All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

I got that pre-game, pit-of-the-stomach feeling right now.

On one hand, I am nervous becuase UW is terrific, we are due to lose there and we have a suspect third-d-pairing tonight with Ryder and Wrenn suspended.

On the other had, I am thrilled becuase our team is terrific, they've done well in that building and the seem to play their best hockey against good competition.

Drop the puck.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

DU is going need to do better than 23 shots if they want points on Saturday, and they are going to need to amp up the intensity level. The Pios were outworked and were lucky to get a tie tonight, as UW played with more desperation.

Having Ryder back should help on the blueline with the hitting.

 

[du78]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

DU stays in 2nd 1 point behind UMD with one game in hand. SCSU 2 points behind DU and Wisconsin stays 3 points behind DU. CC still 3 points behind DU but if they beat UAA tonight, they will be only 1 point behind. A very tight race for the MacNaughton. DU still tied for #1 in PWR with Miami but they will be playing tonight in Fairbanks.

Gwoz in the Post Game - DU gave up the 3 goals in a span of four and a half minutes in the 3rd period. Gwoz couldn't believe DU couldn't bury any of those pucks in the OT. DU was bad on face-offs and did a good job on the PK. Gwoz will take the point. Should be a good game tomorrow night. Gwoz flip-flopped Ostrow and Maiani on the PP in the 3rd and Anthony came up big with that late goal just as the PP expired. Will make the decision on who the 6 d will be for tomorrow's game in the morning. Likes having the luxury of having an 8 man deep defense.

Denver outshot the Badgers 4-0 in the OT and never mustered more than 7 shots in a period in regulation.

 

[du78]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

CC cruisng with a 4-0 lead over UAA in the 3rd and Miami and Fairbanks are tied at one in the 3rd.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

The Good: DU's goals last night were all teriffic goals. Colborne's shot up under the crossbar was an NHL power play goal - perfect spot. Ostrow's tip in made it to Sports Center as the #3 play of the day, and Maiani's goal was another top-shelf water-bottle popper with under two minutes to go.. Having enough guts to come back an tie the game in a hostile environment late shows that Denver is a good team when they want to be.

The Bad: Allowing the Badgers to come roaring back with three unanswered in the third period. DU took their foot off the gas, sat back, lost assignments and got caught chasing a Badger team that was in all the right spots to score those goals. DU's had some problems with holding leads all year, and seem to play better when they are behind. This is a matter of mindset, and this is something that must be corrected.

The Ugly: Inconsistent effort across the board. Wisconsin was more aggressive, had more shots and dictated play for the most part. DU was getting beat to loose pucks and scored its first two goals against the run of play. The best sustained stretch for Denver was in the OT, where they had four shots on goal, but could not find the back of the net. Had they won that game, it would have been grand larceny.

Tonight, we need to see a better effort from the Pios. Move your feet, boys.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Brett Skinner called up by Avalanche yesterday, but did not play in last night's game.

 

[Dmann]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

prebump!!

I have to say 2 things:

1- I thought the DU power play looked awesome last night.
2- DU looked soooo good in overtime, I think they will bring it tonight!

3 points for the weekend!!

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

The DU key for tonight is Rakhshani and Ruegsegger. Both players were on the ice for 2 of the 3 Wisconsin goals last night, and did not contribute to any of the DU goals, as they were shut down by Wisconsin. Your big Seniors need to step up in big games.

 

[du78]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

The DU key for tonight is Rakhshani and Ruegsegger. Both players were on the ice for 2 of the 3 Wisconsin goals last night, and did not contribute to any of the DU goals, as they were shut down by Wisconsin. Your big Seniors need to step up in big games.

Weren't they on the ice for Colborne's goal or did he score that on a line change?

Scratch that, I just checked the box score and Shore and Martin were out there with him.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Okay. Time to re-assess the Pioneeers and where they are headed.

Optimists will point to the fact that Wisconsin was due on home ice after all the beatings inflicted by the Pios at the Kohl Center, that DU was just one goal behind Wisconsin all weekend, that DU had some character-led fight-backs and that the season is a long one and teams don't always win every weekend. I am fine with all of that rationalization, but I think the underside of this one point weekend is more systemic and needs to be addressed.

1) Offense: DU has been a three goal per game offense all season, and stayed true to that course this weekend. That's fine when the goalie only lets in two per game, but as we've seen against good teams, the defense breaks down and Chevy can easily let in three or more from time to time, resulting in losses. DU needs more scoring balance from the lower lines, but has not received it all year. With the new media timeouts this year, teams can rest top lines more, and it means that without scoring balance, your team is doomed in the long term. Whether it means shaking up the lines again, or figuring something else out, DU needs more offensive production. Now.

2) Adjustments: We've all seen how DU has yet to lose on Fridays, but Saturdays are where the losses are. This team needs to do a better job of adjusting from Friday to Saturday. Playoff success is built on stringing to gether wins on back to back nights, boys. Gotta start doing that.

3) Complacency: This is the one area that really perplexes me from game to game, series to series and even year to year in the last 5 years since the national championship teams. In the last five years, DU has increased its talent level on the ice and in the classroom, which is nice. But common to all these post-NC teams is a fundamental softness and lack of hunger -I call it complacency. The 04 NC team developed that hunger in the second half of the season where they willed themselves to a title, and the 05 team sustained it from wire to wire. But since then, talented DU teams have not been able to generate the effort level that is required to win consistently and missing the NCAAs or early exits are the result. Sure injuries and early departures have hurt, but those things happen to all good programs. All of these post 05 DU teams were talented enough to do better, but a certain sense of complacency seems to be the underlying thread that unites all of these teams. These guys practice all week for the games, and yet when the game comes, clearly some guys are not putting out 100% effort and the team suffers, resulting in a disappointing end. As I've said multiple times, I can handle losing when the team gives their best. But when your team is outworked, it's very frustrating to watch.

I know that DU can't win the NC every year. But I would love to see more consistent hunger, moving of feet, and maximum physical and mental effort from our boys.

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Swami, you are so right. The Complacency issue simply befuddles me. How can you come out so flat for the 2nd game at Kohl?

And where are the night to night adjustments? When we win Friday don't we expect the opponent to make adjustments Saturday?

And where is the vaunted offense? DU has only scored more than 3 goals 8 times this year, 5-1-2. (Four against non conference opponents, 3-1-0, Conference 2-0-2.) Murray was in goal for the 1 loss and 1 tie and played a period in 1 win. Chevy can only do so much. Score more goals; win more games. Seems pretty obvious to me.

Come out flat against the sioux...I hate to think.

 

[MagnessMan]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

UW and DU are two very evenly matched teams. Both nights could of been won by either team. Mistakes were evenly distributed. 14-6-4 is a solid record given our schedule. This team has enough character, leadership and talent to take it further than we've been in a while. I agree that the offensive production has been an issue all season but it's not something that can't be repaired. 3.5 goals a game would be enough to get it done. George hasn't done much with line shuffling this year--I say mix em up. Move Glasser and or Salazar up--move Colbourne down. I'd put Ruggs down for some of the shifts too. The fourth line was excellent last night--no goals but good minutes. Donavon got it going offensively this weekend in a big way. Special teams was dominating all weekend. I'm not ready to sell this team down the river. This is the first series we've lost all year and it was to a team that on paper is just as good as us--relax.

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Rahk better win the Hobey. I thought I was watching Crosby out there on Saturday night at the Kohl Center. What an amazing talent.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

I'm not ready to sell this team down the river. This is the first series we've lost all year and it was to a team that on paper is just as good as us--relax.

Nobody's selling anyone down the river. Lot of hockey left.

I was just pointing out areas for improvement. If DU can fix the offense, the Saturday problems and the complacency, they'll be in great shape.

If they don't fix them, DU will get bounced early again.

 

[MagnessMan]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Rahk better win the Hobey. I thought I was watching Crosby out there on Saturday night at the Kohl Center. What an amazing talent.

I agree--he has really blossomed this year.

 

[Dmann]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

pre bump, getting too close!!

So here's how the #s break down in the standings. In 18 WCHA games, we've only scored 53 goals. 75 goals overall. This is so low compared to most of our competitors. Where the hell are the goal scorers? We need these guys to get hot!!

Denver 18 10-4-4 24 53-47 24 14-6-4 75-64

 

[dggoddard]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Lots of stories to follow I'm sure from the DU fans that were in Madison, but a few short brushstrokes.

* I've been to Madison three times for games, but nothing like this. No exageration, 3000+ students in the barn both nights. They filled all three decks and stretched around to the side.

* Crowd probably the best I've seen at any sporting event ever. They sang, danced & chanted all game long....even the "Old People."

* One Sconnie fan told me that it was, "The best he'd seen the Badgers play in a couple of years." So DU fans shouldn't panic. The Badgers played awesome & we hung with them. Play the series in Magness & DU would have taken three points.

* Another Sconnie fan told me that George Gwozdecky was his favorite player in the mid-Seventies because he "played so hard every shift." He added that DU's recent teams reflect George's playing style which is why they've had so much success in Madison.

* Wish I had a dollar for every Sconnie fan who told me that "Patrick Johnson was Badger Bob's grandson."

*Patrick Wiercioch was booed every single time he touched the puck.

* Blake Geoffrion was amazing & his line destroyed DU.

* Refs are about to drop the puck to start the third period on Saturday night, when the Zamboni door opens & Gwozdecky, Miller & Lalonde stroll onto the ice to walk to the DU bench. DU trailing 3-2 at the time. Wisconsin fans "Boo" lustily. Classic Gwozdecky mind-games at work.

* DU lost almost every faceoff on Saturday night. Thats why the game was in DU's end 70% of the time. GWG off a faceoff, no surprise.

* 15,000+ fans at Kohl Center each night. EVERY. SINGLE. FREAKIN. FAN. WORE. BADGER. GEAR.

Funny Story. Boone walks into Nitty Gritty Restaurant on Saturday night pregame. 400+ people "Boo" him as he walks through the restaurant. These people aren't USCHO readers. They instantly recognized that he was DU's mascot. A mascot that actually looks like a "Pioneer," what a concept.

 

[du78]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Lots of stories to follow I'm sure from the DU fans that were in Madison, but a few short brushstrokes.

* I've been to Madison three times for games, but nothing like this. No exageration, 3000+ students in the barn both nights. They filled all three decks and stretched around to the side.

* Crowd probably the best I've seen at any sporting event ever. They sang, danced & chanted all game long....even the "Old People."

* One Sconnie fan told me that it was, "The best he'd seen the Badgers play in a couple of years." So DU fans shouldn't panic. The Badgers played awesome & we hung with them. Play the series in Magness & DU would have taken three points.

* Another Sconnie fan told me that George Gwozdecky was his favorite player in the mid-Seventies because he "played so hard every shift." He added that DU's recent teams reflect George's playing style which is why they've had so much success in Madison.

* Wish I had a dollar for every Sconnie fan who told me that "Patrick Johnson was Badger Bob's grandson."

*Patrick Wiercioch was booed every single time he touched the puck.

* Blake Geoffrion was amazing & his line destroyed DU.

* Refs are about to drop the puck to start the third period on Saturday night, when the Zamboni door opens & Gwozdecky, Miller & Lalonde stroll onto the ice to walk to the DU bench. DU trailing 3-2 at the time. Wisconsin fans "Boo" lustily. Classic Gwozdecky mind-games at work.

* DU lost almost every faceoff on Saturday night. Thats why the game was in DU's end 70% of the time. GWG off a faceoff, no surprise.

* 15,000+ fans at Kohl Center each night. EVERY. SINGLE. FREAKIN. FAN. WORE. BADGER. GEAR.

Funny Story. Boone walks into Nitty Gritty Restaurant on Saturday night pregame. 400+ people "Boo" him as he walks through the restaurant. These people aren't USCHO readers. The instantly recognized that he was DU's mascot. A mascot that actually looks like a "Pioneer," what a concept.

Great stuff

INCH Rankings

1 - Miami
2 - Wisconsin
3 - Denver
4 - North Dakota
5 - Cornell
6 - Yale
7 - SCSU
8 - Bemidji
9 - Michigan State
10 - Minnesota-Duluth

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

dg, thanks for the insights. Hope some of the other travelers post their stories.

I didn't think the Gwoz and crew got lost coming from dressing room. :-}Wonder what he has in mind for the NoDaks?

 

[redhawkman10]

Re: All things Denver XXVI: From Boonetown to Motown

Hey guys, just wanted to throw out my support. Tough weekend but you will pull through. We had one recently and it sucks, keep your heads up you will be fine. Coach gwoz will get you back on track. Good luck against No Dak, hope we don't have to face you guys down the road but will be rooting for you!