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Frozen Four 2023: Three Blue Bloods and and Upstart

StateofHockey78 said:
certainly MN, QU is probably harder to discern the difference.
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All of my point are that Michigan is much closer to BU than you think. The only real pressure from Michigan is because of the apparent talent. Otherwise, the coaching pressure is higher for BU- as they've had a HC longer, is a real HC, didn't suffer a month of sick players, and didn't have a player almost die. And didn't have a soap opera to deal with as part of the program.

Even with the changes at BU, they were picked to finish 2nd in conference, Michigan 3rd.

So as I see it, the changing expectations of Michigan is why you think there's pressure, just because of players like Fantilli. Who was not expected to be where is now.

QU is a senior laden team that expected to win their conference, and break though where they have not in prior FF. Maybe not Minnesota expectations, but they are pretty much where everyone thought they would be.
 
MichVandal said:
All of my point are that Michigan is much closer to BU than you think. The only real pressure from Michigan is because of the apparent talent. Otherwise, the coaching pressure is higher for BU- as they've had a HC longer, is a real HC, didn't suffer a month of sick players, and didn't have a player almost die. And didn't have a soap opera to deal with as part of the program.

Even with the changes at BU, they were picked to finish 2nd in conference, Michigan 3rd.

So as I see it, the changing expectations of Michigan is why you think there's pressure, just because of players like Fantilli. Who was not expected to be where is now.

QU is a senior laden team that expected to win their conference, and break though where they have not in prior FF. Maybe not Minnesota expectations, but they are pretty much where everyone thought they would be.
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Intereseting conversation...and absolutely none of this stuff matters regarding what will happen on the ice. The reality is, a hot goalie and a break here or there can make the difference. I don't expect any blowouts...any of these teams can win it all.
 
chickod said:
Intereseting conversation...and absolutely none of this stuff matters regarding what will happen on the ice. The reality is, a hot goalie and a break here or there can make the difference. I don't expect any blowouts...any of these teams can win it all.
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Hopefully, all of this pressure talk won't get into the lockers and we have 3 really well played games. It would suck that one team plays tight for whatever reason, and they get blown out. Wouldn't be the first time, but it's not fun to see this late.
 
chickod said:
Intereseting conversation...and absolutely none of this stuff matters regarding what will happen on the ice. The reality is, a hot goalie and a break here or there can make the difference. I don't expect any blowouts...any of these teams can win it all.
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It's really not that interesting. Although I will say Michigan is historically really good at making excuses, they've had a lot of practice in the last 7 frozen four appearances. Looks like they already have quite a few available to justify losing #8, which I'm more than happy to accept in exchange for a national title.
 
StateofHockey78 said:
It's really not that interesting. Although I will say Michigan is historically really good at making excuses, they've had a lot of practice in the last 7 frozen four appearances. Looks like they already have quite a few available to justify losing #8, which I'm more than happy to accept in exchange for a national title.
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Well, that was twisted quickly.
 
MichVandal said:
Well, that was twisted quickly.
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I couldn't resist, the door was open to have a bit of fun. I just think the whole sickness thing is a bit overdone is all. Nobody wants to see people sick, but it happens. We had a similar thing last year with the coaches son passing away right before the season started. It sucks, but in some ways it can galvanize a team too.
 
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Nick Papagiorgio said:
I sure hope Minnesota does better against a Boston team in Tampa than the last time. That was a bloodbath.
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Minny only lost by more than 1 goal 4 times all year. 3 times by 2 goals and once by 3, and they got revenge on the team that beat them by 3 goals, SCSU with their 4-1 win in the Regional Finals.
 
While I always expect Michigan to win, let's not forget who the #2 team coming into the tournament was. While #2 vs. #3 overall is expected to be a good game, if we look at the rankings we should expect QU to win. While hockey is a game that can easily go either way, we are looking at a Frozen Four field of # 1, 2, 3, 5 overall. So maybe rankings were accurate and teams are living up to expectations.
 
wolverineTrumpet said:
While I always expect Michigan to win, let's not forget who the #2 team coming into the tournament was. While #2 vs. #3 overall is expected to be a good game, if we look at the rankings we should expect QU to win. While hockey is a game that can easily go either way, we are looking at a Frozen Four field of # 1, 2, 3, 5 overall. So maybe rankings were accurate and teams are living up to expectations.
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More than one ranking system had Michigan #2 over Q. PWR may be the law of the land, but it has it's critics, and I'm possibly it's biggest? It's results match the horrible RPI rating system about 98% of the time, and the differences are very slight and so rare I doubt they've ever affected the NCAA tourney qualifiers.

Michigan played AT LEAST 20 games vs Top 20 ranked teams, I haven't looked at their ooc schedule but they played 20 vs just Mn, OSU, PSU, MSU & Notre Dame, while Q only played 8, with none being ranked better than 8th.

If anyone got overrated this season, it wasn't any of the B1G teams, and Q would be one of the candidates for most overrated, just looking on paper. They very well could be the 2nd best or even the best team in the nation, but what we can analyze on paper doesn't bare that out.

I personally hope Q and BU are not overrated, and that my Gophers beat 2 of the 4 best teams in the country on their way to the Title.
 
I personally don’t think any of the four teams are overrated. I think it will come down to which team is playing their best hockey right now, which team best executes their game plan, which team is the most disciplined in terms of penalties, and which team gets the breaks.

I think these teams are so closely matched that one or more games will come down to a key power play, a fluky goal, or an incredible play that puts one team over their opponent.

Which means my nerves will be a mess.
 
FredsDeadFriend said:
More than one ranking system had Michigan #2 over Q. PWR may be the law of the land, but it has it's critics, and I'm possibly it's biggest? It's results match the horrible RPI rating system about 98% of the time, and the differences are very slight and so rare I doubt they've ever affected the NCAA tourney qualifiers.

Michigan played AT LEAST 20 games vs Top 20 ranked teams, I haven't looked at their ooc schedule but they played 20 vs just Mn, OSU, PSU, MSU & Notre Dame, while Q only played 8, with none being ranked better than 8th.

If anyone got overrated this season, it wasn't any of the B1G teams, and Q would be one of the candidates for most overrated, just looking on paper. They very well could be the 2nd best or even the best team in the nation, but what we can analyze on paper doesn't bare that out.

I personally hope Q and BU are not overrated, and that my Gophers beat 2 of the 4 best teams in the country on their way to the Title.
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28 games vs. opponents that were ranked 20 or higher at the time of the games (30 if you add the Allentown Regional)
We had a pretty good OOC schedule: BU came for a visit, a home and home with Western, and a visit from Harvard. Not to say we didn't have a couple of easy non-con opponents: opened the season against Lindenwood and traveled to the Soo for a pair against Lake State.
 
wolverineTrumpet said:
28 games vs. opponents that were ranked 20 or higher at the time of the games (30 if you add the Allentown Regional)
We had a pretty good OOC schedule: BU came for a visit, a home and home with Western, and a visit from Harvard. Not to say we didn't have a couple of easy non-con opponents: opened the season against Lindenwood and traveled to the Soo for a pair against Lake State.
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How dare they, only 30 games vs Top 20 teams, FOUR whole games vs creampuffs? OVERRATED!!!! Omg, I've never seen such a weak schedule.


Smiley Face with a wink.


;)

;)
 
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