Our PP drop pass/slingshot in the neutral zone transformed into a drop bank pass off the side boards last night. It did not go well. That experiment can end real quick.
I am still not convinced the slingshot accomplishes much. I am waiting for it to backfire. A fad perhaps. Maybe someone has better insight.
I hate nitpicking after good wins, but I share the same feelings on that slingshot play (and the PP in general). We need to find a top efficient PP unit that we can count on in the NCAAs.
Depending on who was on the ice when the penalty was taken has a big impact on who starts the power play and then who comes out after the first group. Often you aren't able to get your top 5 guys all together.
This is definitely a good and valid point. It did factor into their first power play I believe.
I guess I wasn’t as worried about scoring on the PP last night. I was more bugged that they didn’t sustain very much pressure, and they didn’t enter the zone efficiently. They will be better today.
Pat Micheletti last night made the comment that the Penn State penalty kill was doing a great job.
That is a big part of being in the Big Ten even the bottom teams are able to give the top teams problems because they have good players too.
If you can’t get into the zone effectively with puck possession it kills your pp set up as you have to reshuffle everyone to their spot. Seems to happen to us far too much with how much talent and speed we have.
One thing the Olympic size ice sheet (extra width) helped with was getting into the offensive zone with possession rather than have to dump it in and regain possession.
Overall the power play success has been similar as previous seasons.
Unless the Gophers suddenly turn into an offensive juggernaut their future lies with Close and on defense. Their defensive play has been very good for quite a while now and if they continue playing defense at this level they could go far into the tournament. Getting hot at the right time of year is always the goal in team sports. Go Gophers!
I’m expecting a stick salute from this group
https://twitter.com/gopherhockey/status/1756392591908815167?s=46&t=UoTCikmOZyJ29kktoNzh-A
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Thomas must be injured?
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas must be injured?
he was limping and holding is shoulder after that hit later in the game. Bummer. :/
Did anyone hear about anything from Thomas?
The defensemen last year scored 30 goals. This year they have scored 6 goals. The two years before last year it was 11 and 12.
Getting 5 or 6 goals from defensemen over the last 10-12 games (counting playoffs) would be huge.
30 goals from D men is unheard of.
Man was last year's team a juggernaut I am still amazed at their ability to win the Big Ten by 19 points (more than 6 full games).
They will always remain one of my favorite teams and if I had to choice quite possibility my favorite team (it is like a parent trying to choose your favorite child). My history goes back to the late 80s/early 90s.
I’m expecting a stick salute from this group
https://twitter.com/gopherhockey/status/1756392591908815167?s=46&t=UoTCikmOZyJ29kktoNzh-A
I wonder if the D pairs might get changed during the game.
Thomas and Rinzel was a really good pair by having a really good stay at home defensive D man with your top offensive D man.
I'm pretty sure Koster has played right D some games this season. Coach changes some of the D pairs around the 2nd half of the season.
Here is a line up before coach changed up the D pairs.
Thomas out is a huge change. Hoping it’s more precautionary and he isn’t out long. Will definitely be more space for PSU today so maybe it’s a little more up and down. Think we see the offensive breakout today and get a Culver’s win
How Begley plays will interesting to see.
I doubt he will get all of Thomas' minutes so other D men will likely get some more playing time but with Fish and Begley likely to be kept on different D pairs you can't keep them on the bench too much.
Going with them on the same pair and using the other 4 for most of the game is probably unlikely especially for a regular season game.
This is one of risks of only playing 6 D men and not giving your 7th D man some game time now you have to put him in rusty when somebody gets hurt but normally coaches for obvious reasons want to limit the playing time of their 7 defensemen until he is absolutely needed which is today.
Begley is certainly a drop off from Thomas but he can do his job and not hurt the team.
Plus if he has a bad game there are 18 other skaters (13 forwards/5 other D men) and Closer to pick him up.
Scanned tickets was about 8800 last night.
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Loud and proud crowd. I was very disappointed in the empty seats at puck drop. But judging by the 2 guys next to us, how many doofuses thought it was a 7:00 start? They showed up at 6:40 😂
Gophers up 2 and they’re both like “when did the game start?”
I wondered about that too. We made it to the lots at 5:30 and breezed right in. Expected it to be a clusterfu€k at that point. By my bad math the arena was more than 75% full but less than 90%. How’s that? 😉
8,880 out of the 10,750 tickets sold is 82%. So cowgirl was right on (82.5 being the middle of 75 and 90).
Absolutely sleepwalking
Whoo, whoo…whoo, whoo… whoo, whoo
You buddy, you’re outta here, ya hack, you suck!!!
You Worthless Piece of S***
Todays drinking game: drink every time Clymer says “rough and tumble”
Lucky to get out of the first five minutes unscathed. Better jump late.
Penn State had more of the play early and the Gophers had more of the play later.
Shots in the first period were 12-9 in favor of Penn State. Penn State typically leads in shots since their style of play is to take shots from every where.
They have lead the country in shots per game for 10 straight seasons including this season. The last time they weren't first was the 2013/2014 season when they were second.
We need to flip the script in the second period. Not happy with that start.
Pop a couple in during this period and let's put Penn behind us.
And my 75% wasn’t that absurd. The non student sections were right around that level.Loud and proud crowd. I was very disappointed in the empty seats at puck drop. But judging by the 2 guys next to us, how many doofuses thought it was a 7:00 start? They showed up at 6:40 😂
Gophers up 2 and they’re both like “when did the game start?”
I wondered about that too. We made it to the lots at 5:30 and breezed right in. Expected it to be a clusterfu€k at that point. By my bad math the arena was more than 75% full but less than 90%. How’s that? 😉
8,880 out of the 10,750 tickets sold is 82%. So cowgirl was right on (82.5 being the middle of 75 and 90).
Cowgirl, I may not have heard everything the students were chanting during the penalty kill but they did start three F Penn State chants during those 5 min.
At least break out the Poooowwweeeeer plaay. Poooooowwwwweeer Plaay. Pooooowwweer Play SUCKS!
Excellent setup from Lamb.
Nice passing on that goal!
Is Clymer talking about Huglen being a 60 point forward? I like Huglen but that is Hobey stuff.
I'm not sure what an interfraction is Clymer 😂🤣
Ugh. Dumb penalty.
And my 75% wasn’t that absurd. The non student sections were right around that level.Loud and proud crowd. I was very disappointed in the empty seats at puck drop. But judging by the 2 guys next to us, how many doofuses thought it was a 7:00 start? They showed up at 6:40 😂
Gophers up 2 and they’re both like “when did the game start?”
I wondered about that too. We made it to the lots at 5:30 and breezed right in. Expected it to be a clusterfu€k at that point. By my bad math the arena was more than 75% full but less than 90%. How’s that? 😉
8,880 out of the 10,750 tickets sold is 82%. So cowgirl was right on (82.5 being the middle of 75 and 90).
Cowgirl, I may not have heard everything the students were chanting during the penalty kill but they did start three F Penn State chants during those 5 min.
At least break out the Poooowwweeeeer plaay. Poooooowwwwweeer Plaay. Pooooowwweer Play SUCKS!
This reminds me of the "You suck on the PP" I think it was Michigan Tech who did that. I've been to a lot of road rinks and I'm starting to get old (no jokes you will hurt my feeling - I only have one - 😀 ) so I could be wrong but I think I have this right. Plus there are probably multiple teams who fans say it this way to be funny.
Is Clymer talking about Huglen being a 60 point forward? I like Huglen but that is Hobey stuff.
Yep, hopefully he comes back next year and puts up 55-60, lol.
Gophers full strength - we ALWAYS were!!!!!
HUGLEN AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
2-0
Is Clymer talking about Huglen being a 60 point forward? I like Huglen but that is Hobey stuff.
Do it again!
The line that I have been most disappointed with overall this season has been the 3rd line but there has definitely been improvement lately (not just today) of course I say this after Huglen scores two goals.
CHA is Captain Obvious!!!! 🤣
Kurth-Huglen-Lamb line buzzing.
I came here to post this. You heard that right.Is Clymer talking about Huglen being a 60 point forward? I like Huglen but that is Hobey stuff.
I have always wondered what Huglen would do if he played on one of the top two lines. Not saying he should be with Cooley/Moore being the first line center and Nelson being the 2nd line center just that Huglen might be more offensively capable then his total points show.
And this is one of the reasons why I think the 3rd line can/should be better. Huglen and Kurth being worst on the team in +/-.
I get that +/- isn't the be all end all just that them playing better (which they have been doing lately) would be huge.
Did Brodz get benched?
And my 75% wasn’t that absurd. The non student sections were right around that level.Loud and proud crowd. I was very disappointed in the empty seats at puck drop. But judging by the 2 guys next to us, how many doofuses thought it was a 7:00 start? They showed up at 6:40 😂
Gophers up 2 and they’re both like “when did the game start?”
I wondered about that too. We made it to the lots at 5:30 and breezed right in. Expected it to be a clusterfu€k at that point. By my bad math the arena was more than 75% full but less than 90%. How’s that? 😉
8,880 out of the 10,750 tickets sold is 82%. So cowgirl was right on (82.5 being the middle of 75 and 90).
Cowgirl, I may not have heard everything the students were chanting during the penalty kill but they did start three F Penn State chants during those 5 min.
At least break out the Poooowwweeeeer plaay. Poooooowwwwweeer Plaay. Pooooowwweer Play SUCKS!
This reminds me of the "You suck on the PP" I think it was Michigan Tech who did that. I've been to a lot of road rinks and I'm starting to get old (no jokes you will hurt my feeling - I only have one - 😀 ) so I could be wrong but I think I have this right. Plus there are probably multiple teams who fans say it this way to be funny.
you are correct. Can’t believe rube hasn’t jumped on that yet. 😂
Although I think it was directed at their own team, “don’t suck on the pp”
I’m sure rube can clarify 😁
Clymer also said that was Huglens 29th point or something this season. He might be drunk.
Did Brodz get benched?
I don't think coach liked the penalty he took.
Brodz got an assist on Huglen's second goal when he came out the penalty box and stayed on the ice but he may not have had a shift since going to the bench after the goal.
Carl Fish scares me every time he is on the ice!
The Carl Fish experience. Making fans drink all season!!!! 😀
I don't think Begley has been getting that many shifts with the coaches rotating the top 5 in a few different combinations to get them most of the ice time.
Bryce is out of the dog house. Coach doesn't just punish Pitlick.