Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I think it is time for Patterson to get a few more starts he is just as good as Kangas and played very well today. Nice to see the Gophers actually put a win in the books.

Not sure if he is "just as good". Patterson had a lot of guys playing D in front of him tonight. I don't recall seeing many weak side guys left wide open like was rampant in the last few games. The forwards were taking bodies everytime a SCSU player touched a puck early. I do agree he earned the chance for more starts, as long as he continues to play well.

The Islander's scout watching Ness has to be happy with his play of late. He seems to have 10 times the confidence carrying the puck that he had last year. He'll be fun to watch if this continues. Hopefully Fairchild will start to play like the potential he's shown in the past too.

I like the looks of Haula. Looks like he'll contribute a lot. He has to learn to stop taking those penalties for getting cross-checked in the back into the goalie though.

Buddish used his size tonight to haul the puck around, which was good.

Paranteau (sp?) also seemed very poised for a first game.

Another good game by Condon too.

And of course Barriball looks like the experienced player you would expect. Hope he's ok. He and Cepis are sure fun to watch with the puck.

How long is Nick Larson out for?

 

[GopherBigGuy911]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Not sure if he is "just as good". Patterson had a lot of guys playing D in front of him tonight. I don't recall seeing many weak side guys left wide open like was rampant in the last few games. The forwards were taking bodies everytime a SCSU player touched a puck early. I do agree he earned the chance for more starts, as long as he continues to play well.

The Islander's scout watching Ness has to be happy with his play of late. He seems to have 10 times the confidence carrying the puck that he had last year. He'll be fun to watch if this continues. Hopefully Fairchild will start to play like the potential he's shown in the past too.

I like the looks of Haula. Looks like he'll contribute a lot. He has to learn to stop taking those penalties for getting cross-checked in the back into the goalie though.

Buddish used his size tonight to haul the puck around, which was good.

Paranteau (sp?) also seemed very poised for a first game.

Another good game by Condon too.

And of course Barriball looks like the experienced player you would expect. Hope he's ok. He and Cepis are sure fun to watch with the puck.

How long is Nick Larson out for?

I agree the D did actually showed up today for Patterson, which was very nice to see. I would say if I had to rate each Goalie on a scale of 1-10 Kangas was out be a 9.5. and Patterson a 9.0. Last year Kangas had a .911 save percentage and Patterson had a .901 save percentage..... So far (after today) Patterson has a .932 save percentage as opposed to Kangas's .883 save percentage (yes it is early and stats don't mean diddly). Now could it be that the D actually shows up when Patterson is in net because the D wants to protect Patterson because he doesn't have the reputation of being a good goalie as opposed to Kangas? Or did the D show up because Don actully did his job on Saturday with the day off and actually had a "Come to Jesus" meeting with the team????

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Not sure if he is "just as good". Patterson had a lot of guys playing D in front of him tonight. I don't recall seeing many weak side guys left wide open like was rampant in the last few games. The forwards were taking bodies everytime a SCSU player touched a puck early. I do agree he earned the chance for more starts, as long as he continues to play well.

Finally some sense.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Kent Patterson made some stellar saves on multiple shots between the dots to ward off a third period 13-5 shot advantage by SCSU. His individual effort all game was superb, but he also received help from a more well adjusted D.

"I don't know if we could have scripted the game much better," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "It started with Kent, the way he came in and played. You could tell he was on because it seemed all the pucks were hitting him in the chest. And when a goalie is on, it is because of his positioning and he controlled the rebounds."

Lucia's postgame comments after the second UNO loss and Friday after losing to SCSU indicated that Alex Kangas needed better positioning and rebound control. I was happy to see KP get the nod on Sunday and he earned the right for another start. KP Kool Aid.

 

[GopherBigGuy911]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I think KP Kool-Aid is just want we need..... that and a D that likes to CRUSH anyone who tries to come into the offensive zone....

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I think KP Kool-Aid is just want we need..... that and a D that likes to CRUSH anyone who tries to come into the offensive zone....

I think what "WE" need, is an entire team that will play an entire game with the intensity and jump they showed in the first period Sunday.

(I have other needs too, but those are for a different board and not necessarily shared among all Gopher fans, other than those food and water ones.....)

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Kind of a dull game, but they got the right result. Sunday actually looked a lot like last year's team to me....which, after the last 3 games, was definitely an improvement.

It helped that St. Cloud didn't look nearly as sharp through the first and second periods as they did on Friday night, but also credit to the Gophers as they played a much better game. Their play in front of their own net was markedly improved.

I really like what I saw out of Parenteau. He should be in the line-up Friday night in Colorado Springs.

Helgeson was brutal through the first 30 minutes of the game, and then started to pick it up (and pick his feet up, coincidentally) toward the end of the second and into the third.

I also think Patterson should get the start on Friday. And before people go bananas, it's not because Kangas is a bad goalie or has played badly. But Patterson came in, held the other team to the lowest number of goals we have allowed all year, didn't give up a soft one, and preserved a lead as the third period wore on. I know, the defense was better. I don't really care. He still only allowed 1 and preserved that 1 goal lead all game long.
Basically, it seems to me that if the coach is telling guys that they have to go out and compete for spots, then he has to be willing to reward the guys who step in and out perform the guys they have replaced. Patterson did that. He should get the start.
Kangas Saturday.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Kind of a dull game, but they got the right result. Sunday actually looked a lot like last year's team to me....which, after the last 3 games, was definitely an improvement.

It helped that St. Cloud didn't look nearly as sharp through the first and second periods as they did on Friday night, but also credit to the Gophers as they played a much better game. Their play in front of their own net was markedly improved.

I really like what I saw out of Parenteau. He should be in the line-up Friday night in Colorado Springs.

Helgeson was brutal through the first 30 minutes of the game, and then started to pick it up (and pick his feet up, coincidentally) toward the end of the second and into the third.

I also think Patterson should get the start on Friday. And before people go bananas, it's not because Kangas is a bad goalie or has played badly. But Patterson came in, held the other team to the lowest number of goals we have allowed all year, didn't give up a soft one, and preserved a lead as the third period wore on. I know, the defense was better. I don't really care. He still only allowed 1 and preserved that 1 goal lead all game long.
Basically, it seems to me that if the coach is telling guys that they have to go out and compete for spots, then he has to be willing to reward the guys who step in and out perform the guys they have replaced. Patterson did that. He should get the start.
Kangas Saturday.

1. I thought they looked better than last year's team, other than the fact they stopped pressing in the third for awhile.

2. Agree with Paranteau comment. Nice poise for a first game.

3. I give more credit to the Gophs playing much better than a lapse by SCSU. It is tough to know for sure. But what I saw was; SCSU was hitting Gophs in all zones Friday and would come away with the puck. Gophs didn't hit a lot anywhere and were hesitant. Sunday, the Gophs were the ones hitting everywhere. SCSU was still hitting in their own zone, but Gophers would still come away with the puck after getting hit. I think the fact the Gophs were moving fast made it hard for SCSU to hit them in Neutral zone. When Gophs stopped pressing so much in the third is what allowed SCSU to make more chances. Also, with the increased movement of the forwards came better passing on Sunday than Friday. Passes weren't missing on Friday just because of SCSU pressure. They were missing when there was little pressure as well. All these observations make me believe it was more the Gophs controlling their fate than how well the opponent played. Hopefully they'll learn this more and more as the season progresses and they can gain confidence from it. (Ok, so I am arguing a fine distinction on your point. It's still better than working.)

4. Helegeson hasn't impressed me a lot yet this year.

5. PATTERSON START FRIDAY?????? ARE YOU NUTS??????????? So he had one great game positionally with the team playing in front of him and made a couple great saves. I will admit he earned a chance to split this weekend. Well, I guess I don't care if it is Friday or Sat. Alright, Friday works for me....

 

[Skeeterman]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Is Potulney still a coach of some kind? Aren't a lot of things his fault?

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Did anyone notice that Aaron Ness was wearing an "A" last night at CC? Apparently he is now the third asst. captain next to Kangas and Hoeffel.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Big "confidence building" road sweep for the Gophers. Eight different players contributed 9 goals. Unlike last season, it's nice to see the goal scoring spread around. Last time the Gophers scored 9 was about five years ago, Nov. 2005 against UAA (9-0). One key for the Gophers was scoring early, when leading after 1 the Gophers are 5-0. Still too many GA though. Patterson made some excellent saves but letting in 4 tonight may cause Lucia to consider a rotation for the upcoming Badger series.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Fun game tonight. Both teams seamed to let it all hang out, and MN clearly got the better of that.
MN scored some really pretty goals tonight (I suppose if you put 9 in the back of the net, some of them have to be pretty). But they also scored some dirty ones, and some capitalizing on CC mistakes.
Good to see.
I wasn't expecting to see Patterson in net, but am glad I did. He didn't play badly, but I think Lucia is now very justified in going with a rotation. That, in my mind, is a positive.

Nice to see some guys step up and make quality offensive plays.
There may just be some hope for this season yet...

 

[CCtig]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I spoke Friday and Saturday with a couple who lives in Minneapolis and travels on the road to watch the Gophers play all the time and they both said Minnesota played its best hockey of the young season so far.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I spoke Friday and Saturday with a couple who lives in Minneapolis and travels on the road to watch the Gophers play all the time and they both said Minnesota played its best hockey of the young season so far.

Without a doubt.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I think KP Kool-Aid is just want we need..... that and a D that likes to CRUSH anyone who tries to come into the offensive zone....

No no no no. It's called Patterson Punch. Get it right.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Made up some ground. Still very weak defense on the weak side. Patterson wasn't as sharp.

Can they now defend home ice? And by defend I mean at least 3 points? If they can do that next weekend we may have something going on as fans that's got some excitement to it.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Fun to see that kind of scoring. I was hoping for the Hat for Condon. He is fun to watch. They have room for a lot more improvement, but at least things look better than this time last year.

BTW, what is the current wording for interference? Is it only based on distance from the puck? Paranteau got that penalty when a CC player dumped it between his legs into the corner and Paranteau hit him a second or so after he realeased the puck. The puck was 6 feet away but the CC player had just played it. On the other hand, there were a couple times when the puck was in the vacinity of a player but he hadn't had a chance to touch the puck and the player got hit with no call. The puck was within reach of the player at the time. that makes me think the current wording is only based on distance from the puck. But I swear I have also seen this called in front of the net, where a player is knocked down while trying to play the puck.

 

[vizoroo]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

For those of us who "live and die" for our favorite college hockey team, there comes a time when that is secondary. And that time came to Pioneer fans this weekend.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — University of Denver center Jesse Martin sustained three neck fractures in Saturday night's hockey game at North Dakota and was transferred to a Minneapolis hospital this morning where doctors are deciding if emergency surgery is required to relieve swelling of the spinal cord, the player's father said.

Read more: DU's Martin facing emergency surgery for broken neck - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16484927#ixzz13z0LjWRS

A new thread has been started
"Pass on your best wishes to Jesse Martin here"

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

Made up some ground. Still very weak defense on the weak side. Patterson wasn't as sharp.

Can they now defend home ice? And by defend I mean at least 3 points? If they can do that next weekend we may have something going on as fans that's got some excitement to it.

Big Litmus test this weekend. An even more expedient question is: If they do defend, will we see a revisitation of Scooby version 2.0?

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread: Kangas Kool-Aid For All!

I spoke Friday and Saturday with a couple who lives in Minneapolis and travels on the road to watch the Gophers play all the time and they both said Minnesota played its best hockey of the young season so far.

Dan and his wife?