Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

[80Miracle]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Justice. What a crew. Gophs should have won by at least three.

Bunyon and Shea (Hockey East Referees) did everything they could to keep Notre Dame in the game by picking and choosing when to call penalties. If Minnesota had tied or lost they would have had a right to be upset.

 

[80Miracle]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

A split is good for both teams in the Pairwise. Having watched both games I would give the Gophers a "slight" edge over the Irish. Notre Dame's top line (Tynan, Rust, Costello) is probably the best line in College Hockey though.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Excellent road test for this young Gopher squad this weekend. This was a hard fought, close checking game tonight and a Gopher freshman win between two very evenly matched teams, ending ND’s 11 game home winning streak dating back to Jan. 26. There were plenty of lessons learned to take back home like get the special teams fixed asap, don’t let the D get caught deep AGAIN, be more physical and stay out of the box.

Last night the second line was stonewalled by a more physical Notre Dame D that kept Kloos blanked with 0 SOG, and Condon and Cammarata with only 1 each. But tonight they showed good pace and energy early with Cammarata giving the Gophers a first period lead on his PP goal and then with Kloos adding another a few minutes later. Hudson Fasching, who notched two Gs tonight, continues to impress me as the quintessential and tenacious power forward with a motor that never slows down.

This weekend showcased a key goalie matchup between two top netminders in Summerhays and Wilcox. But it turned out to be an atypical weekend for Adam Wilcox, who never gave up 8 goals in two consecutive games all last season. Yet he managed to make his usual big saves at key moments tonight when called upon for the W.

Key positives for the Gophers were they backchecked better than last night, matched ND’s physicality better than last night, played hard overall for 60 minutes, and never trailed on the scoreboard. Credit a good veteran Notre Dame team with huge talent up front and on the backline for an intense weekend of hockey in their house. They’re a veteran team with solid fundamentals that I expect to see in the postseason as a true contender for an NC. NEXT: A team that always seems to bring their "A" game against the Gophers…the Purple Cows. Go Gophers! Rah!

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

GAME HIGHLIGHTS (WatchND)

 

[UMICH]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Justice. What a crew. Gophs should have won by at least three.

More proof, Notre Dame cheats!

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Well I admit I was wrong, to some degree. I defended the idea of MN playing ND as good for them. But I can't say I want to see them play ND at ND again. TV and internet coverage was pretty poor compared to what we are used to. Makes you realize how good Gopher fans have it with FSN coverage. Even BTN seems very good compared to the two options we had this weekend.

Glad to see the Gophs bounce back with a better performance last night. Great to see Bisch get the GWG. Hopefully we won't see the team slip back into the bad Friday, good Saturday routine again this season. More importantly, I hope they can find a way to hit their stride at the end of the season this year.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Well I admit I was wrong, to some degree. I defended the idea of MN playing ND as good for them. But I can't say I want to see them play ND at ND again. TV and internet coverage was pretty poor compared to what we are used to. Makes you realize how good Gopher fans have it with FSN coverage. Even BTN seems very good compared to the two options we had this weekend.

Glad to see the Gophs bounce back with a better performance last night. Great to see Bisch get the GWG. Hopefully we won't see the team slip back into the bad Friday, good Saturday routine again this season. More importantly, I hope they can find a way to hit their stride at the end of the season this year.

Dude! Don't be a spoiler, I think the 3rd period just started and when the feed stops buffering I will continue watching.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

I defended the idea of MN playing ND as good for them. But I can't say I want to see them play ND at ND again.

Wholeheartedly agree from a fan perspective. But from the team's point of view, playing them down there is probably a good thing.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Dude! Don't be a spoiler, I think the 3rd period just started and when the feed stops buffering I will continue watching.

That was the way the AK games went for me last year. Still waiting to see period 3 from Sat game. I had very little buffering (have to talk to the wife about that). Online, it was having 50% of the shots being the closeups from the behind the glass in the corners, including staying with it after the puck was completely out of view or where the puck was 3/4 the way down the rink and you couldn't tell where anyone was, that drove me nuts, or maybe, more nuts. Every PP seemed to be shown from the corner, where you had no idea how players were set up and you couldn't see the play develop.

I guess I should be less pessimistic. They won. I got my deer even though I got pushed out of my spot I've been hunting for years by some guys who built a permanent stand. It's hanging in the garage. (No Gurt, I'm not giving you my address. It is a buck anyway, if that matters to you.)

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Dude! Don't be a spoiler, I think the 3rd period just started and when the feed stops buffering I will continue watching.

That was the way the AK games went for me last year. Still waiting to see period 3 from Sat game. I had very little buffering (have to talk to the wife about that). Online, it was having 50% of the shots being the closeups from the behind the glass in the corners, including staying with it after the puck was completely out of view or where the puck was 3/4 the way down the rink and you couldn't tell where anyone was, that drove me nuts, or maybe, more nuts. Every PP seemed to be shown from the corner, where you had no idea how players were set up and you couldn't see the play develop.

I guess I should be less pessimistic. They won. I got my deer even though I got pushed out of my spot I've been hunting for years by some guys who built a permanent stand. It's hanging in the garage. (No Gurt, I'm not giving you my address. It is a buck anyway, if that matters to you.)

 

[Call It]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

More proof, Notre Dame cheats!

I think it's the Mario Factor, he gets the Irish pumped up to play us.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Wholeheartedly agree from a fan perspective. But from the team's point of view, playing them down there is probably a good thing.

Despite the less than ideal TV coverage, it was an important litmus test for the Gophers to be on the road and it exposed some weaknesses that are fixable. These NC road series are important for that reason. The Gophers have already scheduled the following NCs with HE teams:

2013-14: Notre Dame twice on road; Boston College twice at Mariucci.
2014-15: Notre Dame twice at Mariucci; Boston College and Northeastern for single games on the road.
2016-17: Notre Dame twice on road; Northeastern twice at Mariucci.

Unless tDon is a fortune teller, this prearranged NC schedule was NOT based upon whether these are going to be "good" teams or not. Northeastern has struggled much like UAA and has only been above .500 once in their last 10 seasons, the year they made the NCAAs. ND has only played above .500 hockey and made the NCAAs 2/4 previous seasons. Lucia made it clear a few months ago that with the conference realignment, he wanted to expand their schedule to focus on playing eastern teams (you mean he's looking east like ND? ), particularly solid hockey programs in HE. After ND drops off the schedule in 2016-17 (and Mario graduates...), the Whioux will come on the schedule.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Despite the less than ideal TV coverage, it was an important litmus test for the Gophers to be on the road and it exposed some weaknesses that are fixable. These NC road series are important for that reason. The Gophers have already scheduled the following NCs with HE teams:

2013-14: Notre Dame twice on road; Boston College twice at Mariucci.
2014-15: Notre Dame twice at Mariucci; Boston College and Northeastern for single games on the road.
2016-17: Notre Dame twice on road; Northeastern twice at Mariucci.

Unless tDon is a fortune teller, this prearranged NC schedule was NOT based upon whether these are going to be "good" teams or not. Northeastern has struggled much like UAA and has only been above .500 once in their last 10 seasons, the year they made the NCAAs. ND has only played above .500 hockey and made the NCAAs 2/4 previous seasons. Lucia made it clear a few months ago that with the conference realignment, he wanted to expand their schedule to focus on playing eastern teams (you mean he's looking east like ND? ), particularly solid hockey programs in HE. After ND drops off the schedule in 2016-17 (and Mario graduates...), the Whioux will come on the schedule.

You sure about this? I thought we had two on the road at BC next year...and had one on the road against Notre Dame next year in the ice breaker.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

You sure about this? I thought we had two on the road at BC next year...and had one on the road against Notre Dame next year in the ice breaker.

It would be unusual for any non-conference team (BC) to agree to come here and play two games, two years in a row, as it would any non-conference team (MN) to play a pair of games against Notre Dame, two years in a row, in South Bend.

 

[SanTropez]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Pretty sure it is @BC next year and 1 game in the ice breaker @Notre Dame

 

[gopher wes]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Pretty sure it is @BC next year and 1 game in the ice breaker @Notre Dame

Pretty sure they will play one game at BC and one game at Northeastern, not a series at BC.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

How was Gurtler's play this weekend? I didn't seem to notice him much on the ice but think he was in the lineup both nights, right?

 

[gopher wes]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

How was Gurtler's play this weekend? I didn't seem to notice him much on the ice but think he was in the lineup both nights, right?

Personally thought he struggled this weekend(at least on Friday night). I noticed him on Friday. It was hard to follow specific players on the internet feed on Saturday night but I thought he struggled a bit on Friday. Not to say he played poorly or anything, but he is going to need some breaking in while the rest of the freshman have already cut their teeth this year.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

You sure about this? I thought we had two on the road at BC next year...and had one on the road against Notre Dame next year in the ice breaker.

No, I'm actually not sure about ND's visit to Mooch next season, Major. I pasted it in from a Strib interview with tDon where he laid it out and that's all the info I had. But we are also on for 2014 Ice Breaker at ND.

 

[Steve_MN]

Re: Minnesota at Notre Dame 11/8 & 11/9

Pretty sure they will play one game at BC and one game at Northeastern, not a series at BC.

Correct. BC here for 2 this year, MN @ BC/NE next year, NE at Mariucci in 2015 and MN @BC/NE in 2016

As far as ND, unless I'm greatly mistaken, ND is coming to Mariucci next year for a pair, with MN going back to South Bend in 2015, after which this "series" is done for now. This is why the UND/MN setup is for 2016/17 and 2017/18, that's basically filling the slot in the schedule that the Gophers have Notre Dame in right now.

The Icebreaker is a College Hockey Inc tournament that's outside the normal scheduling setup.