Last regular season home weekend of the year. Battle for 2nd place in the B1G. Limited tickets left, so good possibility of both games selling out.
7:00 pm
-Fan Appreciation: Be on the lookout for extra prizes and in-seat deliveries happening throughout the game!
5:00 pm
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
Mr. Vegoe, respectfully, please stop predicting sweeps 😅
I think after the Michigan series this past weekend it is clear that the Power Play strategy needs to change. In particular, the zone entry is simply not working and yet they continue to do what is clearly not working - namely, the neutral zone drop pass. It works for some teams but it really has not worked well all season for the Gophers. Every other team has predicted what they are doing and it hasn't eased the zone entry in the slightest; in fact, it has become a barrier to successful zone entry. Given how unsuccessful it has been all season, I'm flabbergasted that Motzko hasn't made the adjustment. Find a guy that can carry the puck from the d-zone all the way to the offensive zone and have him set it up. It's really that simple. The Gopher's PP set up is also far too wide and relegated to the outside of the o-zone. The best PP teams find a way to shrink that box to the point that they are almost collapsing on the goalie with short, quick passes and shots. Would love to see a different system for this team.
Is it Friday night yet? I am so ready for some revenge ass-kicking! 😁
The zone entries are really bad, the shot selection needs to be better, and yeah they need to move the puck quicker and try different looks. Snuggy is obviously a big part of the PP but it seems like they pass up open looks to pass it to him when he's not even open sometimes.I think after the Michigan series this past weekend it is clear that the Power Play strategy needs to change. In particular, the zone entry is simply not working and yet they continue to do what is clearly not working - namely, the neutral zone drop pass. It works for some teams but it really has not worked well all season for the Gophers. Every other team has predicted what they are doing and it hasn't eased the zone entry in the slightest; in fact, it has become a barrier to successful zone entry. Given how unsuccessful it has been all season, I'm flabbergasted that Motzko hasn't made the adjustment. Find a guy that can carry the puck from the d-zone all the way to the offensive zone and have him set it up. It's really that simple. The Gopher's PP set up is also far too wide and relegated to the outside of the o-zone. The best PP teams find a way to shrink that box to the point that they are almost collapsing on the goalie with short, quick passes and shots. Would love to see a different system for this team.
The zone entries are really bad, the shot selection needs to be better, and yeah they need to move the puck quicker and try different looks. Snuggy is obviously a big part of the PP but it seems like they pass up open looks to pass it to him when he's not even open sometimes.I think after the Michigan series this past weekend it is clear that the Power Play strategy needs to change. In particular, the zone entry is simply not working and yet they continue to do what is clearly not working - namely, the neutral zone drop pass. It works for some teams but it really has not worked well all season for the Gophers. Every other team has predicted what they are doing and it hasn't eased the zone entry in the slightest; in fact, it has become a barrier to successful zone entry. Given how unsuccessful it has been all season, I'm flabbergasted that Motzko hasn't made the adjustment. Find a guy that can carry the puck from the d-zone all the way to the offensive zone and have him set it up. It's really that simple. The Gopher's PP set up is also far too wide and relegated to the outside of the o-zone. The best PP teams find a way to shrink that box to the point that they are almost collapsing on the goalie with short, quick passes and shots. Would love to see a different system for this team.
agreed 100% with both of you. Zone entries have been a very mixed bag. We did, however, end up with a Rinzel mini breakaway off the zone entry. Their timing, drop location just is really off in that the drop pass guy is almost never going full speed coming toward the zone when they get the drop. That's the whole point but instead the first guy up the ice is either rushing or makes a terrible drop pass and you lose the entire advantage. It's pretty clear they're not going away from it at this point, but I'd much rather see that puck ending up on Moore's stick exclusively as he has enough speed to enter. The rest of them need to move their feet with him when he's coming up as they're standing too flat footed at the blue line and then when he needs the connecting touch pass, they're too easy to close down right at the blue line. The only guy who's peeling back is the drop passer, the rest should be moving forward and just behind to enter the zone at the same time rather than standing still as they are.
As far as in zone, they seem caught between 2 minds off force feeding Snuggy or the puck ends up at a stationary Wood versus as semi stationary Rinzel. If they're overplaying Snuggy, it needs to be Wood coming forward like they've done at times playing one timers with Rinzel versus the bumper (or taking his shot). If they're leaving Snuggy then it needs to be one touches from Wood to Rinzel to Snuggy and all of them are taking shots. They have this almost block in their head regarding taking shots when in reality, they're all good shooters and getting things through to the net will solve many of their problems. Camp Lamb's ass in front of the net and get pucks to the net when the lane is there rather than this slow moving thing up top we're doing.
We've scored 23 PPG this year off 100 attempts. We have 160 SOG during those PPs, good for less than 2 shots a PP. We aren't shooting at a high enough percentage to be passing up looks
Interestingly, on the PK, we have been much better with Souliere compared with Airey. Will see if there's anything to that or just too small a sample size yet, but Airey's save % on the PK with .776. Souliere is .930 with only 4 goals given up (opponents are 4/34, 12% compared with Airey's opponents being 13/36, 36.1%)
Does this team show up this weekend? I have my doubts. They are just so lazy sometimes.
Yeah the drop pass is fine when executed properly but there's also no need to force it every time especially if you have speed going into the zone and can just enter without it. The whole point is to draw people to the puck carrier and then pass it back for someone else to skate it the opposite side of where everyone was drawn.The zone entries are really bad, the shot selection needs to be better, and yeah they need to move the puck quicker and try different looks. Snuggy is obviously a big part of the PP but it seems like they pass up open looks to pass it to him when he's not even open sometimes.I think after the Michigan series this past weekend it is clear that the Power Play strategy needs to change. In particular, the zone entry is simply not working and yet they continue to do what is clearly not working - namely, the neutral zone drop pass. It works for some teams but it really has not worked well all season for the Gophers. Every other team has predicted what they are doing and it hasn't eased the zone entry in the slightest; in fact, it has become a barrier to successful zone entry. Given how unsuccessful it has been all season, I'm flabbergasted that Motzko hasn't made the adjustment. Find a guy that can carry the puck from the d-zone all the way to the offensive zone and have him set it up. It's really that simple. The Gopher's PP set up is also far too wide and relegated to the outside of the o-zone. The best PP teams find a way to shrink that box to the point that they are almost collapsing on the goalie with short, quick passes and shots. Would love to see a different system for this team.
agreed 100% with both of you. Zone entries have been a very mixed bag. We did, however, end up with a Rinzel mini breakaway off the zone entry. Their timing, drop location just is really off in that the drop pass guy is almost never going full speed coming toward the zone when they get the drop. That's the whole point but instead the first guy up the ice is either rushing or makes a terrible drop pass and you lose the entire advantage. It's pretty clear they're not going away from it at this point, but I'd much rather see that puck ending up on Moore's stick exclusively as he has enough speed to enter. The rest of them need to move their feet with him when he's coming up as they're standing too flat footed at the blue line and then when he needs the connecting touch pass, they're too easy to close down right at the blue line. The only guy who's peeling back is the drop passer, the rest should be moving forward and just behind to enter the zone at the same time rather than standing still as they are.
As far as in zone, they seem caught between 2 minds off force feeding Snuggy or the puck ends up at a stationary Wood versus as semi stationary Rinzel. If they're overplaying Snuggy, it needs to be Wood coming forward like they've done at times playing one timers with Rinzel versus the bumper (or taking his shot). If they're leaving Snuggy then it needs to be one touches from Wood to Rinzel to Snuggy and all of them are taking shots. They have this almost block in their head regarding taking shots when in reality, they're all good shooters and getting things through to the net will solve many of their problems. Camp Lamb's ass in front of the net and get pucks to the net when the lane is there rather than this slow moving thing up top we're doing.
We've scored 23 PPG this year off 100 attempts. We have 160 SOG during those PPs, good for less than 2 shots a PP. We aren't shooting at a high enough percentage to be passing up looks
Interestingly, on the PK, we have been much better with Souliere compared with Airey. Will see if there's anything to that or just too small a sample size yet, but Airey's save % on the PK with .776. Souliere is .930 with only 4 goals given up (opponents are 4/34, 12% compared with Airey's opponents being 13/36, 36.1%)
And yeah shooting more on the PP is fine as long as the shot gets through, Snuggy's shot selection hasn't been great and he keeps getting blocked and then half the PP gets wasted with the bad re-entries etc.
The PK baffles me. They only really lost The Farm Kid from last years rotation. Pitlick played some on the 2nd and 3rd pair. They still have Huglen, Clark, Nevers and Lamb who played a bunch on it last year. Ziemer and J Mitts also have played on it. They all seem responsible players. Is it simply that they are losing the face-offs and that is their main problem? OSU was 3 for 7 on the PP in the series at Columbus. The overall face-offs for the series were even.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
The PK is way too passive and seems like everyone is practically in the crease or within a few feet of it. Meanwhile other teams’ PKs put on way more pressure and disrupt things. It’s definitely not a talent issue.
The PK baffles me. They only really lost The Farm Kid from last years rotation. Pitlick played some on the 2nd and 3rd pair. They still have Huglen, Clark, Nevers and Lamb who played a bunch on it last year. Ziemer and J Mitts also have played on it. They all seem responsible players. Is it simply that they are losing the face-offs and that is their main problem? OSU was 3 for 7 on the PP in the series at Columbus. The overall face-offs for the series were even.
losing Nelson on PK is massive (long reach, good on draws for most part). All the guys you mention are smaller aside from Lamb which hurts being in lanes and blocking shots. They were also missing Thomas for a big chunk of the year, which is big for the body size and physicality down low.
So far in the 2nd half, Souliere has given up 1 PPG and teams are 2 for the last 15 on the kill. I'm hopeful they're figuring some stuff out.
The PK is way too passive and seems like everyone is practically in the crease or within a few feet of it. Meanwhile other teams’ PKs put on way more pressure and disrupt things. It’s definitely not a talent issue.
nailed it! And way too soft on zone entries.
I didn’t call a sweep for Michigan, Wisconsin or MSU but I’m calling one here! The team has been much better at home. I think we go 3-1 the rest of the way. Two W’s this weekend and a split at Pegula.
Imo maybe like trixR4kids is saying too is that they look like a zone defense in basketball and they’re just content in letting the offense move the puck around the zone without much if any challenge from the defense. We seem to turn the puck over on the pp because of the more aggressive pk and so is there a reason why we don’t play more of that that style? It seems effective. I know the score of the game would dictate aggressiveness but in these situations it wasn’t like we were playing with a 3 goal lead. Just my opinion.
In general I think fans saying “just be more aggressive” on the PK is the equivalent of fans yelling “shoot!” On the PP, but in this case I think it’s spot on. We have such a hard time on PP zone entries, yet our opponents just cruise in and get it setup like it’s nothing.
Forcing a dump in with a goalie who plays the puck like Souliere is huge.
Yeah I mainly mean the structure is super passive/tight/condensed whatever word you want to use. Meanwhile opponents play more of a large box and our PP all too often just gets stuck on the perimeter. My guess is they want to clog up the slot above all else. I’m no expert on how to coach either and this is just an observation.
I agree. The impact of his penalty killing skills was pretty significant. Huge coverage range without running around and a very good face off center. They need special teams improvement to contend at the end in my opinion, and the up and down nights need to be in the past. You have to show up every game for 60. They have the talent and the depth, just need some of the intangibles and maybe experiment with a new PP format.
I’d mainly like to see the entire periods of horrible passing be a thing of the past. It’s so weird seeing them start the first with very crisp passing and then in the second they’re just missing easy breakout passes or just simple passes in general.
Also Thomas had one moment on the PK where he had all the time in the world to clear it hard through the middle and instead lazily threw it up the boards for whatever reason, the Dman kept it in and the PP was able to continue. That’s a sloppy mistake where you did the hard work to get the puck away 4 v 5 and then just gifted it back to them. Ideally we see less of that stuff bc in theory it shouldn’t be that hard to fix.
Heads up for Saturday. Men's Basketball, Women's Hockey, Gymnastics and Men's Hockey all on campus that day.
https://twitter.com/GopherPuckLive/status/1892241682046886220
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
For us non parking passes fans... For non multi events at Williams Arena/Ridder Arena over lapping Mariucci. I almost always park in the University Ave. Ramp. For multi events the University Ave. Ramp is for passes only. I park at the Oak Street Ramp. Both are pretty easy in an out. Just in the dead of winter my wife hates that walk from Oak Street to and from Mariucci.
Keep your stick on the ice...
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
We like to park in the 4th st ramp, is there any reason we can't buy the pass for the womens game and just park in that ramp when we get there?
I guess as Bob said there was probably many things to like about the Gopher's game last weekend. The problem of course lies in the result. Twice. They really should have won at least one of those games and the fact that they didn't really should say something. It is the time of year when you need to win the games you SHOULD and make every other game at least a POSSIBLE win. Are we capable of that? Absolutely. Are we doing that? Not yet I think. Turn it this weekend guys or you may pay the price down the line
OSU has been on a roll and this is a huge weekend for them. In my view, the Gophers have been flat in too many games in the second half of the season.I guess as Bob said there was probably many things to like about the Gopher's game last weekend. The problem of course lies in the result. Twice. They really should have won at least one of those games and the fact that they didn't really should say something. It is the time of year when you need to win the games you SHOULD and make every other game at least a POSSIBLE win. Are we capable of that? Absolutely. Are we doing that? Not yet I think. Turn it this weekend guys or you may pay the price down the line
It's time for playoff-caliber hockey.
Agree…Gophers need to kick it up a notch, playoffs almost here, last reg season home series. It’s TIME!OSU has been on a roll and this is a huge weekend for them. In my view, the Gophers have been flat in too many games in the second half of the season.I guess as Bob said there was probably many things to like about the Gopher's game last weekend. The problem of course lies in the result. Twice. They really should have won at least one of those games and the fact that they didn't really should say something. It is the time of year when you need to win the games you SHOULD and make every other game at least a POSSIBLE win. Are we capable of that? Absolutely. Are we doing that? Not yet I think. Turn it this weekend guys or you may pay the price down the line
It's time for playoff-caliber hockey.
After last night’s disappointment I need a couple of big gopher wins this weekend.
I think our luck luck will be better and hopefully the consistency of effort will be as well.
Fret not... every time USCHO picks against the Gophers @ home for the weekend bet lines, the Gophers sweep. EVERY time.
Fret not... every time USCHO picks against the Gophers @ home for the weekend bet lines, the Gophers sweep. EVERY time.
gophers 5-2, 4-2 then
“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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I’m hoping for a Friday night beat down like they gave Notre Dame. The gophers can attack with an overwhelming dose of speed, puck movement and attacking the net with the nothing can stop us attitude! This team has that in them so bring the hammer and lunch pail tonight boys! Let’s goooo!!
Lamb is delicious. 1-0
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.
Still struggling with gaining the zone on the Power Play.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
Chelsey’s goal felt like slow service at the diner and my food just came!!😂
Still have no idea how we didn’t score on the last power play
Cause the ref thought it was too exciting so he blew the whistle.Still have no idea how we didn’t score on the last power play
Still have no idea how we didn’t score on the last power play
How the Gophers didn't have 2 or 3 goals in that last 8 minutes... it was like Jordan Binnington is in disguise playing for OSU.
Keep your stick on the ice...
THE LAMP CHOP IS HEATING UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-1
DAGGER
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.
Beautiful dance move Brody!!!!
MOORE uses his speed to beat everybody down the ice for the empty netter!!!!!
Looked like Lamb was on a race down too (might also beat the d man) but saw Moore go and knew he’d win the race. Elite speed out there.
Solid w. Team defense was great and really minimal high danger chances for OSU. Sweep em tomorrow and lock the 2 and likely a 1 seed for the ncaas
The score was not indicative of the play. That was a gritty win, and I hope that teaches the Gophers a bit. Don't be pretty, just win.
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.
And another real solid game for Liam.
I wasn't a masterpiece but it was a clutch win. OSU decided to go the throttle route and it worked for a while. Souliere kept them from scoring that crucial second goal.
In a game like this the team needs to shoot the puck. Wood had several opportunities in close and opted instead for the pretty set up - except it wasn't there because OSU was smothering Minnesota around the net. Shoot!
Huglen had a nice game and so did Lamb. Nice to see those guys pick it up on a night the top line was shut down.