Wisconsin Hockey 25-26 Hastings Year 3 - Turning the Corner?

[Doogity]

There is absolutely no urgency in this team's game. They get out worked and out hustled way too often.

I agree and IMO two of the worst offenders are Fitzgerald and Finley

 

[Doogity]

While we are all playing the sky is falling let's relize that IMO Hastings is ahead of schedule for the rebuild that was needed here. This team was flat out terrible when he got hired. I wasn't expecting a Wisconsin team that was in the mix for another year or so. This job is a total rebuild top to bottom. The problem is they had such a good first half that everyone's expectations went through the roof. We all just need to take a breath. I will admit that there are a few guys that drive me crazy when it comes to their effort or selfish play.

 

[srkbadger]

The moment that encapsulates their play in the last couple of games is when the Penn St. guy shoots it on Hauser and it's under him but the whistle doesn't blow and 2 or 3 Badgers stand there and let the shooter come in and knock it in the goal from underneath Hauser. Whether the whistle should have blown is debatable. The fact is it didn't and the Penn St. guy kept playing and our guys quit.

 

[srkbadger]

While we are all playing the sky is falling let's relize that IMO Hastings is ahead of schedule for the rebuild that was needed here. This team was flat out terrible when he got hired. I wasn't expecting a Wisconsin team that was in the mix for another year or so. This job is a total rebuild top to bottom. The problem is they had such a good first half that everyone's expectations went through the roof. We all just need to take a breath. I will admit that there are a few guys that drive me crazy when it comes to their effort or selfish play.

I'm hoping that when the Granato guys are gone and Hastings' recruits fill the roster there will be a noticeable change in effort from the initial face off until the final horn. What concerns me is the play of two of Hastings' guys that came with him. Fitzgerald and especially Tassy have not developed much at all.

 

[Timothy A]

They are just playing so stupid lately. The last two games have been especially pitiful.

Yeah, that's it in a nutshell. You could have saved me a lot of thought if you could have posted that a little earlier LOL.

And I do agree with that Brink should be an everyday player.

 

[UW student and hockey fan]

Lots to be unhappy about currently. One not so bad thing is Oliver Tulk and how he's been playing lately. He's been good all season but it really stands out now with injuries and other guys not playing so well. Great skater, can handle the puck and also be impactful without it, and always looks like he has a chip on his shoulder. Now up to 17 points and +8.

 

[WiscTJK]

Ease up on Fitzgerald. He’s again forced into playing center. He looks much better on the wing. Zelenov, Morrissey and Schultz are all huge losses. I think they need to be more physical especially in the d zone. Knock these guys around the crease or sailing up the wing on their arse.

 

[GoBucky18]

I don't agree they have zero fight. They kept coming at them, they didn't stop playing.

I agree I was a little harsh there. Not that they quit...but it was just very frustrating to watch. All of a sudden no body can score and there is no ability to generate clean zone entry, much less zone posession. They fought, but without a cohesive approach and the talent scoring,and add terrible D lapses or just no physicality, this ship is wobbling like a top.

 

[srkbadger]

Ease up on Fitzgerald. He’s again forced into playing center. He looks much better on the wing. Zelenov, Morrissey and Schultz are all huge losses. I think they need to be more physical especially in the d zone. Knock these guys around the crease or sailing up the wing on their arse.

Fitzgerald's Mankato career:
22-23 16 goals, 13 assists in 38 games. 0.76 points per game.

UW career:
23-24 7 goals, 17 assists, 37 games. 0.65 points per game. (Reasonable start)
24-25 6 goals , 11 assists, 37 games. 0.46 points per game (Regressed)
25-26 10 goals, 7 assists, 23 games. 0 .74 points per game. FYI 3 goals in a game vs. Lindenwood. Last goal Dec. 5 vs. Notre Dame. (Meh, given 30% of his goals were in 1 game vs. Lindenwood). On pace to match freshman year at Mankato.

Actually a little better than I expected, but not a lot of growth. Sorry if you think it's unfair; to be sure he's not alone in underperforming, but for a top line guy on the first power play unit we need more.

 

[solovsfett]

Morrisey, Brink and Zelenov still out

EDIT: Morrisey and Zelenov out for an extended period of time (possibly for the season?) and no real word on Brink. Schulz out for the season.

This doesn’t bode well.

At this point I’ll reduce expectations to
Just getting to 18-19 wins being good considering the circumstances.

 

[Timothy A]

Fitzgerald is back at wing.

 

[srkbadger]

Finally! 1. Fitzgerald scores. 2. Someone finishes on a breakaway. 3. Short handed

It's also nice to see Hastings with a little passion this period. That can fire up the troops.
I hope the inability to finish with about 3 minutes left in the first doesn't haunt us.

The chippiness of Ped St. post whistle has been nonstop this series. They never fail to hack or cross check a Badger post whistle.

 

[LordofBrewtown]

What a terrible challenge by Hastings. Is someone (an assistant) able to look at a replay/is there enough time before the challenge? I get that with a possible goal on the line, he's more willing to take a chance, but that was just a waste of the timeout.

 

[solovsfett]

Well. 4 consecutive losses.

This team needs the injured players back badly. Try and get at least one win in mlps next week.

 

[srkbadger]

Again the lack of finish kills this team. Lose 3-1 with ENG. When they needed it, PSU scored the winner and we can't. I take little consolation that they played better. BTW, f*ck Micah Parsons.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

Pretty classless all around by PSU, including Micah.

That said, Wisconsin players need to sack up and not allow it to happen.

 

[solovsfett]

Any thoughts on Hastings and staff not shaking hands with Ped state coaches?

Since I was unable to watch the game I didn’t see or hear anything that would provide context.

The 2006 team being there you would think would spark guys. That was a special group. I recall when the entire freshman class of Licari, Burish, Gilbert et al marched into Eaves’s office after the Leavitt incident and told him they were 100% behind him. Right then and there I knew that class was as special as the 1990 Seniors. And I wrote in my signature here something like “everything in it’s right place, Wisconsin national champs in 2006” because I felt they’d get a title as seniors.

Haven’t had that feeling since. And now that I witnessed that Frozen Four in person and watched 1990 team on tv I realize given history, how special those teams were and you need to enjoy those runs because they’re unique. Who knows when they’ll get a title again. Could be 2027 or 2047. Either way what the media attention on 2006 tells me now is just enjoy the moment.

 

[GoBucky18]

It's the perceived lack of clutch and killer instinct that has completely left this team. To finish chances and score. To be physical but not overly aggressive. All that this team had the first half is now dust in the wind.

They've now lost 5 in a row, to include a couple lackluster performances against AA and Lake St where they escaped with wins. They have not played solid hockey since 1st week of December.

 

[solovsfett]

It's the perceived lack of clutch and killer instinct that has completely left this team. To finish chances and score. To be physical but not overly aggressive. All that this team had the first half is now dust in the wind.

They've now lost 5 in a row, to include a couple lackluster performances against AA and Lake St where they escaped with wins. They have not played solid hockey since 1st week of December.

yes! Something changed when Schulz got injured. Is the teams psyche that fragile??

 

[WiscTJK]

Any thoughts on Hastings and staff not shaking hands with Ped state coaches?

Since I was unable to watch the game I didn’t see or hear anything that would provide context.

10 seconds left, Badgers are still playing hard and they go to the goalie who's stopped it and someone gets cross checked by PSU player, starting maylee. The Penn State players ejected and misconducts act like a bunch of children leaving the ice. Just classless like their coach.

Then at the final whistle, we are killing time and someone got tripped by PSU player (I didn't see this, but read it). I then saw Hastings immediately went the other way with the coaches. I was there and can't argue that was the proper message sent to their staff. Then I saw replays with Hastings wording some F bombs at their coaches.

https://x.com/TheRealRedShed/status/2015273242651512945

F Gadowsky and Penn State. I hope that team just falls on their face. I hope MSU buries them next weekend.