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Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Slap Shot said:
Thought the compete level was a bit better tonight although for only 2 of 3 periods.
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Frustrating in that it felt like one they could have won. But PSU seems to come at you hard on the forecheck with a couple players at a time, allowing very little time or space. MN oftentimes had one player forechecking and the next sitting back, looking like he wasn't sure what to do. The consistency of their intensity needs to improve if they want toa salvage anything out of the season.

At least they didn't lose to Canisius this week.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

As I mentioned in a previous post, Penn St. sits at #1 in the nation in blocking shots. Motzko in his postgame interview said "Our good game was out there last night....but the biggest stat that dictated the game was their 21 blocked shots". That's above average for PSU (17). Jack Ramsey mentioned afterwards it was hard to get pucks through. But on the flip side, the Gophers didn't sell out and match it last night either, blocking only 8 (avg. 12).

A positive for Jack last night was he scored his first goal and point of the season on a twisted wrister. Watch him pull the proverbial "monkey" off his back after some fist pumps from the bench --> HIGHLIGHT.

Tommy Novak led the Gophers in assists last season (3-23-26), but it's been difficult sledding for Tommy so far this season (0-7-7). Reminds me of Leon Bristedt last season, a 20 goal scorer in 2015-16 who regressed to post his worst numbers in his final season (5-4-9). Some have mentioned Tommy's decline may be related to the injury that ended his season in 2016-17. I don't think so. Tommy's not a natural goal scorer, he's a playmaking forward with good puck skills. But as a senior he's on pace to finish with his worst season as a Gopher. Usually with that severe a drop in performance, there's most likely other issues he's dealing with.

IMHO it's desperation time for the Gophers in this stretch of B1G games. If they come out with a split tonight, they'll stay around 24th in the PWR. A sweep by Penn St. and then a split on the road with Notre Dame will land them about 26th. But a sweep by both teams and my calculations puts them at 36th and most likely out of the postseason.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Slap Shot said:
Thought the compete level was a bit better tonight although for only 2 of 3 periods. Novak needs to sit, they made too many unforced errors and they give up too many scoring opportunities to pass the puck only to lose possession.
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I’d put Novak in over sadek if we’re trying to find a healthy scratch.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

It'll be interesting to see what changes Motzko will make in tonight's lineup. Curious to see if Robson will start again in goal.

The team desperately needs a win. Getting swept at home should never happen, no matter who the opponent is. PSU's streak must end; that's all there is to it.
 
I'd have no problem seeing both Novak and Sadek in suits tonight.
I honestly don't think we lose anything by dressing Denman over Sadek, and the little bit that Novak brings to the table (faceoffs, puck movement on the PP) doesn't outweigh his lack of foot speed, decision making and motor.

I've been saying since November we should be sitting some guys. Gates and Sheehy have stepped up recently even if they are still inconsistent. Nanne has at least reduced some of his boneheadedness. But at a certain point you have to determine it's time to cut your losses with those other two and start giving time to some younger guys who might develop.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

The most consistent players right now are Sheehy, Pitlick and Gates. Going into tonight's game Sheehy is riding a 9 game point streak, Pitlick's 8 game point streak ended last night and Jr. is on a 4 game scoring streak. It's everybody else that's inconsistent in scoring.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Love the way Walker can motor, but he hasn't yet found his scoring touch. In other words his EFFORT is the most consistent on the team, but you certainly can't say that about his ability to finish. I am, however, optimistic that it will come, and in time will develop and become the team's best forward.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

D2D said:
It'll be interesting to see what changes Motzko will make in tonight's lineup. Curious to see if Robson will start again in goal.

The team desperately needs a win. Getting swept at home should never happen, no matter who the opponent is. PSU's streak must end; that's all there is to it.
Click to expand...

From listening on the radio, Robson was the only reason the game was that close.....
 
SteveO said:
The most consistent players right now are Sheehy, Pitlick and Gates. Going into tonight's game Sheehy is riding a 9 game point streak, Pitlick's 8 game point streak ended last night and Jr. is on a 4 game scoring streak. It's everybody else that's inconsistent in scoring.
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I see their inconsistency in a shift-by-shift way more than a game-by-game.
All of them can disappear for 2 periods while in the same game converting on the PP or making a push for half a period or a period
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Stauber1 said:
I see their inconsistency in a shift-by-shift way more than a game-by-game.
All of them can disappear for 2 periods while in the same game converting on the PP or making a push for half a period or a period
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Yeah, puck possession time for the Gophers this season is down. Koho had a good comment about the forecheck. I'd like to see the Gophers switch to a 2-1-2 Strong Side support which generates a lot more possession time than the 1-2-2. The WJ USA team puts on a clinic using that system with their speed game. The aggressive style the USA showed against Russia reminded me of old-time Gopher hockey. ;)

EDIT:

Which makes it a lot tougher to decide, do I watch the USA vs FIN Gold metal game or the Gophers? :confused: I'm suppose I'll try to do both. :D
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

SteveO said:
Yeah, puck possession time for the Gophers this season is down. Koho had a good comment about the forecheck. I'd like to see the Gophers switch to a 2-1-2 Strong Side support which generates a lot more possession time than the 1-2-2. The WJ USA team puts on a clinic using that system with their speed game. The aggressive style the USA showed against Russia reminded me of old-time Gopher hockey. ;)

EDIT:

Which makes it a lot tougher to decide, do I watch the USA vs FIN Gold metal game or the Gophers? :confused: I'm suppose I'll try to do both. :D
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I suspect they don't trust the D enough to commit the extra man deep. I would think as Bob gets his players into the program we will see them get more and more aggressive.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Greyeagle said:
I suspect they don't trust the D enough to commit the extra man deep. I would think as Bob gets his players into the program we will see them get more and more aggressive.
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Right. Looks like Ben Brinkman might work in that role too. We've got one D coming in next season from Edina, Jake Boltman who doesn't have an offensive side. GOPHER DEPTH CHART
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

anyone know why the game started so late last night?
I mean - if you want the folks on the East Coast to watch Big10 hockey, why is the game starting at 9PM EST?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

SteveO was right, the Gophers were much more aggressive on the forecheck tonight, often sending in two, and it resulted in more zone time. Good call, sir!

directmagna said:
anyone know why the game started so late last night?
I mean - if you want the folks on the East Coast to watch Big10 hockey, why is the game starting at 9PM EST?
Click to expand...

It was on ESPN-U and they carried the always critical UI-Chicago - IUPU-I game at 6.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Just an idea -
we all know it's fun to have a special game at a special place -- ie: Stadium Series or special rivalry holiday tournaments --

Has anyone proposed playing a weekend series in Ridder Arena instead of Mariucci? Think of how electric the atmosphere with the crowd packed into that small arena and seeing college hockey on an NHL rink!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

directmagna said:
Just an idea -
we all know it's fun to have a special game at a special place -- ie: Stadium Series or special rivalry holiday tournaments --

Has anyone proposed playing a weekend series in Ridder Arena instead of Mariucci? Think of how electric the atmosphere with the crowd packed into that small arena and seeing college hockey on an NHL rink!
Click to expand...
Gotta love out-of-the-box thinking, and this one certainly qualifies!

Trouble is, your AD would want to charge $300 per ticket to "make the numbers work." People that well funded tend to be the least vocal at the games, if they attend at all.

I get where you're coming from. The current attendance/atmosphere problems at Mariucci were initially shocking to me. Yes, I realize it's complicated by the fact that many hard core fans still can't accept the B1G Hockey Conference. But in the end, it's actually pretty simple. Set prices far in excess of market value, and attendance will soon suffer. With the required donations now in force at Mariucci, that is the case. Bring ticket prices back in line with the market, and Mariucci will rock again.
 
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