Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I am curious about a rule. Is there a rule against changing players if a team clears the puck over the boards in their own end? Seems like a couple times a game when a team is gassed and just trying to get a break, they try to dump it from a position from which it would be just about as easy to put it out of the rink. If there is a rule against a change in this case, I can understand why they wouldn't; at least dumping it down the ice might not always result in an icing and a face-off in your own end if you don't clear it all the way. But if there is no such rule, it seems like the most important thing is to get new guys out, even if it means an own zone face-off. (Same result as a goalie freezing a puck to allow his team to change.) Anyone?

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I am curious about a rule. Is there a rule against changing players if a team clears the puck over the boards in their own end? Seems like a couple times a game when a team is gassed and just trying to get a break, they try to dump it from a position from which it would be just about as easy to put it out of the rink. If there is a rule against a change in this case, I can understand why they wouldn't; at least dumping it down the ice might not always result in an icing and a face-off in your own end if you don't clear it all the way. But if there is no such rule, it seems like the most important thing is to get new guys out, even if it means an own zone face-off. (Same result as a goalie freezing a puck to allow his team to change.) Anyone?

You can be penalized for delay of game if the referee judges it was shot out of play on purpose.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

You can be penalized for delay of game if the referee judges it was shot out of play on purpose.

And of course in the pros it isn't left up to the referee's judgement. It is always a two minute delay of game regardless of intent.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Yes, if there is no deflection you are not allowed to change players. I think this only applies in your defensive zone, but am not positive.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Kind of hard to argue with the performance last night. The first 8-10 minutes weren't great, but it was pretty much non-stop dominance from then on out.

Would have liked to see Schierhorn do better on that 1st goal.
Would have liked to see Glover just make the simple play that was available rather than making it difficult and coughing the puck up on the 2nd goal.
And of course a PP goal would have put that game away. But that was about as good a PP not resulting in a goal that I have seen in a long while (except for that final one which was underwhelming).

Other than that, lets see this kind of performance again today.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Great summary, Stauber1. Let's see if they can maintain that same intensity level tonight, FOR ALL THREE PERIODS!

GO GOPHERS!

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Well you know the old adage - split at home and sweep on the road.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Well you know the old adage - split at home and sweep on the road.

Although frustrating for the home team fans, if they managed to do that every weekend, come March we'd be in pretty good shape!
I couldn't watch tonight's game live as I had a mandatory "dinner date", but I did turn on the DVR as soon as I got home. Nice win! I loved how the Gophers competed all the way through, and were able to come back after digging themselves a 0-2 hole. I was also encouraged by Shierhorn's play, as he seemed focused all three periods and made the saves he should have made. All in all a great way to put a cap on the first half.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

So, 9-5-2 at the break playing the 10th toughest schedule according to RPI.
When gauged against preseason expectations, not too shabby.

Coming into the season my expectations were: win the Big 10 and make the NCAA Tournament.
They are definitely in position to accomplish the latter.
They are also still in position for the former, although OSU is the team that seemed most likely to compete with them for the title and the Gophers missed an opportunity to get points against them at home - and PSU looks to be stronger than anticipated and also in the mix for that league title.

The issues for this Gopher team definitely are defensively and in goal. The defense is young, but I'm not sure the defensive issues mainly fall on the D corp.
The goaltending is what is most worrisome, for me. Schierhorn clearly has the ability, but he seems to be in a mental funk that is persisting, and it's entirely clear that they don't have anyone else to take the reigns. And goaltending has cost them results against SCSU, UND and NU. Yes, it's not quite that simple as Schierhorn also played a huge role in the win against UND, and the rest of the team really tanked in the 3rd period of that Friday night game against SCSU, but the point remains that if goaltending had been better in a select few games this could be a team that has only lost 3 out of 16 against a very quality schedule.

I'm wondering why Kautz has never been given the nod over Lehr. Obviously the coaching staff has much more exposure to his tools and abilities, but he had a pretty impressive run his last year in the NAHL. Personally, if Schierhorn continues to struggle, I'd like to see Kautz given an opportunity to show what he can do in game situation.

But, hopefully this break will do Schierhorn some good and he can come back and elevate his play to where it was last year (or even, dare I dream, a step above).

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

(Page 3???) So Notermann looked ok. Someone was telling me he was originally redshirted. I hadn't hear that. Anyone else?

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

(Page 3???) So Notermann looked ok. Someone was telling me he was originally redshirted. I hadn't hear that. Anyone else?

I thought he looked better than ok given it was his first weekend in the lineup. Nothing earth-shattering but I see a real potential add.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I thought he looked better than ok given it was his first weekend in the lineup. Nothing earth-shattering but I see a real potential add.

Yeah. I think he was 3rd in scoring last year in the state. didn't look out of place at all.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

He made a few nice plays, but overall I would say his decisions with the puck seemed a bit rushed and he looked like he wasn't entirely comfortable with where he was supposed to be and be moving to. You would think those things would get better the more he plays.

It's tough to really evaluate as he didn't get a lot of playing time. Partly because of all the penalties, but you also saw the lines shuffling around a bit during 5x5 play with Notermann missing some shifts it seemed. So don't know exactly what to make of that.

It's also tough to glean what the plan is moving forward. Listening to Lucia, they plan on using him in the top-9 when he plays. Maybe that changes and he can add a little offense to the 4th line (I know a lot of fans bemoan the lack of production from Ramsey/Romanko but personally I'm not bothered by it. They play their role well in my opinion). But if he stays primarily as a top-9 option, that gives you 3 players (Notermann, Cammy, Reilly) competing for 1 spot, barring injuries. And if that's the case I kind of question how wise it was to burn a year of Notermann's eligibility for effectively 1/3 of half a season.
Maybe Notermann was expressing an inclination to leave at the break and go play juniors, and the coaching staff worried about losing the commitment. Or maybe the coaching staff really feels he is going to perform to a level that merits him being a regular in the line-up. Or to be more cynical, maybe there was a decision to sacrifice a year of eligibility simply to put more pressure on Cammy and Reilly. Time will tell I guess.

For what it's worth, I thought Cammy played well on Saturday. About midway through the first period UMass transitioned up ice and it was a 4-2 with only Romanko making an effort to get back into the play (both Cammy and Reilly were trailing well behind - not good when you were both healthy scratches the night before). But from then on I tended to notice Cammy when he was out there. A few times just because he got blown up (which I actually see as a positive; a willingness to take hits that he hasn't shown much of before). But he also was blocking a few shots, getting involved down low in the defensive end, made a couple nice passes resulting in scoring opportunities and had a couple really good ones himself even though he failed to finish them.

 

[gopher wes]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Watched the the first game (kind of) on my phone Friday while we were at a rehearsal dinner. Just checked the scored on Saturday at the actual wedding.

Glad the team took care of business. Kind of a ****ed if you do, ****ed if you don't when you're playing teams that low in the PWR.

Dreaded BYE coming up!!!

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Dreaded BYE coming up!!!

With Notre Dame joining the B1G next season, hopefully someday relatively soon after that an eighth team is added so everyone can start league action the same the weekend following the long break.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Might actually drive down for a game. can someone tell me which end (sections) Gophs shoot at twice? I assume that is opposite end from band?

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Might actually drive down for a game. can someone tell me which end (sections) Gophs shoot at twice? I assume that is opposite end from band?

I assume you're referencing the Michigan series at Mariucci? If so the Gophers attack the students/band end twice.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

I assume you're referencing the Michigan series at Mariucci? If so the Gophers attack the students/band end twice.

Was thinking Penn State in early Feb. And I don't know which section band is in. I need a number. Tickets remain in some corner sections but prefer end they shoot at twice if possible.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Was thinking Penn State in early Feb. And I don't know which section band is in. I need a number. Tickets remain in some corner sections but prefer end they shoot at twice if possible.

Buy SRO. Go sit in PSU section for a period at most. Find new seat after 2nd period. You're good.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread - 2016-2017

Sections 10-16.
Sections 9 & 17 are about the blue line.
Sections 11 & 15 about 10-15 rows up are probably the best seats in the house in my opinion (assuming the Goph's aren't getting trounced and spending the majority of the game in their own end....but if that's the case, there are no good seats anywhere)

You won't need to get SRO judging by the recent attendance. If it's just you or you and 1 other, you should be able to find singles on the street for pretty cheap and then pick out spots to sit.

Or go on StubHub. It's showing pairs on that end for about $40 a piece, prices will likely drop considerably the day-of and/or the closer it gets to the game.