What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

That was a blowout, with caveats. The first fifteen minutes were as thorough a beatdown as I've seen. Zumwinkle's first goal was just ridiculous: a fake to get the goalie down and then lifted it into the top corner from five feet away. Minnesota kept up incredible pressure, and the passing was pretty. Skaja's goal was into an empty net after the puck movement pulled Polusny in multiple directions. I'm generally not a fan of blowouts, but this one was fun.

And then . . .

Pinning the blame for the first goal on Gulstene is unfair. She didn't look good on it, but it was a complete team effort. It started with another ugly Robinson turnover, but she did her best to make up for it by blocking the first two shots. There is no excuse for no other Gopher getting back into the play, given how long it took to happen.

Minnesota again controlled the first twelve minutes of the second period, though they weren't anything like as sharp as they were in the first. They looked great for the two minutes of 4-on-4 early on, but couldn't score. It all came to an end with another defensive breakdown on which St Cloud scored, and the Gophers wilted. St Cloud had a great five minute stretch, and almost made it 4-3 on a shot off the crossbar that Gulstene treated like she thought it was going two feet over the net. (This was a much worse play than any of the goals that she let in.) Fortunately, Megan Roe took a dumb slashing penalty, Kelly Pannek scored on the power play, and the crisis was averted.

The forwards looked great. I hope the coaches stop messing around with the Wente/Schammel/Zumwinkle line, because they continue to look great. I hope Amy Potomak learns something from the fact that she got her goal on a play when she didn't try to do anything fancy; other than that, the third line was largely anonymous today, though some of that is how much everyone else generated. Williamson continues to be a one woman wrecking crew, and I was glad to see her score.

On the other hand, we're down to three defensemen that I actually trust. For better or for worse, it's the youngest three. Robinson had a nightmare weekend, and Skarzynski wasn't good, either, including a play where she watched the puck slide by and out of the offensive zone from two feet away without moving. Marshall was better, but too often reminds me of the frustrating things about Sydney Baldwin. And the goaltending has reached the point of being concerning.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

Still Eeyore said:
That was a blowout, with caveats. The first fifteen minutes were as thorough a beatdown as I've seen. Zumwinkle's first goal was just ridiculous: a fake to get the goalie down and then lifted it into the top corner from five feet away. Minnesota kept up incredible pressure, and the passing was pretty. Skaja's goal was into an empty net after the puck movement pulled Polusny in multiple directions. I'm generally not a fan of blowouts, but this one was fun.

And then . . .

Pinning the blame for the first goal on Gulstene is unfair. She didn't look good on it, but it was a complete team effort. It started with another ugly Robinson turnover, but she did her best to make up for it by blocking the first two shots. There is no excuse for no other Gopher getting back into the play, given how long it took to happen.

Minnesota again controlled the first twelve minutes of the second period, though they weren't anything like as sharp as they were in the first. They looked great for the two minutes of 4-on-4 early on, but couldn't score. It all came to an end with another defensive breakdown on which St Cloud scored, and the Gophers wilted. St Cloud had a great five minute stretch, and almost made it 4-3 on a shot off the crossbar that Gulstene treated like she thought it was going two feet over the net. (This was a much worse play than any of the goals that she let in.) Fortunately, Megan Roe took a dumb slashing penalty, Kelly Pannek scored on the power play, and the crisis was averted.

The forwards looked great. I hope the coaches stop messing around with the Wente/Schammel/Zumwinkle line, because they continue to look great. I hope Amy Potomak learns something from the fact that she got her goal on a play when she didn't try to do anything fancy; other than that, the third line was largely anonymous today, though some of that is how much everyone else generated. Williamson continues to be a one woman wrecking crew, and I was glad to see her score.

On the other hand, we're down to three defensemen that I actually trust. For better or for worse, it's the youngest three. Robinson had a nightmare weekend, and Skarzynski wasn't good, either, including a play where she watched the puck slide by and out of the offensive zone from two feet away without moving. Marshall was better, but too often reminds me of the frustrating things about Sydney Baldwin. :) sounds like a compliment to me, lol :)And the goaltending has reached the point of being concerning.
Click to expand...

Too bad you don’t diagnose your own mental problem. You seem awfully high on neuroticism, and your criticism of others may indicate an attempt to deflect attention from your own problems.

Yes, Marshall & Skarzynski each made a blunder during the game, people make mistakes, judge them by the totality not one individual instance. They are currently leading the Gophers in +/- and both third in the league, given they are usually out there against the other teams 1st or 2nd line, I don’t see reason for all the complaining.

I do agree that the younger blue-liners are playing well, in particular Hengler, who might be the most relaxed freshman blue-liner I have ever seen. Usually they are pretty frantic because they have misjudged or made a bad choice and consequently have to really kick butt or take a penalty to make up for it. From game one she always seems to be in the right place and so far has been making good choices, even on offense, not too eager, nor too conservative, just right. It’s no wonder she has gone from playing only half time, to be suited for every game, and now playing a major role at the blue line.

Moving Skaja with Pannek and Amy P with Heise looks like an improvement all the way around, plus giving Boreen more ice time taking Skaja spot, and she has picked up her game as a result. It’s kind of amazing that they have had three freshman playing center and all of them have played well.

When I got home I flipped on the tube and caught Joe from Ch 5 say Grace Zoomwinkle, which I thought might be his attempt at a nickname for her until I heard him use the river thru our nation’s capital for Amy P’s name. :p
But I guess that’s better than no pub at all.
 
Last edited:
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

PC mentioned her and it was interesting as Hengler was a topic of conversation with the group of parents I was conversing with. I mentioned how well she is playing and the difference for her not being on the ice all the time like she was with Eden Prairie and it was mentioned that she should be in the mix for USA hockey. She was early on but must have not been able to do enough push ups or some sort of thing so she fell out of favor. ;)
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

FiveHoleFrenzy said:
She was early on but must have not been able to do enough push ups or some sort of thing so she fell out of favor. ;)
Click to expand...
I would guess that skating is #13's greatest opportunity for improvement in order to be in the picture for the national team. That was something Hannah Brandt improved a lot from her freshman season, and was likely what kept her off of the 2014 Olympic Team -- that, or Katey Stone ;). Looking strictly at our freshmen D, #6 gets from point A to point B very quickly, while #13 compensates with very good anticipation of the play.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

ARM said:
I would guess that skating is #13's greatest opportunity for improvement in order to be in the picture for the national team. That was something Hannah Brandt improved a lot from her freshman season, and was likely what kept her off of the 2014 Olympic Team -- that, or Katey Stone ;). Looking strictly at our freshmen D, #6 gets from point A to point B very quickly, while #13 compensates with very good anticipation of the play.
Click to expand...

I’m not so sure that’s true, as you mentioned she seems to have good anticipation of how the play is unfolding and consequently looks slow simply because she is ahead of the action and doesn’t need to use speed to get there.

I can think of two instances where she has shown speed, late in the game Sunday a Husky had brought the puck in the zone on their left side accompanied by a team mate which drew both D to that side, a Husky coming in with speed just right of center received the puck and appeared to perhaps make it in un-opposed on goal, but Hengler who was the left D got there in time to deflect the puck away. I believe it was the exhibition, or maybe against Mercyhurst, where her D partner got beat and she chased the opponent down and poked the puck away.

In games her body language almost makes it seems like she’s bored, more like she’s in warm-ups waiting for the game to start, because she’s rarely moving fast, except to get from one zone to the other. It would be interesting to see a race between her and Pannek to see who can skate the slowest, yet still get the job done.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

pokechecker said:
I’m not so sure that’s true, as you mentioned she seems to have good anticipation of how the play is unfolding and consequently looks slow simply because she is ahead of the action and doesn’t need to use speed to get there.

I can think of two instances where she has shown speed, late in the game Sunday a Husky had brought the puck in the zone on their left side accompanied by a team mate which drew both D to that side, a Husky coming in with speed just right of center received the puck and appeared to perhaps make it in un-opposed on goal, but Hengler who was the left D got there in time to deflect the puck away. I believe it was the exhibition, or maybe against Mercyhurst, where her D partner got beat and she chased the opponent down and poked the puck away.

In games her body language almost makes it seems like she’s bored, more like she’s in warm-ups waiting for the game to start, because she’s rarely moving fast, except to get from one zone to the other. It would be interesting to see a race between her and Pannek to see who can skate the slowest, yet still get the job done.
Click to expand...

I believe there is a guy on the Wild who looks like he gives half effort on the ice at all times. The only difference between Suter and Hengler is the Gopher girl can shoot:)
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

We're 14 games into the season and yet it still somewhat surprises me when #12 will sometimes get the puck and then suddenly show a remarkable burst of speed. At least I no longer lean over and tell my wife, "Wow, I didn't know Zumwinkle could skate that fast."

We've both been very impressed with freshman, #13, Crystalyn Hengler.
 
Last edited:
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

bluffrinkrat said:
We're 14 games into the season and yet it still somewhat surprises me when #12 will sometimes get the puck and then suddenly show a remarkable burst of speed. At least I no longer lean over and tell my wife, "Wow, I didn't know Zumwinkle could skate that fast."

We've both been very impressed with freshman, #13, Crystalyn Hengler.
Click to expand...

Said this before, Zumwinkle has the best hands I have ever seen & that includes Kessel. Seriously I think everyone focuses on her slapshot but in close she is as deadly as anybody I can think of.

Hengler is a stunner. She has all the tools to be a USA D except for speed. It is not that she is slow but just a step or 2 off of elite speed. Knows her stuff out there, makes good choices and has a decent shot. I found myself just watching her Sunday for a couple of shifts, I think there is a huge upside and that would be amazing
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

bluffrinkrat said:
We're 14 games into the season and yet it still somewhat surprises me when #12 will sometimes get the puck and then suddenly show a remarkable burst of speed. At least I no longer lean over and tell my wife, "Wow, I didn't know Zoomwinkle could skate that fast."

We've both been very impressed with freshman, #13, Crystalyn Hengler.
Click to expand...

I believe that is what the Zoom in ZoomBoom is referring to :)

As good as her shot is, I like her speed. What I am really waiting for is to see her letting loose her clapper, using the defender as a screen, while skating at full speed from around the blue line. She sort of did it just inside the blue line a week ago against Bemidji, but wasn’t really going full speed, nor fully use the defender as a screen.

Best hands?? There have been a number of them but given the topic is ZoomBoom, I’m going to say what impressed me about Kelly Terry was her puck control at top speed. It’s one thing to have good control while cruising around in traffic, not so easy when you are breaking the sound barrier. Although the scorecard says she was the center, she really played like a right wing when she put the pedal to the metal, always coming up the right side about 8 feet off the wall.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

BTW, is it only a coincidence that Hengler wears #13?
a previous #13 blueliner never seemed to be in a particular hurry either
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

Knowles is back in the lineup today, sooner than I had expected.

I can't find the audio broadcast; every time I click on the link for it, I get the Live Stats page for the women's basketball game against Cornell. I haven't found a link that gets me where I want to go. Oh, gophersports.com, never change.

Based upon the TV broadcast with no sound, neither team looked sharp for about the first ten minutes, then the Gophers started to control the play. Six of their nine shots came on their one power play, though. They're now killing two minutes of 5-on-3. Let's just say that, by WCHA standards, these are some pretty marginal penalty calls.

And Wente puts them up 1-0 with a 5-on-3 shortie.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

I'm having the same audio issue. Very nice breakaway goal by Wente. 14-5 Gophers in shots on goal.

Well, at least there's audio on the video highlights now on of the Vermont men's and women's basketball games. No audio on the Vermont men's hockey game highlights though. Guess they don't have any hockey broadcasters in Vermont. Okay, now there is audio on the highlights of the BU Vermont women's hockey game. Maybe a BU broadcast.
 
Last edited:
Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

Still Eeyore said:
Six of their nine shots came on their one power play, though.
Click to expand...
They ended the period with a 14-5 shot advantage. They would have over 20 if they stopped trying the long-distance one-timers that rarely are on goal!
But given their dominance in puck possession, it's hard to complain.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top