What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

burd said:
Parise bless you for your upright nature and your ability to evaluate these two teams, FS23, but the problem with pure hockey talk this early is that all sane people agree that UMinn should win this one going away and there is just not that much to discuss. But you bring in factors such as the gophers' low level of intelligence throughout the lineup and that drooling, open-mouth appearance they all share (along with their fans), then it's a much closer call and a more interesting discussion. If you think dumb and ugly doesn't count, explain why they only have 5 titles with all that talent.
Click to expand...

You are mean and are disliked by puppies.
 
burd said:
Parise bless you for your upright nature and your ability to evaluate these two teams, FS23, but the problem with pure hockey talk this early is that all sane people agree that UMinn should win this one going away and there is just not that much to discuss. But you bring in factors such as the gophers' low level of intelligence throughout the lineup and that drooling, open-mouth appearance they all share (along with their fans), then it's a much closer call and a more interesting discussion. If you think dumb and ugly doesn't count, explain why they only have 5 titles with all that talent.
Click to expand...

Well, we had two straight posts of hockey talk in a row. That's remarkable.

If Gothberg plays how he did in the regional, North Dakota has a very good chance at winning this game. That is a rather stiff task though, so they must be better special teams wise; particularly the PP. It was pretty gross last Friday against team paint thinner.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Something I saw from Minnesota a lot more this past weekend than we had for a few weeks prior was pressuring the D in the offensive zone and sending a 3rd man - sometimes even the D - down low. I mentioned in another thread (possibly even another forum) that for a few games the Gophers too often cycled a man back toward the half wall rather than into to the corner or toward the net, and it resulted in them losing possession and/or an easy exit from the zone by the other team. The Gophers are not going to typically wow an opponent with individual flashes of talent (although it can happen) but more by sound and fundamental team play, supporting the D, players without the puck moving their feet to create open passing lanes and forcing the opponent to shoot from bad angles and long ranges. I can't say enough about the total team effort displayed at times this season, one in which they've lost 6 games despite having the #1 SOS.

Before anyone reads into that as making a prediction of an easy win, I can't. I don't know enough about this UND roster to say either way, but clearly they've played well down the stretch, they also appear to rely upon scoring depth than just one line, and they have talent at D. Never mind UND seems to always get up for NCAAs under Hakstol and there's no lack of motivation when playing the Gophers. I will be disappointed as hell if Minnesota loses and if it makes me arrogant to say surprised as well so be it, but I wouldn't put money on it being easy.
 
Last edited:
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

When did people start using ND to denote North Dakota instead of Notre Dame on this board? It's annoying.

DropPass said:
It's true, I was there.

Speaking of the best team, UMD scored 11 goals against UMTC this year, the Gophers aren't exactly invincible.
Click to expand...
They don't have to play UMD, so no problem.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

HumRsky said:
??? Best team won :)
Click to expand...

I was talking about the North Dakota - Michigan semifinal.

That Duluth team was a lot of fun to watch, and they were certainly a deserving champion. I was quite pleased when they took down Michigan for the Title. I sat next to Jack Connolly in the Tampa airport after he won the Hobey, and pretty much our entire conversation (not very long, maybe 5 minutes) was about that game. He was a class act...and much shorter than I expected him to be. :)
 
burd said:
Parise bless you for your upright nature and your ability to evaluate these two teams, FS23, but the problem with pure hockey talk this early is that all sane people agree that UMinn should win this one going away and there is just not that much to discuss. But you bring in factors such as the gophers' low level of intelligence throughout the lineup and that drooling, open-mouth appearance they all share (along with their fans), then it's a much closer call and a more interesting discussion. If you think dumb and ugly doesn't count, explain why they only have 5 titles with all that talent.
Click to expand...

One of the main reasons they do not have more titles is the 80's and 90's when the team was comprised completly of MN born players, remember when MN played any other team in the country there were more MN born players on the ice then from any other state.
The problem with a one and done tournament is a bad bounce, 89 and Harvard a bad bounce. A hot goaltender can sway the game.
If MN and UND played 10 games against each other MN would win 8 of the 10.
I just hope that the game in a week is one of the 8.

How many Home Grown players does UND have?
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

mnturkey said:
One of the main reasons they do not have more titles is the 80's and 90's when the team was comprised completly of MN born players, remember when MN played any other team in the country there were more MN born players on the ice then from any other state.
The problem with a one and done tournament is a bad bounce, 89 and Harvard a bad bounce. A hot goaltender can sway the game.
If MN and UND played 10 games against each other MN would win 8 of the 10.
I just hope that the game in a week is one of the 8.

How many Home Grown players does UND have?
Click to expand...

More than Minnesota. The Gophers have a grand total of zero players from Minneapolis and St. Paul. UND has two players from Grand Forks.
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Tipsy McStagger said:
You need me to elaborate on that? OK. Gothberg played extremely well against Ferris and it took North Dakota 2 OTs to beat them. And Ferris is nowhere near as good as Minnesota.
Click to expand...

FWIW, Ferris is in the same class as Minnesota, although I think the Gophers are a tad better all around (and especially offensively). After all, Ferris was the top #2 seed, and probably deserves to be playing in this game instead of North Dakota. That being said, I tend to agree with you. Gothberg playing great doesn't necessarily equate to a Sioux victory. He could very well stand on his head and North Dakota could lose. In most scenarios, I feel that North Dakota controls how they advance (i.e. if they play as well or better than their opponent, they will win). However, this is not one of those scenarios. North Dakota needs to not only play better than Minnesota, but probably get a couple bounces/calls to go their way as well. I think Gothberg playing great is PART of what UND needs to do to advance, but probably not sufficient by itself.
 
Dirty said:
More than Minnesota. The Gophers have a grand total of zero players from Minneapolis and St. Paul. UND has two players from Grand Forks.
Click to expand...

Not getting in a contest with you but there are 21 players from the Twin Cities Metro area on the MN roster.
Except for a couple all the players are home grown.
The smartest one in the bunch is Gabe Guertler from Ft. Lauderdale FL (especially after this winter).
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

mnturkey said:
Not getting in a contest with you but there are 21 players from the Twin Cities Metro area on the MN roster.
Except for a couple all the players are home grown.
The smartest one in the bunch is Gabe Guertler from Ft. Lauderdale FL (especially after this winter).
Click to expand...

So you bring up the topic and then say you're not going to get into a contest with me regarding the topic? Then why did you bring it up? Besides you're using an overly broad definition of homegrown just so your beloved team looks better.
 
Dirty said:
So you bring up the topic and then say you're not going to get into a contest with me regarding the topic? Then why did you bring it up? Besides you're using an overly broad definition of homegrown just so your beloved team looks better.
Click to expand...

Feel free to include the suburbs of Grand Forks. :D
 
Dirty said:
So you bring up the topic and then say you're not going to get into a contest with me regarding the topic? Then why did you bring it up? Besides you're using an overly broad definition of homegrown just so your beloved team looks better.
Click to expand...
Home grown is from the state of MN, the Univeristy i a Land Grant Insitution and that covers the whole state, that is Home Grown.
No matter what you might say or think there will be more MN born players on the ice when MN plays any team in the tournament.
How many home grown players will be on the ice from North Dakota?
 
Re: National Semi-Final: Minnesota vs. North Dakota

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
:p:D:D

WARNING! ACTUAL HOCKEY TALK FOLLOWS.

I'm not sure how miniscule North Dakota's chances are, but I think it's a pretty safe bet to say that if both teams play equal, Minnesota will advance far more often than not. The Gophers are a more talented and complete team than this Sioux squad. They have balanced scoring, and great defense. Throw in a Hobey Finalist in Net, and I'm not sure if there is a more balanced team in the country. North Dakota is similar in that nature (balanced scoring, strong defense, and a good goalie), but they just aren't as talented in each aspect as Minnesota.

For example:
Balanced Scoring?
- Minnesota has 9 players with 7 or more goals (nobody with more than 15) (Minnesota actually has 9 players with 9+ goals)
- North Dakota has 9 players with 7 or more goals (nobody with more than 17)

Production from the Blue Line?
- Minnesota's defense accounts for 27 goals and 71 assists (98 points)
- North Dakota's defense accounts for 31 goals and 82 assists (113 points)

Team Scoring?
- Minnesota averages 3.51 Goals per game
- North Dakota averages 3.07 Goals per game

Team Defense?
- Minnesota allows 2.00 Goals per game
- North Dakota allows 2.44 Goals per game

Goaltending?
- Wilcox is 25-5-6 with a 1.89 GAA and a SV% of 93.4
- Gothberg is 20-9-3 with a 1.99 GAA and a SV% of 92.6

In sum, it's not that North Dakota is a bad team. They are quite similar to Minnesota in how they win games. However, Minnesota is the more talented team, and as a result does the same things better than North Dakota...leading to a better record. Consequently, Minnesota should be considered the favorite, and they likely will beat North Dakota. Of course, just because Team A should beat Team B doesn't mean they will...just ask North Dakota and Michigan fans about 2011.
Click to expand...

Kind of scary how similar they are. I think the game will hinge on the 3rd and 4th lines of Minnesota, wall play/forecheck, and the Gophers shutting down Grimaldi. Against OSU they allowed Ohio State to be too comfortable in their defensive zone and gave Dzingel a chance to steal the game. That can't be allowed to happen against any of the teams in the Frozen Four if Minnesota wants a title.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top