Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

[ARM]

In the recent past, we've created a thread for most of our meetings. So here's one where we can call each other names on neutral ground without invading the team threads.

As you can see, there have been a few names called over the years. I'm happy that we've all progressed beyond that now. Here's some discussion of recent series:

January 23-24, 2009 @ Ridder: UMD won the first game, lost a shootout in the second.

October 10-11, 2008 @ the DECC: Minnesota enjoys their only sweep in Duluth. No game thread, but...

Start of Minnesota thread discussion (click the ">" above)...

UMD thread discussion (click the ">" above)...

November 17-18, 2007 @ the DECC: Teams split, but I couldn't find a game thread. so...

Minnesota thread starts about here (click the ">" above)...

UMD thread discussion starts here (click the ">" above)...

October 26-27, 2007 @ Ridder: Gophers sweep during 10th Anniversary weekend. No game thread...

Minnesota discussion begins here (click the ">" above)...

UMD discussion starts here (click the ">" above)...

February 17-18, 2007 @ Mars Lakeview Arena: UMD dominates Minnesota earning their only sweep of a meeting in Duluth.

November 3-4, 2006 @ Ridder: Minnesota springs a surprise sweep on unbeaten UMD.

January 20-21, 2006 @ the DECC: each team takes a 2-goal decision.

October 28-29, 2005 @ Ridder: a game apiece.

February 26-27, 2005 @ the DECC: yes, another split.

November 19-20, 2004 @ Ridder: the Bulldogs salvage a tie.

February 28-29, 2004 @ Mariucci/Ridder: Gophers sweep.

January 9-10, 2004 @ the DECC: Minnesota steals a split in OT.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

I'm headed to the cities for work this weekend, anyone hitting up the game? I've only been to Ridder once, for playoff action, so I'm curious to sit among like minded people and possibly raise a little hell. Especially if the Dynamic Duo of Team Lick shows up. Gawd those guys were awful last week.

just_a_fan -- You're more than welcome to come south to Minneapolis and St. Paul, spend a bunch of money in our fine business establishments, watch your team get pounded twice, and then head home.

Actually, I know that several of us Goopher fans would be willing to have an intelligent conversation before either game or between periods about the sport in general, our shared hatred of the Red Menace, and the awfulness that is WCHA officiating.

But you probably don't want to be anywhere near me during game play. If there's any question, just look at my profile "location" to know where you should avoid.

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

Though I'll be 2 hours north watching the UMD/Mankato men's series.. I'm sort of expecting UMD to win Friday then get knocked around a bit (score-wise) on Saturday... Maybe more as a fan than realistically though.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

Though I'll be 2 hours north watching the UMD/Mankato men's series..

2 hours?

2 hours?

Unless those games are in Moose Lake, you, sir, are operating both outside the speed limit and the bounds of reason.

Come on down, UMD-Minnesota women might be way, WAY more interesting than Dogs-Mavs.

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

I never get faster than 75 and have never been stopped on I-35 from here to Kansas (the farthest south I've been).. though I did get stopped on the way to Duluth.. once years ago now.

 

[just_a_fan]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

just_a_fan -- You're more than welcome to come south to Minneapolis and St. Paul, spend a bunch of money in our fine business establishments, watch your team get pounded twice, and then head home.

CrazyDave-- I LOVE it! Thanks for seeing my comments as good natured. I'm happy to spend some money in the cities and and happy to wave to you in your section. Maybe even approach you to say hi. I was a little worried about this place (forum) after getting my butt chewed by another Goopher fan here but maybe I'll stick around for the likes of you. I take it you don't want to get in on one of my anti-gopher shirts?

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

CrazyDave-- I LOVE it! Thanks for seeing my comments as good natured. I'm happy to spend some money in the cities and and happy to wave to you in your section. Maybe even approach you to say hi. I was a little worried about this place (forum) after getting my butt chewed by another Goopher fan here but maybe I'll stick around for the likes of you. I take it you don't want to get in on one of my anti-gopher shirts?

Ummm... I'll take a pass. If I had an extra one laying around, I'd offer you a "Better Dead than Red" shirt, though.

 

[ARM]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

This is the shortest Bulldog team I've seen in a while. Some of their frosh are seriously quick, though.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

FINAL, Game 1: Gophers 3, Bulldogs 1

Gopher Game Notes + post-game interview video with Coach Frost and Noora Räty

Bulldog Game Notes

The opinion of this Gopher fan was that it was a nice win, but there were some defensive breakdowns, particularly those that led to the UMD goal. Glad to see Ms. Rasmussen get on the score sheet and the Gopher penalty-kill shut down the 'Dogs.

Ludwig and Doocy were blind tonight , but it looked like they let a lot go in both directions.

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

FINAL, Game 1: Gophers 3, Bulldogs 1

Gopher Game Notes + post-game interview video with Coach Frost and Noora Räty

The opinion of this Gopher fan was that it was a nice win, but there were some defensive breakdowns, particularly those that led to the UMD goal. Glad to see Ms. Rasmussen get on the score sheet and the Gopher penalty-kill shut down the 'Dogs.

Ludwig and Doocy were blind tonight , but it looked like they let a lot go in both directions.

Doocy and Simonson did that in the UMD/RMU series.. for whatever reason they let the teams play more than any games I saw last season, but then last week looked like the last 2 seasons with lots of special teams play. If the WCHA officiating ever became consistent across the board I think hell had probably froze over.

As for UMD's speed, Thibault is as fast as Blais, and when she learns to USE her speed for more than just being fast.. she'll be dangerous offensively...she already kills the penalty really well. Cournoyer's not bad on her skates either. It will be interesting to see the results from game 2... not that the majority of the UMD team really knows a lot about the whole UMD/Minnesota/Wisconsin "rivalries" really, but I really hope they can at least get a point Saturday.

 

[ARM]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

I expect games between these two teams to get tighter as the season unfolds. Some of the smaller Bulldog rookies seemed to be adjusting to the physical play, while most of Minnesota's frosh have more size on their side. I remember a sequence in the 2nd where Wong and West competed for a puck along the sideboards in the Gopher zone, and it was evident which one had an extra two years in the weight room.

I didn't see this posted elsewhere -- John Gilbert's series preview. I'm sure a recap will be along sometime after the series concludes.

And because the major rags were absent and <i>The Daily</i> hasn't published yet, you can always go here or here for a Gopher recap.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

So the Gophers win the second game 3-0.

Gopher Game Notes plus interviews with Coach Frost and Kelli Blankenship (though an incorrect headline)

Bulldog Game Notes

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

I'm still holding to my statement that UMD is a second half team this season, even with Tuominen and Posa leaving for the Olympics the team overall will be much better as a team come January. You can't put this many freshmen on the ice and expect it all to come together, and yes, I know the Gophers have a bunch of freshmen this year also.

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

Interesting tonight at the UMD men's game.. they announced the UMD women as winning 3-0... doesn't the athletic department actually pay attention when they give scores to the scorers table?

 

[ARM]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

I'm still holding to my statement that UMD is a second half team this season, even with Tuominen and Posa leaving for the Olympics the team overall will be much better as a team come January. You can't put this many freshmen on the ice and expect it all to come together, and yes, I know the Gophers have a bunch of freshmen this year also.

I agree with you. UMD actually improved a great deal from yesterday to today, IMO. They were much more aggressive as a team, in particular with their forecheck. Fridfinnson and Blais stepped up their games and were more visible. Wilson stood out to a greater extent. I thought UMD was as good or better than UM for the first 30 minutes, but Räty was the difference. Miller can't teach them everything at once, and today they were burned for being green on the PP.

Coming into this series, I expected that UMD's problems would be up front. There are issues, to be sure, but I think like you do that those will be helped with seasoning. The blue line is where they seem very vulnerable. On the couple instances where Rasmussen was penalized on the weekend, it became evident the challenge that they faced in killing one off w/o her. Had Gray not been able to go this weekend, I doubt the games would be as competitive, because they'd have run out of bodies back there. At some point I'd expect them to slide a forward back.

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

Taking pictures of the games this year.. I'm more noticing the players standing out from the others because there ends up more pictures of them than others...

I have by far.. more Friddy pictures than any other player...she's stepped up enough that you know when she's on the ice.. she's still not the strongest body but she knows how to use what she does have to get shots.

Skating 5 defense isn't working that well because Rasmussen tends to go to the box at times.. they're going to have to change up the powerplay to what they did two seasons ago. Put Wong back on D on the powerplay like they started doing with Holmlov/Irwin in 07-08, because Murray and Hakala are under-sized and Posa/Gray can't be on the kill the entire 2 minutes if Rasmussen is in the box. The other teams had trouble getting the puck into the zone with 3 good skating forwards on the kill, plus Holmlov/Irwin were a threat to go the other way. Of course, Irwin was in the box a great deal herself but we won't go there. That 07-08 team scored 7 short-handed goals, and killed at 92%. I guess this means I agree with your statement of dropping a forward back. (Two agreements in one day? oh @#%@#!)

On the powerplay I was thinking that Wong on the blue line was going to create short-handed opportunities for other teams.. but I saw that both units were on the ice for 'shorties.' The powerplay hasn't been really good for a long time.. with only 22% during the 07-08 championship season as the best percentage in the last 6+ seasons. In 04-05 it was 23% but pretty much terrible the whole season and only got to 23% because they scored on 15 of 30 powerplays against North Dakota that season, and nearly 40% against Ohio State. That was 3/4 of their powerplay goals. I'd be happy with even 20% powerplay this season if there's any real chance at it.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

Interesting tonight at the UMD men's game.. they announced the UMD women as winning 3-0... doesn't the athletic department actually pay attention when they give scores to the scorers table?

Funny you mention that. OUr UNH Men played a 2 game series at home this weekend against #1 Miami Ohio. The local TV news reported (including graphics) the Wildcats as having lost the first game 6 - 3 to the Miami Hurricanes Not sure if they even have a learn to skate program!

 

[dhmn]

Re: Oct. 16/17, UMD @ Minnesota -- Until We Goon Again

Funny you mention that. OUr UNH Men played a 2 game series at home this weekand against #1 Miami Ohio. The local TV news reported (including graphics) the Wildcats as having lost the first game 6 - 3 to the Miami Hurricanes Not sure if they even have a learn to skate program!

I don't know what's worse.. men's hockey's been around a lot longer and the TV people should know it.. or that our own University employees get it wrong about their own team. It got a little cheer out of the crowd but I'd already told a bunch of people who'd asked that the UMD women lost so it was a '***' moment.