) +6
Shooting %: 10.8% (19); 10.2% (25) +6
SOG allowed: 182 (T-13); 144 (14) +1

This Week: at Michigan 11/7 6 pm, 11/8 6 pm 7 pm (now on BTN)
Next Week: Ohio State 11/14 7 pm, 11/15 6 pm

 

[GoBucky18]

You want to read something fun? Head over to GPL: https://gopherpucklive.com/forum/gopher-hockey/

Read their game thread, and they are def on Motzko. But hey, they have 1 bad season and are clamoring for his job....how many did we go thru with an athletic dept that didnt care, terrible coaching, and awful play on the ice? I have zero sympathy for them while winking at UMD for helping to gang up.

I somewhat feel like we struck with Hastings at the right time. He values talent/max effort and doesnt care where it comes from and has a Grade A recuiter in Knott. That dog will hunt in the current college landscape. There are clearly some coaches out there that are too proud or too timid to go all in on major junior players.

 

[GoBucky18]

Ok folks, let's hear some scuttlebutt about the series v the weasels. As always w/Mich, I think it comes down to capitalizing on their fast and loose D and penalty mins while taking their PP out of the game. 5 on 5 make them super uncomfy.

Very similar to how we have to play PSU.

See, hockey, easy game.

 

[UW student and hockey fan]

I think success this weekend will start with our 7 defenders (assuming Phelan is extra skater). I forget who said but someone mentioned they think we have the best 7 d-men in the country, and I think that could well be true, and this is the weekend to show it. Obviously you have to slow down their offense, but we're going to need our d-men to help us maintain and win the possession game as well.

Discipline may be the other key this weekend, you can't afford to give their powerplay too many chances. Overall I am optimistic this could be an advantageous matchup for us, but regardless its an away series and they are much improved from last year.

 

[HighToTheGloveSide]

Michigan looked mildly interested on the defensive end in the game I saw against Western Michigan (which is an improvement over what I've seen from them the past few seasons) and their new goalie has been really sharp: 9-1 with a 1.50GAA and a 0.934 save %.

Time will tell but this doesn't look like your typical loose D Michigan team.

 

[WiscTJK]

I think a split would be great. This will be a tough test!

 

[digitalbooya]

Read their game thread, and they are def on Motzko. But hey, they have 1 bad season and are clamoring for his job....how many did we go thru with an athletic dept that didnt care, terrible coaching, and awful play on the ice? I have zero sympathy for them while winking at UMD for helping to gang up.

We had people here start to turn against Hastings last year.

 

[digitalbooya]

Ok folks, let's hear some scuttlebutt about the series v the weasels. As always w/Mich, I think it comes down to capitalizing on their fast and loose D and penalty mins while taking their PP out of the game. 5 on 5 make them super uncomfy.

Very similar to how we have to play PSU.

See, hockey, easy game.

You nailed it IMO. Staying out of the box will be the biggest factor.

Michigan has some gaudy offensive stats, but we should take into account 32 of their 53 total goals came against Mercyhurst and Robert Morris.

Hoping for at least a split. Anything less is a little disappointing. Anything more is gravy.

 

[GoBucky18]

We had people here start to turn against Hastings last year.

I dont know why anyone would turn on him. It was really the first full building year with all his own guys. But we shouldbt kid ourselves, the Big10 is a wholly difft beast than the new WCHA was. Every week is seemingly a juggernaut.