Minnesota Gophers 2022-23

[Still Eeyore]

(Feels like there's crickets chirping in this thread after a game like tonight's.)

After a game, I have to get some food, get to work, get settled in, and watch some of the replay as I gather my thoughts.

For the first seven minutes of the game, a hyperaggressive Ohio State forecheck overwhelmed the Gophers. Minnesota really likes to take their time on the breakout, waiting with the puck below the goal line waiting for something to open up, frequently passing behind the net to each other. The Buckeyes parked a forward directly behind the net, cutting this off, and it took the Gophers a *long* time to understand that they simply could not wait around looking for the perfect outlet pass.

One of my complaints with Brad Frost as a coach is the inability to adjust the breakout as opponents have figured out his preferred option. One of the things about the dynasty from 2012-16 is that they didn't do this. There were multiple defensemen who would just carry the puck out of the zone. This team needs to do the same thing. No, the defensemen now are not anywhere near the quality of the ones then, but they need to make *quick* decisions and put them in motion. The best thing about Madelaine Wethington's game is that she will do this.
This game could have been a lot more high scoring, on both sides. The first period ended 1-0 in favor of Minnesota, but it probably should have been 3-3. Both teams just missed multiple goals in scrambles around the net.

Overall, the play was pretty even. The Buckeyes had more puck possession, and probably more chances, but three of the Minnesota goals came on complete defensive breakdowns of a very similar nature. Ohio State lost track of a Gopher forward on the right wing, who was able to skate into a good shooting position and take a pass from the left wing for a fairly easy goal. There were several other plays like this that almost led to a goal, including one where the puck came free to Wethington with no defender to the side of the goal, but the play was, correctly, blown dead because Raygan Kirk had the puck covered before it was dislodged. On another, Abbey Murphy was taken down on what probably should have been an interference call.

The difference in the game was goaltending. Kirk was good. Skylar Vetter was outstanding. She stopped several point blank shots after weird bounces left a Buckeye alone in front of the net.

Ohio State still leads the league in face-off ********.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

After a game, I have to get some food, get to work, get settled in, and watch some of the replay as I gather my thoughts.

Ok...makes sense.

For the first seven minutes of the game, a hyperaggressive Ohio State forecheck overwhelmed the Gophers. Minnesota really likes to take their time on the breakout, waiting with the puck below the goal line waiting for something to open up, frequently passing behind the net to each other. The Buckeyes parked a forward directly behind the net, cutting this off, and it took the Gophers a *long* time to understand that they simply could not wait around looking for the perfect outlet pass.

One of my complaints with Brad Frost as a coach is the inability to adjust the breakout as opponents have figured out his preferred option. One of the things about the dynasty from 2012-16 is that they didn't do this. There were multiple defensemen who would just carry the puck out of the zone. This team needs to do the same thing. No, the defensemen now are not anywhere near the quality of the ones then, but they need to make *quick* decisions and put them in motion. The best thing about Madelaine Wethington's game is that she will do this.
This game could have been a lot more high scoring, on both sides. The first period ended 1-0 in favor of Minnesota, but it probably should have been 3-3. Both teams just missed multiple goals in scrambles around the net.

Overall, the play was pretty even. The Buckeyes had more puck possession, and probably more chances, but three of the Minnesota goals came on complete defensive breakdowns of a very similar nature. Ohio State lost track of a Gopher forward on the right wing, who was able to skate into a good shooting position and take a pass from the left wing for a fairly easy goal. There were several other plays like this that almost led to a goal, including one where the puck came free to Wethington with no defender to the side of the goal, but the play was, correctly, blown dead because Raygan Kirk had the puck covered before it was dislodged. On another, Abbey Murphy was taken down on what probably should have been an interference call.

The difference in the game was goaltending. Kirk was good. Skylar Vetter was outstanding. She stopped several point blank shots after weird bounces left a Buckeye alone in front of the net.

Ohio State still leads the league in face-off ********.

Still Eyeore...Solid take on what happened last night. Thought you might also mention that #9 for Minnesota was again, really good.

 

[ARM]

Kirk was good. Skylar Vetter was outstanding.

I totally agree with the main point being that Minnesota had the edge in goaltending. As for Kirk, I thought she was good after the score was 3-0. In the first period in particular, she seemed to have no idea where the puck was going to be headed after she made a save, and she was searching for it all the time. Meanwhile, the key to the game was Vetter (and good fortune) keeping tOSU off the board in the first, when they had exactly the kind of start Muzzy would have hoped for.

Ohio State still leads the league in face-off ********.

In the Coach Nate era, tOSU did a lot of nonsense all over the ice that didn't seem to have much purpose other than crap for the sake of doing crap. Now, the Buckeyes do all sorts of things to gain an advantage. They run a faceoff play in the O-Zone designed to get Jaques a shot from the top of the circle where the wing takes out the Gopher forward who is coming to cover Jaques. It is blatant interference, but given it is beyond WCHA referees to recognize such things, tOSU may as well keep running it. Maybe they could spot it if the Gopher wing would fall down, although then they are likely to call embellishment.

Thought you might also mention that #9 for Minnesota was again, really good.

One of the things that she did that her teammates could learn from was she was poised with the puck. Particularly after the score became 3-2, Minnesota would get possession and just throw the puck somewhere, anywhere. Because of the aggressive forecheck tOSU was using, if you can stay calm and beat the first pressure, you will get chances up the ice. In last night's game, when both teams were trading chances, Vetter vs Kirk made it advantage Minnesota. The notable exception came on the Gardiner PP rush where Skaja took the wrong angle on first contact and the coverage imploded from there.

 

[ARM]

(Feels like there's crickets chirping in this thread after a game like tonight's.)

Looks like today's game left even the crickets with nothing to say.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Looks like today's game left even the crickets with nothing to say.

Got home a little while ago after being up north today and just watched the replay...Yikes.

I think I'll let Still Eyeore, in his time, give a synopsis of what went wrong.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

The Gophers certainly had their chances, so many shots off the posts & crossbar. I thought they started to look tired in the third. I felt this weekend's games were the most intense I've watched so far this season. The Muzinator earned her pay today.
Looking forward to the rematches we'll probably see between these two in the post season.
It ain't over until the fat lady sings!

 

[Still Eeyore]

Looks like today's game left even the crickets with nothing to say.

It was a very frustrating game that I can't post much about without it devolving into an incoherent rant, so, here's three sentences.

1) For the first two periods, the Gophers were the better team, despite being down 2-1.
2) Thirty seconds into the third period, Ohio State scored on what was essentially a power play that resulted from an inexcusable hooking call given what the refs had let go.
3) Skyler Vetter finally paid the price for her overconfidence in how good she is at playing the puck.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

It was a very frustrating game that I can't post much about without it devolving into an incoherent rant, so, here's three sentences.

1) For the first two periods, the Gophers were the better team, despite being down 2-1.
2) Thirty seconds into the third period, Ohio State scored on what was essentially a power play that resulted from an inexcusable hooking call given what the refs had let go.
3) Skyler Vetter finally paid the price for her overconfidence in how good she is at playing the puck.

Gotta admit, I would have liked it if you had gone with the rant but this is probably better. Pick up the pieces and move on.

 

[ARM]

Skyler Vetter finally paid the price for her overconfidence in how good she is at playing the puck.

Other than immediately when she reached the puck, I'm not sure that she had an outlet on the play. Blame has to at least be shared with whomever came up with the breakout plan, such that it can be defeated by the opponent sending two forecheckers hard at the goalie. Usually, there is a D showing up for at least a stalemate behind the net.

After it became 3-1, I never had the feeling that UM was about to rally. The big difference in this series right now seems to be that when the Gophers get down by multiple goals, the game is over. Meanwhile, tOSU keeps coming no matter the deficit and has been able to come from behind far more than the average team.

 

[Still Eeyore]

Other than immediately when she reached the puck, I'm not sure that she had an outlet on the play. Blame has to at least be shared with whomever came up with the breakout plan, such that it can be defeated by the opponent sending two forecheckers hard at the goalie. Usually, there is a D showing up for at least a stalemate behind the net.

The breakout is one of the subjects on which I'm trying not to screech inarticulately. It's nothing I haven't been saying for a half decade.

After it became 3-1, I never had the feeling that UM was about to rally. The big difference in this series right now seems to be that when the Gophers get down by multiple goals, the game is over. Meanwhile, tOSU keeps coming no matter the deficit and has been able to come from behind far more than the average team.

I, too, never felt like they were about to rally, but I think that says at least as much about me as it does the team. Objectively, they had a number of good scoring chances in the third.

 

[D2D]

The breakout is one of the subjects on which I'm trying not to screech inarticulately. It's nothing I haven't been saying for a half decade.

About a half decade sounds about right in terms of what I've also been saying about the (lack of) a consistent breakout. With the skill on this team it should be better, and I do think it's been improved against all but the very top teams, especially Ohio State. They are just so relentless in chasing down loose pucks and blocking the usual breakout avenues.

I, too, never felt like they were about to rally, but I think that says at least as much about me as it does the team. Objectively, they had a number of good scoring chances in the third.

That number obviously became smaller after the Buckeyes scored their insurance goals which took a lot of wind out of the Gophers' sails. But until then the home team had any number of near-misses, including several close-in hard open slapshots that had Thiele beat, but went just wide. Had two of those glorious chances found the open net it would have obviously changed the game around.

Big test for the Gophers this coming weekend. Sure hope they'll be extra-motivated to bounce back and put a big hurt on a desperate badgers squad.

 

[ARM]

I'm not sure that the 4th line got any additional shifts after they were on and couldn't get off on Friday, and that eventually resulted in a 2nd-period goal against. Playing four lines has basically worked all season, but this looks like a regression to what we've seen over the years. I think back to the 2019 postseason, when our fifth-year players were frosh. They'd been a four-line team all year, but come the Frozen Four, that was abandoned. The 4th line has provided energy all year; can't do that from the bench. I agree with Hockeybuckeye that UM looked worn out by the end, and they could have used a boost. Second day of a rivalry game with a quick turnaround isn't the best time to shorten the rotation.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Porbably something that some of you are aware of but I was not until just taking a look at the roster page on Gopher Sports.

There is another goalie on the roster...Sophia Johnson who played high school hockey for the Minnetonka Skippers.

 

[Still Eeyore]

Porbably something that some of you are aware of but I was not until just taking a look at the roster page on Gopher Sports.

There is another goalie on the roster...Sophia Johnson who played high school hockey for the Minnetonka Skippers.

Yes. Makayla Pahl is out for personal reasons. I don't know anything more than that (and the people who do probably shouldn't be talking about it), but she was listed among the scratches this weekend, after several weeks of not being listed at all. Hopefully, that means it is a temporary absence.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

After it became 3-1, I never had the feeling that UM was about to rally. The big difference in this series right now seems to be that when the Gophers get down by multiple goals, the game is over. Meanwhile, tOSU keeps coming no matter the deficit and has been able to come from behind far more than the average team.

The other person who lives here mentioned that she had heard someone (maybe Frost?) say that it didn't feel like a 5-1 game and I guess if you are a glass half-full person that's an okay thing to say. As for me, the third period felt very, very much like a 3-0 period.

 

[Still Eeyore]

Tonight was another game in which the Gophers generated significantly more and better scoring chances than did their opponents. That said, the inability to finish those scoring chances is becoming concerning.

Over the last five games, the first line, Murphy, and Hemp have accounted for 12 of the 14 goals Minnesota has scored. Bouveng and M. Wethington have one each. If we extend this back to cover the last seven games against teams with a realistic shot to make the NCAA tournament, adding Yale and Penn State, You can add Kaiser (1) and Huber (3) to the list of goal scorers, and G. Zumwinkle finally shows up, with a single goal against Penn State. Include the first set of games against OSU, UMD, and Wisconsin, and it's the same story.

In the 13 biggest games of the season, Grace Zumwinkle has 2 goals. She's feasted on lesser competition, but isn't scoring when she's really needed. She's not bad defensively or as a playmaker, but she's not great at those and goal scoring is by far her best skill. Minnesota is going to struggle to go far if she can't put the puck in the net against good teams.

 

[Timothy A]

Tonight was another game in which the Gophers generated significantly more and better scoring chances than did their opponents. That said, the inability to finish those scoring chances is becoming concerning.

Yes but at least you are creating great chances. Wisconsin is doomed because they don't create those great chances.

It was rather shocking how poorly Minnesota played in the 2nd period and how great they played in the 3rd with the 1st period was kind of even, maybe an edge to WI.

I see what you mean about Murphy lol. A 21 goal skillset is very impressive but she has the brain of a 4th line goon from UND. Too bad the BADgers didn't make her pay for her stupidity.

Even though the announcers the big 10 plus network were rodent announcers I thought they did a nice job of being not too homerish. I thought Williamson was above average for a rather inexperience to color commentator. A little more X's and o's and a little less talk about momentum would be a good improvement, but that is flaw of many color commentators for women's hockey.

 

[MinnOTB]

In the 13 biggest games of the season, Grace Zumwinkle has 2 goals. She's feasted on lesser competition, but isn't scoring when she's really needed. She's not bad defensively or as a playmaker, but she's not great at those and goal scoring is by far her best skill. Minnesota is going to struggle to go far if she can't put the puck in the net against good teams.

This reminds me of Heise two years ago in the pandemic season where she only scored one goal in the 13 games against the teams that made the NCAA tournament. I think part of it was she was focusing on getting Grace the puck, but it was a drop off in the trajectory she was on after her first two seasons. And of course, the next year she turned it around and scored 10 goals in 18 games against tournament teams.

 

[Offsides Guy]

First full game I’ve watched this season. Was this an unusually weak goalie performance for the Gophers? Looked to me like there were 3 goals she won’t be happy with.

 

[Timothy A]

First full game I’ve watched this season. Was this an unusually weak goalie performance for the Gophers? Looked to me like there were 3 goals she won’t be happy with.

And 2 for Kronish.