Luke M playing outstanding hockey.
Rinzel… please wake up for the NCAAs!
The fact they knew the big10 title was on the line and still could not pull out a victory is most concerning. PSU looked very good. At least their equals,which is surprising and disappointing.
tell that to Michigan State last weekend in the same circumstance. PSU is a solid team. This is how it goes in tight games and why winning the whole thing is so special. This felt like a regional final type game. Make er neutral ice and we’re just fine.
Too much doom and gloom here after that game. Disappointing for sure, but this is not cause for being despondent
Well I think playing like this in this situation is not a good sign...but come back tomorrow and it is what it is. This just doesn't feel like a championship squad to me...but a lot can change.
Just win tomorrow and let the chips fall where they may.
i mean yeah they aren’t BC. They’re going to win 3-4 tight games if they’re going to do it. It’s going to take luck and playing their A game consecutively. The only team who’s going to get away with a B type game in the postseason is BC. You’re describing the majority of the teams who have won it the last several years
DU last year probably should’ve lost prior to the FF. QU should’ve lost to us. The UMass and Duluth teams were not the best.
They’ve got the tools. They’ve lost in regulation 4 this year. Yeah they’re not we dominant as 22-23 team and may lose early, but it’s pretty rare air you roll in like that. They absolutely could’ve won tonight and 5v5 they looked better. Joy is that postseason that all you play. Purge the disaster that been us 3v3 this year and you’ll feel better
Like I said they have the skill...but the truly great teams know they are going to win. They don't know how, they just know it. Know what I mean. I rarely see that from these guys.
I am not saying they can't, not even saying they won't...but if my mortgage was on the line I ain't betting on them at this moment.
But a lot can and will change. Stranger things have happened 
/p>
Under no circumstances though should Motzko be mentioned as being let go though. That is so stupid it hurts. Who would we even go after?
Luke M playing outstanding hockey.
He is my fave of that unit. He plays great and also plays smart.
The 'I just don't see the fight' is exactly it. The team seems to bank on the fact that they do indeed out-talent the other teams on paper. That does not mean you win the game. We better learn to fight and show some hard core will in the next month or we are done talent or no. And we have the talent. Please please don't waste it
I think they need someone to take control on the ice. They don't have to dominate, they just need to break through the malaise by having an awesome shift or two. The 4th line does that but they aren't leaders.
Honestly they need Snuggy to play like a captain and Hobey candidate. He has stats but...
I think they need someone to take control on the ice.
Agreed. Nelson did it last year, clearly Knies the year before that.
Not sure who it is this year, if there is one. I can easily see Ziemer being that guy soon
I know it’s easier to blast the team in a loss. I actually thought they played very well against the hottest team in the country. A couple of nitpicks though.
We are a very dumb OT team. Possession is key. As soon as we get it, we want to make 2v2 rushes that get shut down. Keep circling to find a weakness. Throw picks like Penn St did. It’s not hard.
The rubber band/drop pass works well if you do it correctly. The way we do it is not. The first person carrying is supposed to drive the defender back to his blue line, drop it, and then the entire PK is caught standing still. We don’t carry it far enough ahead and drop it too far back.
Rinzel was low key bad tonight. His passing was atrocious. It’s been bad for a few weeks. He doesn’t seem to have a feel for when he should pass or carry the puck on a rush. Always seems to be making the wrong decision. At worst just shoot and hope for a rebound. Hopefully it comes back.
I think they need someone to take control on the ice.
Agreed. Nelson did it last year, clearly Knies the year before that.
Not sure who it is this year, if there is one. I can easily see Ziemer being that guy soon
I would rather have 3 lines that are driving play and playing cohesively. Relying on 1 guy is a recipe to lose. Usually there needs to be a lesser player who becomes a hero in one game, and then the next it’s someone completely different.
I think they need someone to take control on the ice.
Agreed. Nelson did it last year, clearly Knies the year before that.
Not sure who it is this year, if there is one. I can easily see Ziemer being that guy soon
I would rather have 3 lines that are driving play and playing cohesively. Relying on 1 guy is a recipe to lose. Usually there needs to be a lesser player who becomes a hero in one game, and then the next it’s someone completely different.
It's not relying on him...it's him being the guy who leads on the ice. The guy you can count on to throw a huge check, or have a shift that lights a fire under the team. A leader by example.
I like rolling 4 lines as much as the next person our 4th line is my favorite currently...but sometimes you need a guy to put the team on his back ya know?
I don’t think we looked bad in the third. Well, when it was five on five.
We didn't look bad but we didn't look good either. We certainly didn't look like a team poised to win the conference.
I dunno i just don't trust this team. I think they often play soft and passive and they do it at all the wrong times. They have the talent in spades...I just don't see the fight to go out there and just take it. They play below their talent level as soon as they get a little frustrated and they don't have a guy like a Knies who will just out and make the team step up their game. It's weird...
Just win tomorrow.
I agree entirely with this post. When I came on here two years ago and jinxed us by saying the team was going to win the whole thing, that team had a swagger- a confidence to them- that this team seems to lack. This is an excellent team, with all the tools, who certainly has one of the best chances to win it all in college hockey this year, but I expected that ‘22-‘23 to steamroll everyone, and they seemed to have the same mindset. Not sure I can say the same about this team.
They were ok but failed to capitalize on their early momentum.
The fourth line had the swagger tonight, and the likes of Snuggy, Moore, Rinzel, and Wood have to step up and take the wheel after being handed a lead. Instead, they lost the puck high in the offensive zone and again skated into odd man situations. Given their pedigree and the expectations of an NHL future, they should be capable of taking over games.
The '22-'23 team was much better than this team, but I get that a deep team has a good chance at a title. But is this the one? I had a nagging feeling about that team that lost to Holy Cross. This team is considerably better than that one, but my feelings about them are the same.
Souliere is good but small and gives up the corners of the net. The team has not enjoyed a steep improvement trajectory during the second half of the season, and stars Rinzel and Snuggy picked a helluva time to have crises in confidence. If those guys are NHLers, you'd never know it watching them in OT.
The Gophers have never been a team that loves the high shot from defensemen but sometimes that's the only and best play you have. PSU takes half their shots from the blue line and tonight one of those shots went in. Shoot the puck for chrissake...please!
If Bob Motzko doesn't win the chip he needs to be gone. His team always finds away to lose and has no idea how to find goalies
Yeah that was brutal, as was the PP. That one back pass in their own zone that gave PSU a breakaway was one of the dumbest passes I’ve ever seen. In general too their back passes are really bad, they either do it when they don’t need to or the skater executes the pass fairly well after they back up the opposing D to the blue line but then our skater passes all the way back to a guy on their own blue line so they gained literally nothing by doing it (defense easily resets) and waste more time. The way it should work is the skater with the puck gets some momentum and gets to the blue line and passes it back to a guy near the red line who just skates it in on the other side with ease.This team is fucking atrocious in 3v3 OT
Five on five I thought the gophers were pretty solid but a couple defensive miscues cost them there too. I like Moore centering the top guys as that line is probably one of the best in the country but it seems like they don’t have anyone who’s offensively gifted at center beyond him right now.
Nobody is doing well against Penn State right now, they’re playing for their lives at home with a lot to gain this weekend. Gophers came out ready to play, took their punches and responded in their house in that atmosphere. I agree on neutral ice, penn doesn’t feed off of the crowd and maybe a different game, I don’t know. Imo we’ve seen this before in seasons past with certain players game not up to par and everything worked out. I remember screaming at Thomas Vanek during a final five game from the 4th row to move his f’n feet! It’s a dissapointment last night for sure but not a disaster by any means. Sometimes this team just looks like they’re ready to get on with the bigger picture while the other team is just trying to be in it.
It’s officially March time to break out the marching band cd and tighten the chin strap! Let’s gooooo!!!😁
If this team can stay 5 on 5, I have no worries about them taking care of business. What worries the hell out of me is the special teams. The PK is horrific (although it's been "slightly" better since Thomas has returned from injury). The PP is... Frustrating to say the least. While not the worst in the country (currently 16th), it just doesn't seem to work since the first of the year.
I guess luckily for them, the don't take a lot of penalties, so they don't have to make the PK great. BC is the 6th most penalised team in the country and has the #3 PK. Funny enough, WMU has the 2nd best PK and takes the least amount of penalties.
In the end, and we have seen this before, if they get refs from the ECAC in the playoffs, it could be trouble. For whatever reason, they seem to be the only group that calls MORE penalties in the post season than all the rest.
The eastern refs call a tighter game, whereas the western refs don't mind calling a "black and blue" rougher game. Similar to European vs North American hockey.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
I wasn’t able to watch the game last night (fake fan) so I was only able to get updates through Twitter. What I gained from that was: the gophers are pretenders, no one on the team is good, no leadership, no grit, no goaltending, no scoring, no one wants to win, Motzko is the worst coach of all time, we will never win a championship again. Seems like a big reaction over a 3 on 3 overtime loss at maybe the hottest team in the country right now.
I wasn’t able to watch the game last night (fake fan) so I was only able to get updates through Twitter. What I gained from that was: the gophers are pretenders, no one on the team is good, no leadership, no grit, no goaltending, no scoring, no one wants to win, Motzko is the worst coach of all time, we will never win a championship again. Seems like a big reaction over a 3 on 3 overtime loss at maybe the hottest team in the country right now.
yeah gopherhole is in full on meltdown.
I guess I’m in a similar boat as you in that I don’t get the over the top reaction to this one. If we’d gotten completely boat raced or something, sure. Came back twice and lost in OT in a very even game that was a whiteout versus a team with their season on the line
If they lose tonight, do they leave Bob on the tarmac?
It's always interesting that the "Fire Motzko" crowd never suggests a replacement.
With the B1G title most likely going to the Spartans, what I really want to see tonight is obviously first and foremost, win. But win with some confidence and swagger. Get back that energy we had against Michigan in December.
If they lose tonight, do they leave Bob on the tarmac?
Nothing that severe, but I'd pay good money to see him walk on top of the boards in front of the bench and do the old Goldy nut crunch. 🙂
They had that in the first first period but failed to capitalize on it. Penn State is the team that responded after getting run out of the rink in the first.With the B1G title most likely going to the Spartans, what I really want to see tonight is obviously first and foremost, win. But win with some confidence and swagger. Get back that energy we had against Michigan in December.
It's always interesting that the "Fire Motzko" crowd never suggests a replacement.
I have had to stifle the response of "OK, Einstein, who would you suggest as a replacement?" more times than I care to count.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
I wasn’t able to watch the game last night (fake fan) so I was only able to get updates through Twitter. What I gained from that was: the gophers are pretenders, no one on the team is good, no leadership, no grit, no goaltending, no scoring, no one wants to win, Motzko is the worst coach of all time, we will never win a championship again. Seems like a big reaction over a 3 on 3 overtime loss at maybe the hottest team in the country right now.
yeah gopherhole is in full on meltdown.
I guess I’m in a similar boat as you in that I don’t get the over the top reaction to this one. If we’d gotten completely boat raced or something, sure. Came back twice and lost in OT in a very even game that was a whiteout versus a team with their season on the line
I can't speak for gopherhole (I don't read their hockey stuff just football and basketball) but around here outside two people the reaction had been quite tame all things considered. But, let me see if we can break this down:
1) The Gophers are playing for the title and a top seed in the dance? Do you think the effort they gave shows they knew that?
2) The excuse all years was injuries...they seem pretty healthy to me...
3) the old adage has always that you want to be playing your best hockey when the games get important. I don't think anyone believes that this team is playing tournament level hockey hockey of late.
I don't think it is out of line for fans to question this team...they give us a lot to question. If last night the team played a classic back and forth late season match up where the only reason one team lost was because time ran out I don't think anyone would be upset. But honestly outside of the first 10 minutes I never felt like the Gophers were going to win...and they didn't look like they thought it either. (And PSU looked scared until they realized the Gophers weren't pressuring much as the game continued) Hell there was rarely a sense of urgency...they kind of looked like it was an early season non-con game. Penn State played well, but not that well. The game was ripe for the picking if the Gophers played a little bit harder. (Or maybe smarter)
Speaking for myself, if this game was in December or January I wouldn't even second guess it just say "get the split and be happy on the road". The game coming at the end of February and with all sorts of importance for banners and seeding...that makes it concerning. We should be playing close to our best hockey right now...and we definitely aren't. I get Penn State is playing well...but they were beatable. The Gophers have another gear they just rarely access it...
It's always interesting that the "Fire Motzko" crowd never suggests a replacement.
Yeah. I would love to know who would do better.
When we scored first and looked really good I said to myself they’re gonna need 60 minutes of this to win. I give penn credit for their survival skills, they just battled longer than we did and just seemed more determined to get what they needed.
It's always interesting that the "Fire Motzko" crowd never suggests a replacement.
Yeah. I would love to know who would do better.
Our long lost buddy has HIS list over at Gopherhole. You will have to take a shower after reading some of that trash over there though. I thank the good lord everyday that this board has minimal posters like that over here.
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It's always interesting that the "Fire Motzko" crowd never suggests a replacement.
I have had to stifle the response of "OK, Einstein, who would you suggest as a replacement?" more times than I care to count.
I do the same for Motzko and even Fleck… and very seldom I get a reply. And if I do it’s a far fetched name.
Keep your stick on the ice...
It's always interesting that the "Fire Motzko" crowd never suggests a replacement.
Yeah. I would love to know who would do better.
Our long lost buddy has HIS list over at Gopherhole. You will have to take a shower after reading some of that trash over there though. I thank the good lord everyday that this board has minimal posters like that over here.
Our long last buddy could be a number of characters… though is it ‘Bonin’?!?!?!
Keep your stick on the ice...
Does anyone know if Coach Motzko gets his $30,000 bonus if they tie Michigan State as Co-Champions? I realize they will be the #2 seed if Michigan State beats Notre Dame tonight.
I don’t think effort was the issue yesterday as much as execution, especially on the PP. Gruba doing whatever he did on the second goal against and Souliere must’ve been screened on the third because that probably should’ve been stopped from that distance. That was anlso the result of an hook by Mittlestadt after Clark’s dumb turnover, both avoidable mistakes. Each team had their chances and the more desperate team that’s been on a tear won in OT at home. The OT was really bad admittedly, possibly because they were gassed.
I don’t think effort was the issue yesterday as much as execution, especially on the PP. Gruba doing whatever he did on the second goal against and Souliere must’ve been screened on the third because that probably should’ve been stopped from that distance. That was anlso the result of an hook by Mittlestadt after Clark’s dumb turnover, both avoidable mistakes. Each team had their chances and the more desperate team that’s been on a tear won in OT at home. The OT was really bad admittedly, possibly because they were gassed.
3rd goal is tipped off lamb’s stick
I don’t think effort was the issue yesterday as much as execution, especially on the PP. Gruba doing whatever he did on the second goal against and Souliere must’ve been screened on the third because that probably should’ve been stopped from that distance. That was anlso the result of an hook by Mittlestadt after Clark’s dumb turnover, both avoidable mistakes. Each team had their chances and the more desperate team that’s been on a tear won in OT at home. The OT was really bad admittedly, possibly because they were gassed.
If they were gassed then maybe good for us to play next weekend if they need to work on their fitness coming into the most important weeks of the season. They need to be ready to go hard for 60+ every game moving forward starting tonight as they are all essentially playoff games. It doesn’t get easier.
I’m absolutely rooting for us to win tonight and a little luck of the Irish to help us out so we can have the eye of Sauron all to ourselves. I won’t cry if we get a couple more games at Mariucci next weekend though.
We need to stop the stupid turnovers, errant passes, and start hustling to the puck and taking shots. More stepping up and taking it hard to the net. Hard work will out-work talent if talent doesn’t work hard!
LET’S GO GOPHERS!!!
Watching 3on3 has become more perplexing than shootouts. Pat M always says you need to win the faceoff so you can control the puck. Hell, even when the Gophers win the faceoff the opponent takes it away from them as if they were helpless peewees.
The odd stat from yesterday's game is the Penn St is 5th in the nation at face off % and the Gophers won that stat 34-25. BTW, the #1 ranked team in pairwise and the polls, BC, is worse at face offs than the Gophers. They are ranked 52nd and the Gophers are 48th.
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I wasn’t able to watch the game last night (fake fan) so I was only able to get updates through Twitter. What I gained from that was: the gophers are pretenders, no one on the team is good, no leadership, no grit, no goaltending, no scoring, no one wants to win, Motzko is the worst coach of all time, we will never win a championship again. Seems like a big reaction over a 3 on 3 overtime loss at maybe the hottest team in the country right now.
yeah gopherhole is in full on meltdown.
I guess I’m in a similar boat as you in that I don’t get the over the top reaction to this one. If we’d gotten completely boat raced or something, sure. Came back twice and lost in OT in a very even game that was a whiteout versus a team with their season on the line
I can't speak for gopherhole (I don't read their hockey stuff just football and basketball) but around here outside two people the reaction had been quite tame all things considered. But, let me see if we can break this down:
1) The Gophers are playing for the title and a top seed in the dance? Do you think the effort they gave shows they knew that?
2) The excuse all years was injuries...they seem pretty healthy to me...
3) the old adage has always that you want to be playing your best hockey when the games get important. I don't think anyone believes that this team is playing tournament level hockey hockey of late.
I don't think it is out of line for fans to question this team...they give us a lot to question. If last night the team played a classic back and forth late season match up where the only reason one team lost was because time ran out I don't think anyone would be upset. But honestly outside of the first 10 minutes I never felt like the Gophers were going to win...and they didn't look like they thought it either. (And PSU looked scared until they realized the Gophers weren't pressuring much as the game continued) Hell there was rarely a sense of urgency...they kind of looked like it was an early season non-con game. Penn State played well, but not that well. The game was ripe for the picking if the Gophers played a little bit harder. (Or maybe smarter)
Speaking for myself, if this game was in December or January I wouldn't even second guess it just say "get the split and be happy on the road". The game coming at the end of February and with all sorts of importance for banners and seeding...that makes it concerning. We should be playing close to our best hockey right now...and we definitely aren't. I get Penn State is playing well...but they were beatable. The Gophers have another gear they just rarely access it...
I get where you're coming from. I think to me the kicker is this is the same team that gave us the chance to even be in first going in by beating and getting SOW against MSU on the road just last week. If this was to ND, I'd totally agree with you. It's a playoff team in playoff mode. You're going to have tight games like this and we looked the better team 5v5 (and the xG would support that, particularly given the added xG PSU got in OT). To me, this looks like the team we'd exactly think we'd have this year. Deep and talented enough to beat anyone, but its going to need to go right to have it happen 4x in a row (vs the 22-23 team where it felt like they should blow everyone out every night). Can't say last night made me feel more negatively about this team (nor more positively). Still think they make it to the FF pending what the regional comes out as. There's a reason they're #3 in the PWR and the KRACH.
The doom and gloom is greatly over exaggerated. It’s a vocal minority.
This team will be judged by the results in the NCAA tournament. Just get there healthy as a 1 seed and let’s take our crack at it.
That's usually the formula. Get there and try to make the most of it.The doom and gloom is greatly over exaggerated. It’s a vocal minority.
This team will be judged by the results in the NCAA tournament. Just get there healthy as a 1 seed and let’s take our crack at it.
I don’t think effort was the issue yesterday as much as execution, especially on the PP. Gruba doing whatever he did on the second goal against and Souliere must’ve been screened on the third because that probably should’ve been stopped from that distance. That was anlso the result of an hook by Mittlestadt after Clark’s dumb turnover, both avoidable mistakes. Each team had their chances and the more desperate team that’s been on a tear won in OT at home. The OT was really bad admittedly, possibly because they were gassed.
3rd goal is tipped off lamb’s stick
Yeah third goal wasn't his fault at all.
Watching 3on3 has become more perplexing than shootouts. Pat M always says you need to win the faceoff so you can control the puck. Hell, even when the Gophers win the faceoff the opponent takes it away from them as if they were helpless peewees.
Why we even have 3x3 as a rule is annoying. It is such a stupid way to do OT.
Handy I'm trying to reconcile your criticisms of the team with you also arguing Motzko shouldn't be fired.
I don't think he should be, but the problems you have described here (as you seem them) more than once are at least somewhat the responsibility of the coach.
Lineup shuffle without J Mitts. Whipple 7th D
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