WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

[Gophernation]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Winning won't be complicated (and no Slap Shot .. that doesn't mean easy .. it means simple and simple doesn't mean easy ... not "complicated" means there aren't complicated elements to UAA's game plan ... got that "FRANCIS"?) for the Seawolves. Here's how they'll win.

With defense first. . Every player on the ice will play defense first when Minnesota has the puck. That'll start in the Gophers high zone. Then UAA will try to impose itself in the neutral zone by trapping. They'll block shots and clog passing/shooting lanes in their own zone and they'll be responsible about getting to loose pucks. And they'll get good goaltending. They also have a pretty **** good PK percentage (especially in the 2nd half where it is some crazy high number).

Playing a "physical game" is at times part of that overall strategy but it is by no means a primary focus of this years squad. UAA's major drop in penalty minutes from last year to this year is evidence of the change in focus.

That's what they've done throughout the 2nd half with a couple of exceptions where they learned their lessons about not playing like that. One of those lessons was in the Friday night game against the Gophers.

On offense, the Seawolves will depend on getting something on the power play. Depending on which line is out they can be very effective in transition and have some speed up front. They're are also threats from the blueline in transition.

If the Seawolves execute their usual game plan well there is every reason for Seawolves fans to hope for a Final Five trip. It will be no small task though. It might take three games ... but it could happen in two also.[/QUOTE

I would think you are crazy if you think UAA takes this in 2, I think with the Gophers it seem like in the second half of the season they are finding ways to get back in games even if they arent playing the best hockey. Also they are averaging over thirty shots a game. Bjugstad is really coming on and they have some chemistry in their line combos right now, and on this unbeaten streak they are averaging at least 4 plus goals a game. I know its not going to be easy for the gophers but I think gophers will take care of business this weekend, and make a run at the F5! Lets not forget that the special teams have been really good as of late, and Patterson enough said about him! Question for anyone what happened the last time the gophers finished 5th in the WCHA?

 

[Gophernation]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Scratch that question cause they finished 5 in 09! but before that was 01-02 0r 02-03 was the last time they finished 5th

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

I would think you are crazy if you think UAA takes this in 2, I think with the Gophers it seem like in the second half of the season they are finding ways to get back in games even if they arent playing the best hockey. Also they are averaging over thirty shots a game. Bjugstad is really coming on and they have some chemistry in their line combos right now, and on this unbeaten streak they are averaging at least 4 plus goals a game. I know its not going to be easy for the gophers but I think gophers will take care of business this weekend, and make a run at the F5! Lets not forget that the special teams have been really good as of late, and Patterson enough said about him! Question for anyone what happened the last time the gophers finished 5th in the WCHA?

To counter your special teams arguement: UAA has the top PK in the conference right now, 85.8%.

And with that I'm done, no point in arguing with Gopher fans with the arrogance and all. We'll see what happens on the ice...

 

[uaafanblog]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

To counter your special teams arguement: UAA has the top PK in the conference right now, 85.8%.

And with that I'm done, no point in arguing with Gopher fans with the arrogance and all. We'll see what happens on the ice...

Dayum Str8 Seapuppy fan ... The Gophers are 13-10-5 in WCHA play this season. What are the Seawolves? 12-14-2. Not only did the Gophers win one more game than UAA ... The Seawolves lost three games that the Gophers tied.

It's a slam dunk. Done deal. The fat lady has sung. Laters to you "crazy" seapuppies fans!!1!!!

 

[state of hockey]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

I do miss the days six years ago and earlier, when the Gophers usually had more than enough depth and line chemistry to knife right through a team that skates backwards for 60 minutes. Now, these teams have to worry us. Minnesota isn't nearly as good at getting around the trap in recent years, as evidenced by the 1-0 loss to UAA a while back.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Seawolves win this in 3.

There, I said it.

 

[The Rube]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

MN sweeps. But the games will be close.

Unleash the Bjugstad!

 

[Bakunin]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

The math reports indicate that Minnesota could still get an at large berth if they manage to sweep UAA.

Entering the F5, they'd be somewhere very close to the bubble. Winning the QF game and losing the SF probably is enough to get them in, albeit barely. Making a run to the title game gets them into the tournament far more comfortably, perhaps as a #3 seed.

MN is still alive for an at-large if they win 2 of 3, but it complicates things greatly and places more emphasis on games elsewhere.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Dayum Str8 Seapuppy fan ... The Gophers are 13-10-5 in WCHA play this season. What are the Seawolves? 12-14-2. Not only did the Gophers win one more game than UAA ... The Seawolves lost three games that the Gophers tied.

It's a slam dunk. Done deal. The fat lady has sung. Laters to you "crazy" seapuppies fans!!1!!!

I know you're not a Minnesota fan, know why? You're using facts related to this season.

 

[brianvf]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Evidently beating the crap out of a Mankato team that gave up two weeks ago gives people a lot of confidence.

I suppose the same could be said of the confidence coming from the Gopher camp after needing OT to beat a team that finished a whopping one point in front of Mankato in the WCHA.

That said, I still think that the Gophers win this series...probably in two games. UMN is playing their best hockey at the right time of the year.
But I'd still like to see the upset.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

I'd still like to see the upset.

No you wouldn't - because that'd eliminate the chance of MN facing UND in the Friday night game. The F5 isn't the same when there isn't a game featuring 19,000 angry fans yelling at each other inside/outside the X.

 

[brianvf]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

No you wouldn't - because that'd eliminate the chance of MN facing UND in the Friday night game. The F5 isn't the same when there isn't a game featuring 19,000 angry fans yelling at each other inside/outside the X.

Eh, what does it matter, I won't be there this year to witness it.

 

[SanTropez]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

The Gophers have been playing much better since they met UAA in January losing only 2 games in the last 10, Bjugstad Hansen Alt and even Patrick White have really picked up their game.

The Saturday 1-0 UAA win was all Gophers in the 3rd period and if not for some 'standing on your head' type goaltending the Gophers would have swept, but this time around I like our chances at burying the puck a few more times.

Even with the patented (and boring) trap that UAA plays the Gophers should win this in 2.

 

[johnnypohlfan]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

So let me get this straight. Slap Shot posts a one-word retort to a UAA fan post implying that UAA has stamped their ticket to the Final 5, then later posts that he thinks no matter the outcome, the games will be close, and the UAA posters on here fly into a tizzy, claiming he has no reading comprehension, and he needs to lighten up? You maroons are the ones acting Francis-like, not him.

Is this what happens when your team has a somewhat respectable year? I usually enjoy seeing UAA do well because I think its better for the conference as a whole, but if this is the result, that's just sad. Slap Shot is, and has been one of the more respectable Gopher posters on this board, and your Francis-like reaction to him is puzzling.

Bottom line is this: Your goalie played out of his mind in one game and stole a victory for the Seawolves over the Gophers. 24 hours earlier, your team was dominated in every aspect for the entire 60 minutes of a game. What does that mean at this point? To me, it means that if the Gophers can get ahead early, they may skate to an easy series victory. If they let UAA work their game plan (which they have shown they can be very, very good at) they are in trouble. Taking this season as a whole into consideration, I think its silly for anyone to think either team is thinking ahead to the Final 5.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

ah, now this is more like it. Actual fans of both teams going at it. Just too bad one team of seapups is going to get destroyed and sent back to Alaska.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Eh, what does it matter, I won't be there this year to witness it.

Booooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

 

[Numbers]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Scooby
What happened to the glass?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

Scooby
What happened to the glass?

I got all messed up in my numbers with the two ties so I scrapped it. It was an 8 game count off. They are 4-0-2 with two games left to play. So, the glass has the potential of being 7/8 full after Alaska and right now it is 5/8 full.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

So let me get this straight. Slap Shot posts a one-word retort to a UAA fan post implying that UAA has stamped their ticket to the Final 5, then later posts that he thinks no matter the outcome, the games will be close, and the UAA posters on here fly into a tizzy.

It's been four years. How do you not get how this works?

 

[gopher wes]

Re: WCHA first round: UAA @ Minnesota

I wouldn't really be terribly surprised by any outcome. Even with the Gophers' play being much better of late, I can't forget what was happening earlier in the season. Plus, I remember Anchorage being a pretty physical team, the Gophers showed this last weekend that they don't respond to that very well.

I thought this past weekend's physicality had a lot to do with the smaller sheet. I would think that will be less of an issue at Mariucci. I would hope the Gophers can open it up and use their speed if AA tries to make it physical.