Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

[Steve_MN]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

I'm thinking that the Gophs have got to be the early favorite to run the table. They've got some amazing talent that can produce goals in the blink of an eye.

Here's a funny story. I'm headed down to Cadet Ice Arena for the DU/AF game tonight, listening to other games on my phone (BU/UND and Miaimi/UNO) as we get close to the Springs, I flip the car radio on to try to get the start of the DU game. I'm 10 miles away from the arena and I can barely pull in the signal. I hit scan and the radio lands on 1500 ESPN from Minneapolis and I hear Wally and Co calling the Gophs game as clear as a bell!

At least you had some good hockey to listen to

1500 has a pretty strong signal (especially after sundown) and the night-time pattern points pretty much directly at you, as I recall.

 

[DtownDogs]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

And if Lucia referred to "puck luck", that is probably what he meant. On an average night, a few of those perfect shots in the upper corner miss and the game is a little closer. But it was good to see the Gophs respond to 10 minutes of disjointed play and getting out-hustled by UMD. They took the wind out of the Dogs with those quick goals. Obviously, if UMD can keep their intensity up for a game, they have enough talent that the game Sunday should be much more of a challenge than this one was for the last couple periods.

I did not see the context in where Lucia referred to "puck luck" but I would also assume he was referring to the 4 high glovers that went in. On a normal night you get one of those to go in, a good night two. Four is unheard of. It was one of those nights where seemingly every scoring chance for the gophers found the back of the net. You have to credit some to skill and some to luck. Boyd's and Brodzinski's for example, were both within two inches of a bulldog stick or body - not to take anything away from Boyd's move but he barely missed the D man's stick. Wilcox, as usual, played very well, especially early when the gophers needed it. In the first two periods (the gophers weren't thinking offense in the third) gophers out shot the bulldogs by 7. Typically you don't outscore your opponent by 5 when you out shoot them by 7. Scoring chances were tipped slightly to the gophers advantage after two. Nine times out of ten last nights game is a close one. "Puck luck" was a certainly a factor. With the football team coming off a beating today look for Marriucci to be dead. Bulldogs take it in a close one tomorrow.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

At least you had some good hockey to listen to

1500 has a pretty strong signal (especially after sundown) and the night-time pattern points pretty much directly at you, as I recall.

Never understood that AM radio signal strength thing. Late at night the local stations get fuzzy yet stations from states or Canada) away suddenly can be heard. Rarely can I get 1500 during the mid-day, but usually comes in well enough to hear in the evening.

 

[Hammy]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

I'm not sure puck luck had a lot to do with it. Anybody that has watched the Gophers consistently this year can see they have some pretty good goal scorers that can pick corners pretty well. Including some of their D-men. Last night wasn't even their best shooting game in terms of hitting their spots. The second BC game was even more impressive the way they sniped their shots. The only guy that scored last night that you wouldn't expect to see with a sniper-like goal would be Serratore. (Brodzinski is a pretty good goal scorer from the defensive spot).

 

[captain beefheart]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

I did not see the context in where Lucia referred to "puck luck" but I would also assume he was referring to the 4 high glovers that went in. On a normal night you get one of those to go in, a good night two. Four is unheard of. It was one of those nights where seemingly every scoring chance for the gophers found the back of the net. You have to credit some to skill and some to luck. Boyd's and Brodzinski's for example, were both within two inches of a bulldog stick or body - not to take anything away from Boyd's move but he barely missed the D man's stick. Wilcox, as usual, played very well, especially early when the gophers needed it. In the first two periods (the gophers weren't thinking offense in the third) gophers out shot the bulldogs by 7. Typically you don't outscore your opponent by 5 when you out shoot them by 7. Scoring chances were tipped slightly to the gophers advantage after two. Nine times out of ten last nights game is a close one. "Puck luck" was a certainly a factor. With the football team coming off a beating today look for Marriucci to be dead. Bulldogs take it in a close one tomorrow.

I call b.s. Just having our football team being mentioned in the same breath as Bucky will be enough to keep we of the Ski U Mah fame on fire, like KATNISS EVERDEEN!!!! Gophers complete the sweep.

 

[DtownDogs]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

No doubt the Gophers have a lot of goal scorers, but you need puck luck to put 6 goals in on 29 shots. First goal UMD's d-man trips on the blue line, 2nd goal a snipe from a guy who normally doesn't snipe, 3rd goal - pretty sick, 4th goal Rau can opened McManus for the initial possession that lead to his goal, 5th goal - nice move good shot but barely missed UMD Dman's stick, last goal was a few inches from being blocked from a UMD players hip.

The gophers created better scoring opportunities and deserved the win. To say that it should have been a 6-1 routing and that Sunday is in the bag is a different story.

 

[DtownDogs]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

No doubt the Gophers have a lot of goal scorers, but you need puck luck to put 6 goals in on 29 shots. First goal UMD's d-man trips on the blue line, 2nd goal a snipe from a guy who normally doesn't snipe, 3rd goal - pretty sick, 4th goal Rau can opened McManus for the initial possession that lead to his goal, 5th goal - nice move good shot but barely missed UMD Dman's stick, last goal was a few inches from being blocked from a UMD players hip.

The gophers created better scoring opportunities and deserved the win. To say that it should have been a 6-1 routing and that Sunday is in the bag is a different story.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

To say that it should have been a 6-1 routing and that Sunday is in the bag is a different story.

Who said that?

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I'm not sure puck luck had a lot to do with it. Anybody that has watched the Gophers consistently this year can see they have some pretty good goal scorers that can pick corners pretty well. Including some of their D-men. Last night wasn't even their best shooting game in terms of hitting their spots. The second BC game was even more impressive the way they sniped their shots. The only guy that scored last night that you wouldn't expect to see with a sniper-like goal would be Serratore. (Brodzinski is a pretty good goal scorer from the defensive spot).

Hammy is right in my opinion. If you look at the shooting percentage for some of these players in the USHL, they were pretty high.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

No doubt the Gophers have a lot of goal scorers, but you need puck luck to put 6 goals in on 29 shots. First goal UMD's d-man trips on the blue line, 2nd goal a snipe from a guy who normally doesn't snipe, 3rd goal - pretty sick, 4th goal Rau can opened McManus for the initial possession that lead to his goal, 5th goal - nice move good shot but barely missed UMD Dman's stick, last goal was a few inches from being blocked from a UMD players hip.

The gophers created better scoring opportunities and deserved the win. To say that it should have been a 6-1 routing and that Sunday is in the bag is a different story.

Your dman tripped, but Cammarata made that play with his hustle and his vision. Michaelson used his speed to get into position. The Gopher's transition game will make you pay dearly for mistakes (like tripping on the offensive blue line or turning the puck over). Every team gets fortunate opportunities in a game (sometimes more than other games), but it takes skill to take advantage of those opportunities.

I don't doubt Sunday will be a closer game, but I wouldn't count on getting away with making a lot of mistakes against this Gopher squad. They are consistently demonstrating the ability to convert off mistakes in transition. The one game they lost Notre Dame played a nearly flawless defensive game.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

No doubt the Gophers have a lot of goal scorers, but you need puck luck to put 6 goals in on 29 shots. First goal UMD's d-man trips on the blue line, 2nd goal a snipe from a guy who normally doesn't snipe, 3rd goal - pretty sick, 4th goal Rau can opened McManus for the initial possession that lead to his goal, 5th goal - nice move good shot but barely missed UMD Dman's stick, last goal was a few inches from being blocked from a UMD players hip.

The excuses are strong with this one.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

The one game they lost Notre Dame played a nearly flawless defensive game.

And MN wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders in that game either. ND pressure caused a number of miscues, but there were also countless poor passes or guys letting the puck bounce off their sticks trying to catch passes, or just fumbling the puck, when they weren't even being pressured.

I wasn't discounting MN's play with an earlier post. Someone had mentioned Lucia mentioning puck luck so I tried to interpret what he said. Gophs do have a lot of snipers, but there are plenty of misses on those shots in a lot of games. Some of it is just having a fraction of a second longer to pick a spot and control your release if the opponent isn't pressing as hard. And some nights a player just hits those shots when the next they might miss them. (Anyone who has played has experienced this.) All the goals were good goals, and MN controlled up to 50 minutes of play, but we've all seen our team have those nights where they seem do do everything right but pick those corners with their shots. Last night just seemed to be a night when a few of the guys had the good shooting night in the same night. The better team last night won. Luck wasn't the difference. But that did seem like they were missing less than usual.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

BTW - any link to highlights? I had to step away and missed the Boyd goal. When I watched for the replay between periods, they showed their usual 2 second replay which doesn't show the play develop.

I don't like this QR code deal. Don't have a phone to use it, and with my eyes, don't want to see the replay on that small of a screen if I could. Seems like since they went to that option, they only show a couple brief replays of goals compared to what they would replay prior to the QR code option. Am I correct, or just spoiled by seeing some NHL replays where they show the whole play develop?

 

[Biddco]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

BTW - any link to highlights? I had to step away and missed the Boyd goal.

www.google.com
www.twitter.com and search for Gopher hockey

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

BTW - any link to highlights?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq1_fqyA7dA
http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/collegehockey/minnesota-golden-gophers/highlights

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

MN have shown all year how well they shoot the puck.
I can understand pointing out some of the mistakes that the Bulldogs made on a few goals, but the bottom line is Duluth gave Minnesota too much time and space in high percentage areas to pick their head up and pick their spots. You just can't do that against a team as talented as this.

I also expect tomorrow to look a bit differently than last night. Not sure anyone said with a straight face that Sunday is in the bag.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

And MN wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders in that game either. ND pressure caused a number of miscues, but there were also countless poor passes or guys letting the puck bounce off their sticks trying to catch passes, or just fumbling the puck, when they weren't even being pressured.

I wasn't discounting MN's play with an earlier post. Someone had mentioned Lucia mentioning puck luck so I tried to interpret what he said. Gophs do have a lot of snipers, but there are plenty of misses on those shots in a lot of games. Some of it is just having a fraction of a second longer to pick a spot and control your release if the opponent isn't pressing as hard. And some nights a player just hits those shots when the next they might miss them. (Anyone who has played has experienced this.) All the goals were good goals, and MN controlled up to 50 minutes of play, but we've all seen our team have those nights where they seem do do everything right but pick those corners with their shots. Last night just seemed to be a night when a few of the guys had the good shooting night in the same night. The better team last night won. Luck wasn't the difference. But that did seem like they were missing less than usual.

No doubt. I understood what you meant I was more or less replying to the comment that because a player fell down, the goal Michaelson scored was essentially a gimme. Cammarata and Michaelson made that play with their speed and skill.

Completely agree with everything you wrote. Teams have nights where they are sharp, and nights where they aren't as sharp. I've just been so impressed with this team's ability to finish so far this season. No doubt some of that has been "puck luck" from time-to-time, but they have really used their speed and skill to put themselves into some high percentage spots and have converted. Hope they keep it up

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

BTW - any link to highlights? I had to step away and missed the Boyd goal. When I watched for the replay between periods, they showed their usual 2 second replay which doesn't show the play develop.

I don't like this QR code deal. Don't have a phone to use it, and with my eyes, don't want to see the replay on that small of a screen if I could. Seems like since they went to that option, they only show a couple brief replays of goals compared to what they would replay prior to the QR code option. Am I correct, or just spoiled by seeing some NHL replays where they show the whole play develop?

Sorry, forgot to post here last night.

<a href="http://www.mnhockeycentral.com/gophers-11-22-2013">HIGHLIGHTS</a>

For anyone interested, I put these together for my reference to go back and re-watch. All game highlights are available on website. Go to Gopher page and click on the score link in the schedule

 

[DtownDogs]

Re: Minnesota hosts UMD : 11/22 & 11/24

Your dman tripped, but Cammarata made that play with his hustle and his vision. Michaelson used his speed to get into position. The Gopher's transition game will make you pay dearly for mistakes (like tripping on the offensive blue line or turning the puck over). Every team gets fortunate opportunities in a game (sometimes more than other games), but it takes skill to take advantage of those opportunities.

I don't doubt Sunday will be a closer game, but I wouldn't count on getting away with making a lot of mistakes against this Gopher squad. They are consistently demonstrating the ability to convert off mistakes in transition. The one game they lost Notre Dame played a nearly flawless defensive game.

Good teams convert on mistakes. Gophers have a hell of a squad this year and they made UMD pay for the mistakes they made. The point I was trying to make is that on a normal night Friday's game is not a 6-1 routing. You would expect that game to be a 2 goal game more often than not.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Good teams convert on mistakes. Gophers have a hell of a squad this year and they made UMD pay for the mistakes they made. The point I was trying to make is that on a normal night Friday's game is not a 6-1 routing. You would expect that game to be a 2 goal game more often than not.

No argument there. Dogs need to tighten up a bit defensively. I completely expect them to do that on Sunday. The Gophers played pretty poorly defensively the first 10-15 minutes. Bad gap control. Let UMD gain the offensive zone far too easily. Both teams need to lock things down a bit more on Sunday.