Re: Michigan Wolverines 2013-14 Season Thread: The B1G Time
My friends and I have been calling it the Michigan State rule. I think it was their regional game against Union (2012?) where they had a goal called off because the net was dislodged. The rule changed the following year (2012-2013 season).
I'm still not sure about the call on Friday. Had Copp even gotten the shot off before the net came off? I'll take the goal in favor of the team I cheer for, but it seems questionable.
Based on the replays I saw, Copp hadn't shot the puck yet. The spirit of the new rule takes that in effect since the probability that he would have a good chance to score would be high. I'm not sure this is the best path to take on a rule, I'd prefer to have either an automatic delay of game penalty assessed or a penalty shot awarded if the goal is not awarded. If by some chance the shooter misses the net or the netminder miraculously stops the shot, there should be some punishment for the defensive team.
Good to have a team like Niagara to come in so we can score a few goals. Can that offensive production translate into the B1G season? Probably not, except maybe against State. Wow, they seem even more dreadful this year. Looking forward to hockey against aOSU this weekend. At least we stand a chance on the ice rinks. I'm going to the football game too, but I'm not optimistic about that one.
I don't like to rip opposing teams after they get their tails handed to them, but Niagara is pretty young and it showed. They get high marks for working hard, but they are getting run out of just about every building they visit outside of their own league. But, I have to be critical of Michigan's performance Friday- they gave up too many grade A chances and way too many shots on goal. It has become a distressing pattern that better B1G teams- and I mean like Wisconsin and Minnesota- will pounce on. Ohio State has experienced talent that would love to get opportunities like that next weekend- and even MSU and PSU will score given enough opportunities. I'd rather win 3-0 and only give up a couple chances and 19 shots on goal than what is going on lately. The team played so much better against BC, UNH, BU and UML in that regard, even though those teams still produced a good number of chances.
I think our team is going to suffer offensively because we aren't generating anything from the blueline. The defense has 12 points (all assists) this season. That's alot of pressure on the forwards, especially since they have to focus on defensive responsibilities also. I saw Bennett and De Jong rush up ice pretty well last game, but that's it. If that is the case, then tighten the defense up and make that our focus. We have talented forwards that like to skate, but when the puck isn't going in against the better teams, the better path is to be patient and play good defense first. Niagara and RIT were the offensive outliars this season, and after seeing both teams, I can see why.