Fargo regional

[John J. MacInnes]

First round. Eliminate the bye week. Quarterfinals at 2 different sites that draw well.

This has come up countless times over the years and I'm now regretting bringing it up again because I'm not too keen on hearing the same tired arguments.

Then how about this format?

First round - on campus, 8 sites, best 2 out of 3
Regional round - 2 neutral sites, 8 winners from 1st round, single elimination
Championship - neutral site, 2 winners from regionals, best 2 out of 3

Blends all the best of the playoffs. Top teams don't get knocked out immediately on one bad night. Attendance virtually guaranteed for 16 games that will be on campus. Only have to find two regional sites. For those attending the championship round, they still get multiple games and somewhat mimic the Stanley Cup playoffs with more than just a single title game. Imagine the drama of a game 3 for the title.

 

[J.D.]

I obviously don’t have anything firm to base this on, but I don’t think ESPN is sending eight crews out to cover the regionals, let’s just start with that.

Nor should that be the expectation. I would think they could send a crew or two out and then let the other places use their regular streaming team and put those games on ESPN+.

 

[J.D.]

Then how about this format?

First round - on campus, 8 sites, best 2 out of 3
Regional round - 2 neutral sites, 8 winners from 1st round, single elimination
Championship - neutral site, 2 winners from regionals, best 2 out of 3

Blends all the best of the playoffs. Top teams don't get knocked out immediately on one bad night. Attendance virtually guaranteed for 16 games that will be on campus. Only have to find two regional sites. For those attending the championship round, they still get multiple games and somewhat mimic the Stanley Cup playoffs with more than just a single title game. Imagine the drama of a game 3 for the title.

I think a 2 out of 3 championship format is a non starter. Are you going to play every other day for that? That just doesn't work for fans. Sure it works in the summer for the CWS but basketball doesn't do it so I don't think hockey would. But I am good with the rest of your format.

 

[MavsFan]

Nor should that be the expectation. I would think they could send a crew or two out and then let the other places use their regular streaming team and put those games on ESPN+.

Just like they do with the dozens of college baseball games that they have on every day.

 

[StateofHockey78]

Fargo, not Grand Forks. Scheels Arena, not Englestad Arena.

yea,yea,yea. You're right. Forgive me if all those middle of nowhere ND towns all blend together in my mind.

 

[MavsFan19]

Well that game by MSU is our season in a nutshell. Dominant at times but no scoring punch.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Amazing how many Canisius "fans" traveled all the way to Fargo... LOL

 

[FredsDeadFriend]

How did this team only finish 4th in their conference? They look better than that.

 

[LordofBrewtown]

How did this team only finish 4th in their conference? They look better than that.

I think part of the issue why the Atlantic and CCHA are don't fare well in the RPI/Pairwise is the bottom half of the conference is so bad. The top 4 or 5 are competitive;but when you have 4 or 5 teams in the bottom 10-12 of the RPI/Pairwise, it just kills the other teams in the conference.

That major pretty much ended Canisius' chances. No doubt about the call either.

 

[FredsDeadFriend]

I think part of the issue why the Atlantic and CCHA are don't fare well in the RPI/Pairwise is the bottom half of the conference is so bad. The top 4 or 5 are competitive;but when you have 4 or 5 teams in the bottom 10-12 of the RPI/Pairwise, it just kills the other teams in the conference.

That major pretty much ended Canisius' chances. No doubt about the call either.

That's a good point. But in Canisius' case, they were only what, 2-3 games over .500? So they struggled to win games.

And yeah, I almost felt bad for them after that major. I think Minnesota would have won no matter, but it could have been a much closer game had that 5 minute major not happened, I felt bad for that coach after the two quick goals in that PP. And that last goal was just a fluke bounce, too.

 

[StateofHockey78]

Well that game by MSU is our season in a nutshell. Dominant at times but no scoring punch.

I've seen a lot of hockey, frankly I'm shocked with how good they played early and then it all fell apart. That first half of the game reminded me so much of how they dominated us last year in the FF. Seems like the chances were there, just couldnt hit the net.

 

[StateofHockey78]

That's a good point. But in Canisius' case, they were only what, 2-3 games over .500? So they struggled to win games.

And yeah, I almost felt bad for them after that major. I think Minnesota would have won no matter, but it could have been a much closer game had that 5 minute major not happened, I felt bad for that coach after the two quick goals in that PP. And that last goal was just a fluke bounce, too.

MN was pretty fortunate in this game. Obviously they finally woke up towards the end of the 2nd, but they can't do that and win against any other teams left in this tourney.

 

[FredsDeadFriend]

MN was pretty fortunate in this game. Obviously they finally woke up towards the end of the 2nd, but they can't do that and win against any other teams left in this tourney.

They were only down by 1 goal when they got that 5 minute PP and scored several times without being in the PP and survived being short handed as well. I don't think they were all that "fortunate". Minnesota showed in the 2nd half of the game that they were clearly the better and more talented team. The 5 minute PP obviously took the wind out of Canisius' sails, but that doesn't mean something else may not have done the same thing eventually.

Minnesota has come back from behind before and against better rated teams than Canisius. They obviously know how to score goals. They are the highest scoring team in the nation are they not? How many different Gophers scored goals tonight? 7, right?

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Well that game by MSU is our season in a nutshell. Dominant at times but no scoring punch.

True. And a slight drop-off from last year in the D group and the goaltending. Add it all up and you go from a national runner-up to a team that's good but not quite Frozen Four material.

 

[StateofHockey78]

They were only down by 1 goal when they got that 5 minute PP and scored several times without being in the PP and survived being short handed as well. I don't think they were all that "fortunate". Minnesota showed in the 2nd half of the game that they were clearly the better and more talented team. The 5 minute PP obviously took the wind out of Canisius' sails, but that doesn't mean something else may not have done the same thing eventually.

Minnesota has come back from behind before and against better rated teams than Canisius. They obviously know how to score goals. They are the highest scoring team in the nation are they not? How many different Gophers scored goals tonight? 7, right?

I think you misunderstood me Fred. They are fortunate that they played Canisius. Had this been any other team in this tournament we would likely be going home with the way we played the first 30. I don't look at the 3rd period and think that we will just roll any team in this tournament like that. We're talking about a 40 something ranked team that gave up after knowing the 5 minute major was the end. Come on. This is a step back in performance to me compared to their last game (v Mich), which was also full of mistakes and sloppy play. It's has got to be better for the full 60 going forward.

 

[StateofHockey78]

True. And a slight drop-off from last year in the D group and the goaltending. Add it all up and you go from a national runner-up to a team that's good but not quite Frozen Four material.

They had the chances - you have to hit the net to score and they were just off the mark all game. Plus give Castor some credit he stood tall in the face of that first period onslaught. They may not have had the same team, but I think they were capable based on how they played that first half. I mean 6 shots for SCSU in half a game is insanely solid defending.

 

[Double Major]

They had the chances - you have to hit the net to score and they were just off the mark all game. Plus give Castor some credit he stood tall in the face of that first period onslaught. They may not have had the same team, but I think they were capable based on how they played that first half. I mean 6 shots for SCSU in half a game is insanely solid defending.

Couldn't agree with you more. The inability to score goals in the early part of games has been a problem the entire season. And they used up their quota of miracle comebacks last week.

I always feel empty for a few days after the Mavs season ends. This year is no different.

 

[StateofHockey78]

Couldn't agree with you more. The inability to score goals in the early part of games has been a problem the entire season. And they used up their quota of miracle comebacks last week.

I always feel empty for a few days after the Mavs season ends. This year is no different.

Oh man I know what you're feeling. Maybe it's pathetic, but that gut punch feeling lasts for days for me when the Gophers lose. I can't tell you how bad it felt after last year...especially being at the game too. To top it off my wife is a Mav alum so even after the Gophers lost we got to then watch the unthinkable happen to the Mavs the next game.

 

[FredsDeadFriend]

I think you misunderstood me Fred. They are fortunate that they played Canisius. Had this been any other team in this tournament we would likely be going home with the way we played the first 30. I don't look at the 3rd period and think that we will just roll any team in this tournament like that. We're talking about a 40 something ranked team that gave up after knowing the 5 minute major was the end. Come on. This is a step back in performance to me compared to their last game (v Mich), which was also full of mistakes and sloppy play. It's has got to be better for the full 60 going forward.

I am not sure I misunderstood you, because I still disagree with you and this further clarification didn't change my mind.

I think you are overestimating the strength of the rest of the field and underestimating the strength of the B1G overall, a conference the Gophers dominated, which helped them garner the #1 overall seed. So which lower seeded team was UMn fortunate not to have played? Cornell? They only scored 2 goals on a DU team that from all accounts played horribly, apparently for more than 30 minutes? I don't think UMn played that poorly, I think Canisius simply played very well. There is a difference.


UMn's 5 losses to the NCAA tourney field, along with losses to UND, Wisc & ASU show evidence that the Gophers can lose to almost anyone, which may be in large part because of the team's overall youth and lack of experience. Canisius was the 2nd oldest team and their experience showed in those first 30 minutes. But around 75% of the time UMn can beat anyone and all it took was a couple seconds into a PP for the Gophers to flip the script. Are you telling me that they've never done that before? I remember other teams frustrating the Gophers with their style of play early in games, and most of the time the Gophers figured those styles out and came out on top by the end of those games. So is Canisius the only team in the NCAA tourney field that the Gophers could have come back against? The Canisius goalie made some good saves in those first 30 minutes. It's not like the Gophers never got any good shots on goal in those first 30 minutes.


But I'm not trying to start a big debate. You could be right? SCSU is a team that could have taken advantage of the Gophers yesterday, but only because they are not a lower seeded team, so no chance UMn would have had to play them yesterday. As a Gopher fan I hope it was rust and/or Canisius' style of play that kept the score close early on and not the Gophers poor play and that the rust is shaken off now and they'll be ready for a much better team, SCSU or that style of play doesn't work to stymie them again.

The Confidence gained from 7 separate players scoring hopefully helps against SCSU, as long as it doesn't make them too over confident or something?

 

[StateofHockey78]

I am not sure I misunderstood you, because I still disagree with you and this further clarification didn't change my mind.

I think you are overestimating the strength of the rest of the field and underestimating the strength of the B1G overall, a conference the Gophers dominated, which helped them garner the #1 overall seed. So which lower seeded team was UMn fortunate not to have played? Cornell? They only scored 2 goals on a DU team that from all accounts played horribly, apparently for more than 30 minutes? I don't think UMn played that poorly, I think Canisius simply played very well. There is a difference.


UMn's 5 losses to the NCAA tourney field, along with losses to UND, Wisc & ASU show evidence that the Gophers can lose to almost anyone, which may be in large part because of the team's overall youth and lack of experience. Canisius was the 2nd oldest team and their experience showed in those first 30 minutes. But around 75% of the time UMn can beat anyone and all it took was a couple seconds into a PP for the Gophers to flip the script. Are you telling me that they've never done that before? I remember other teams frustrating the Gophers with their style of play early in games, and most of the time the Gophers figured those styles out and came out on top by the end of those games. So is Canisius the only team in the NCAA tourney field that the Gophers could have come back against? The Canisius goalie made some good saves in those first 30 minutes. It's not like the Gophers never got any good shots on goal in those first 30 minutes.


But I'm not trying to start a big debate. You could be right? SCSU is a team that could have taken advantage of the Gophers yesterday, but only because they are not a lower seeded team, so no chance UMn would have had to play them yesterday. As a Gopher fan I hope it was rust and/or Canisius' style of play that kept the score close early on and not the Gophers poor play and that the rust is shaken off now and they'll be ready for a much better team, SCSU or that style of play doesn't work to stymie them again.

The Confidence gained from 7 separate players scoring hopefully helps against SCSU, as long as it doesn't make them too over confident or something?

It's a fine to debate, I don't see it as confrontational, just sharing some opinions. I have watched every single game we've played this year. Last night was the worst I've seen them come out since the Wisconsin loss. We have been a team that has gotten off to strong starts in a vast majority of our games. We got a fortunate fluky first goal from a terrible angle. I really don't agree with people who believe Canisius played a solid game. Canisius played exactly how I expected them to (decently, but without much skill). They made one nice skill play (goal #2). The first goal was soft on Close's part. He didn't look ready or locked in on that save. We gave up a number of chances early where we didn't clear out in front well at all. If you watch the tape on this game we made a stupid amount of cutesy drop passes and poor turnovers just inside the offensive zone. We also didn't play with strong pace the first 25 minutes. Does that mean they can't come back, no. My point is, you will absolutely lose more than you will win against quality teams if you come out that way. I would also say Canisius doesn't have the speed or offensive firepower to make you pay for those bad turnovers. Canisius was completely lost on the penalty kill. We didn't have to move the puck quickly, they just sagged and let us do whatever we wanted (see how badly our PP was v Michigan for evidence of what puck pressure does on the PK). They had no belief after the major so the fact we skated up and down the ice on a team that had given up shouldn't be a testament to our amazing prowess.

We were simply fortunate the team we played had limited ability to make us pay for mistakes made. Also, if you watched the DU game you know their goalie kept that game much closer than it was on the scoreboard. While I agree and have always thought the lack of games over the last month was going to hurt our sharpness, at the end of the day it's just an excuse if we don't execute. Look at OSU today, they were flying around from the start, what's the excuse for us not being locked in from the word go? We had that pace just 4 days prior against Michigan, did we not? Teams will not get away with lapses in this tournament like that very often.

Having said all that, I 100% think they can still roll into Tampa and I think they will. However, one thing I know is true, we have not played our best version since the end of the regular season and we need to find that tomorrow. Go Gophers, I sure hope to see this team when I walk into Amalie Arena in two weeks.

P.S. It's Friday and time to get in drink in hand and enjoy the rest of the games, thanks for all the distractions getting me through a long workday!