MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

[D2D]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

The effort was good tonight, except Schierhorn was unhumanly good. The KHL line whew! But I'm pretty sure Schierhorn is an alien. Lethemon's not bad either. In fact, how do you take the job away from him right now?

Gopher radio announcers gave their No. 1 Star of the Game to Schierhorn, and I thought he deserved it too.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

The effort was good tonight, except Schierhorn was unhumanly good. The KHL line whew! But I'm pretty sure Schierhorn is an alien. Lethemon's not bad either. In fact, how do you take the job away from him right now?

I was impressed last night. If we could have just capitalized on a couple of those 2 on 1s maybe we escape with a point or two. If anyone but Schierhorn is in net for the Gophers we probably win.
PP could have done a little better just being able to set something up in the zone, but other than that the team exceeded expectations.

Bad non-con night. UM goes down to Ferris, UW to Nodak, and PSU to Mercyhurst.

 

[SteveO]

I was impressed last night. If we could have just capitalized on a couple of those 2 on 1s maybe we escape with a point or two. If anyone but Schierhorn is in net for the Gophers we probably win.
PP could have done a little better just being able to set something up in the zone, but other than that the team exceeded expectations.

Bad non-con night. UM goes down to Ferris, UW to Nodak, and PSU to Mercyhurst.

Good assessment. I saw far too many odd man rushes and the D where not as sharp as they can be last night. Schierhorn is on pace for his career best season. It's interesting to see how quickly improved MSU's puck movement is now compared to the Anastos era.

 

[owslachief]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Good assessment. I saw far too many odd man rushes and the D where not as sharp as they can be last night. Schierhorn is on pace for his career best season. It's interesting to see how quickly improved MSU's puck movement is now compared to the Anastos era.

For sure. Their improved puck movement led to more time & space. Last night's result: MSU actually out-chanced Minny. I think the host team has more to show though. I don't think I've seen Lucia that ornery.

UPDATE
The host team had more to show.

 

[owslachief]

Reality check

Reality check

Actually felt pretty good as a fan following Friday, though the Spartans came up short.

Then Saturday happened. It's a bit of a blow, but it knocked some sense into me. Reminds me that (a) Minnesota's next gear is pretty high and (b) MSU may have quite a long, long road ahead.

 

[wsummers]

Actually felt pretty good as a fan following Friday, though the Spartans came up short.

Then Saturday happened. It's a bit of a blow, but it knocked some sense into me. Reminds me that (a) Minnesota's next gear is pretty high and (b) MSU may have quite a long, long road ahead.

Agree, but we’re heading in the right direction...I was hoping for 1 win out of these 4 against two very good teams.

FYI Friday is a MSUFCU game..encourage friends to pick up free tickets and make Munn jump.

 

[Pirateasaur]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

How are people feeling about this weekend? Wisky seems to be a solid team but I think we can get a W. I hope we can at least split. I harbor few illusions of climbing out of the B1G basement this season but 0-4 to start league play has a nasty ring to it.

 

[gomsuman]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Press release from MSU says parking will be $10 at all public lots tonight with Men's Basketball and Hockey, Women's Volleyball, and Swimming & Diving all having events at the same time tonight. Also obviously the Beslin Center Lots will be closed to basketball only with hockey parking passes being routed to the football stadium's south lot 79 I believe. Will be interesting to see what kind of crowd shows up this weekend.

Predictions Fri: MSU 4-2 Sat: Wisc 4-3

 

[owslachief]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

How are people feeling about this weekend? Wisky seems to be a solid team but I think we can get a W. I hope we can at least split. I harbor few illusions of climbing out of the B1G basement this season but 0-4 to start league play has a nasty ring to it.

I'm saying a win+.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Decent crowd tonight. Wonder how much of that was due to MSUFCU. Guess we'll find out tomorrow. No football to interfere this time.

I'm wondering if Minney has played his last minutes of the season, at least in meaningful games. That's six goals in 25 minutes, good for a 14.4 GAA

Might get a little chippy tomorrow. The third was full of hits and some extra curricular action.

The turnover to start the third was bad, and ultimately led to what could be considered an early end to the game. Outcome wasn't in doubt after that. Besides that, we got outplayed, but it was different than last year. Last year we just looked incompetent. This time around it was just an okay team getting beat by a really good team. I didn't realize until reading some stuff tonight that Granato isn't even with the team right now. He's off this week in Germany with the Olympic team.

Here's to a better result tomorrow.

 

[UMICH]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Now that you've played both Minny & Wiscy who do you think is better?

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

I missed last Saturday's blowout, but based on the Friday games I would have to say Wisconsin. Minnesota was 50/50, MSU missed a few wide open nets on 2 on 1's that could've given them the win. Last night Wisconsin dominated all but about eight minutes of action.

 

[wsummers]

Now that you've played both Minny & Wiscy who do you think is better?

I thought overall Minny, but Wisc was very good in the first period.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Luckily we were able to survive that first period. Well, more than survive since we capitalized on that PP. Before that though, that was ugly. No shots or even face off wins for the first 12 minutes. Second period was pretty even, we just went to the box too much. We jumped on them to start the third, then Wisconsin seemed to take over after the insurance goal.

KHL line came through again last night. In fact, those three plus Milan account for 60% of our points.

Another thing I saw looking through the stats is Apap was 6-14 on faceoffs. Ouch. Even with that, he's still the best faceoff man on the team.

 

[owslachief]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Luckily we were able to survive that first period. Well, more than survive since we capitalized on that PP. Before that though, that was ugly. No shots or even face off wins for the first 12 minutes. Second period was pretty even, we just went to the box too much. We jumped on them to start the third, then Wisconsin seemed to take over after the insurance goal.

KHL line came through again last night. In fact, those three plus Milan account for 60% of our points.

Another thing I saw looking through the stats is Apap was 6-14 on faceoffs. Ouch. Even with that, he's still the best faceoff man on the team.

Speaking of KHL, Khoderenko had a monster game last night, including a brilliant steal on a Wiscy breakout to setup the second goal. And Lewandowsky looks like a junior goal-scorer with his one-timers.

I think right up there with my favorite moments last night - a 5-on-5 stretch where MSU kept the puck in UW's end for about solid minute and half, and they had to finally ice the puck and use their timeout. When have we done that against a top-10 team lately?

Out willingness to block shots.

Finally, laurels for Lethalman.

 

[gomsuman]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

What a fun couple hockey games to watch. The up and down action was incredible. Yes two wins would have been nice but at least getting a split with #7 is good enough for this young team.

Apap really impressed me this weekend. He works really hard when on the ice and is showing to be a pretty reliable freshman.

I agree I think Minney may have seen his last real game action this year.

I was kind of disappointed with the lack of shots on goal. Just two weeks ago Danton said we would have to score by volume. I'll take 17 shots and a win every day, don't get me wrong. I just think as a team they still look to pass too much sometimes or forget that our d-men can actually touch the puck in the offensive zone.

 

[gomsuman]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Also interesting after the game Danton said they decided to only play 5 d-men after about mid-way through the first period. And I also think the top two lines played the majority of the time after mid-way through the second. Do you think our top players will get wore down because of this? Granted the more they do it, the more they will get used to it.

 

[Pirateasaur]

Re: MSU Spartan Hockey - Episode VII - A New Hope

Friday was not a good game. Wisconsin is a better team and that much was clear for at least 40 minutes. The only part about Friday I enjoyed was during one of our powerplays when a guy in the crowd screamed "shoot!" which Hirose immediately did. It was blocked and sent out of the zone. My dad then mumbled "I bet that guy feels like an idiot."

Saturday was much better. 1st period didn't feel it but Lethemon was strong and defense did a better job keeping Wisky away from grade A scoring chances. For the remainder of the game we did a better job handling UW's speed and skill. That was a gritty win against a good team. The shots were lopsided but Wisconsin took a page out of the PSU playbook and threw a ton of low percentage shots at Lethemon.

 

[Pirateasaur]

Speaking of KHL, Khoderenko had a monster game last night, including a brilliant steal on a Wiscy breakout to setup the second goal. And Lewandowsky looks like a junior goal-scorer with his one-timers.

I think right up there with my favorite moments last night - a 5-on-5 stretch where MSU kept the puck in UW's end for about solid minute and half, and they had to finally ice the puck and use their timeout. When have we done that against a top-10 team lately?

Out willingness to block shots.

Finally, laurels for Lethalman.

That was one of the best shifts I've seen in...multiple seasons? They did it again for a shorter time in the third period. The KHL line can move and possess the puck in the offensive zone like we haven't seen in years. A decade? It's a marvelous to watch. Man do I hope they all stick around for at least one more year.

Milan's line had some good ones as well. His emergence is a big one for this team.

 

[Pirateasaur]

Now that you've played both Minny & Wiscy who do you think is better?

I didn't see the games against Minny but UW looked pretty tough to me. They looked a more complete team than last year. The two are probably fairly comparable overall.