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Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Greyeagle said:
Obviously losing sucks but I left the game happy with MN's play and effort.
With the exception being faceoffs. :mad:
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http://www.nmu.edu/wildcats/sports/hockey/statistics/2009_10/nmu0103.htm

Officially: Matt Butcher went 15 for 26 and Jared Brown went 7 for 13. Our two best face off guys averaged 57% of the faceoff wins. And they're the two best faceoff guys in the CCHA.


Unofficially, they probably won a few more face-offs that a Gopher snagged away after the draw.


You're (usually) not going to get the puck from those two guys.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Greyeagle said:
Obviously losing sucks but I left the game happy with MN's play and effort.
With the exception being faceoffs. :mad:
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It would be nice if out of the 50 shots on goal, more than about three were from somewhere between the dots, rather than all from outside the dots. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

goldy_331 said:
It would be nice if out of the 50 shots on goal, more than about three were from somewhere between the dots, rather than all from outside the dots. :rolleyes:
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I think they had quite a few chances from in closer than they have been for most of the year. There were a number of other times where there was a loose puck in front of the goalie on rebounds or blocked shots that a Gopher just couldn't quite control well enough or pushed it wide, but was trying rather than watching from the outside. You're not going to see 50 shots and have them mostly be from in close very often. But the thing they did better than they have most of the year was to have forwards pressing and be in position for those rebounds when they did shoot from long-range. And on the non-shot side of things, they did a lot better job for a good portion of the game of holding the puck in the NMU zone by attacking the puck, rather than standing and waiting for the opposing player to come to them. Even Flynn, who on a couple of shifts the night before looked like one of the little girls on my soccer team who waits for an opponent to approach before even thinking about trying to take it away, and sometimes just steps out of the way, had a few shifts last night where he was noticeable for a hard forecheck. It gave me hope he might start playing with more urgency like he did in some games before the end of last season. (of course I DIDN'T SEE THE FIRST HALF OF THE FIRST PERIOD THOUGH! - THANKS FSN.)
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Greyeagle said:
Obviously losing sucks but I left the game happy with MN's play and effort.
With the exception being faceoffs. :mad:
Click to expand...

Was it really their play and effort that left you happy, or did you just eat a lot of those coated nuts?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

To get to the NCAA's is going to take a miracle now based on the play from this past weekend.

So, let's talk about which teams we want the Gophers to beat so we can laugh at them for losing to the Gophers.

UND is first on my list.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

scsutommyboy said:
I thought all college coaches could leave for any job they wanted? If not how do all of these coaches leave for different schools all the time?:confused:
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Depends on how the contract is structured. Most can resign and leave for another school, but at some schools, the coach forfeits some money if he leaves his contract early. Sometimes the school where he's going to pays the difference. If you have a specific "out-clause" for a destination school in the existing contract, it helps avoid money hassles and hurt feelings.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Koho said:
Was it really their play and effort that left you happy, or did you just eat a lot of those coated nuts?
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Both.
Though the crack covered nuts were a little overcooked yesterday. ;)
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

ScoobyDoo said:
To get to the NCAA's is going to take a miracle now based on the play from this past weekend.

So, let's talk about which teams we want the Gophers to beat so we can laugh at them for losing to the Gophers.

UND is first on my list.
Click to expand...

Mine too!

Sweeps of the DOTA team and UMD (revenge for losing a series I felt they should have swept, not a fan issue) would be nice.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Koho said:
Mine too!

Sweeps of the DOTA team and UMD (revenge for losing a series I felt they should have swept, not a fan issue) would be nice.
Click to expand...

Actually, I'd just like every team they meet in the WCHA playoffs to lose to them!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Puck Swami said:
Depends on how the contract is structured. Most can resign and leave for another school, but at some schools, the coach forfeits some money if he leaves his contract early. Sometimes the school where he's going to pays the difference. If you have a specific "out-clause" for a destination school in the existing contract, it helps avoid money hassles and hurt feelings.
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Thanks.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

jdr1 said:
awe give him some time with Hill and tDon and that will change!!!:D
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Interesting comment. Cepis' freewheeling style stood out in stark contrast to a lot of other Gopher players who have similar talents and creative skills but aren't using them to the same extent. Too much directive leadership, over reliance upon structure and hockey systems and not enough freedom to allow players to trust their intuitive hockey sense can stifle talent, team chemistry and an inate ability to score. Cepis was simply being Cepis out there. He was obviously the most exciting player to watch and a scoring threat when he got the puck in deep.

I'm going to open a can of worms here and mention the "D" word (development) as one potential issue with the coaching staff. We've got Mr. Hockey's and NHL draft choices up the wazzoo, but have they really tapped into their full potential under the current leadership? No and that's probably the most puzzling wart on this team. Does all the blame fall squarely on the leadership? No. But to a reasonable degree, systems are made for the players not players for the system.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

HarleyMC said:
Interesting comment. Cepis' freewheeling style stood out in stark contrast to a lot of other Gopher players who have similar talents and creative skills but aren't using them to the same extent. Too much directive leadership, over reliance upon structure and hockey systems and not enough freedom to allow players to trust their intuitive hockey sense can stifle talent, team chemistry and an inate ability to score. Cepis was simply being Cepis out there. He was obviously the most exciting player to watch and a scoring threat when he got the puck in deep.

I'm going to open a can of worms here and mention the "D" word (development) as one potential issue with the coaching staff. We've got Mr. Hockey's and NHL draft choices up the wazzoo, but have they really tapped into their full potential under the current leadership? No and that's probably the most puzzling wart on this team. Does all the blame fall squarely on the leadership? No. But to a reasonable degree, systems are made for the players not players for the system.
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1. Agree that Cepis was free-wheeling. Now, is that the coaches saying, "hey let's see what he can do and not "coach" him or in the infamous words of Hill, "suggest things to him"? And then they adjust accordingly? Or is that the spark the the coaches need and they said "let's do this strategy and build around this fresh blood"?

2. I think "development" is the wrong word, but using a system that fully taps the potential/skills of the current players might be the correct avenue of questioning the coaches.

2a: MN has pretty much played defensive hockey the last 1-2 years, out of necessity (not scoring). Now that we have the scoring potential, have they switched the strategy back, and we're still not scoring? Or are they gun-shy and maintain a hybrid system or are they still leaning on the defensive side? Back in the day, so to speak, it was run'n'gun. You score 5? We score 6. Now? First to 3 wins.

I maintain they played very well last night. Of course they need to shine 'er up a bit, but that was an effort I have rarely seen this season. tUMD comes to mind, and maybe WI. Other than that? I haven't seen that heart/hustle/etc this year.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

HarleyMC said:
Interesting comment. Cepis' freewheeling style stood out in stark contrast to a lot of other Gopher players who have similar talents and creative skills but aren't using them to the same extent. Too much directive leadership, over reliance upon structure and hockey systems and not enough freedom to allow players to trust their intuitive hockey sense can stifle talent, team chemistry and an inate ability to score. Cepis was simply being Cepis out there. He was obviously the most exciting player to watch and a scoring threat when he got the puck in deep.

I'm going to open a can of worms here and mention the "D" word (development) as one potential issue with the coaching staff. We've got Mr. Hockey's and NHL draft choices up the wazzoo, but have they really tapped into their full potential under the current leadership? No and that's probably the most puzzling wart on this team. Does all the blame fall squarely on the leadership? No. But to a reasonable degree, systems are made for the players not players for the system.
Click to expand...

Cepis looked like he was having fun, thus the stark contrast.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

You figure with Bjudstad, Haula, and Ambroz coming in there are some snipers on the horizon.

Then you remember what has become of Hansen and White and you know that's meaningless.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Koho said:
We are getting to see all sorts of "sucking to lose" this year. I am not sure which is worse; this case where they actually showed up to play most of the game and seemed to deserve the win (last night), or the one where they lose a close one in which they only show up for one period so (take your pick of examples) you feel like they would have won if they played all game?

The faceoffs were frustrating. They need to spend about three practices just facing off. And I don't want to sound like "that guy" who complains about the refs as if one call made the difference, but from rewinding (yes I use VHS) the infamous offside call, I don't think the Gopher was even offsides, much less able to see the linesman calling the offsides when he raced into the zone. I watched it in slow-mo, and unless his back foot was off the ice little enough that I couldn't tell (it was on the top edge of the screen), he was on sides. Of course if they win the face off, there is no goal anyway.

Ok, back to positive; they did play most of the game and controlled the play with a fair number of good chances. They looked better than in most of their games. Cepis will contribute and of course Schroeder returning will help. I haven't given up on them, but they sure have a steep hill ahead.
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Agree 100% with that, although it couldn't have helped that the U was missing two of its top faceoff guys in Schroeder and Matson [how is he by the way?]. Hopefully that gets worked on a little more and getting back Schroeder will help, but at the very least they need to stop getting the puck in the zone and just throwing it at the goalie from the half-wall [on an Olympic sheet nonetheless]. You'd think with all this "talent" we'd be able to set up an offense and create some quality scoring chances instead of making every goalie look like the second coming of Sawchuk.

ScoobyDoo said:
To get to the NCAA's is going to take a miracle now based on the play from this past weekend.

So, let's talk about which teams we want the Gophers to beat so we can laugh at them for losing to the Gophers.

UND is first on my list.
Click to expand...
Have we really sunk this low? This is something I'd expect out Sioux or SCSU fans, not our arrogant selves.

I blame Lucia.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I recently heard that UMass will open up its 2010-11 season with a two game series against the Gophers at Marriucci. Can anybody confirm this?
 
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