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National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

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burd said:
Hopefully, this will be a good game. A little different from years past, when both teams were willing to engage in racehorse hockey. UND definitely does not want that tonight.

Go donkey hockey.
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I agree. This game will be decided in the neutral zone tonight, IMO. If UND lets MN get thru the neutral zone with speed, that will play into the Gophers hands. If UND is able to slow the Gophers down thru the neutral zone, UND can, and has the talent to, capitalize on mistakes and start to frustrate the Gophers.

Should be a good game. I'm thinking it will be a low scoring game. Guessing we see both blue lines assert themselves in this game.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

UND is not going to let the Gophers skate through the neutral zone with speed. Won't happen. The game will be won and lost on the forecheck. The best team on the forecheck will win.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

ScoobyDoo said:
UND is not going to let the Gophers skate through the neutral zone with speed. Won't happen. The game will be won and lost on the forecheck. The best team on the forecheck will win.
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And that is where I think UMinn has an advantage (in addition to overall talent). UND's transition out of the zone has been very predictable and not difficult to forecheck, at least in terms of positioning. UND's dmen are good, though young, and I think they will do their job pretty well. A lot will depend on who wins that winger scrum along the sidewall half way out of the UND zone. At the other end, the gophers will probably use the middle of the ice a little more coming out of the zone.

My guess is that the team that converts on turnovers will win. Gothberg will have to be at his best with no softies.

And as is always the case, if the refs are good, UND will win.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

burd said:
And that is where I think UMinn has an advantage (in addition to overall talent). UND's transition out of the zone has been very predictable and not difficult to forecheck, at least in terms of positioning. UND's dmen are good, though young, and I think they will do their job pretty well. A lot will depend on who wins that winger scrum along the sidewall half way out of the UND zone. At the other end, the gophers will probably use the middle of the ice a little more coming out of the zone.

My guess is that the team that converts on turnovers will win. Gothberg will have to be at his best with no softies.

And as is always the case, if the refs are good, UND will win.
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Minnesota should have an advantage on the half wall all game. They need to capitalize on that advantage, however, and that hasn't always happened.
 
ScoobyDoo said:
UND is not going to let the Gophers skate through the neutral zone with speed. Won't happen. The game will be won and lost on the forecheck. The best team on the forecheck will win.
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Fair enough. Though at times the Gophers try and force play thru the neutral zone, which has led to costly turnovers (Condon has led the team in this department). If the Gophers try and carry the puck in instead of getting the puck deep and putting their forecheck to work, costly neutral zone turnovers can and have hurt us. Because I agree with you 100% that UND will not let the Gophers carry the puck with speed thru the neutral zone.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

mnstate0fhockey said:
Fair enough. Though at times the Gophers try and force play thru the neutral zone, which has led to costly turnovers (Condon has led the team in this department). If the Gophers try and carry the puck in instead of getting the puck deep and putting their forecheck to work, costly neutral zone turnovers can and have hurt us. Because I agree with you 100% that UND will not let the Gophers carry the puck with speed thru the neutral zone.
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Turnovers will be huge. My guess is the Gophers will adjust immediately to the neutral zone clog by dumping and chasing. Their advantage in speed and the forecheck should give them a huge advantage in that department.
 
ScoobyDoo said:
Turnovers will be huge. My guess is the Gophers will adjust immediately to the neutral zone clog by dumping and chasing. Their advantage in speed and the forecheck should give them a huge advantage in that department.
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That is what I hope they will do too. If the space isn't there in the neutral zone, get the puck in deep and put the forecheck to work. Get bodies to the net and put some ugly goals in. Pretty goals are few and far between this time of year. The ugly ones win you championships.
 
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Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Isn't it nice to know that if someone ends you season it will be your neighbor? I certainly want the Sioux to advance, but when I think that the team that would stop them is the gophers I get a real warm and fuzzy feeling.
 
burd said:
Isn't it nice to know that if someone ends you season it will be your neighbor? I certainly want the Sioux to advance, but when I think that the team that would stop them is the gophers I get a real warm and fuzzy feeling.
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I am not as nice as you. I do not want the season to end until we beat Union/BC.
I do not get warm and fuzzy feeling until we win it all.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Good luck to both teams tonight. Should be a very good game. Great goaltending on both sides. I'd give the offensive edge to the Gophers and the defensive edge is neutral to slightly in UND's favor. Likely going to be low scoring. Think either team has a solid shot against the BC/Union winner. Both good teams from the East but these are two really good teams to represent the West.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

mnturkey said:
I am not as nice as you. I do not want the season to end until we beat Union/BC.
I do not get warm and fuzzy feeling until we win it all.
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Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

burd said:
Isn't it nice to know that if someone ends you season it will be your neighbor? I certainly want the Sioux to advance, but when I think that the team that would stop them is the gophers I get a real warm and fuzzy feeling.
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My son had that feeling last night too, just before he had a furious case of reverse peristalsis. ;) Either way, tonight should be a dandy ( so should the eastern tilt today). Good luck to all. Go Gophers!:)
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

ScoobyDoo said:
Well, at least you can take solace that you have all that homegrown talent. Fought the good fight.
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VICTORY!!

Llllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddieeeeeeessssss AND Geeeeeeennnnnnntttttlllleemennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. The winner, in the Fourteenth Round by Technical Knockout....

HOMEGROWN DIRTY!!!!!

:p:D:D
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
VICTORY!!

Llllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddieeeeeeessssss AND Geeeeeeennnnnnntttttlllleemennnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. The winner, in the Fourteenth Round by Technical Knockout....

HOMEGROWN DIRTY!!!!!

:p:D:D
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I'm much like Lou Nanne is for Minnesota, not even Homegrown. Except I'm not senile. Or Canadian.
 
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