Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

[Eeyore]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

I didn't see the Friday game, so I can't comment on that, but I completely agree with the assessment of today's game. Looking at the scoreboard, it was very odd to see Wisconsin have the SOG lead for most of the game. With as much as the Gophers controlled the puck all day long, I'd have expected the SOGs to be very lopsided in Minnesota's favor.

SOG totals in Minnesota/Wisconsin games usually have a more pro-Badger tilt than the actual play. I really think it's a product of different philosophies by the teams. Wisconsin takes a lot more shots from the outside than Minnesota does. The Gophers approach in the offensive zone is to work the puck in close and make one more pass for a high percentage initial shot. The Badgers fire away and look for rebounds. The result is that there are a lot more Gopher scoring chances that never produce an actual shot.

I don't know that there is a correct answer as to which approach is better. It's extremely context dependent, not only on the specific game situations but also on the abilities of the specific players. But it does mean that a quick look at the shot totals is not a good way to evaluate these games. That's true in general, but especially with these two teams, who seem to live at opposite ends of the spectrum.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

My final verdict on the weekend was one lousy period, one terrible period and then four outstanding periods. And the end result is a sweep of the Badgers and who can complain about that?

I think it was more a case of the Badgers playing really really well the first two periods Friday. The Gophers played like the defending champions they are in the third period of both games.

That was not a good effort through the first two periods. Surprisingly, I didn't think the defense was the real problem. Megan Wolfe looks like she's settling back in there nicely. Ramsey had a couple of silly plays, and got away with a couple of penalties that weren't called but I thought McMillen looked steady through the goal game in addition to scoring the winning goal.

The biggest issues were with the forwards. In that second period they made bad decisions in their own zone and didn't execute their passes at all. There were a lot of turnovers just inside the defensive blueline. When they finally got going in the third I liked the play of the Terry/Cameranesi/Schipper line.

yup, the defense actually played well in front of the net, it was getting the puck out of the zone that was the problem

 

[brookyone]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

Well, the Red Rabble has been dispatched in round one of 2013-2014.

Next...the trip up I-35 to hopefully dispose of the mutts with some "Minnesota Hockey" more similar to game two of the Badger series. Or amped up a notch or two. The mutts escaped GF with just one WCHA point. Obviously plenty motivation for UMD to pick up badly needed points, and...you know, that other thing they dream of accomplishing. Or so I've heard.

Wouldn't mind any news regarding the situations of Brooke Garzone and or Kate Flug if there was any to be dispensed.

I hope to be proven grossly incompetent in prognostication abilities where that poll thread is concerned.

7 of the next 8 on the road I believe. Something of an early gauntlet.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

Wouldn't mind any news regarding the situations of Brooke Garzone and or Kate Flug if there was any to be dispensed.

I know nothing about Garzone but at a postgame reception on Saturday, Ms. Flug said that she's recovering from a torn meniscus and that it's likely going to be November or December before she can play.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

I know nothing about Garzone but at a postgame reception on Saturday, Ms. Flug said that she's recovering from a torn meniscus and that it's likely going to be November or December before she can play.

Thanks for that info. Hope the recovery goes well and she's ready to play ASAP. Hope to see Ms. Garzone suiting up soon as well.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

So for those who watched the games, I'd love a few perspectives on how UW played - thanks.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

So for those who watched the games, I'd love a few perspectives on how UW played - thanks.

I thought they were very good. They looked much better than did last year's Badgers any of the times I saw them. I do think that they are going to have a lot of trouble scoring against a team that can shut down the top line. But unlike last year's team they at least look like they know how to score even if they can't do it.

Their forecheck can be nasty. The Gophers had a lot of trouble getting the puck out of their own end for the first two periods on Friday and intermittently for the rest of the weekend and it wasn't just that they were playing poorly.

Aside from the scoring problem there are just two issues I'd note. One, it loks like Johnson is going to lean heavily on the Turnbull/Ammermann/Josephs line so hopefully they don't wear out. The other is that Packer and Burke both took some dumb penalties.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

So for those who watched the games, I'd love a few perspectives on how UW played - thanks.

very well overall, they looked more like the defending champs than the Gophers did the 1st two periods friday
in particular they showed us Gopher fans what it was like last year to be dominated by last years Gopher team during the 2nd period of Friday's game, and the 1st period as well, the Gophers looked very happy the 2nd period was over and had escaped without being down 1, 2, or even 3 goals.
As many of us have mentioned here, it is only the ability to put the puck in the net that will prevent the Badgers from a trip to the NCAA's, they do everything else well
I'm in the camp that the Gophers looked bad the 1st two periods Friday because the Badgers played so well.
Saturdays game both teams played well the first two periods, as the scoreboard and stats clearly show, but like in Friday's game, the Gophers took over the third period, whether due to better conditioning, superior talent, better coaching, .... I don't know, maybe a bit of all of them, but then I'm biased.
I was impressed by Turnbull in particular.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

The Gophers are going with a rather short bench and it is somewhat surprising that they have been better as the game goes on, especially in the third period. I think some mentioned this in pre-season analysis but it has shown itself to be true in that the losses to graduation and Team USA on the blue line have been the most difficult to overcome.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

The Gophers are going with a rather short bench and it is somewhat surprising that they have been better as the game goes on, especially in the third period.

Yes and no. Seven of the nine forwards were skating heavy minutes last year, and Minnesota was basically a three-line team then as well. People have commented that Kessel was on the ice all the time last year, but that really wasn't the case. In most games, the Gophers just rolled their three lines. On D, the three returners are probably seeing a little more action, but for somebody like McMillen who played a 2OT game in HS without ever leaving the ice, I doubt she's entering into the red here. For Gillanders and Ramsey, this has to be easier than playing six periods against UND, the last four with only five D.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

I had actually missed McMillen's game winner on Friday. Glad for the chance to see it here. Before moving on the the next challenge immediately ahead.

http://youtu.be/mos2YdTRbBw

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

I had actually missed McMillen's game winner on Friday. Glad for the chance to see it here. Before moving on the the next challenge immediately ahead.

http://youtu.be/mos2YdTRbBw

Loved the way she took advantage of the Badgers' defensive lapse. After gathering in the puck she was able to really develop a head of steam, making a real nice move at the blue line and then showed patience before shooting as their last defender kept backing up and probably screened Rigsby.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

http://www.mndaily.com/sports/women...men-survive-first-test-season-sweep-wisconsin

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

On D, the three returners are probably seeing a little more action,

it appears he is skating the 3 vets and rotating the other 4, there never seems to be the same pair

at least that is the best I can figure it

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

Wisconsin has the video and transcript of Mark Johnson's weekly media conference which gives his reaction to the series in Minnesota.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

very well overall, they looked more like the defending champs than the Gophers did the 1st two periods friday
in particular they showed us Gopher fans what it was like last year to be dominated by last years Gopher team during the 2nd period of Friday's game, and the 1st period as well, the Gophers looked very happy the 2nd period was over and had escaped without being down 1, 2, or even 3 goals.
As many of us have mentioned here, it is only the ability to put the puck in the net that will prevent the Badgers from a trip to the NCAA's, they do everything else well
I'm in the camp that the Gophers looked bad the 1st two periods Friday because the Badgers played so well.
Saturdays game both teams played well the first two periods, as the scoreboard and stats clearly show, but like in Friday's game, the Gophers took over the third period, whether due to better conditioning, superior talent, better coaching, .... I don't know, maybe a bit of all of them, but then I'm biased.
I was impressed by Turnbull in particular.

I thought they were very good. They looked much better than did last year's Badgers any of the times I saw them. I do think that they are going to have a lot of trouble scoring against a team that can shut down the top line. But unlike last year's team they at least look like they know how to score even if they can't do it.

Their forecheck can be nasty. The Gophers had a lot of trouble getting the puck out of their own end for the first two periods on Friday and intermittently for the rest of the weekend and it wasn't just that they were playing poorly.

Aside from the scoring problem there are just two issues I'd note. One, it loks like Johnson is going to lean heavily on the Turnbull/Ammermann/Josephs line so hopefully they don't wear out. The other is that Packer and Burke both took some dumb penalties.

Thanks very much.

 

[OldDave]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

Was there a reason for no band Saturday? If we are going to get blasted by piped in music on a regular basis, I am going to have to get some earplugs...

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

Was there a reason for no band Saturday? If we are going to get blasted by piped in music on a regular basis, I am going to have to get some earplugs...

The pep band is mostly comprised of marching band members, and the entire marching band had an event over at the Metrodome on Saturday afternoon where they did one of their field shows.

You should also expect for there to not be a pep band for the November 16th game vs. UND. The marching band's annual Indoor Concerts are being held that day out in Willmar.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

Not a surprise, but congrats to Amanda on being named WCHA DPotW:
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/101613aae.html

 

[OldDave]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2013-14 Season

The pep band is mostly comprised of marching band members, and the entire marching band had an event over at the Metrodome on Saturday afternoon where they did one of their field shows.

Thank you for the update! Let them know that we appreciate their presence more than they might think.