Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

[mnstate0fhockey]

They've sure been lacking something. But with Boyd, Ambroz, Bistedt, Fasching, etc. appearing to take a half step up...talent might make that stumbling block irrelevant. Even so, they still need to win out to get the PWR auto bid, win the conference or win the tourney (and those three are all long shots).

I'm not so sure winning the conference tourney is a long shot. Gophers should have split at Michigan, and that series was in the midst of some of the worst hockey I have seen this team play. No team in this conference is unbeatable.

I don't see this team winning the conference this season, but wouldn't be stunned if the did so. I am also less concerned with getting in via Pairwise then I am with this team getting hot and playing great hockey.

I'd take the conference tourney autobid and the team playing at the top of it's game any day.

One weekend at a time. Build confidence and chemistry. This team has always had the talent. The problem has been execution, attention to detail, and confidence.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Was nice to see Fasching get going again this weekend, he is a bull on the puck when he wants to be, glad he was rewarded. If Wilcox can play like he did last year this team can go far, he still seems a little shaky to me though, we'll see this weekend. Michigan can score goals.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

My lawn chair is on the same spot of the ledge it always is. I always have a view.

Lol, I kinda see where you're coming from. The sweep doesn't really tell us anything new imo, the Gophers played a bad team at home and swept, and this one doesn't have the rivalry factor that UW does (or Rumpel). I guess it was nice to see Wilcox not play completely terrible but he still wasn't great. The Michigan series should be a better indicator of where this team is at.

Was nice to see Fasching get going again this weekend, he is a bull on the puck when he wants to be, glad he was rewarded. If Wilcox can play like he did last year this team can go far, he still seems a little shaky to me though, we'll see this weekend. Michigan can score goals.

My hope is that Michigan's sh% regresses and Wilcox regresses to something closer to the last two years of play. Obviously over a 2 game series anything can happen.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

OK Gopher fans, you've got a $100 and need to make a bet on one of the following. Where would you place your money?

1. Gophers do enough and get some help from other teams, resulting in an at-large NCAA bid.
2. #1 doesn't happen, but Gophers win the B1G tourney and get in that way.
3. Gophers accomplish both #1 and #2 and as a result get a higher-than-expected seed.
4. Gophers fail to make the NCAA's.

No caveats, just place your bet!

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

OK Gopher fans, you've got a $100 and need to make a bet on one of the following. Where would you place your money?

1. Gophers do enough and get some help from other teams, resulting in an at-large NCAA bid.
2. #1 doesn't happen, but Gophers win the B1G tourney and get in that way.
3. Gophers accomplish both #1 and #2 and as a result get a higher-than-expected seed.
4. Gophers fail to make the NCAA's.

No caveats, just place your bet!

Well, we all know Scooby is going #4 and asking why he can only put up $100

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

I'm still in the 4 camp until I see a statement this weekend.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

OK Gopher fans, you've got a $100 and need to make a bet on one of the following. Where would you place your money?

1. Gophers do enough and get some help from other teams, resulting in an at-large NCAA bid.
2. #1 doesn't happen, but Gophers win the B1G tourney and get in that way.
3. Gophers accomplish both #1 and #2 and as a result get a higher-than-expected seed.
4. Gophers fail to make the NCAA's.

No caveats, just place your bet!

I'm still in the 4 camp until I see a statement this weekend.

Honestly that's a tough one to evaluate until I see them play Michigan. A split this weekend and they're back to 15-16 I imagine. I don't see them winning the tourney either, it just never happens. So yeah, probably #4 still for now.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

I would probably vote #1. We still get to play Penn State 4 times (I know they are a decent team) Michigan State at home and 2 more against Ohio State. I think we can pile up some wins.

 

[JoeGopher]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

I would probably vote #1. We still get to play Penn State 4 times (I know they are a decent team) Michigan State at home and 2 more against Ohio State. I think we can pile up some wins.

To your point, let's assume a sweep at tOSU, sweep MSU at home, split with PSU home and away, and split with UM this weekend. That makes them 7-3 in the last 10 games. What does that do for them? I realize that there are many other variables at play as well...

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

I'm not so sure winning the conference tourney is a long shot. Gophers should have split at Michigan, and that series was in the midst of some of the worst hockey I have seen this team play. No team in this conference is unbeatable.

While I largely agree...the conference tourney will include a season that is seeing the poorest 15 game midwinter stretch we've seen in years, a much better team in our conference for the first time in years, and a conference tourney outside of Minnesota for the first time in 20 years(?). A good result this year is still a stretch...but at least there are multiple ways to achieve one.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

I will vote #1 if Wilcox starts showing signs of life. The Duluth game is probably the only one I can think of during the 2nd half of the season where he played up to his old standards (2nd home WI game I can't really fault him for either goal against but the workload was super light).

 

[goofy gopher]

The power play has been just outstanding of late. It's been good all year, but if they can keep getting their chances I like their chances of winning every night. The corner has been turned!

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

MINNESOTA WILL WIN THE 2014-15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! MARK MY WORDS!











(ok, I doubt it, but I had to do SOMETHING for my 100,000th post )

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

To your point, let's assume a sweep at tOSU, sweep MSU at home, split with PSU home and away, and split with UM this weekend. That makes them 7-3 in the last 10 games. What does that do for them? I realize that there are many other variables at play as well...

I think it gives them an *outside* chance of heading into the Big10 Tourney in position for an at-large bid. But it means that games out east would have to break in MN's favor.

Like I said a few posts above, I think the goal needs to be at least 8-2 with the 2 losses against either MI or PSU. Losing to OSU or MSU will put a serious dent in the Gophers' RPI.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

100,000th post

Dear, Lord.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

While I largely agree...the conference tourney will include a season that is seeing the poorest 15 game midwinter stretch we've seen in years, a much better team in our conference for the first time in years, and a conference tourney outside of Minnesota for the first time in 20 years(?). A good result this year is still a stretch...but at least there are multiple ways to achieve one.

All that matters is how they are playing then, not mid season.

If they are still playing horse crap hockey come conference tourney time (and a part from goaltending they have looked better as of late) does it really matter if they make the tourney or not?

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Lots of "ifs, ands, buts, probably's, untils and I thinks" from you guys! I was hoping for more decisiveness, like "I'm putting my $100 on No. 1!" and then explain why...
Seriously, I do think it's a tough call, and at this juncture maybe each of the four possibilities have roughly an equal chance. BUT - gosh darn it - I'm going with No. 1! The Gophers have turned the corner, they'll stay on a roll, and will earn their spot!

 

[SanTropez]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

OK Gopher fans, you've got a $100 and need to make a bet on one of the following. Where would you place your money?

1. Gophers do enough and get some help from other teams, resulting in an at-large NCAA bid.
2. #1 doesn't happen, but Gophers win the B1G tourney and get in that way.
3. Gophers accomplish both #1 and #2 and as a result get a higher-than-expected seed.
4. Gophers fail to make the NCAA's.

No caveats, just place your bet!

I vote #3

We're comin' We're comin'

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Lots of "ifs, ands, buts, probably's, untils and I thinks" from you guys! I was hoping for more decisiveness, like "I'm putting my $100 on No. 1!" and then explain why...
Seriously, I do think it's a tough call, and at this juncture maybe each of the four possibilities have roughly an equal chance. BUT - gosh darn it - I'm going with No. 1! The Gophers have turned the corner, they'll stay on a roll, and will earn their spot!

The way you have formulated the question, #4 likely has the highest probability out of the 4 options.

But if you simplify the question and just ask "will the Gophers make the NCAA tournament?" I'd probably put my money on yes. Albeit reservedly.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

The way you have formulated the question, #4 likely has the highest probability out of the 4 options.

OK, I'm putting you down for No. 4! Boo! Mind over heart, I guess.
We'll check back after the brackets are announced and see who's right...hopefully the list will not include Stauber1!