Boston may have had more skill this year but Minnesota was in that game until the end. This year, the Gophers had a quality roster capable of playing the style of game Denver or Q plays. The common theme is to hold your opponent to 3 goals or less, and strong goaltending is mandatory.
Minnesota might be in St. Paul if Close was on his game. Great saves are needed. Routine saves are a given. Close gift-wrapped not one but two BU goals. He didn't give opponents too many gimmies during the regular season but unfortunately surrendered several to Q and BU in win-or-go-home games. That's just the tale of the tape.
The good: #7, #22, #24, #6, #10, #18
The neutral: #4, #5, #11, #17, #20, #26, #71
The ugly: #1, #13, #19, #23, #77, #81
26 should be in the "ugly" category from last night.
The Gophers have never had that team that (unless mid-70's team did) just played up and got the bounces to win it all.
Not sure if it is a 'bounce' but 2002 is closest I can think of (puck could have been cleared before tying it up with < minute left in regulation). Back-to-back was special. If you are going to pour your heart into something you have to accept the downsides, right? Always a good reminder that these are college aged kids, too. I agree that 20+ years is too long (which is what makes last year so painful still) but it is what it is.
I thought they were the most talented team in the country in 2002. I saw it at the end in 2001 and bought my Frozen Four Tickets because I knew they would be that good. Best player in the country, an all-time great D corp, and the top points guy in NCAA (Pohl -79) and 2nd highest in Goals (Taffe-34). Team was loaded. When they fell behind, I told my Dad Koalska was going to score. He was just on fire. In 2003, no one in the country could stop Vanek.
One other thing that annoyed me during the game, that shouldn't, was the love fest for Celebrini. Announcers mentioned the 'unfortunate play' where he 'lost an edge' almost costing a goal. It was a bigger, stronger and older Nelson who saw him trying to turn on a dime and pushed him down and took the puck to set up the two-on-one. As soon as he tried to make the tight turn, Nelson saw the opportunity to put him down. It was a great play by Nelson, if only it had ended better we might all be in a better mood. (Of course if Bob were a better coach Brodz wouldn't have fanned on the shot.)
I missed that first goal that Close gave up last night... Just saw a good replay of it... Yikes!
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The big three guys who kept this team going and carried the team at the end of the season were all grad students. Close, Brodzinski, and Nelson.
I wonder what the results would have been this year without them?
One other thing that annoyed me during the game, that shouldn't, was the love fest for Celebrini. Announcers mentioned the 'unfortunate play' where he 'lost an edge' almost costing a goal. It was a bigger, stronger and older Nelson who saw him trying to turn on a dime and pushed him down and took the puck to set up the two-on-one. As soon as he tried to make the tight turn, Nelson saw the opportunity to put him down. It was a great play by Nelson, if only it had ended better we might all be in a better mood. (Of course if Bob were a better coach Brodz wouldn't have fanned on the shot.)
The espn narrative force was strong this weekend.
“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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Boston may have had more skill this year but Minnesota was in that game until the end. This year, the Gophers had a quality roster capable of playing the style of game Denver or Q plays. The common theme is to hold your opponent to 3 goals or less, and strong goaltending is mandatory.
Minnesota might be in St. Paul if Close was on his game. Great saves are needed. Routine saves are a given. Close gift-wrapped not one but two BU goals. He didn't give opponents too many gimmies during the regular season but unfortunately surrendered several to Q and BU in win-or-go-home games. That's just the tale of the tape.
The good: #7, #22, #24, #6, #10, #18
The neutral: #4, #5, #11, #17, #20, #26, #71
The ugly: #1, #13, #19, #23, #77, #81
I'm curious what you saw from 23 that caused you to put him in the ugly category? I thought he brought good energy and speed and I would have liked if he had gotten to play in the top 9 all game.
Boston may have had more skill this year but Minnesota was in that game until the end. This year, the Gophers had a quality roster capable of playing the style of game Denver or Q plays. The common theme is to hold your opponent to 3 goals or less, and strong goaltending is mandatory.
Minnesota might be in St. Paul if Close was on his game. Great saves are needed. Routine saves are a given. Close gift-wrapped not one but two BU goals. He didn't give opponents too many gimmies during the regular season but unfortunately surrendered several to Q and BU in win-or-go-home games. That's just the tale of the tape.
The good: #7, #22, #24, #6, #10, #18
The neutral: #4, #5, #11, #17, #20, #26, #71
The ugly: #1, #13, #19, #23, #77, #81
I'm curious what you saw from 23 that caused you to put him in the ugly category? I thought he brought good energy and speed and I would have liked if he had gotten to play in the top 9 all game.
He did just fine in the tournament, especially for a freshman. I reluctantly included him with his linemates because that line was noticeably bad in the second game.
Cappy said something like Close couldn't decide if he should use his stick or his glove. He did neither.I missed that first goal that Close gave up last night... Just saw a good replay of it... Yikes!
Clark doesn’t belong in the ugly category , he scored the goal that got things going in game 1 & is far more skilled than the 4th liners they put him with. Clark will be a good player (playing top 9) the next 3 years, the questionable move by tBob was bringing him in this year when he could have used another in the USHL (tBob did the exact same thing with Brodz) which is why having him back for a 5th season worked so well.Boston may have had more skill this year but Minnesota was in that game until the end. This year, the Gophers had a quality roster capable of playing the style of game Denver or Q plays. The common theme is to hold your opponent to 3 goals or less, and strong goaltending is mandatory.
Minnesota might be in St. Paul if Close was on his game. Great saves are needed. Routine saves are a given. Close gift-wrapped not one but two BU goals. He didn't give opponents too many gimmies during the regular season but unfortunately surrendered several to Q and BU in win-or-go-home games. That's just the tale of the tape.
The good: #7, #22, #24, #6, #10, #18
The neutral: #4, #5, #11, #17, #20, #26, #71
The ugly: #1, #13, #19, #23, #77, #81
I'm curious what you saw from 23 that caused you to put him in the ugly category? I thought he brought good energy and speed and I would have liked if he had gotten to play in the top 9 all game.
He did just fine in the tournament, especially for a freshman. I reluctantly included him with his linemates because that line was noticeably bad in the second game.
Clark doesn’t belong in the ugly category , he scored the goal that got things going in game 1 & is far more skilled than the 4th liners they put him with. Clark will be a good player (playing top 9) the next 3 years, the questionable move by tBob was bringing him in this year when he could have used another in the USHL (tBob did the exact same thing with Brodz) which is why having him back for a 5th season worked so well.
tBob didn't have a whole lot of options there. If Cooley comes back - like he initially announced - Clark probably plays in the USHL. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way, and tBob had to bring Clark in to fill Cooley's spot.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
Agreed on Clark. No worse than Neutral in that listing. At the least he needs to swap with Fish.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
@greyeagle I found the Wally and Pat radio broadcast was delayed enough so I could match the YouTube TV action with their commentary. Made it much more enjoyable.
Every year I tell myself, "Remember how bad the ESPN announcers are, and make sure you sync up Frank and Wally for the tournament," then I forget, and cringe for the entire 2-3 hours...
Yeah, but without ESPN would we know that the Gophers have several native Minnesotans on the roster? He said it 3 friggin times.Every year I tell myself, "Remember how bad the ESPN announcers are, and make sure you sync up Frank and Wally for the tournament," then I forget, and cringe for the entire 2-3 hours...