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Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
- Thread starter SteveO
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
But back to the D, they still have a long ways to go in the D zone, for sure, but the good news I think is that they are showing improvement, and so your characterization that "the defense is still the main reason the team sucks" may no longer be totally true. Just like a team's offense, a solid team defense relies on all six players doing what they're supposed to be doing, and lately I've begun to see some progress from our D in all three zones. But starting next week, the schedule starts to get tougher, and we'll see to what extent my new-found optimism holds true.
I'm a lot less down on this team than I was a couple of weeks ago, as I'm beginning to see progress, and that includes the D. Not saying they still don't have a ways to go, but they are definitely better than they were. And yes that includes the oft-maligned Nanny, who on Saturday came up with a huge goal on a tremendous blast on the power play. His one-timer ability gives the Gophers another dangerous alternative to Rem, who seems to have attracted a lot of attention by opposing coaches, who by now are well aware of what he can do.And yes, the defense is still the main reason the team sucks.
But back to the D, they still have a long ways to go in the D zone, for sure, but the good news I think is that they are showing improvement, and so your characterization that "the defense is still the main reason the team sucks" may no longer be totally true. Just like a team's offense, a solid team defense relies on all six players doing what they're supposed to be doing, and lately I've begun to see some progress from our D in all three zones. But starting next week, the schedule starts to get tougher, and we'll see to what extent my new-found optimism holds true.
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
We've had good goaltending, for stretches. They seem to burn out, or lose their way, or something. I can't explain it.
Adam Wilcox was a good goalie. Not surprisingly his three years here were also the last three true Gopher teams as far as skill and style of play.
We've had good goaltending, for stretches. They seem to burn out, or lose their way, or something. I can't explain it.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
Pedo St
Haven't looked at the schedule. Which team do we get to see the Gophers play 2-4 periods against this weekend?
Pedo St
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
I think we owe them a sweep or two.Pedo St
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
That would require a full six periods of effort.
I think we owe them a sweep or two.
That would require a full six periods of effort.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
I am feeling better about this team's play and prospects, but you're right about the full six periods - that might still be a little too much to ask.That would require a full six periods of effort.
trixR4kids
New member
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
Given how these two teams play I feel like a tie (through 5 min OT) is unlikely. I'd go 40-40-20 (PSU sweep, split, Gopher Sweep).
Given how these two teams play I feel like a tie (through 5 min OT) is unlikely. I'd go 40-40-20 (PSU sweep, split, Gopher Sweep).
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
I see both teams being down from last year, and with PSU having lost four out of their last five, and five out of their last seven, the Gophers may be catching them at a good point in the schedule. And they will have extra motivation after what they allowed to happen last year. Then again, it's an away series, and in their last series the Gophers were a little fortunate to eke out a split - at home - against an unrated Michigan team whose body of work this season is clearly inferior to PSU's. All of which leads me to conclude that the Gophers are decided underdogs in this series, but they have been playing better as of late so, however unlikely, you can't rule out a total surprise.
So following Bonin21's prognostication, I'll go with:
15% Gophers sweep
10% Gophers "three" points
30% Split
15% PSU "three points"
30% PSU sweep
Bottom line: The Nittany Lions are twice as likely to sweep as the Gophers sweeping them, but the two teams splitting this series is just as likely.
I see both teams being down from last year, and with PSU having lost four out of their last five, and five out of their last seven, the Gophers may be catching them at a good point in the schedule. And they will have extra motivation after what they allowed to happen last year. Then again, it's an away series, and in their last series the Gophers were a little fortunate to eke out a split - at home - against an unrated Michigan team whose body of work this season is clearly inferior to PSU's. All of which leads me to conclude that the Gophers are decided underdogs in this series, but they have been playing better as of late so, however unlikely, you can't rule out a total surprise.
So following Bonin21's prognostication, I'll go with:
15% Gophers sweep
10% Gophers "three" points
30% Split
15% PSU "three points"
30% PSU sweep
Bottom line: The Nittany Lions are twice as likely to sweep as the Gophers sweeping them, but the two teams splitting this series is just as likely.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
It's Gameday!
What's interesting about this match up is the Gophers and Nittany Lions have identical records over the last 6 games, 2-4-0. Gophers GF and GA during this stretch, 24 and 25. Penn St.'s GF and GA over 6 games, 25 and 19.
Both teams ranked low in GA (MN/37th, PSU/52), but in GF Penn St. is #1, Gophers are 15th.
Mat Robson's GAA over the last 6 games is 3.83. Robson GAA all time vs Penn St. is 3.20. At Pegula, Robson is 0-3 all time with a pathetic GAA of 4.0.
Peyton Jones has been in net for 5/6 previous games for PSU and has a similar GAA of 3.80.
What does all this mean for this weekend? The Nittany Lions with home ice, having dropped 4/6 games are 18th in the PWR, but are still within striking distance of an at-large bid. I think PSU will come out of the gate smelling blood. Unless the Gophers can show more energy/effort, physicality, high level skill for 60 min/game, Robson keeps his GA down and the Gophers can bury at least 3-4 each night, Penn St. will have it's way with the Gophers all weekend. The Gopher PP may be their saving grace.
Best Gopher impression of a live pylon drill I've ever seen in Gopher hockey > Starting at 56:27. Whatever happened to the promised physicality this season by Motzko? Looks exactly like pond hockey. If they show that same lack of effort at Happy Valley this weekend, they will be slaughtered.
It's Gameday!
What's interesting about this match up is the Gophers and Nittany Lions have identical records over the last 6 games, 2-4-0. Gophers GF and GA during this stretch, 24 and 25. Penn St.'s GF and GA over 6 games, 25 and 19.
Both teams ranked low in GA (MN/37th, PSU/52), but in GF Penn St. is #1, Gophers are 15th.
Mat Robson's GAA over the last 6 games is 3.83. Robson GAA all time vs Penn St. is 3.20. At Pegula, Robson is 0-3 all time with a pathetic GAA of 4.0.
Peyton Jones has been in net for 5/6 previous games for PSU and has a similar GAA of 3.80.
What does all this mean for this weekend? The Nittany Lions with home ice, having dropped 4/6 games are 18th in the PWR, but are still within striking distance of an at-large bid. I think PSU will come out of the gate smelling blood. Unless the Gophers can show more energy/effort, physicality, high level skill for 60 min/game, Robson keeps his GA down and the Gophers can bury at least 3-4 each night, Penn St. will have it's way with the Gophers all weekend. The Gopher PP may be their saving grace.
Best Gopher impression of a live pylon drill I've ever seen in Gopher hockey > Starting at 56:27. Whatever happened to the promised physicality this season by Motzko? Looks exactly like pond hockey. If they show that same lack of effort at Happy Valley this weekend, they will be slaughtered.
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trixR4kids
New member
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
Yeah I saw that in person, Hughes is good and sometimes you just tip your hat for a good play but Zuhlsdorf just waving his stick lazily and getting beat badly kind of sums up his career here.
Yeah I saw that in person, Hughes is good and sometimes you just tip your hat for a good play but Zuhlsdorf just waving his stick lazily and getting beat badly kind of sums up his career here.
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No matter how people try to spin it all year, the defense is awful.
Robson seemed off last night. Maybe he's getting sick of the support, maybe he's talking to some pro teams, who knows. The guy can only do so much.
Again
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
This was pretty much out the window from period 1. This has been such a frustrating year. Some hockey disease going through Mpls. Gophers and Wild haven't had a game where everyone is firing at once this year.
That would require a full six periods of effort.
This was pretty much out the window from period 1. This has been such a frustrating year. Some hockey disease going through Mpls. Gophers and Wild haven't had a game where everyone is firing at once this year.
MN sports diseaseThis was pretty much out the window from period 1. This has been such a frustrating year. Some hockey disease going through Mpls. Gophers and Wild haven't had a game where everyone is firing at once this year.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
I hung in there on the TV broadcast until the 3rd period - that was as much pain as I could endure.Getting home from work, turn on radio, "that makes it 6-1, let's hope for a 5 goal Gopher rally..." and then turned off radio.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
I wish I had a better assessment but as I mentioned in a previous post, Robson has lost his edge. He's now 2-5 in the last 7 games allowing 26 goals (GA/3.71). Good goalies don't consistently look like a sieve. Time to sit...for a while. Actually Schierhorn's numbers weren't that great either, but I would not be surprised to see him in net Sat. night.
Even strength:
SV / GA / SV%
5 / 3 / 0.625 Robson
28 / 3 / 0.903 Schierhorn
There was a spark from Sheehy, but despite burying two there was little celebration and you could see the disappointment on his face. Overall, it seems to me the team is unraveling. I don't expect much as they close out not only a losing season, but most likely the worst W% for a Gopher squad in the last 20 years.
I'm not impressed at all with Motzko and the coaching staff. Based upon their record it's obvious they lost control of this team weeks ago. Fans can blame the players, but Motzko is paid BIG bucks to take what he's got and improve upon it. Good coaches do it all the time. They've unfortunately taken a status quo, soft approach to this team culture and it's been a dismal failure. I also question the leadership of Raboin as a defensive coach. I can't recall the upperclassman D under Lucia and Co. ever playing THIS bad.
Will they win the B1G tourney for an NCAA autobid? IMO not a chance. Give some of the younger guys that show promise more ice time with a view to next season.
<img src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/404c206f190d90b7488fa6af40495cc3/tenor.gif" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 6px;" height="220" width="340">
I wish I had a better assessment but as I mentioned in a previous post, Robson has lost his edge. He's now 2-5 in the last 7 games allowing 26 goals (GA/3.71). Good goalies don't consistently look like a sieve. Time to sit...for a while. Actually Schierhorn's numbers weren't that great either, but I would not be surprised to see him in net Sat. night.
Even strength:
SV / GA / SV%
5 / 3 / 0.625 Robson
28 / 3 / 0.903 Schierhorn
There was a spark from Sheehy, but despite burying two there was little celebration and you could see the disappointment on his face. Overall, it seems to me the team is unraveling. I don't expect much as they close out not only a losing season, but most likely the worst W% for a Gopher squad in the last 20 years.
I'm not impressed at all with Motzko and the coaching staff. Based upon their record it's obvious they lost control of this team weeks ago. Fans can blame the players, but Motzko is paid BIG bucks to take what he's got and improve upon it. Good coaches do it all the time. They've unfortunately taken a status quo, soft approach to this team culture and it's been a dismal failure. I also question the leadership of Raboin as a defensive coach. I can't recall the upperclassman D under Lucia and Co. ever playing THIS bad.
Will they win the B1G tourney for an NCAA autobid? IMO not a chance. Give some of the younger guys that show promise more ice time with a view to next season.
<img src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/404c206f190d90b7488fa6af40495cc3/tenor.gif" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 6px;" height="220" width="340">
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!
Doesn't seem to have infected the other college teams in the state.
MN sports disease
Doesn't seem to have infected the other college teams in the state.
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