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Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

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Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Isackson isn't the reason we have struggled, but that doesn't mean he isn't terrible. I think our 4th line is worse with him playing on it, imo he adds nothing to the lineup. Well he does add hanging onto the puck too long and losing it frequently, especially when he has other guys open in the offensive zone. So he has that going for him.

Our top guys need to bury the puck and quit shooting wide or into the goalies belly or glove when they have a wide open net.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

SanTropez said:
Our top guys need to bury the puck and quit shooting wide or into the goalies belly or glove when they have a wide open net.
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When it comes to the team's lack of production lately this is way more of an issue than Isackson or anyone else on the 4th line. One contributing factor is that most of the forwards simply do not have an NHL-quality shot at this stage of their development.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Wow, I remembered my log in info!!! Been a long time. Need help, wth is going on this year, do I need to panic? Really havent followed what's going on so far this year for several reasons... Slow start, weird game times and channels and busy with all other Gopher teams breaking my heart.

Is there hope? What's the problem?

Thanks.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Things could be worse. The Gophers could be playing like the Wild.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

mnstate0fhockey said:
Well said. I was pretty critical of Mike Reilly on Twitter Friday. Didn't think he had a good game at all. He's a big piece to this team (as are some of the others you mentioned). Can't imagine some of these guys came back just to let this season slip away. It takes commitment and attention to detail to win at this level. Talent isn't enough. Hope they figure that out.
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From my point of view, I don't know that I'd call out M Reilly ahead of any of other top tier players. I think there's just been a teamwide malaise that's set in.

Just like any other year, I think you've got to give freshmen a chance (Bristedt is our future). Beyond that, yeah we've always known the 4th line was going to be a problem this year (and that definitely includes Isackso and Michaelson). But now its become apparent that Boyd is the only reason the 3rd is holding it together.
 
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Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

5mn_Major said:
From my point of view, I don't know that I'd call out M Reilly ahead of any of other top tier players. I think there's just been a teamwide malaise that's set in.

Just like any other year, I think you've got to give freshmen a chance (Bristedt is our future). Beyond that, yeah we've always known the 4th line was going to be a problem this year (and that definitely includes Isackso and Michaelson). But now its become apparent that Boyd is the only reason the 3rd is holding it together.
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Reilly was horrible defensively this past weekend. Or, I should say, he had some really bad moments that led to goals against. I have no problem with calling him out on that. He is an offensive defenseman, so no one should expect him to be stifling every shift, but he is also a junior and seasoned college hockey player. And the goals that were scored were not because he was crashing the offensive goal and couldn't get back. He was there and he just played it badly. He needs to be better on the defensive side of the puck.

I'm also not sold on the Boyd being essential to the 3rd line idea. I like Boyd a lot, but it seems obvious to me that Serratore is sorely missed on that line. 5x5 Boyd has no goals and I think 1 assist. Ambroz has been silent all season. If this is what holding it together looks like...

I also think the lack of any real dominating line 5x5 has hurt the production of the lower lines. When you have a top line or two that the opposition has to really worry about, you dictate the matchups on the ice. They have to react to what you put out there. Without a line that is grabbing the game by the horns, however, other teams are much more free to roll their lines as they would like from an offensive standpoint. And that takes a toll on the 3rd/4th lines.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

ski said:
Or ANY of our teams. :(

Bad as I can remember, and that's saying a lot. That's why I showed up here. Looking for some hope for one of my teams.
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Overall hockey disappointment from pre-season expectations:

Gopher men: Looked like the team to beat in the country and could go through year with just a few losses. Top 3 in pohl's all year and #1 seed in NC.---> Already more losses than I thought they might have for the season, currently about a 3 seed and headed for 4 and haven't seen a full game yet that made me think they were the team to beat.

Gopher women: Won't lose a game. --> Lose best player in world (?) before season. (Don't follow that close until playoffs, but was looking for undefeated and number 1 all year.)

Wild: Talent to be a top 4 team in West and make a serious run in the Cup. Plenty of goaltending to chose from. ---> Goaltending marginal and falling from contention quickly.

HS team: Handful of future D1 players with more coming next year. ----> Goaltending issues. Players not clicking in many games and just lost one by 9!!!!

Looked like if all fell into place, all four could have made their respective playoffs/tourney with a potential for 2-3 Championships with another team making it further than usual. Now I'm thinking no Championships and at least 2 of the teams not even making the playoffs.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

D2D said:
That's who I just voted for in the Star Tribune's poll, which asks:

Which local team is currently the biggest disappointment?
http://www.startribune.com/polls/287782631.html
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Wild has big lead. And you have to actually care about a team to be disappointed, so I would never vote for a bouncyball team. I enjoy the Woffies failures, as it helps them be as irrelevant as they should be in this state.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

Stauber1 said:
Reilly was horrible defensively this past weekend. Or, I should say, he had some really bad moments that led to goals against. I have no problem with calling him out on that. He is an offensive defenseman, so no one should expect him to be stifling every shift, but he is also a junior and seasoned college hockey player. And the goals that were scored were not because he was crashing the offensive goal and couldn't get back. He was there and he just played it badly. He needs to be better on the defensive side of the puck.

I'm also not sold on the Boyd being essential to the 3rd line idea. I like Boyd a lot, but it seems obvious to me that Serratore is sorely missed on that line. 5x5 Boyd has no goals and I think 1 assist. Ambroz has been silent all season. If this is what holding it together looks like...

I also think the lack of any real dominating line 5x5 has hurt the production of the lower lines. When you have a top line or two that the opposition has to really worry about, you dictate the matchups on the ice. They have to react to what you put out there. Without a line that is grabbing the game by the horns, however, other teams are much more free to roll their lines as they would like from an offensive standpoint. And that takes a toll on the 3rd/4th lines.
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Reilly takes chances and if he scores, he's the hero. If he doesn't, he's a defensive liability. He had a subpar weekend, but he's a point away from being our top scorer. When we lose, its because we don't score. We critically need him and I'd still put him in the same league as Wilcox and Rau in his importance.

The third line is now competitive. With Boyd out, it was worse than our 4th line. That says a lot about him.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

D2D said:
Gophers need to skate through weak Big Ten foes

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/288006761.html
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Is it just me or does the language seem kinda light? Its kind of like yeah, we really should start to play well. "We’ve got a lot of room to grow and [the struggles have] been a good learning experience for us. We don’t have to win out, but we have to start winning games, that’s for sure" And there's a handful of excuses...injuries, WJCs. Boyd hurt because of goals when he was getting hot. Other than that its just been Skjei...a very good player, but we have some of the best recruits in college hockey to fill in behind him. And using the WJCs? It covered one weekend? We really should have crushed RIT at home only missing Bristedt and Skjei who aren't big scorers anyways.

Rather than hearing from them that they have to 'get better' I would have rather heard it in their attitude.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

5mn_Major said:
Is it just me or does the language seem kinda light? Its kind of like yeah, we really should start to play well. "We’ve got a lot of room to grow and [the struggles have] been a good learning experience for us. We don’t have to win out, but we have to start winning games, that’s for sure" And there's a handful of excuses...injuries, WJCs. Boyd hurt because of goals when he was getting hot. Other than that its just been Skjei...a very good player, but we have some of the best recruits in college hockey to fill in behind him. And using the WJCs? It covered one weekend? We really should have crushed RIT at home only missing Bristedt and Skjei who aren't big scorers anyways.

Rather than hearing from them that they have to 'get better' I would have rather heard it in their attitude.
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I agree, in reading the article it seems like Jason has a greater sense of urgency than some of the players. They better be ready because they could be running into a real buzz-saw:

"Michigan at a glance: The Wolverines (10-7, 2-1) are coming off a bye after winning the Great Lakes Invitational over Christmas weekend. They upset No. 5 Michigan Tech and beat Michigan State without JT Compher, Tyler Motte, Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski, who competed for the U.S. team at the World Junior Championship. Larkin scored five goals. The Wolverines have won eight of their past 10."

Series preview: Gophers hockey at Michigan
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/288006291.html
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: 2014-2015

D2D said:
I agree, in reading the article it seems like Jason has a greater sense of urgency than some of the players. They better be ready because they could be running into a real buzz-saw:

"Michigan at a glance: The Wolverines (10-7, 2-1) are coming off a bye after winning the Great Lakes Invitational over Christmas weekend. They upset No. 5 Michigan Tech and beat Michigan State without JT Compher, Tyler Motte, Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski, who competed for the U.S. team at the World Junior Championship. Larkin scored five goals. The Wolverines have won eight of their past 10."

Series preview: Gophers hockey at Michigan
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/288006291.html
Click to expand...

Excellent call on how dominant UMI was without JT Compher, Tyler Motte, Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski. While they dominated a pretty decent and top 10 PWR team on a neutral rink without the core of their team...we struggled past 49th PWR ranked RIT missing two players that were easily replaceable at home.
 
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