Officials take a PP tally away from the Gophs...early wistle IMO.
I'm sure that is the plan until the new D get up to speed. I saw Haley quite a bit. The problem as I saw it was that the veterans didn't play very well. McMillen looked like she'd never taken a one-timer before. Those three have to know that they can't afford to take penalties. To take two in a row on plays that weren't dangerous won't work, especially when you're being counted on to be one of the anchors. That puts too much pressure on the rest of the blue line. I was happy with the new kids, but disappointed in a couple of the returners who I hoped would bring more.Always pretty hard to tell with a predominantly single camera web stream but it appeared to me that the Gophers leaned very heavily on the 3 returning D.
Saw an awful lot of Ramsey, McMillen and Gillanders. Saw Wolfe some, saw Haley once, Burns a couple of times, Cline maybe.
It also seemed like most of the second half of the game was played on special teams which means that the defensive rotation we saw was NOT typical. But the veterans clearly carried the load. That's a load on 3 players which is unsustainable if they are going to be as good as their pre-season ranking.
I would also expect them to be a little more loose, and better in the rematch. Hopefully smarter about staying out of the box too.Sticks looked a little tight. Lot of pressure for a first game, understandably. They were a lot looser last weekend, but they'll be fine and much better tomorrow.
I'm going to agree with every single bit of this except the part about seeing Haley quite a bit.I'm sure that is the plan until the new D get up to speed. I saw Haley quite a bit. The problem as I saw it was that the veterans didn't play very well. McMillen looked like she'd never taken a one-timer before. Those three have to know that they can't afford to take penalties. To take two in a row on plays that weren't dangerous won't work, especially when you're being counted on to be one of the anchors. That puts too much pressure on the rest of the blue line. I was happy with the new kids, but disappointed in a couple of the returners who I hoped would bring more.
I'm sure that is the plan until the new D get up to speed. I saw Haley quite a bit. The problem as I saw it was that the veterans didn't play very well. McMillen looked like she'd never taken a one-timer before. Those three have to know that they can't afford to take penalties. To take two in a row on plays that weren't dangerous won't work, especially when you're being counted on to be one of the anchors. That puts too much pressure on the rest of the blue line. I was happy with the new kids, but disappointed in a couple of the returners who I hoped would bring more.
Both Schleper and Bozek had a similar role by year two. I'd forgive the one whiff -- Schleper used to whiff on wrist shots after she injured her wrists -- but even when #13 hit the puck she didn't get good wood on it.McMillen is only a second year player, most Gopher second year D, especially recently, haven't been asked to carry the load that she is being asked to carry.
I think McMillen already is and is going to continue to be a very good player but I am not yet ready to start comparing her to Schleper and Bozek.Both Schleper and Bozek had a similar role by year two. I'd forgive the one whiff -- Schleper used to whiff on wrist shots after she injured her wrists -- but even when #13 hit the puck she didn't get good wood on it.
As for the first penalty on #5, I thought she initiated too much contact on the play with no real advantage in doing so. As a team, judgement was lacking in that regard all night right up to the final hook on Terry with 2 minutes to go. Don't need to be hooking anyone 120 feet from your net. While some of the calls were tick-tack, the officials had made those calls all game.