Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

[mnstate0fhockey]

Devil's advocate...they also have not lost to a PWR top 15 team. So the teams that can beat them won't make the tournament.

I think the reffing in the WCHA right now is not doing any favors to the WCHA teams. The calls in the NCAAs always seem tighter. Our teams could get penalized into losses if they get used to the current, "let them play" style.

They haven't lost to a Pairwise Top 15 team because they have only played one game against one. Can you imagine if UMN or UND had that schedule? Agree on the officiating.

 

[Steve_MN]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

Good point. Forgot they had a few losses to some of those same teams. Though, I disagree with the notion that most of QU's wins haven't come against lower rung TUC and non-TUC teams. They most certainly have.

TUC Ranking of their opponents:

Non-TUC (13 games), 24th, 24th, T27th, T27th, 23rd, T27th, T17th, T17th, T20th, T20th, T17th, T17th, T10th, T27th, 23rd.

One game against a Pairwise Top 15 team. That means only one game against a team in the top half of TUC right now.

I was referring to their TUC wins...not overall wins.

I edited above. They only have one win against a Pairwise Top 15 team. Only one win against the Top half of the TUC field.

Sorry, not impressed.

While I am similarly unimpressed at this point, the assertion earlier was that most of QU's wins vs TUCs were against teams that weren't close to falling off the cliff at .5000 RPI, so it's highly unlikely that QU will drop out of the #1 overall seed.

 

[gopheritall]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

They haven't lost to a Pairwise Top 15 team because they have only played one game against one. Can you imagine if UMN or UND had that schedule? Agree on the officiating.

I imagine that if UMN or UND had that schedule we would have a similar record, people would say we were no good, hadn't played anyone, and we might not be fully prepared for the NCAAs. It wouldn't change who we have on the team or their skill.

Edit: I personally think the Gophers are better than Q. I also think they give up too many shots against and when they run into a high powered offense they will lose. I am very happy for their success thus year though.

 

[Steve_MN]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

Not attacking you man. I appreciate your insight

Not too worried about getting #1 overall seed. More concerned with team playing great hockey down the stretch and going into the tourney with momentum.

Completely agreed. #1 overall vs #2 shouldn't make much difference IF the Gophers are playing well through the WCHA tourney. Given how they're playing now, I'm thinking they will be, but that's still a month and a half out.

They haven't lost to a Pairwise Top 15 team because they have only played one game against one. Can you imagine if UMN or UND had that schedule? Agree on the officiating.

Yeah, it's a pretty weak schedule. To their credit, they HAVE been ripping it up, but I think there will be a lot of disappointed QU fans come NCAA time.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

*snicker* *chuckle* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Of course I was being a bit facetious regarding burying the gofers on Sunday, but I'm not all that sure what all the snickering is about. We get caught on a long, long shift and Labate takes 2 minors. How often do you see that? Bucky kills 3.5 minutes of the 4 min pp, if Labate gets one minor, it's perhaps a different game. (Not saying he didn't deserve both, just that it doesn't happen often.) Maybe Bucky ties it late or maybe Eaves doesn't pull Rumpel with enough time left, (scored with 1:04 left, I think.) who knows? Still, you guys seem a little excited for all your vaunted firepower being shut out 5 on 5, while the lowly Badger offense managed a score.

Bucky played pretty good, not our best, but certainly far from our worst, and Rumpel was strong in the net. The goofs are a much better team, but just keep leaving us chances on Sunday like you did last night and we'll see how badly we get buried.

 

[gopheritall]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

I also think the BADgers suck and we need to complete the sweep and ignore Quinnipiac.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Of course I was being a bit facetious regarding burying the gofers on Sunday, but I'm not all that sure what all the snickering is about. We get caught on a long, long shift and Labate takes 2 minors. How often do you see that? Bucky kills 3.5 minutes of the 4 min pp, if Labate gets one minor, it's perhaps a different game. (Not saying he didn't deserve both, just that it doesn't happen often.) Maybe Bucky ties it late or maybe Eaves doesn't pull Rumpel with enough time left, (scored with 1:04 left, I think.) who knows? Still, you guys seem a little excited for all your vaunted firepower being shut out 5 on 5, while the lowly Badger offense managed a score.

Bucky played pretty good, not our best, but certainly far from our worst, and Rumpel was strong in the net. The goofs are a much better team, but just keep leaving us chances on Sunday like you did last night and we'll see how badly we get buried.

So, you expect to shut our "vaunted firepower" down 5x5 for a second game in a row, and expect our defense that is allowing less goals/game than your team to make as many or more defensive mistakes?

Yes, that seems like the most likely scenario. Great analysis.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I also think the BADgers suck and we need to complete the sweep and ignore Quinnipiac.

I don't think anyone here is too worried about Quinnipiac at this point, but you can't discuss getting the #1 overall Pairwise seed without talking about them. They do currently hold that spot.

 

[gopheritall]

So, you expect to shut our "vaunted firepower" down 5x5 for a second game in a row, and expect our defense that is allowing less goals/game than your team to make as many or more defensive mistakes?

Yes, that seems like the most likely scenario. Great analysis.

If anyone can trap a better team into a loss it is Wisconsin. That is their game.

 

[4four4]

Bucky wins the 5 on 5 play 1-0. Not surprisingly, loses the man advantage game 3-1.

Tighten up on the penalty kill and WI will bury MN on Sunday.

Maybe but Minnesota can storm back from behind in bunches/. That's the type of fire power they have this year . Make a defensive mistake and the first line comes back with huge pressure and scores a timely goal with in a shift or two.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

If anyone can trap a better team into a loss it is Wisconsin. That is their game.

On the flip side, the Gophers are a really good forechecking team and can play the dump and chase game as well as anyone. Just get the puck behind the defense and get to work. Win puck battles and cause turnovers in the offensive zone.

 

[firstpusk]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

I also think the BADgers suck and we need to complete the sweep and ignore Quinnipiac.

Their game is in Webster's as the definition of suck. Good for Quinipiac. I don't give a badger's ugly *** for the over all #1 seed. PWR position is just fine, thank you.

 

[SanTropez]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

The Gophers will be just fine on Sunday, here are some recent practice conditions they have been using to get ready.

 

[firstpusk]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

If anyone can trap a better team into a loss it is Wisconsin. That is their game.

Nate Condon seems to agree with that analysis. I think that is one of the reasons we got him and not Eaves & Co. He is not the first quality WI player to make that choice.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

Maybe Besse will change his mind, knowing Sconny is where forwards go to die.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

So, you expect to shut our "vaunted firepower" down 5x5 for a second game in a row, and expect our defense that is allowing less goals/game than your team to make as many or more defensive mistakes?

No, not really. We have six wins against teams in the top 55. Six wins. Anybody would expect the goofs to win on Sunday. I just don't think overall you guys played as good as many of you seem to feel last night. I do expect WI to play better on Sunday and if you guys don't as well, the tables could easily be turned. As you point out, if your forecheck is on, you dump and chase effectively, you'll probably win.


On the other hand Bucky has never lost at Soldier field on a Sunday afternoon, while the rodents have never had even a single win. History is obviously on our side.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

No, not really. We have six wins against teams in the top 55. Six wins. Anybody would expect the goofs to win on Sunday. I just don't think overall you guys played as good as many of you seem to feel last night. I do expect WI to play better on Sunday and if you guys don't as well, the tables could easily be turned. As you point out, if your forecheck is on, you dump and chase effectively, you'll probably win.


On the other hand Bucky has never lost at Soldier field on a Sunday afternoon, while the rodents have never had even a single win. History is obviously on our side.

I think the Gophers played pretty well last night. At the same time, the Badgers (especially Rumpel) did as well. I expect another close game tomorrow. These games seem to always be close lately.

 

[Go4PuckFan2.0]

On the other hand Bucky has never lost at Soldier field on a Sunday afternoon, while the rodents have never had even a single win. History is obviously on our side.

You have history, we have Bjugstad.

Advantage: Gophers.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

Nice win in a basketball arena on Friday, conditions for game in football stadium on Sunday shouldn't be much worse.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: Minnesota @ Wisconsin : 02/15 - 02/17

The way the Badgers play their system and stick to it all game long makes most games against them close, I'm sure Sunday on the smaller sheet will be no different. Unless there is a huge breakdown in coverage or we get 10 PP's against them they will stick around.