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<> Michigan Tech Huskies 2021-22: STILL Our 100th Anniversary <>

Based on the post game interview it's time for a new coach. He basically said its all on me but my whole team sucks. Name one player that has left better than they came in since he took the helm. I can't think of one.

He keeps saying he can't get any players to play the way he wants. He's been saying that since he took over. If you can't get one player to buy in I would say the message is wrong.
 
I completely disagree. Let's not let the emotions of the moment cloud our overall view of the team. They are getting better every year. I give the coach credit for that. I also disagree when you say he said, because that's not what I heard. Now are there details that I'd like to see different, of course. There would be with jerry York too.
Can we do better, sure, should we do better, sure. Now let's see what we can do to help.
 
I had great hope for this team. And yes, the season is just beginning. But continuing to put a lot of easy shots on a goalie is starting look like last year.

We jumped to a 14-0 shot advantage in the 1st period, and Lake State still had the better of the grade A chances at the end of 1…. I thought we were outplayed the rest of the game, kind of hoping the game would come to us.
 
I have to say, the first goal last night was a great example of fighting for the puck. (Or maybe just fighting…) I’d like to see 3 full periods of that kind of hockey.

Also love watching Halonen.
 
I think we have a very good team. If we are fractions of an inch closer to the center of the net on one shot in each game, we are easily 7-0. I just don't think we have enough clutch players or players that can perform in close time and space. I loved seeing the two goals where we fought to get the puck in the net. Unfortunately, that is how we are going to have to score most of the time. Most of our shots seem to be individual effort where we hope to beat the goalie. I also don't see a lot of screens in front of the goalie, ala Tomas Holmstrom. We keep hearing of these big bodies, but they don't sit in front of the goalie blocking their view, tipping shots, drawing attention, or fighting for rebounds.

My frustration the coaching is on the recruiting end of things. With the transfer portal, we could get a few guys that can score. What did we get, 2 great defenders and a young guy who needs some seasoning. Nothing against those players as they are playing more then they are not, but maybe we get a few guys who are natural scorers? We all know most of our games are the first one to 3 wins. It is losing philosophy to lean on the D and goalie to keep teams under 2 goals to give us a chance to win. I'm not saying we blow everything up, but we need some scorers in the line-up. Who cares if their D is suspect. If they end up with more goals for us than goals for them on their shifts, it is a win.

I think Sinclair is hurt.
 
but maybe we get a few guys who are natural scorers? We all know most of our games are the first one to 3 wins. It is losing philosophy to lean on the D and goalie to keep teams under 2 goals to give us a chance to win. I'm not saying we blow everything up, but we need some scorers in the line-up. Who cares if their D is suspect. If they end up with more goals for us than goals for them on their shifts, it is a win.

For me, this is the best synopsis of the situation. As mentioned, not only do you need to keep the other team from scoring but you have to outscore them. Gotta do both; cannot rely on one and ignore the other. Besides, the best defense is when the puck is in offensive zone.
 
I noticed on friday night that on the two lssu goals, we had, just before they scored, a defenseman rush the puck in deep. So a winger has to take his job until he can get back. now lssu got a quick turnaround and though they didn't score initially, they did capitalize on the momentary confusion when the two switch roles back. So they got a good shot on which they scored. Both of them occurred right after one of our D men rushed the puck.
 
Watching the Friday night NMU game. Tech is controlling the flow of the game. Very good puck control. Shots are 2 to 1 in favor of Tech. PP set-up looks good (except we don’t get a good look). Defense is pretty solid.

But, we are getting schooled. Quality scoring chances favor NMU. Every.Single.Shot Tech takes is outside the face off circles. Easy saves. OT- not a single scoring opportunity…

This is not a talent issue. I believe Joe is coaching puck control. We need pucks in the net.
 
You know after you lose all these OT games 3x3 you would think we would practice this? I mean this type of terrible mistake over and over.... it gets really old watching . I mean how many times do I have to watch this ***. 5 games at home and 4 losses?
 
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I'm so sick of the lack of effort and sloppy play by this team. It's a staple of Joe Shawhan's teams and we need better.
 
You know after you lose all these OT games 3x3 you would think we would practice this? I mean this type of terrible mistake over and over.... it gets really old watching . I mean how many times do I have to watch this ***. 5 games at home and 4 losses?

We had no intention of scoring in OT. It looked like we wanted to burn 5 more minutes and get to the Downtowner.
 
I'm so sick of the lack of effort and sloppy play by this team. It's a staple of Joe Shawhan's teams and we need better.

I thought we had good effort tonight. Occasional miss-played pucks, yes. I still think we are too focused on keeping six players behind the puck (except that breakaway, of course!) and maintaining a defensive posture all game.

There were two (2) minutes of that game, #58 and #59, where scoring a goal was the mission. And we scored.
And then we fell back into the bunker game plan.
 
I thought we had good effort tonight. Occasional miss-played pucks, yes. I still think we are too focused on keeping six players behind the puck (except that breakaway, of course!) and maintaining a defensive posture all game.

There were two (2) minutes of that game, #58 and #59, where scoring a goal was the mission. And we scored.
And then we fell back into the bunker game plan.

Yeah, lack of effort was a poor choice of words. Lack of urgency, maybe, or lack of structure. It seems our guys panic a little when they are under pressure. As if they aren't sure what to do so they force the pass or simply lift the puck, leading to turnovers.
Clearly, I'm not an Xs and Os guy, but all too often it appears our opponents are more organized and prepared.
 
Yeah, lack of effort was a poor choice of words. Lack of urgency, maybe, or lack of structure. It seems our guys panic a little when they are under pressure. As if they aren't sure what to do so they force the pass or simply lift the puck, leading to turnovers.
Clearly, I'm not an Xs and Os guy, but all too often it appears our opponents are more organized and prepared.

Lack of Urgency is a good phrase.

I relistened to Joe’s last podcast. He talked about ”the elephant in the room” being lack of goals. Then he went on to talking about the same old catch phrases; compete level, strong on the puck... I actually think we are doing fine with those things. What I want to see is focus on that ONE TOUCH on the back door. Put the puck in the net. Get odd man rushes that look like we are doing something more than a single hard shot on net from a wide angle behind the circle, or worse yet that behind the back pass to the D to ”set things up”. I’m tired of hearing that we need to do something different and then keep coaching up the same ’compete level’ crap.
 
That was a painful post game interview. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a coach say “we can’t score” so many times, in so many ways.
 
I thought the focus on play making in front of the net, instead of shot production, was much better tonight. At least periods #1 and 2. Several pretty goals. The 3rd period shift to a dump and run game was a bit frustrating to watch. But we held it together defensively, on big ice, to seal an important game. PP was ultimately the difference in the game. I like the win, but I think I would have been ok with any outcome given the way we were playing tonight.
 
I think this weekends' results will go a long way towards demonstrating how the rest of this season is likely to go, as well as how much more leash I'm going to be willing to give the Shawhan regime. Bemidji has had the better of us lately, but on paper I think we've got the better team this season.
 
Great win tonight. Tech outperformed Bemidji most of the night and were rewarded. My fingernails are in disarray regardless.
 
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