NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

[owslachief]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

Gotta hand it to Michigan State tonight; they came out inspired, as if their effort in the 3rd last night carried over into tonight. Thanks to Coreau, we're lucky this game didn't end up 7-2.

And aparch, davyd, someone who keeps track of this stuff: has NMU won on Wildcat Night Across the Country in the past 6 years?

I was reminded of the uphill battle MSU faced when playing Penn State that second night. Brutal week starting with having to chase Team-USA up & down the ice the previous Tuesday and obviously gassed by Saturday night. It was attrition for Northern that played a part last night for sure, plus fatigue. State doesn't have the goal-scoring skill needed to hang with most teams right now. Last night it was just Pepper the goalie with everything and goals will come.

I do hope this series can continue on some level, though it's probably in our barn every 3 or 4 years from now on.

 

[davyd83]

I was reminded of the uphill battle MSU faced when playing Penn State that second night. Brutal week starting with having to chase Team-USA up & down the ice the previous Tuesday and obviously gassed by Saturday night. It was attrition for Northern that played a part last night for sure, plus fatigue. State doesn't have the goal-scoring skill needed to hang with most teams right now. Last night it was just Pepper the goalie with everything and goals will come.

I do hope this series can continue on some level, though it's probably in our barn every 3 or 4 years from now on.

From what I understand, MSU is offering 2 for 1's. two series at MSU. Apparently Michigan Tech has accepted. NMU coach Walt Kyle has stated that he will not do 2 for 1. Even swaps only. The reason, get a couple of those 2fers going, And you end up with 6 of your 8 non-conference games on the road every year.

 

[aygwm2]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

State doesn't have the goal-scoring skill needed to hang with most teams right now.

Unfortunately, this is the case for Northern much of the time as well. NMU and MSU are #10 and #11 in scoring offense in the CCHA. In fact, NMU is near or at the bottom in nearly every statistical category.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

From what I understand, MSU is offering 2 for 1's. two series at MSU. Apparently Michigan Tech has accepted. NMU coach Walt Kyle has stated that he will not do 2 for 1. Even swaps only. The reason, get a couple of those 2fers going, And you end up with 6 of your 8 non-conference games on the road every year.

I believe the same thing is happening with LSSU as well. Michigan and Michigan State (Notre Dame perhaps as well) is offering the 2 for 1 for us.

 

[aygwm2]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

From what I understand, MSU is offering 2 for 1's. two series at MSU. Apparently Michigan Tech has accepted. NMU coach Walt Kyle has stated that he will not do 2 for 1. Even swaps only. The reason, get a couple of those 2fers going, And you end up with 6 of your 8 non-conference games on the road every year.

For me, here in GR, it will be too bad that NMU will not be downstate much at all anymore, except for Big Rapids once or twice a year. I hope that Walt softens a little bit, so that the 'Cats can be seen in some LP venues like K-zoo, EL, and A2 every once and awhile.

...and South Bend too.

 

[davyd83]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

For me, here in GR, it will be too bad that NMU will not be downstate much at all anymore, except for Big Rapids once or twice a year. I hope that Walt softens a little bit, so that the 'Cats can be seen in some LP venues like K-zoo, EL, and A2 every once and awhile.

...and South Bend too.

To do that puts your team at a competitve disadvantage, playing 16 at home and 20 on the road..Among the downstate schools, I see Western as the most likely future opponent. Plus the team is scheduled to appear at the GLI in Detroit in 2 or 3 years.

 

[aygwm2]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

To do that puts your team at a competitve disadvantage, playing 16 at home and 20 on the road..Among the downstate schools, I see Western as the most likely future opponent. Plus the team is scheduled to appear at the GLI in Detroit in 2 or 3 years.

Nevertheless, no more CCHA means less (much less) NMU hockey appearances in the LP for downstate alum. That's a drag.

 

[oldtyme25]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

Unfortunately, this is the case for Northern much of the time as well. NMU and MSU are #10 and #11 in scoring offense in the CCHA. In fact, NMU is near or at the bottom in nearly every statistical category.

Northern is having the same scoring issue we had last year but on a wider basis.

Last year we had 2 solid lines that were a threat to score every night, with three players ending up in the top 15 in the CCHA in scoring (Gron 37pts, Florek 36pts and Thurber 30pts). A issue we had last season was that we got no secondary scoring from the 3rd and 4th lines. As of late we have been only getting scoring from Thurber's line (Seckel, Thurber, Higby) and it seems if you shut them down, you have a pretty good chance to beat NMU.

A look at the CCHA stats below will tell you pretty much every thing you need to know why we are at or near the bottom of the league in stats. We have only 5 players in the top 70 players in the league in scoring:

5th Thurber - 29 points
16th Seckel - 22 points
39th Vigier - 17 points
48th Higby - 16 points
65th Macaulay - 14 points

I believe if you want to be a competitive level team in this league you need at least two lines who can score consistently (as we had last season). To be a championship level team in the NCAA, you need your 3rd line to chip in offensively and your 4th line to be tough as nails defensively and bring tons of energy to the play.

Not quite sure how we overhaul this for next year, but we are going to need more players to step up to the plate and produce or it is going to be "Groundhog Day" all over again in 2013-14!

 

[davyd83]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

Nevertheless, no more CCHA means less (much less) NMU hockey appearances in the LP for downstate alum. That's a drag.

There will be fewer appearances, but there is still Ferris and Bowling Green within a reasonable drive. If you haven't been there, I would recommend making the trip to BG! It's actually a pretty cool town!

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

There will be fewer appearances, but there is still Ferris and Bowling Green within a reasonable drive. If you haven't been there, I would recommend making the trip to BG! It's actually a pretty cool town!

I agree about Bowling Green. I went down there when LSSU played BGSU earlier this month and was pleasantly surprised.

 

[owslachief]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

Northern is having the same scoring issue we had last year but on a wider basis.
...
Not quite sure how we overhaul this for next year, but we are going to need more players to step up to the plate and produce or it is going to be "Groundhog Day" all over again in 2013-14!

We are encouraged by the fact that MSU loses about 10% of its scoring at the end of the season, plus get a few goals coming back next season as RS-Senior Dean Chelios returns. Yes, 90% of 11th in scoring still puts us in theoretical bottom 3rd of theoretical 2013-14 CCHA, but that added year of experience is a big factor.

 

[brokenstick]

For me, here in GR, it will be too bad that NMU will not be downstate much at all anymore, except for Big Rapids once or twice a year. I hope that Walt softens a little bit, so that the 'Cats can be seen in some LP venues like K-zoo, EL, and A2 every once and awhile.

...and South Bend too.

With MSU holding a meager 35-29-4 lead in this series the arrogance of MSU demanding a 2-1 is laughable. Not to mention their poor overall performance in past years. Welcome to the basement of the B1G MSU.

 

[noremorse1]

At the last minute, I went to the game solo last night. Although the result wasn't what we 'Cat fans would have liked, it was a fairly good, close game especially given that we were without three of our d-men for the weekend.

Not to slight the guys... and they did a great job Friday... had they brought those three d-men, it would have been a much different game. The Cats could not stop the SOG most of the game and werent turning over the puck enough. As was said previous, Coreau kept them alive Saturday.

 

[owslachief]

Re: NMU at MSU: Battle for the Basement

With MSU holding a meager 35-29-4 lead in this series the arrogance of MSU demanding a 2-1 is laughable. Not to mention their poor overall performance in past years. Welcome to the basement of the B1G MSU.

I just don't get it either. It's an admission by both MSU and U-M that fans of Northern are more dedicated travelers than those of the lower peninsula behemoths. I'd be ****ed too.