Ok back to the feels as I wake up in Tampa.
That was 100% the biggest win in school history. BC in 2016 was the previous in my opinion, but the talent on this Michigan team and the way we controlled and finished late as opposed to hanging on vs BC cements it.
Now anyone from the Big 10 reading this is laughing at me saying that’s the biggest win in school history. We were Division 2, 25 years ago. When our coach was hired he was paid less than $10k, he was a HS teacher and we practiced at midnight….astonishing. Our highest draft pick in school history left after last season to transfer. Other than that, we’ve had two 3rd rounders (Toews and Petruzelli?! I forget) and a BUNCH of 6 and 7th rounders. It is incredible what Rand has done with “so little” high end talent. How he was not the national coach of the year across the board is flat out ridiculous. Nothing to take away from Motzko, but the dude has an AHL team talent wise (all lines considered). I’m not sure if one guy on our team will ever be a full time NHL guy, maybe Lipkin if he continues to take a jump next year. If that doesn’t scream coach of the year, then cancel the award.
The talent gap was apparent to me Thursday. You think of our stick work on the Graf and Lipkin breakaways, those were relatively weak moves on Portillo, it’s likely that Michigan would’ve buried both those chances. That Fantili goal was ridiculous. But we can make up for skill, as everyone has seen the last two games. I thought we got too reliant on our sticks when Seamus Casey scored his goal and another time he walked right into a great scoring chance, would like to see more body used. Minnesota will key in on this.
We have a third hill to climb today, and it’s the biggest one we’ve seen. This is a similar situation to 2016 with that stacked NoDak team. Minny is as good, likely better. We didn’t look like we belonged on the same ice as them at times back then, we’re better prepared this year. We had some bad bounces and Garteig made a big gamble that didn’t pay off, we can’t make a mistake and we have to limit PP’s where there is more space and skill can shine even brighter. Close will be much better than Portillo and their D won’t give up as many Grade A’s as Michigan did. I still can’t believe we had so many odd man rushes Thursday. If Portillo doesn’t slam the door on that third goal, we would’ve routed them. It will take our most complete game yet, but I think we are playing our best hockey so there is another gear.
On the ground, Minnesota fans seems extremely confident that they will run us out of the building. MNStateofHockey will remind us how much he respects us and what Motzko said yesterday (he also said MN was underdogs to BU lol) but that is not the general consensus from the Gopher fans.
I can’t wait to see all the bobcat gold and for every non Big 10 fan to be rooting for us (especially our NoDak friends). Let’s soak it in while knowing we belong and will continue to regardless of the result.
Also Lahey is in Tampa (!!)
Go BOBCATS
