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

[Driftryder]

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

Wake-up calls have been plentiful during the first half of a disappointing season for the Minnesota Gophers, who enter this weekend's series at Michigan Tech mired in eighth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, nine points behind conference-leading Denver.

Inexcusable home losses, random lapses and fleeting dominance summarize the Gophers' 6-9-1 record (4-7-1 WCHA), vexing fans and coaches alike.
This week, coach Don Lucia sounded his latest alarm, moving his team from its cozy dressing room at Mariucci Arena to the cramped visitors' locker for a pair of 6:30 a.m. practices. He hoped to shed the complacency and bad habits that have plagued Minnesota in 2009-10.
It is imperative the Gophers take care of business in Houghton and return from the Upper Peninsula within one victory of .500 before shutting down for final exams and the holiday break.

The last-place Huskies have lost five straight games and won just one of their past 14 home games against Minnesota.
All of which prompts five pivotal questions confronting the Gophers when they start the second half Jan. 2 against Bowling Green:

1. Can they reclaim home-ice advantage? Minnesota is 3-6 at Mariucci Arena while committing the ultimate sin of uninspired play in front of paying customers. An eight-game span that started last weekend against Minnesota State Mankato has the Gophers playing opponents with a .324 winning percentage. With six straight home games, including a pair against heated rival North Dakota, they must make hay in January and re-establish superiority on home ice.

2. Where are Jordan Schroeder and the rest of the offense? Too often their most talented forward has been invisible, not only failing to consistently produce on a team starved for goals but playing passively, particularly without the puck. Schroeder's third sojourn to the world junior championships, where the sophomore has thrived in the past, should boost his game. Meanwhile, only two players have double-digit points on a club averaging a paltry 2.44 goals per game. More is expected from upperclassmen such as Patrick White, Ryan Flynn, Cade Fairchild and David Fischer, who have combined for just four goals. Bowling Green transfer Jacob Cepis, who debuts against his former team, should energize a low-wattage attack.

3. Could someone plug in the power play? Much of the Gophers' woes can be traced to feebleness with the man advantage, which is 0 for its last 12. Defensemen have struggled to get pucks on net and forwards have been too timid to crash the net. Eight power-play goals and a 12 percent conversion rate are indefensible. Worse, they have not worked hard enough to force defenders into taking penalties. No WCHA team has had fewer power plays than Minnesota's 66.

4. How much responsibility does Lucia carry? No doubt the last year has been Lucia's most challenging in 11 seasons in Minnesota, from his health problems to the Gophers' soft play and lack of urgency. Their inconsistency (2-10-2 on Friday and 8-5-1 on Saturday dating to last season) underscores the disconnect between players and the coaching staff, including longtime assistant John Hill and newcomer Grant Potulny. Lucia has paid ample lip service to being a team that has to manufacture more goals over relying on talent to score. That strains credibility for a roster that features 20 NHL draft picks, including four first-round selections. Failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament and the Minneapolis Regional for the second straight year will intensify calls for a regime change from a disgruntled fan base.

5. Can their goaltending and underclassmen carry the freight? The Gophers have protected their net well enough to salvage hopes for a revival. Starter Alex Kangas has toughened mentally and tightened his technique after a miserable sophomore season. Kent Patterson has earned the role of No. 1A, stopping 76 of 79 shots (.962 save percentage) in his past two starts. Freshmen Nick Leddy and Josh Birkholz and sophomore Taylor Matson, who scored their first goals last week, are playing with confidence and will continue stealing minutes from underachieving veterans.

From the Pioneer Press. tDon is trying to wake them up anyway.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

They're desperate now. The first half rivals the second half of last year and last year they had a great first half and didn't make anything. So, I don't have much hope, not much at all.

 

[HarleyMC]

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

If the Gophers don't sweep - I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Slap Shot]

Gophers sweep. Too much talent and I hope pride left for them to flush the season down the toilet. The good news is that if they do turn it around I think it will be easier to overcome the poor start come March than was the poor finish of least season.

 

[Puck Swami]

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

All great programs have challenges, and Minnesota is no exception. I would imagine that managing all the egos and expectations on a team with 20 NHL draft picks and four first rounders isn't very easy for any coach. It's probably not so much the Xs and Os, but a matter of focus, effort, character and role clarity. All these players were stars growing up. Lucia is trying to get them to be less complacent, which is a start. But he also recruited these players, so he knows the character level, work ethic and the role clarity he needs to instill.

I think the Gophers will benefit from a break, and will come back to play strong in the second half.

 

[HoosierBBall_GopherHockey]

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

All great programs have challenges, and Minnesota is no exception. I would imagine that managing all the egos and expectations on a team with 20 NHL draft picks and four first rounders isn't very easy for any coach. It's probably not so much the Xs and Os, but a matter of focus, effort, character and role clarity. All these players were stars growing up. Lucia is trying to get them to be less complacent, which is a start. But he also recruited these players, so he knows the character level, work ethic and the role clarity he needs to instill.

I think the Gophers will benefit from a break, and will come back to play strong in the second half.

Glad to see we have one person on board.

 

[Driftryder]

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

Gophers sweep. Too much talent and I hope pride left for them to flush the season down the toilet. The good news is that if they do turn it around I think it will be easier to overcome the poor start come March than was the poor finish of least season.

I am still drinking the kool-aid as well and think they can turn the season around. A sweep this weekend would be a start anyway and should give them some momentum going into the 2nd half. The next 6 games should all be very winnable.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

I am still drinking the kool-aid as well and think they can turn the season around. A sweep this weekend would be a start anyway and should give them some momentum going into the 2nd half. The next 6 games should all be very winnable.

The issue isn't "winnability" anymore. The issue is they have to win, and they have to win now. They pretty much have no margin for error anymore. Since they lost to Michigan, and they dropped one to Mankato that they could not afford to lose. So, that's .500 hockey at best when they need better than that just to get to .500.

I think 6-0, 5-1 bare minimum in the next 6 or getting a bid to anything is going to be next to impossible.

 

[Koho]

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

As long as they don't pull the same crap Brian Kelly did with Cincy. That was about as low class as you can get. Worse than dave hakstol and the entire state of wisconsin combined.

I thought I heard Cincy hired him before he was done with his previous team as well, so it is tough to say this is any different. If that was the job he wanted, who can blame him. The Gopher's have had plenty of players who've done the same sort of thing.

(I can't believe I just commented on college football. Too much time in the car with sports radio on.)

I wish I could SEE a gopher win this weekend. Gonna be a long dry spell without watching.

 

[Koho]

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

The issue isn't "winnability" anymore. The issue is they have to win, and they have to win now. They pretty much have no margin for error anymore. Since they lost to Michigan, and they dropped one to Mankato that they could not afford to lose. So, that's .500 hockey at best when they need better than that just to get to .500.

I think 6-0, 5-1 bare minimum in the next 6 or getting a bid to anything is going to be next to impossible.

They SHOULD be able to go 6-0, and my slightly more optimistic view than yours tells me they will be 5-1 and on their way to recovering some confidence and therefore playing better by the 2nd half.

 

[brianvf]

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

Lucia put the cupcake portion of the schedule at the perfect time this season.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

Lucia put the cupcake portion of the schedule at the perfect time this season.

Here's the WCHA misses from the first half that have to be rectified.

UND on the road. 1 lost point, had the win and let it go.
Denver at home. 2 lost points, no excuse for getting swept at home.
tUMD at home. 2 lost points, I'll give UMD the benefit of the doubt since they're pretty good this year.
Mankato Home and Home, 2 lost points. No excuse for not sweeping Mankato.

So, Minnesota has to make up 7 lost points in the second half. A pretty tall order considering their schedule. Normally you'd say split on the road against Tech so they can get 2 of the seven back this weekend. I'd say if 5-1 is acceptable Koho the 1 loss cannot come at Tech.

 

[brianvf]

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

So, Minnesota has to make up 7 lost points in the second half. A pretty tall order considering their schedule.

Look at it this way:

Last season the Sioux lost 11 WCHA points before Xmas break.
Then the came back and won the league title.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

Look at it this way:

Last season the Sioux lost 11 WCHA points before Xmas break.
Then the came back and won the league title.

I could, but that's UND'd modus operandi, NOT Minnesota's.

 

[goldy_331]

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

Look at it this way:

Last season the Sioux lost 11 WCHA points before Xmas break.
Then the came back and won the league title.

But Minnesota has lost 15 points so far. Seven losses and a tie.

Even bigger hill to climb.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

But Minnesota has lost 15 points so far. Seven losses and a tie.

Even bigger hill to climb.

Oy. One extra getting swept weekend then the Sioux from last year. How depressing.

 

[Driftryder]

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

I'd say if 5-1 is acceptable Koho the 1 loss cannot come at Tech.

After Tech we have the Holiday Classic (Bowling Green and either Clarkson or N. Michigan) then Harvard here for two. I would think 6-0 or 5-1 isn't out of the question.

 

[HarleyMC]

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

I like the optimistic vibes here. I'm a diehard Gopher fan. But realistically this team is about as inconsistent as it gets. Looking at the previous seasons and this one, this program needs a serious house cleaning and an overhaul.

I don't buy the ego trip/prima donna argument. I find it hard to believe these guys dress and don't want to win.

 

[Stauber1]

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

I don't buy the ego trip/prima donna argument. I find it hard to believe these guys dress and don't want to win.

I don't either. Given the past 3 seasons, any one of these guys with a prima donna persona is either dumb or delusional. The only ones I could see that with are some of the underclassmen, and they seem to be the hardest workers on the team...OK, maybe there is ONE underclassmen who could be characterized as prima donna.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

1 down.

5 to go.