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

[Hammy]

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

The reality is the Gophers and BC are very similar in many ways. Obviously each team will play aggressive, cause turnovers with their speed/quickness, and attack. I doubt there will be many games for either team this year where they will face an opponent that can mirror them in those respects. I'll take my chances with it. Particularly against B1G opponents that don't currently appear to be built to handle that kind of game very well.

 

[Stauber1]

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

That's the funny thing to me. The coaches put guys where they did because they know who brings what to the table better than anybody else. Obviously you want guys to do well in all facets but the reality is the key factor for a player in a top 6 forward role is how much offense do you create for yourself and your linemates. You put your dynamic playmakers in those spots. I mean, duh... that's how every coach puts together his team.

Kloos is by far a more dangerous player with the puck and he creates a tremendous amount of space based on his speed and elusiveness. Something Boyd really doesn't do. Kloos might make some mistakes based on inexperience but the reality is a coaching staff is trying to build something over the course of the season. You live with the occasional mistakes because the goal is to develop for later (which is what we saw when they stuck with Skjei so much last year). Boyd is a lunch pail guy with some decent skills. Unless there are injuries, he's exactly where he belongs on the line chart.

Kind of a rush to judgement on Kloos isn't it?

Yeesh, I'm sorry I brought it up. I think Kloos looks great so far. But I also think that line has some limitations.
My guess is that there will be some minor changes to the line combinations at some point throughout the season. Maybe even more than once

 

[Hammy]

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

Yeesh, I'm sorry I brought it up. I think Kloos looks great so far. But I also think that line has some limitations.
My guess is that there will be some minor changes to the line combinations at some point throughout the season. Maybe even more than once

I understand you initial thoughts. But I'm not sure those two young guys should be in any other situation given what they bring to the table overall. I think it is a case that you are better off living with limitations as long as they maintain more positive plays than not. Condon is definitely a good fit with those two since he is a good two way player and a senior that can help cover for some things. Cammy would definitely not be a great fit for a lower line role as that's just not his game. Kloos could handle lower line roles better than Cammy but I think it would be a waste to have him in those spots because he such a dynamic playmaker.

 

[Gurtholfin]

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

Gurt, I find it curious you reference the UW pasting by BC to make the argument UM won't want to play that style very often. The season is not completed nor competed in one 60 minute session. Also their opponent won't have the horses to match far more often than not, the D settled in for much of that game, but also they showed they could play sound defensively the four games prior. And while it's true BC missed some chances, you're ignoring that the Gophers also left plenty of scoring opportunities on the ice including a post, a crossbar, a Cammarmata breakaway, the D save of the game and the Warning shot over the net at the end. Pretty disingenuous to say the score could have gone south for them given that, but also to argue Wilcox saved the Gophers despite BC being outshot. Perhaps you're trying to get a rise of of msoh and I should drop out, because you're smarter than your argument.

Play that style all you want. You have the horses.

My reaction watching this game each time a forward got behind a defenseman was to cringe and grip my chair. And I don't even like the Gophers (clearly). Maybe I just don't have the stomach for such wide open (irresponsible) hockey.

BC looked dangerous and by Wilcox saving the day, I mean in that critical time when BC was owning the Gophers - the great chances for BC didn't end with their 3rd goal - and Wilcox made 4 or 5 great saves when the game was 3-2. At that time, Minnesota looked dangerously close to a pasting. Maybe my perception was off on that, but that's what I was seeing and trust me, it wasn't through skewed vision. I'm no fan of BC either.

Doubt you guys climb back in if you go down 5-2 at that point. Not saying at all that Wilcox stood on his head and that's why you earned the tie. I'm saying that he made key saves at a key time to keep you in the game.

I give the Gophers credit though as they did what the Badgers couldn't and stopped the bleeding and eventually turned the momentum around and pretty much dominated the 3rd. Tomorrow's game will be interesting.


I don't think it's off the wall to think that the Gophers (and BC for that matter) still might have a few things to tweak and work on. If you're comfortable with the looks that BC was getting in the second half of the 1st and at times in the 2nd, who am I to argue?

As far as the Badgers, there's lots of time for them to also tweak and what I saw last night makes me believe that they can adjust and compete with either of these teams. Not saying we're better, coz clearly we're not at the moment, but we'll get better and March is a long way off.


Am I still smarter than my argument?

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Play that style all you want. You have the horses.

My reaction watching this game each time a forward got behind a defenseman was to cringe and grip my chair. And I don't even like the Gophers (clearly). Maybe I just don't have the stomach for such wide open (irresponsible) hockey.

BC looked dangerous and by Wilcox saving the day, I mean in that critical time when BC was owning the Gophers - the great chances for BC didn't end with their 3rd goal - and Wilcox made 4 or 5 great saves when the game was 3-2. At that time, Minnesota looked dangerously close to a pasting. Maybe my perception was off on that, but that's what I was seeing and trust me, it wasn't through skewed vision. I'm no fan of BC either.

Doubt you guys climb back in if you go down 5-2 at that point. Not saying at all that Wilcox stood on his head and that's why you earned the tie. I'm saying that he made key saves at a key time to keep you in the game.

I give the Gophers credit though as they did what the Badgers couldn't and stopped the bleeding and eventually turned the momentum around and pretty much dominated the 3rd. Tomorrow's game will be interesting.


I don't think it's off the wall to think that the Gophers (and BC for that matter) still might have a few things to tweak and work on. If you're comfortable with the looks that BC was getting in the second half of the 1st and at times in the 2nd, who am I to argue?

As far as the Badgers, there's lots of time for them to also tweak and what I saw last night makes me believe that they can adjust and compete with either of these teams. Not saying we're better, coz clearly we're not at the moment, but we'll get better and March is a long way off.


Am I still smarter than my argument?

This was a pretty fair assessment.

 

[Slap Shot]

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

Gurt of course they have things to work on, but where would you put them at their current baseline compared with a, b, c or d? That's my point.

 

[Gurtholfin]

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

Gurt of course they have things to work on, but where would you put them at their current baseline compared with a, b, c or d? That's my point.

I'm not even sure what we're talking about anymore. Been drinking for 5 hours now and the Wild are beating the Hawks, up is down, black is white, in is out and so it goes.

Tomorrow's winner is the champion of October. Good luck!

 

[Hammy]

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

I don't think it is going out on a limb to say to say a team can "compete" with another in a one game situation. Especially when you try to slow the game to a crawl and bore everybody to death. Maybe that's why Gurt can't stomach high speed offensive minded hockey like the Gophers and BC play... seeing a creative offensive team that can skate fast has been a foreign concept in Madison for a while. Maybe the fast skating and the puck movement make him dizzy. Simply not used to it.

 

[Gurtholfin]

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

I don't think it is going out on a limb to say to say a team can "compete" with another in a one game situation. Especially when you try to slow the game to a crawl and bore everybody to death. Maybe that's why Gurt can't stomach high speed offensive minded hockey like the Gophers and BC play... seeing a creative offensive team that can skate fast has been a foreign concept in Madison for a while.

The truth hurts... so... much.

But I'm also a Hawks fan, so I do get to watch a lot of good hockey, sans tonight, of course.

 

[Hammy]

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

I'll give you the Blackhawks. I don't like them but I respect the ability they have

 

[Gurtholfin]

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

I'll give you the Blackhawks. I don't like them but I respect the ability they have

They didn't show it tonight and the Wild are getting a quality win.

We'll see how Monday goes.

 

[5mn_Major]

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

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.

BC is a very talented team. Any very talented team will get their opportunities. As puck control is the gophers' style, opponent opportunities come in the form of lapses in that puck control that to you appear as a multitude of defensive breakdowns. UW's style is completely different...so when playing well, they are play solidly defensive. When facing a good opponent, we see you as on your heels with little offense. They are just different outcomes that make sense when playing a good opponent and you understand the two different play styles. Most gopher fans recognize that about the gopher game. But in the end, we were the better team with a pretty solid performance even defensively.

 

[SanTropez]

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

There has been much discussion about this game and series betweeen BC and Minnesota, but what it really boils down to is what a certain "take the high road" coach once said:

"When two teams play only one can win" - Bam spot on!

Let's go Gophers!

 

[Koho]

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

Can't wait for today's game, although I much rather would have watched last night and had this nice fall day free. Sunday afternoon games just don't feel right.

With how young these two teams are and how talented they are, it is hard not to believe we are going to be seeing them both late in the season over the next couple years. Granted, momentum, injuries, hot opposing goalies and all those factors play a big part, but overall, for how young they both are, it is amazing the teams have this much talent.

And does anyone on here actually like the shootout? I realize some are neutral, but does anyone think it is a good idea? The teams are tied, no matter what happens, then we'll have a few guys shoot in a non-game situation after TEAMS are skating their hearts out for 65 minutes. Why not resurface and go for 10 minutes and call it good? I think you could even get away with 8 minutes on same ice (been done before). Sorry t re-hash again, but just had to get it out, since going to a shootout after that game seemed so bizarre.

 

[Scott W]

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

And does anyone on here actually like the shootout? I realize some are neutral, but does anyone think it is a good idea? The teams are tied, no matter what happens, then we'll have a few guys shoot in a non-game situation after TEAMS are skating their hearts out for 65 minutes. Why not resurface and go for 10 minutes and call it good? I think you could even get away with 8 minutes on same ice (been done before). Sorry t re-hash again, but just had to get it out, since going to a shootout after that game seemed so bizarre.

Shootouts are a part of the B1G now, so it was more of a practice for the upcoming conference season than anything else. I said this on GPL about shootouts, I personally don't like them. The fact of the matter is they are a part of pretty much every level of hockey now, they are not going away. Those of us that don't like them just need to deal with it, they are here to stay.

 

[Koho]

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

Shootouts are a part of the B1G now, so it was more of a practice for the upcoming conference season than anything else. I said this on GPL about shootouts, I personally don't like them. The fact of the matter is they are a part of pretty much every level of hockey now, they are not going away. Those of us that don't like them just need to deal with it, they are here to stay.

I realize all of this, but if I want to continue to ***** about them after a game where their stupidity is glaringly obvious, I can. I also realize that this board is not an accurate cross section of the hockey watching public. Even so, I was asking if anyone on this board likes them. LOts of rules have changed over the years and then changed again. I am sure shootouts will be here for awhile, and perhaps forever. But they may also go away at some point (please, please, please...).

 

[Scott W]

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

I realize all of this, but if I want to continue to ***** about them after a game where their stupidity is glaringly obvious, I can. I also realize that this board is not an accurate cross section of the hockey watching public. Even so, I was asking if anyone on this board likes them. LOts of rules have changed over the years and then changed again. I am sure shootouts will be here for awhile, and perhaps forever. But they may also go away at some point (please, please, please...).

I wish they would too, but do you really think they will? With every passing season it seems another level of hockey adds them.

 

[Gurtholfin]

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

I'm against them too, but every time I've been in attendance for one, the crowd seems to love it.

They seemed into it at the Mooch on Friday too.


For better or worse, they're here to stay, imo. As long as they don't decide championships or playoffs with them ala the WJC, I can tolerate them.

 

[D2D]

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

As long as they don't decide championships or playoffs with them ala the WJC, I can tolerate them.

Exactly my feelings...reluctant acceptance and put up with them during the regular season only.

 

[The Rube]

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

Exactly my feelings...reluctant acceptance and put up with them during the regular season only.

Truth.