What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

<> Michigan Tech Huskies 2023-24: Is the MacNaughton coming home? <>

I like how Swankler played. He's bigger than I remember which I think helped him against the bigger D men. I think he has a ways to go defensively, but that's to be expected. He bulled his way to the net on the first goal and did most of the work in making it happen. I liked that. He passed the puck more than I expected he would as well.
As far as how we will do tomorrow, MSU is a lot quicker than both Alaska and Ferris and that results in puck battles which we could lose. They were very opportunistic on the turnovers Ferris gave them and that was basically the game. Ferris had 1 shot in the second period up until about 14 minutes in and I think 5 or maybe 6 for the first period, even with a pp. MSU ran multiple picks when on the power play when shifting the puck from side to side and it did get guys open for a shot. They also had an entree play to gain the zone with all 5 players crossing the line at the same time.

I thought their goalie was solid but did leave close in rebounds. Their defense is better than anyone we have played so far imho.
 
I'm sure MSU was down after that game. here is Adam Nightengale's press conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2_qPmKZTfc

Personally, I hope we use this game to get better. We certainly had problem areas as he alluded to towards the end there. Getting the puck deep in our end and forechecking hard paid off for them. This has been an ongoing issue for our team.
 
Took a long time, but Blake finally stole a game this season. Best one I've seen him play in person in a long time. If Koskipirtti comes back playing well, Caderoth can shake off the minor knee injury from practice, and Swankler continues to integrate well...this is a team to watch in the next 3 months.
 
Well.... that wasn't great. I was hoping someone of all those young guys would suddenly pick up his game. I thought Nordstrom was pretty good but I did notice he was on the ice for one of the goals and had a chance to pick up the scoring stick but didn't. It seemed like everyone was at about 80% which is to be expected I guess.
Also, we continue to take too much time getting the puck off our stick when we get a back door shot. I'm against stopping the puck, and winding up for a slap shot. just get it there quicker! Pulease!
 
Last edited:
Well hard to find anything positive in that game. I can't count the times I'm saying out loud to no one in particular, come onnnnn! or some other negative comment. We lost a lot of faceoffs too.
 
You know the coach says you can't teach offense but I bet there are habits that you can teach and or practice which increase your odds. Such as, not shooting in the middle of the net vs the edges etc. I just think saying you can't teach offense is a cop out in some ways.
 
What did I say last week? the shift after a goal is the most important one of the game. And the shift right before the end of a period is the second most important.
 
Sure seems to me we could use more scoring. To wit: we scored 2 goals all weekend vs LSSU. Now you could say they(LSSU) are very tough defensively.... but... they gave up 4 to Dartmouth and 4 to RIT. So maybe not. I just think we have to do a better job scoring. Not just getting opportunities. I don't think it's all about defense. I think the forecheck has to be better and overall in the offensive zone we need to be better.
 
Regardless of how this season ends, it's time to start the search for a new head coach. In a season where Mankato was rebuilding and Tech had its best shot to win the conference in years, we're now going to have to fight just to have home ice in the first round of the conference playoffs, much less go any further. Offense continues to be almost non-existent and if Tech can't win games with one of the best goalies in the country in net, what is it going to be like next season when he is gone? Coach Joe seems like a nice guy, loves the UP and all that, but I feel like we've seen his ceiling. If we're struggling to be a 0.500 team in a conference that can't even put ONE team in the top 20 nationally, what's it going to be like when a few of the other teams get their act together again?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top