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Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I thought the game would be a good matchup and a goalie duel, and both Schierhorn and Peterson played very well between the pipes. ND blocked a tons of shots (21). But the Gophers had their chances in front, Kloos had a breakaway, Bristedt hit a pipe, and they were only 1/5 on the PP. There were a couple costly turnovers. The disaster line change where 4 Gophers were heading to the bench, and Peterson launches a stretch pass to Oglevie sitting on our blueline for the first ND goal was hard to watch.

The Gophers seemed to lose their composure in the third after ND went up 3-2 and struggled generating the same offensive surge they had in the first. This wasn't the same resilient team we've seen this half that averaged 5 goals/game.

Overall, a good season for the Gophers but it's always disappointing in a one and done to have your season end so quickly. Thanks to the team for some very exciting hockey this season. We'll be back. :cool:
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I'm beyond angry we lost, especially after that start. We got worse and worse as the game went on. Frustrating. Had about an hour of very real anger, then got into sadness, then acceptance. Season is done.

Then the "FIRE LUCIA" newbies started showing up (on GPL), and got me riled again. Not that I disagree with them, necessarily, but FU for only showing up after losses.

The gathering I was at handled it in a humorous fashion, and everything was okay again. At peace with the season being over. I shall move on.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Koho said:
Why the he!! do we invest so much emotionally? Builds up over a whole season, to end in one game. Seems this team didn't learn from several games this year where they got a lead and started dumping it out more often than trying to attack and extend the lead.
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Completely agree. This team just wasn't built on buttoning down in the defensive zone and defending a lead. When their opponent got them pinned in and running around, it seemed like it was usually just a matter of time before they would breakdown, fail to get the puck out and eventually leave a guy open and give up what should have been a very preventable goal. This, despite looking like a well-oiled, speedy machine on offense just minutes before. So frustrating!!!

No doubt the season-ending injuries to Novak and Lindgren dealt a big blow to the Gophers' chances. But even with both of them in the lineup and healthy, I wonder if the Gophers would have been consistent enough to win their Regional (two games), much less the NCAA Championship (four games). In the "pick'em" contests I entered I did expect them to beat a good - but not great - Notre Dame team, but I didn't have enough confidence in their consistency for them to get past Mass-Lowell, who I thought was the type of team that would capitalize on the Gophers' all too often defensive lapses.

I was hoping for a Frozen Four appearance, but honestly I wasn't surprised that it was not to be.
 
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Disappointing end. I didn't peg this team for top,whatever but I think they underachieved. Some positives to take one of which we saw the growth of several,players this while the past we'd seen a bit more stagnation. After a slump Schierhorn got back to his old self and will be a bonafide #1 next season. They should not see any major early departures and of course Casey is coming in. They really have to get the D back on track to mirror the Top 6 from the better Gophers teams.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Brenthoven said:
I'm beyond angry we lost, especially after that start. We got worse and worse as the game went on. Frustrating. Had about an hour of very real anger, then got into sadness, then acceptance. Season is done.

Then the "FIRE LUCIA" newbies started showing up (on GPL), and got me riled again. Not that I disagree with them, necessarily, but FU for only showing up after losses.

The gathering I was at handled it in a humorous fashion, and everything was okay again. At peace with the season being over. I shall move on.
Click to expand...

Agree across the board. There are quite a few on GPL that are overly emotional and are quick to blame someone, anyone for a loss.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Fire Don Lucia?? This must be the "entertain me" crowd. In the last 6 seasons the Gophers have won 6 consecutive RS championships, a conference tournament and made the NCAAs five times with two FF appearances (inc. a 2014 runner-up). No team in the tournament that can make that claim.

Bottom line, the Gophers had more scoring chances but didn't bury them. ND blocked a lot of shots, Peterson was very good and turnovers hurt the Gophers on the scoreboard. We'll be back next season.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

SteveO said:
Fire Don Lucia?? This must be the "entertain me" crowd. In the last 6 seasons the Gophers have won 6 consecutive RS championships, a conference tournament and made the NCAAs five times with two FF appearances (inc. a 2014 runner-up). No team in the tournament that can make that claim.

Bottom line, the Gophers had more scoring chances but didn't bury them. ND blocked a lot of shots, Peterson was very good and turnovers hurt the Gophers on the scoreboard. We'll be back next season.
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Open your eyes, SteveO! If the Gophs don't make the Final Four 5 of 6 years and win it all 3 of 6, the coach must be at fault. This is Minnesota! All of that garbage about more parity and it being something like 12 years since all 4 number 1's didn't get beat, and the fact #4 seeds have made the final 4 and even won it all is just a smokescreen to cover the fact that there must be a coach out there that will win all the time at MN. I mean, look at what the almighty Blais did with a lesser institution! (Oh wait, forget about that example.) And all that garbage about the recruiting scene changing where some teams are pressured to take chances on the next potential superstar at 15 (or risk others getting him) and have to deal with it when the kid plateaus early and now has to play a team that can't compete for those superstars, but has room left in their roster for the 21 year old's who accelerates late is just an excuse at Minnesota by those Lucia lovers. I mean, look at BC. Do you ever see them miss the tourney? (Oh, never mind.)

I realize every team will have it's coach haters and they are usually the minority if you are not Michigan State or Wisconsin of the last couple years. Look at the BU thread sometime ('great recruiter, but can't coach'. Never mind they are relying on a bunch of Freshman, regardless of their potential.) But who do the haters think is the answer for the Gophs? (Haven't been on GPL yet this weekend.) (And since Lucia has stated he doesn't plan on sticking around forever, even if you don't think he needs to go, it is something to start considering.)
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Koho:

Let's put it this way, the gathering I was at, which had many veteran GPLers, started a "Fire Lucia" thread (fully expecting it to get locked by Jupiter :D) to at least try and keep that talk out of the other threads.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

D2D said:
Completely agree. This team just wasn't built on buttoning down in the defensive zone and defending a lead. When their opponent got them pinned in and running around, it seemed like it was usually just a matter of time before they would breakdown, fail to get the puck out and eventually leave a guy open and give up what should have been a very preventable goal. This, despite looking like a well-oiled, speedy machine on offense just minutes before. So frustrating!!!

No doubt the season-ending injuries to Novak and Lindgren dealt a big blow to the Gophers' chances. But even with both of them in the lineup and healthy, I wonder if the Gophers would have been consistent enough to win their Regional (two games), much less the NCAA Championship (four games). In the "pick'em" contests I entered I did expect them to beat a good - but not great - Notre Dame team, but I didn't have enough confidence in their consistency for them to get past Mass-Lowell, who I thought was the type of team that would capitalize on the Gophers' all too often defensive lapses.

I was hoping for a Frozen Four appearance, but honestly I wasn't surprised that it was not to be.
Click to expand...

THIS. So much this.Disappointing after going up 2-0, but overall I am also not surprised. Odd, but fun year. Now I get to concentrate on what really matters: my new passion, playing adult hockey! Wheeeeee!
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I agree - every year I say, this is it - I'm done - but I keep coming back -- I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the field goal with Lucy holding the football --
They should be better next year, but the players are so emotionally fragile - no grit, no resilience -

Pitlick and Mittlestad are going to be fun to watch - Will Nanne be a factor?
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Emotionally fragile? How many come from behind ties and wins did they have this year?

And most teams don't win the NC every year. ;)
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Koho said:
Why the he!! do we invest so much emotionally? Builds up over a whole season, to end in one game. Seems this team didn't learn from several games this year where they got a lead and started dumping it out more often than trying to attack and extend the lead.

Thanks Seniors for a fun run. Too bad you didn't get a win today. Hopefully everyone else returns.
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D2D said:
Completely agree. This team just wasn't built on buttoning down in the defensive zone and defending a lead. When their opponent got them pinned in and running around, it seemed like it was usually just a matter of time before they would breakdown, fail to get the puck out and eventually leave a guy open and give up what should have been a very preventable goal. This, despite looking like a well-oiled, speedy machine on offense just minutes before. So frustrating!!!

No doubt the season-ending injuries to Novak and Lindgren dealt a big blow to the Gophers' chances. But even with both of them in the lineup and healthy, I wonder if the Gophers would have been consistent enough to win their Regional (two games), much less the NCAA Championship (four games). In the "pick'em" contests I entered I did expect them to beat a good - but not great - Notre Dame team, but I didn't have enough confidence in their consistency for them to get past Mass-Lowell, who I thought was the type of team that would capitalize on the Gophers' all too often defensive lapses.

I was hoping for a Frozen Four appearance, but honestly I wasn't surprised that it was not to be.
Click to expand...

Glad I'm not the only one noticing this. The St. Cloud game was comically bad in that sense and it seems like they didn't learn anything from it. It's not that this team doesn't know how to defend a lead it's that they try to play a completely different brand of hockey from what was working.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Slap Shot said:
And most teams don't win the NC every year. ;)
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Apologize if I've posted this above, but I really think this article explains it all: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/23/s...ege-teams.html

Appears that NO TEAM is going to be dominate in the near future. The object is to advance further than most on a consistent basis, then win a championship more often than the odds say you should.

OK, given those lowered expectations, we're due!
 
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Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

What are the odds we'll see a Pitlick-Mittelstadt-Sheehy line next season?
150 point season or BUST!
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Rabid Gopher said:
What are the odds we'll see a Pitlick-Mittelstadt-Sheehy line next season?
150 point season or BUST!
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Probably very good.:) Casey is ranked very high (#5) in the 2017 NHL Central Scouting Midterm report. Surprised they have him 6' 1" @ 201, which is a lot heavier than what I've seen on other listings.

Other incoming Gopher recruits listed:

Scott Reedy, the Gophers recruit and Shattuck-St. Mary’s alum from Prior Lake, is ranked No. 47. The righthanded forward has 19 goals and 20 assists this season in 50 games with the U.S. U-18 team.

Nathan Knoepke (U.S U-18/Farmington) is ranked 106, The defenseman has four goals and 12 assists in 54 games with the U.S. U-18 team.

Brannon McManus (USHL/Newport Beach, Calif.) is ranked 178. The righthanded forward has 12 goals and 13 assists this season in 31 games for the Chicago Steel this season in the USHL.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I'd be surprised if Sheehy left.

His comment after Sat. loss:

Sheehy echoed that sentiment while looking ahead. "All of our seniors made such an impact with leading and with the standard they set here,'' he said. "They made it very clear what you have to do here to be winners. "I think this year, we were successful because we had the right mindset. We have a good group of guys coming in, I think. And it's going to be really competitive next year as well, so we're looking forward to that.''
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