WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

If the Gophers eliminate the poor plays by their defensemen, no.

The breakdowns started before the defensemen. The forwards kept getting caught in deep when they'd try to force pucks through the middle, rather than getting the puck deep and going to work. The defensemen then made some decisions that compounded the problem.

It took until the third period, but I liked that staff finally quit sending out its D at the bottom of the depth chart as a pair. If you're going to play everyone, then put them in situations where they can be successful.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

It was a strange game. On the one hand, the Gophers had too many bad turnovers, too many bad pinches, too many turns in the wrong direction, and way, way too many drop passes to no one in particular. OSU turned a bunch of those into chances, a few into oddly timed line changes, and completely whiffed on a 2-on-0 break by going offsides. Leveille made some good saves.

On the other hand, the only reason the game was scoreless halfway through the second is because Minnesota couldn't buy a bounce in front of the Ohio State net. LaMere looked really sharp, but it still could have been 3-0 or worse at that point. Deflections went just wide, pucks bounced over sticks, rebounds were just out of reach, and a shot that LaMere never saw hit the pipe rather than the open corner.

In all, I'm not sure whether I should feel fortunate that the Gophers didn't give up more goals, or unfortunate that they didn't score more. Maybe it's both, and the game should have ended 8-4 instead of 5-2.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Butch Cassidy came to mind while watching tonight's game. "Who are those guys?" This was not the same team we watched play in Columbus last October. I was asked then by an Ohio State football fan in the parking lot after the second game blowout if I thought Jenny Potter would be able to turn it around for their team. I told him probably not this year but by next year you should be able to see some improvement. I think I underestimated her and the team. They have improved a lot since October.

Now to the officiating. In 1969 I owned a '65 maroon Biscayne and had a bumper sticker on the back that said "Bring Back Billy." After tonight's dreadful officiating or lack of any officiating I may get a bumper sticker that says "Bring Back Mikey" or should I just say Scott Roth is no Mike Gulenhcyn. How the same crew (minus Mike) could have looked so good up in Duluth two weeks ago and so horse bleep tonight is beyond me.

There were too many blown calls to delineate, but the non call on a Buckeye that was at least 10 feet offside may top them all. I hope for improvement tomorrow.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

I noticed the switch in the D pairings as well (Kelsey with Milica at one point). It probably should have happened sooner and yes the forwards share some of the blame on a few of those breakdowns.

Putting players in situations where they can be successful and not asking them to do more than they can were favorite sayings of Tom Kelly and I think they apply to hockey as well as baseball.

 

[OldDave]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

I noticed the switch in the D pairings as well (Kelsey with Milica at one point). It probably should have happened sooner and yes the forwards share some of the blame on a few of those breakdowns.

Putting players in situations where they can be successful and not asking them to do more than they can were favorite sayings of Tom Kelly and I think they apply to hockey as well as baseball.

My wife commented several times during the game about players looking tired or sluggish. When we got home, I listened to the pregame interview where Dan commented about the flu sweeping through the locker room. Frosty just shrugged and said everyone was suiting up. I'm guessing some of those inexplicable lapses were the result of flu and nothing more.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Minnesota had one power play last night...There were numerous opportunities to grow that number.
Offsides...Maybe the crew that was on the ice last night should attend a seminar on what that actually is.
Kelsey Cline (I think it was her) almost scored an own goal on what was one of a plethora of curious decisions made by the maroon and gold.
Cameranesi, Shipper, and Pannek is one heck of a 2nd line. Shipper in particular, was terrific last night.
For Ohio State, Dani Sadek and Julia McKinnon impressed me.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Julia McKinnon's speed at times was very impressive and a seminar on offsides for the linesman is a great idea. The refs may be beyond help.

 

[ARM]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Cameranesi, Shipper, and Pannek is one heck of a 2nd line. Shipper in particular, was terrific last night.

It's Schipper, and I agree, she was terrific, as she was versus Wisconsin. Her goal five minutes into Saturday's game on BTN is likely my favorite from her Minnesota career. It came at the end of a shift where she was everywhere on the forecheck and won battles by sheer hard work and her trademark feistiness. It's always nice to see that effort rewarded with a goal.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

It's probably been written before on one of these forums (most things have been), but Schipper is reminding me more and more of Kelly Terry with each additional game. And that's about as good a compliment I can give a player. She's a joy to watch on the ice.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

It's probably been written before on one of these forums (most things have been), but Schipper is reminding me more and more of Kelly Terry with each additional game. And that's about as good a compliment I can give a player. She's a joy to watch on the ice.

I believe it was eeyore who nicknamed her "the destroyer" or something like that. she, and that whole line, destroys a lot of hopes other teams have. SHe may have a little better scoring touch than Terry but I have thought the same thing - relentless, determined and quick

 

[Eeyore]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

I believe it was eeyore who nicknamed her "the destroyer" or something like that. she, and that whole line, destroys a lot of hopes other teams have. SHe may have a little better scoring touch than Terry but I have thought the same thing - relentless, determined and quick

It was Pannek that I dubbed Galactus: Destroyer of Worlds back when that line was, well, destroying things back in the fall. The addition of Cameranesi seems to have reignited it. I guess that makes Schipper the Golden Surfer: Herald of Pannek.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

At least 4 OSU odd-man rushes in the first 5 minutes.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

At least 4 OSU odd-man rushes in the first 5 minutes.

To quote Vince Lombardi, what the hell is going on out here? As I speak the refs finally decided to call a penalty on Ohio State...

 

[osualum86]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Both Kessel's first goal and Pannek's goal came when they received the puck in the slot, not that far from the crease, and had just enough time to line up their shots to beat LaMere. Schipper flat out beat the Buckeye D with a speed rush and skated right in on LaMere.

As I implied, both OSU goals came on poor plays by the Gopher D, resulting in odd-man rushes that Field and Kepler converted. There were also more than a couple other Buckeye odd-man situations as well that either Leveille was able to stop or the Gophers recovered well-enough to break up.

It felt like the puck was taking some funny bounces all night. It jumped sticks more times than I care to think about.

Thanks for adding some details to my recap. It's nice to have information from people who were there. There was no letdown for the Gophers today as they finish this series and move onto the WCHA Final Face-Off next weekend. The final score in this afternoon's game was 5-0. Dani Cameranesi had a hat trick for the Gophers and Amanda Leveille stopped all 25 shots she faced. The other Minnesota goals were scored by Lee Stecklein and Kate Schipper. Ohio State goaltender Alex LaMere stopped 25 of the 30 shots she faced. Ohio State's season ends at 10-25-1, 6-21-1-1 WCHA. Thanks to our seniors for everything. With the talented players we have coming back, along with Jenny Potter guiding the program, I am sure there will be better days ahead. Good luck to the Gophers and the other WCHA teams who make the NCAA Tournament. I'll be rooting for you!

 

[KTDC]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Thanks for adding some details to my recap. It's nice to have information from people who were there. There was no letdown for the Gophers today as they finish this series and move onto the WCHA Final Face-Off next weekend. The final score in this afternoon's game was 5-0. Dani Cameranesi had a hat trick for the Gophers and Amanda Leveille stopped all 25 shots she faced. The other Minnesota goals were scored by Lee Stecklein and Kate Schipper. Ohio State goaltender Alex LaMere stopped 25 of the 30 shots she faced. Ohio State's season ends at 10-25-1, 6-21-1-1 WCHA. Thanks to our seniors for everything. With the talented players we have coming back, along with Jenny Potter guiding the program, I am sure there will be better days ahead. Good luck to the Gophers and the other WCHA teams who make the NCAA Tournament. I'll be rooting for you!

Buckeyes played hard all day until the end. Their man to man defense created some havoc, especially in the first period where it seemed the odd man rushes were in double figures early. Fortunately for the Gophers, Leveille stood tall! Buckeyes are a good skating team. I wonder if Ohio State plays man to man against everyone.

Nice the Gophers could escape the weekend unscathed. UND is going to be a determined bunch next Saturday at 5. They will be believing they can win that game.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Nice the Gophers could escape the weekend unscathed. UND is going to be a determined bunch next Saturday at 5. They will be believing they can win that game.

As they should, because they've already beaten Minnesota once this year (Gophers went 2-1-1 against them in the regular season). Anyone hear how ticket sales are doing?

 

[Buckeye22]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Tough way to end the season. Still, if we can stay healthy next year I think there's reason to be optimistic for the future. Good luck to the Golden Gophers against the Fighting Flickertails or whatever the heck they call themselves now

 

[osualum86]

Re: WCHA Playoffs Round 1: Ohio State @ Minnesota 2/26 - 2/28

Tough way to end the season. Still, if we can stay healthy next year I think there's reason to be optimistic for the future. Good luck to the Golden Gophers against the Fighting Flickertails or whatever the heck they call themselves now

I totally agree. If we could just be blessed with some health next season, I think we can take the next step and possibly compete for a spot in the top four. Getting a 100% Kassidy Sauve back in net will be huge, and hopefully Jincy Dunne can go next season. With Sauve backstopping us, along with Jincy and the D's we have coming back, we will not be easy to score on. At the other end of the ice, we will have plenty of girls who can score, despite the losses to graduation. I don't think it's a stretch for Ohio State fans to be optimistic about the direction of the program right now.