Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

[mnstate0fhockey]

Just to reiterate, changing lines based upon performance and stats thus far is premature. I agree with everyone here that we need more time to test the lines out. But your point is well taken Stauber.

Is Kloos a better C "right now" than Boyd? Not according to two key categories in which both centers Bjugstad and Haula led the Gophers last season: SOG and FO% (actually Boyd finished slightly better in FO% than Haula).

Granted the SOG variable is a metric that carries a significant amount of variance in shot quality, but nevertheless it's an important offensive marker and the basis for other important stats like shooting%, SV%, etc. After 5 games Boyd currently leads all Gophers in SOG/game at 3.40 (Kloos - 2.40)

An immediate point of concern for Kloos is FO% which typically translates into puck possession. Kloos is dead last among Gopher Cs with 42%/50 FOs behind A.J. Michaelson's 54.2%/48 FOs. Travis Boyd currently leads all Gopher Cs at 56.5%/69 FOs. Although it's still early, anything below 50% is a serious matter of concern and Kloos needs to make positive adjustments in the FO circles.

My main concern with Boyd is consistency. tDon talked about how he rededicated himself in the offseason after a relatively disappointing performance on the score sheet last season. He's had a good start so far, but there's a lot of hockey ahead. If he works hard and shows signs of a breakout season and Kloos struggles, I can see Boyd moving up.

I don't see Boyd moving up. If anything, I see Condon moving to center on that line and Kloos moving to the wing. Gotta remember, Kloos is taking face-offs versus team's second lines and Boyd against team's third lines. Doesn't completely explain the disparity, but it is a factor.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Here's a slightly different take, if I can get between you two felating each other.

It was fun to watch. Firewagon hockey. My old DirectTV package used to have channels that would show junior hockey and this game reminded me a lot of that. End to end with very little defensive responsibility. Offensive chances galore. As a fan of the sport and with no horse in the race, I loved it.

The coach in me was cringing though with each defensive lapse and breakdown. You can say all you want that that was how the game should be played, but not too many coaches would agree with you.


Now before anyone accuse me of not liking this because my team traps blah, blah, blah. Not true. How many of you Gopher fans have enjoyed the Wild's style of play over the years? But they're your team, so you endure.

The Blackhawks are what I enjoy. Very good defensively (I like defense, not the trap) and a puck possession team with some scoring punch. The Badgers drive me nuts at times, but they're my team, so I endure.


Back to this game. As a fan of a team that hopes to contend with you two - assuming we get our heads out of our butts after our trip to Boston - I saw things that give me hope.

You simply can't play that open and hope to get away with it over the long term. Guarantee you that the Gophers will be working on defensive responsibilities and puck possession.

Clearly, BC got tired or worn down. They're scary quick and really made the Gopher defensemen look like orange cones out there for about half the game. I'm sure that Guentzel (sp?) was not pleased although it wasn't all on the d-men as the forwards gave up turnovers that led to transition. If Wilcox doesn't come up with some big saves, the game gets out of hand by halfway through the second.

But you can't always maintain that hyper-effort over 60 minutes and Minnesota dominated the 3rd.


I know, takes some guts (or stupidity) to come in here after last weekend, and I was ready to crown BC after the first 30 last night, but it's a long season, so we'll see where we all are late February. I believe we'll match up well with the Gophers and if they can outplay BC, so can we. At some point. Down the road.

I'm in a better place than I was a week ago.

Fun game though and hope Sunday's is as well. Go ahead and tie again.


And you all know I'm right on everything I just typed.

First period I would agree with you. Both teams played very open and took far too many risks that led to odd-man rushes and chances at both ends. After the first period, I'd strongly disagree with you. Both teams played very well defensively, but were matched up against two VERY skilled offenses. I think the Gopher defensemen played outstanding from the second period on (especially Brady Skjei). To say they looked like "traffic cones" is far from accurate IMO. Perhaps you're confusing this game with highlights from your game against BC?

Anyways, not saying you don't have valid points. First period was way too open, for both teams, and while fun to watch it was also nerve racking. Both teams are very fast and very skilled and I think both are used to having big advantages in those areas over opponents. It will be interesting to see how the teams play on Sunday. I'm guessing they tighten up things defensively a bit.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Gurt, I can't agree. The Gophers played that style last night because they could. Quite frankly after watching them hang with BC all game long (despite playing nearly the entire game with only 5 defenseman) UW should be scared. The Gophers have enough skill on the blue line and the right caching to adjust to UW should they need to. That's not to say UW won't get better, I assume they will. But there's no logic in projecting outcomes of equal play based upon what we've seen so far. Don't get me wrong I'm not making grandiose season long predictions, but rather countering the notion the Gophers tying a team that ran circles around UW (a game in which said critiqued style of play worked fabulously) shouldn't equate to nerves when they face UW. Yes they need to tighten up, but they've already shown they can do that this season.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Gurt, I can't agree. The Gophers played that style last night because they could. Quite frankly after watching them hang with BC all game long (despite playing nearly the entire game with only 5 defenseman) UW should be scared. The Gophers have enough skill on the blue line and the right caching to adjust to UW should they need to. That's not to say UW won't get better, I assume they will but there's no logic in projecting outcomes of equal play based upon what we've seen so far.

Completely agree. Not saying UW won't get better, but I came away from this game feeling even more strongly that this Gopher squad is capable of very special things.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Completely agree. Not saying UW won't get better, but I came away from this game feeling even more strongly that this Gopher squad is capable of very special things.

This. One little thing I noticed in the first period: BC clogged the neutral zone big time (not a trap, per se). MN had a little trouble busting through, but when they did? Holy hannah game over; see: the first goal. BC tweaked that approach, and then we saw even more amazing hockey.

 

[J.D.]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Gotta remember, Kloos is taking face-offs versus team's second lines and Boyd against team's third lines. Doesn't completely explain the disparity, but it is a factor.

One thing I would say to this is it's no guarantee that you line up your 4 centers in order of how good they are on faceoffs. There are obviously other factors that come into play when determining that.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

One thing I would say to this is it's no guarantee that you line up your 4 centers in order of how good they are on faceoffs. There are obviously other factors that come into play when determining that.

I agree, but more often than not (from what I have seen) Boyd's line hasn't been matched up with the top lines of other teams. I think Kloos has taken face-offs against opponent's better lines more often than Boyd has. Just my observations

 

[J.D.]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

I also disagree with the BADger fan Obviously coaches don't like to give up chance after chance, but this type of non-conference tilt is no different than what I've seen in the York era against other opponents. He'll take aggressive, attacking style hockey over anything else. I'd say it's worked out pretty well for him over the long haul.

The one thing I'd agree on is that Wisconsin can't possibly play any worse than they did in the Friday game at BC. And BC probably wouldn't play any better than they did, but in the end...what does that even mean? That if they played again, BC wouldn't win 9-2? Yes, I agree with that.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Frankly. The wheels came off for the Gophers for about 5 minutes in the first...with two goals scored by BC's 4th line (and was in part due to weak play by our 4th which shocked the rest of the team). Once we settled down early in the second, the Gophers resumed puck control. BC was dangerous when they got close to the net, but the Gophers carried the play most of the time.

I was struck by what I saw as dominance by our first line over that of BC. Again, I was surprised at how strong Fasching looked.

This gopher performance was not a one time event...and they won't need it every game to be to have a pretty successful season.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Frankly. The wheels came off for the Gophers for about 5 minutes in the first...with two goals scored by BC's 4th line (and was in part due to weak play by our 4th which shocked the rest of the team). Once we settled down early in the second, the Gophers resumed puck control. BC was dangerous when they got close to the net, but the Gophers carried the play most of the time.

I was struck by what I saw as dominance by our first line over that of BC. Again, I was surprised at how strong Fasching looked.

This gopher performance was not a one time event...and they won't need it every game to be to have a pretty successful season.

The most impressive thing for me was how good our defense played after they settled down in the second period. Brady Skjei had what I think was his best game as a Gopher so far. How many players can shut down Gaudreau 1-on-1?

I really think both teams are used to having so much time and space because they have been so much faster than their competition so far. So the first period was an adjustment because they can't get away with some of the same things against each other. Once adjustments were made, the game wasn't as wide open, but still had the punch-counter punch feel to it. It's just that the two teams were also playing more responsibly defensively as well.

Two really evenly matched teams and an outstanding game to watch. If all games were like this I would be in heaven. I'd also probably live 5 years less

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

I don't see Boyd moving up. If anything, I see Condon moving to center on that line and Kloos moving to the wing. Gotta remember, Kloos is taking face-offs versus team's second lines and Boyd against team's third lines. Doesn't completely explain the disparity, but it is a factor.

Your thinking is too linear. Third line Cs are not necessarily always poorer at FOs than second line Cs. Case in point, BC's 2nd line C Kevin Hayes, has almost the identical FO% as Patrick Brown their 3rd line C. Yet, Kloos went 22% and Boyd 57% last night. Boyd takes FOs against top Cs on PPs as well, which also factors into his stats. Condon has not shown in the past he's any better than Kloos either, in this category at least.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

You're thinking is too linear. Third line Cs are not necessarily always poorer at FOs than second line Cs. Case in point, BC's 2nd line C Kevin Hayes, has almost the identical FO% as Patrick Brown their 3rd line C. Yet, Kloos went 22% and Boyd 57% last night. Boyd takes FOs against top Cs on PPs as well, which also factors into his stats.

Fair enough. You have a very valid point there. I still don't think Boyd is second line material. There is far more that goes into playing the position than just face-offs and shots taken.

 

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

So in real time if the refs saw the final "no goal" would it be a penalty shot? I am still in shock but the game was entertaining.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Gurt, I can't agree. The Gophers played that style last night because they could. Quite frankly after watching them hang with BC all game long (despite playing nearly the entire game with only 5 defenseman) UW should be scared. The Gophers have enough skill on the blue line and the right caching to adjust to UW should they need to. That's not to say UW won't get better, I assume they will. But there's no logic in projecting outcomes of equal play based upon what we've seen so far. Don't get me wrong I'm not making grandiose season long predictions, but rather countering the notion the Gophers tying a team that ran circles around UW (a game in which said critiqued style of play worked fabulously) shouldn't equate to nerves when they face UW. Yes they need to tighten up, but they've already shown they can do that this season.

I wasn't saying what I said to imply that the Gophers (or BC) should be worried about UW. I'm saying that there were flaws in both teams last night that can be exploited if they aren't corrected.

I'm saying that the results in Boston don't worry me as much now as they did after only hearing radio broadcasts of the games.

Like I said, I had crowned BC by halfway through the 2nd and then they looked incredibly average in the 3rd.

Time will tell. UW may yet crap the bed this season. The Gophers could too.

We'll see. Not saying you guys don't look really good or that BC doesn't. Both do.


But to claim that the Gophers played that style (allowing forwards behind their D for most of a period and a half) because they can doesn't jive. Nobody wants to allow that many quality scoring chances and the Gopher D looked like they were skating in slush at times.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I wasn't saying what I said to imply that the Gophers (or BC) should be worried about UW. I'm saying that there were flaws in both teams last night that can be exploited if they aren't corrected.

I'm saying that the results in Boston don't worry me as much now as they did after only hearing radio broadcasts of the games.

Like I said, I had crowned BC by halfway through the 2nd and then they looked incredibly average in the 3rd.

Time will tell. UW may yet crap the bed this season. The Gophers could too.

We'll see. Not saying you guys don't look really good or that BC doesn't. Both do.


But to claim that the Gophers played that style (allowing forwards behind their D for most of a period and a half) because they can doesn't jive. Nobody wants to allow that many quality scoring chances and the Gopher D looked like they were skating in slush at times.

Not sure what game you were watching, but to say the Gopher's defense looked slow is pretty laughable. Yes, they let BC forwards sneak behind them a few too many times early in that game because our defense likes to jump up into the offense and forwards didn't properly cover for them (that happens when you're starting 5 freshmen forwards), but to suggest our defense looked slow is just horrible analysis.

 

[captain beefheart]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Incredible, extremely fun game. Both teams are/can be special. However, where is the back and forth banter, you know, us patting them on the back,them them patting us? Over on their thread you'd think it is a week off. Wait a minute, did one of you clowns tell them that we don't have any Canadien restaurants in town?

 

[J.D.]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

So in real time if the refs saw the final "no goal" would it be a penalty shot? I am still in shock but the game was entertaining.

A defending player, except the goalkeeper, shall not be permitted to fall on the puck, hold the puck or gather the puck into the body or hands when the puck is within the goal crease.

PENALTY—Penalty shot/optional minor; an additional penalty shall not be assessed.

**The reason it's worded like this is because all other delay of game penalties just say "minor penalty". So obviously they are not referring to an additional penalty of a major, game misconduct, etc. It's either a penalty shot or a two minute minor, but the rule book does not say when each should be called. It's up to the ref I guess. Certainly seems like a rule they should clean up (granted it doesn't come up much).

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

The Gophers were caught with four guys too deep too often. Obviously they feel as though they can't do that, especially against BC, because they made an adjustment that fixed it.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

The Gophers were caught with four guys too deep too often. Obviously they feel as though they can't do that, especially against BC, because they made an adjustment that fixed it.

Exactly.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Minnesota hosts Boston College, 10/25 & 10/27

Not sure what game you were watching, but to say the Gopher's defense looked slow is pretty laughable. Yes, they let BC forwards sneak behind them a few too many times early in that game because our defense likes to jump up into the offense and forwards didn't properly cover for them (that happens when you're starting 5 freshmen forwards), but to suggest our defense looked slow is just horrible analysis.

I was watching the game where several (what should have been) 50/50 pucks at the top of your circles ended up in excellent scoring chances for BC because your D were not quick enough to transition back and 1) keep the BC forward from the puck or 2) from taking the puck to the net (instead of forcing them to the corner) when they did get it.

Don't know how anyone could say with a straight face that BC's quickness wasn't a real issue or that Minnesota wanted to play that way - meaning so wide open that the chances were what they were.


Try to be a little objective Dubbie.