Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

[OldDave]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

So how did the 3 on 3 look? I don't like it personally, but the UW radio guys seemed enthralled by it. The UW radio guys were suspicious of the play where your goalie's helmet popped off her head when UW had possession and there was quote a delay, like she was buying a rest for her teammates, in OT I believe...comments?

Well, I thought both teams got to rest.

I sit behind the visiting bench and was able to watch the explanation to MJ (couldn't hear anything because people were still screaming about the checking/boarding event that left a Gopher writhing on the ice in the Wisco zone). Based on the ref's gestures, it appears that a strap broke on her helmet.

My wife didn't like the 3 x 3 at all. When I suggested the teams probably practiced for it, she thought they should deny that they had ever practiced it.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

My wife didn't like the 3 x 3 at all. When I suggested the teams probably practiced for it, she thought they should deny that they had ever practiced it.

Frost said that they practiced it a little twice; he said they need to work on their changes. IMO, they need to work on maintaining possession, which is everything with 3 on 3.

 

[Still Eeyore]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

A win and a tie was better than I predicted at the start of the weekend, so, yay! I thought the Gophers were the better team for four of the six periods, and the one where they clearly weren't (the second on Sunday), they gutted it out and at least kept the Badgers from having more than a couple of good scoring chances. The third period on Sunday was a mess; both teams were so exhausted that it was just a question of who could capitalize on the inevitable mistakes. It turned out that the Ostertag/Hengler pairing was marginally more wiped out than everyone else, though they didn't get much help from backcheckers.

The new line combos look good. Playing with Zumwinkle and Heise seems to have unlocked Potomak the Elder, and Woken has brought more effectiveness to Wente and Potomak the Younger. With different (read: any) officiating, Amy could have completely dominated this series. Apparently, a Wisconsin stick is now a part of her uniform, though I question the wisdom of that equipment choice.

A shout out to the defensive corps, especially Emily Brown. After Daryl Watts scored in the first period on Saturday, they dedicated themselves to making sure someone was always between her and the net, and that someone was usually Brown. Watts kept bringing the puck in on the left wing, but had few if any good looks at the goal.

As a Red Wings fan, Sydney Scobee is starting to remind me of Chris Osgood. At the end of the day, I feel like she lets in about the number of goals one would reasonably expect based upon the shots taken, but the saves she doesn't make would often have been easier than the ones she does. Her adventures in playing the puck are a disaster waiting to happen; I'd be less likely to have a stroke if she'd just content herself with stopping the puck behind the net and leave playing it to her defensemen.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

IMO, they need to work on maintaining possession, which is everything with 3 on 3.

Very true! With 3 on 3's, patience is often a virtue. Sometimes the Gophers would try to make a long, low percentage pass and lose possession, and it was difficult getting it back. Or they would apply too much forechecking pressure, only to give up a 2 on 1 going the other way. I must say that as a spectator I enjoy the "chess-like" elements of the 3 on 3.

 

[robertearle]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Very true! With 3 on 3's, patience is often a virtue. Sometimes the Gophers would try to make a long, low percentage pass and lose possession, and it was difficult getting it back. Or they would apply too much forechecking pressure, only to give up a 2 on 1 going the other way. I must say that as a spectator I enjoy the "chess-like" elements of the 3 on 3.

There have now been three ties and three 3-on-3 periods. Only one led to a goal. I expect the the powers that be will track how 'productive' the periods turn out to be, and decide to either continue or discontinue them. I don't know what a "sufficient" percent would be, but if everybody gets cautious about the way mistakes or risks are magnified, I doubt the percent in reality will be very high, defeating the purpose of the periods.

Not a fan. If you're gonna make the players skate five more minutes, then just play a longer regular OT.

Adding: for comparison, last year, there were fifteen conference games that went to OT. Five ended in the regular OT period, ten went to shootout. So, an eight-minute OT would have decided an addition three or so games?

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

There have now been three ties and three 3-on-3 periods. Only one led to a goal. I expect the the powers that be will track how 'productive' the periods turn out to be, and decide to either continue or discontinue them. I don't know what a "sufficient" percent would be, but if everybody gets cautious about the way mistakes or risks are magnified, I doubt the percent in reality will be very high, defeating the purpose of the periods.

Not a fan. If you're gonna make the players skate five more minutes, then just play a longer regular OT.

Adding: for comparison, last year, there were fifteen conference games that went to OT. Five ended in the regular OT period, ten went to shootout. So, an eight-minute OT would have decided an addition three or so games?

The 3 on 3 is brand new, and with the sample size being very small it's way too soon to draw any conclusions. At this early stage the coaches and players are undergoing a learning process, including the development of strategies on how best to take advantage of all the open ice. At the end of the season it will be interesting to compare the percentage of games decided in the 5 on 5 vs. the 3 on 3 (the percent that get to that stage). If adding the 3 on 3 reduces the number of games decided by shootout that's a good thing, IMO.

 

[robertearle]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

If adding the 3 on 3 reduces the number of games decided by shootout that's a good thing, IMO.

But is it, will it be, more effective than just playing a longer 'regular' OT would be? Three players skating an additional five minutes is the equivalent 'workload' of five skaters playing an additional three minutes. Which would be more effective in avoiding shootouts?

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Which would be more effective in avoiding shootouts?

The 3 on 3, of course!
From CBSSports.com:

"Goalies hate defending it and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien thinks it's terrible, but so far the NHL's experiment with 3-on-3 overtime is doing exactly what it was intended to do -- significantly cut down on the number of games that have to be decided by a shootout."

Of course, women's hockey could be different - we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Nowheresville]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

I enjoyed the 3 on 3, relatively speaking at least. I'd prefer to just do 10 minutes of 5 on 5 and end at a tie if that doesn't happen, but I don't see the winds of public opinion and policy making heading that direction anytime soon, so I'll take this as a upgrade over a shootout. At the very least, it's a novelty that still looks like hockey.

Have their been any updates on Alex Gulstene's injury?

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Addressing these out of order ...

Have their been any updates on Alex Gulstene's injury?

Nothing that I've heard. Once you get into the upper, upper-body type injuries, timelines seem difficult to come by. And that's assuming that anyone is forthcoming with injury info, which they usually aren't. But for something like a broken bone, you might get an unofficial "after the new year." Having observed the Kessel injury, how would anyone have been able to predict that time table along the way.

At the very least, it's a novelty that still looks like hockey.

It is, but after seeing the hit on Woken during the 3 on 3, it would really suck to have someone suffer a major injury during some exhibition that only counts in the eyes of the WCHA. The 3 on 3 involves tired players playing with desperation, and I think at some point, an injury will result.

I still vote for playing five minutes of 5 on 5, and if it's still a tie, fair enough.

 

[Nowheresville]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

It is, but after seeing the hit on Woken during the 3 on 3, it would really suck to have someone suffer a major injury during some exhibition that only counts in the eyes of the WCHA. The 3 on 3 involves tired players playing with desperation, and I think at some point, an injury will result.

Yes, but that can be reduced if you have refs who are actually willing to call penalties. The advantage of having a 4 on 3 should be significant enough to reduce hits like that. When you have refs that simply refuse to call penalties, even on dangerous hits, you've got bigger issues regarding player safety.

Once you get into the upper, upper-body type injuries, timelines seem difficult to come by. And that's assuming that anyone is forthcoming with injury info, which they usually aren't. But for something like a broken bone, you might get an unofficial "after the new year." Having observed the Kessel injury, how would anyone have been able to predict that time table along the way.

I hadn't even heard what the injury itself was, so thanks for that. It certainly explains why there wouldn't be any timeline.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

I still vote for playing five minutes of 5 on 5, and if it's still a tie, fair enough.

I could live with that as well, or maybe 8 minutes of O.T. like they do in high school. But now that the 3 on 3 is part of league games the coaches have to figure out how to make it work for their team, given their strengths and vulnerabilities.

Question: What happens when a team is assessed a penalty during a 3 on 3? I assume they would have to play shorthanded, resulting in a 3 on 2? And if they were to take another, a 3 on 1?

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Question: What happens when a team is assessed a penalty during a 3 on 3? I assume they would have to play shorthanded, resulting in a 3 on 2? And if they were to take another, a 3 on 1?

No, the other team gets to add skaters, so it would become a 4-on-3 and then a 5-on-3. As penalties expire, they go back to the 3 on 3 format at the next whistle.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

But now that the 3 on 3 is part of league games the coaches have to figure out how to make it work for their team, given their strengths and vulnerabilities.

Just like shootouts, right? (ducks for cover)

Sorry; couldn't resist.

 

[NMH]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

As a Red Wings fan, Sydney Scobee is starting to remind me of Chris Osgood. At the end of the day, I feel like she lets in about the number of goals one would reasonably expect based upon the shots taken, but the saves she doesn't make would often have been easier than the ones she does. Her adventures in playing the puck are a disaster waiting to happen; I'd be less likely to have a stroke if she'd just content herself with stopping the puck behind the net and leave playing it to her defensemen.

This both made me laugh and shake my head in agreement. Funny and on the nose assessment.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

In this evening's exhibition game it was Minnesota 9, Hamline 0. SOG were 47-13. Taylor Heise with the hat trick, and added an assist. Makayla Pahl got her first opportunity in goal, making 13 saves for the shutout.

As the game wore on the coaches gave the usual forth line extended playing time, and gave many others the opportunity to play different positions. In so doing it became increasingly obvious why those players who normally play forward should stay there...and same for the regular D who got a tryout at forward.

Overall an entertaining game to watch, even with the lopsided play and score. Lots of Hamline fans there to cheer their team on. And kudos to their players who never quit until the final buzzer.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Makayla Pahl got her first start in goal, making 13 saves for the shutout.

FYP. She came on in relief in the previous two exhibitions and in Game 2 at MSU, playing a period in each.

Did I err greatly in skipping it?

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

FYP. She came on in relief in the previous two exhibitions and in Game 2 at MSU, playing a period in each.

Noted, thanks for pointing this out.

Did I err greatly in skipping it?

Yes, unless you were super busy getting ready for deer season.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Yes, unless you were super busy getting ready for deer season.

Partially, but primarily a case of raking leaves before the snow fell.

More than anything, I got my fill of walloping teams that can't defend themselves in the first couple of years that I followed the Gophs. In recent years, we've beaten SCSU or OSU by similar scores, but they can rebound to play us close in another game. I'll still show up for the exhibitions vs the Toronto Junior Aeros of the world, because it is the first opportunity to see the new team.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers 2019/2020 Season Thread

Four days to savor for Amy Potomak and Gophers women's hockey

(also, why Hamline's coach, former Gopher Natalie Darwitz, wanted to play the Gophers in last night's exhibition)

http://www.startribune.com/four-day...=Read what it was like&utm_campaign=Puck Drop