UND92UMNLaw99
Registered User
Re: West Regional: Minnesota vs Yale
It seems to me that the Gophers take many errant shots because they rely so much on the one-timers and slapshots from the point or the perimeter. That strategy works often on the power play, but not so much even strength.
If you compare this Gophers team with the teams that won championships a decade ago, here's what today's team is missing most:
1. Dependable d-men who don't make mistakes. That was Jordan Leopold, and that was Paul Martin.
2. A big body that gets in by the net and puts in the rebounds. That was Grant Potulny. Bjudgstad is big, but most of his shots are one timers and slapshots on the power play.
The Gophers came out of the gate with good speed, won battles for loose pucks, but missed a ton of shots on net and Yale blocked a truckload of attempted shots. Credit Yale whose game plan was to protect the paint and Malcolm with strong physical D and blocked shots. Yale scored 2 in the 2nd, gained more confidence and put the Gophers on their heels. The Gophers finally broke the scoring drought in the 3rd to tie it at 2-2, but Yale came out in OT, dumped the puck in the Gopher's zone at the drop and a Gopher D turnover by Marshall resulted in Root being all alone in front to score the GWG only 9 seconds into OT.
A tough loss for the Gophers for the final game of the season. They showed a better effort than last weekend against CC, but overall their shot accuracy was pathetic, the PP was ineffective, and Yale's speed and forechecking gave them a chance to win.
I honestly did not expect the Gophers to win the Natty this year. They have not been consistent since January and unfortunately they continued their lack of effective play around the net today. The best players were not the best players today for the Gophers. Tough and disappointing end to an exciting season of Gopher hockey.
It seems to me that the Gophers take many errant shots because they rely so much on the one-timers and slapshots from the point or the perimeter. That strategy works often on the power play, but not so much even strength.
If you compare this Gophers team with the teams that won championships a decade ago, here's what today's team is missing most:
1. Dependable d-men who don't make mistakes. That was Jordan Leopold, and that was Paul Martin.
2. A big body that gets in by the net and puts in the rebounds. That was Grant Potulny. Bjudgstad is big, but most of his shots are one timers and slapshots on the power play.
