Actually tonight isn't Nick Michel's first D1 game he played 4 games as a freshman for Alabama-Huntsville during the 2020-2021 Covid season.
I motion they interview Michel even when he’s not dressed. Funny and personable guy. No wonder the team loves him.
It’s a win. Whipple had a brutal night.
First 2 periods were among the best for the Gophers all season. Period 3 not so much. Hopefully on Saturday the Gophs can run up the score earlier with all of their offensive pressure and keep the foot on the gas after that.
Nick Michel in the interview after the 3rd period said that when he was in the Portal the Gophers were trying to contact him and when they finally did they asked him why he wasn't answering his phone. The reason he wasn't answering his phone?
WAIT
FOR
IT
He accidently dropped his phone in the lake. 🤣
He is from Waconia, Minnesota.
He played high school hockey at Holy Family Catholic. His senior season he played 27 games, 13 goals, 18 assists. Losing in the section final to Eden Prairie 4-3 after beating Minnetonka 5-1 in the semis. Nick scored a goal in the loss to Eden Prairie. HFC was up 3-2 in the 3rd period.
https://www.mnhockeyhub.com/game/show/16937342?referrer=3180558
It’s a win. Whipple had a brutal night.
He’s a freshman making freshman plays. It happens. Getting Thomas back will be nice
I thought the first 50 minutes were some of the best they’ve played all season. Easy to lose sight of that after some of the turnovers in the final 10.
Gophers were simply the hungrier team and deserved the win.
Also can we talk about Michel? Total spark plug for the team all night long. That line with Mittelstadt and Nevers was EXCELLENT from start to finish. So much hustle.
Michel certainly good enough to play against the likes of bemidji. Smart and played within himself.
Weird game it felt like we should’ve had a snowman on the board in but that they almost blew late. Luckily the pwr doesn’t care and style and they got it done. Finish off the sweep on Saturday
I thought I heard Jim Rich say the next Fox 9+ broadcast is against Alaska. Can anyone confirm whether Saturday’s game is on TV? Big 10+ doesn’t show the game as being streamed…..
I thought I heard Jim Rich say the next Fox 9+ broadcast is against Alaska. Can anyone confirm whether Saturday’s game is on TV? Big 10+ doesn’t show the game as being streamed…..
it’s still listed on 9+ (10) on spectrum.
That was a very dominant game by the gophers against a horseshoe goalie. He stopped like five breakaways and that save of the game was insane, not to mention however many other good/great saves. Airey did the absolute bare minimum to get a win but he hung in there. Ideally the gophers would’ve been a little more solid defensively in the third but they did create as many chances as they let up, they just couldn’t bury against Scholl. There’s plenty of good but not great gopher teams of yesteryears that would’ve lost that game.
Postgame from Jup
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
That is an excellent point. I have seen Gopher teams collapse in games like that at times where they are very clearly outplaying the opponent but are still stuck in a tight game. Nice to see the fortitude and confidence that they will find a way to win. I was also surprised a little by the turnovers particularly by the D as Bob pointed out. Half speed passes around our own net leading to turnovers, and some questionable decisions (ie hammering a shot at the blue line directly into the defender 3 ft in front of you leading to a breakaway goal). The forecheck intensity was off the charts so keep that film for every pregame and just point to it and say "THIS". Saturday will probably be interesting.
I thought I heard Jim Rich say the next Fox 9+ broadcast is against Alaska. Can anyone confirm whether Saturday’s game is on TV? Big 10+ doesn’t show the game as being streamed…..
He meant that those are the next games their production team will be doing. Since it's an away game, Fox 9+ is just plugging into Bemidji's home broadcast on Saturday.
I thought I heard Jim Rich say the next Fox 9+ broadcast is against Alaska. Can anyone confirm whether Saturday’s game is on TV? Big 10+ doesn’t show the game as being streamed…..
He meant that those are the next games their production team will be doing. Since it's an away game, Fox 9+ is just plugging into Bemidji's home broadcast on Saturday.
Which also means it won't be streamed on B1G+.
We've been pretty lucky with the Fox9+ games. My friends in Nobles County gets their Fox9 out of Sioux Falls and they're not carrying the Gophers.I thought I heard Jim Rich say the next Fox 9+ broadcast is against Alaska. Can anyone confirm whether Saturday’s game is on TV? Big 10+ doesn’t show the game as being streamed…..
He meant that those are the next games their production team will be doing. Since it's an away game, Fox 9+ is just plugging into Bemidji's home broadcast on Saturday.
Which also means it won't be streamed on B1G+.
We've been pretty lucky with the Fox9+ games. My friends in Nobles County gets their Fox9 out of Sioux Falls and they're not carrying the Gophers.I thought I heard Jim Rich say the next Fox 9+ broadcast is against Alaska. Can anyone confirm whether Saturday’s game is on TV? Big 10+ doesn’t show the game as being streamed…..
He meant that those are the next games their production team will be doing. Since it's an away game, Fox 9+ is just plugging into Bemidji's home broadcast on Saturday.
Which also means it won't be streamed on B1G+.
I miss he days of almost all games on TV. I am in the NE, and my cable provider tells me they can't carry Fox 9 according to FCC rules that put us in same broadcast zone as Wisconsin. Yet their customers in Bemidji I believe do get it. I'm only a few miles from Mississippi which I am guessing is dividing line. I assume Fox is in Minneapolis? And why can't they carry it on their fox 9 app? (I looked last year and that was the case.)
I get the love for games being free on TV, but unfortunately that sometimes comes with absolutely NO flexibility for when you can't watch them on the actual TV.
I'd love to watch the game, but I'm in a different state this weekend and so the only option I have is to pay $25 to Midco Sports...
That's a little ridiculous.
@mikeeruzione11 Agree. I really like his game and think he's going to be very, very good for the Gophers but he definitely had a freshman night last evening. I felt so bad for the kid at the end of the 2nd when he got picked and had a very good scoring chance. After the period ended he stood in the corner with his head down as long as he could. I felt for the kid. You could tell he wanted that back to badly and did not want to head to the locker room with that being his last play of the period.
While it seems the Gophers should be blowing some of these teams out I do love that they are finding a way to win. Builds some confidence when games are close down the stretch.
I do hope they start improving on faceoffs. We seem to lose more than our fair share.
Power play has looked excellent in recent weeks
I still don't understand the positioning they are using on the PP. Having right handers out high on the right side of the circle/blue line doesn't seem to be generating any one-timers or quality chances that you would like to get with those guys. I think the 1st unit has 4 right handed shooters, maybe mixing up the units and getting a Koester or Hendrickson in place of Wood for example might help the mix that they have on the ice during their PP's.
It’s called the downhill attack when you have a righty or a lefty on their strong side up high. When done right it’s a great way to get a shooter a good look. Problem is Wood has been flat-footed more often than not in that spot.
In general they’ve been trying to move Snuggerud around so teams can’t key in on him as easily, and to their credit it’s been working lately.
From what I've seen the only player who's been effective in that spot is Lamb, although he seems to produce from multiple spots on the PP. Agreed that Wood has been flat footed, in addition to being a turnover machine in general. He needs space to work, but must move his feet like you alluded to.
Making the short 20 minute drive tonight to watch the game - 2 years ago when they were last in town, there was lots of maroon & gold in the stands & a full house. Anyone else making the trek?
C’mon Gophs!
Hopefully another strong start with that tenacious forecheck! I know the PP numbers are solid but watching it they seem a little out of synch. Yes, I understand trying to get Snuggy free but he cannot be the only weapon on that PP line. He can certainly help us but maybe not always with the shot but by drawing attention. Agree that Wood is a really good player but I feel like he has not had the same level of competition up until now. He is very strong but does hang stationary which really doesn't work on the PP. Hoping for a hard skating game tonight with that same forecheck! Also please do not leave several opposing players hanging out in front of our goalie or give up breakaways. Doesn't seem to work out in our favor.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
I think the last 10 minutes of the 3rd on Thursday caught their attention.
4-1 Gophers. It’s never easy against the Beavers
Irey 1-0.
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Effing awful start
Has a gopher goalie ever made a save on a breakaway?
Irey 2-0.
Not every disease is visible. Not every pain comes from an obvious wound. Some people you see day-to-day may be suffering in ways you or I may never understand and fighting just to live a normal life. Please consider contributing to the Facial Pain Association and together we can find a cure.
We do know we’re wearing maroon tonight right? Should probably stop putting on the beavers tape
Not ideal
Defense on that last goal looked a bit lost. Nevers did not know what to do with the puck.
Team finishing looks like one of those evenings early. Lots of chances but Sholl standing on his head
End of 1, Gophs trail 0-2.
Not every disease is visible. Not every pain comes from an obvious wound. Some people you see day-to-day may be suffering in ways you or I may never understand and fighting just to live a normal life. Please consider contributing to the Facial Pain Association and together we can find a cure.
Glad that period is over
Two laughable gaffes in an otherwise perfectly fine period. Sholl has made some saves this weekend my goodness
Has a gopher goalie ever made a save on a breakaway?
yeah. That one time…
I feel like they just need to take a big deep breath, and play Gopher Hockey.
Beavers ARE their goalie. Wow. We need to WAKE UP but their goalie is playing out of his head. EVERY...SINGLE... chance we give them they score. Clean it up or go down gophers
In his 4+ years wearing the M…that had to be a bottom 5 shift for Nevers. And Whipple looked lost too.Defense on that last goal looked a bit lost. Nevers did not know what to do with the puck.
Jup might be onto something about opponents scoring on breakaways vs Gophers scoring. It’s like night and day.
The camera feed from Bemidji is GOOD tonight, much better than some previous games on Fox9+ where they pick up the local tv coverage.
Just checked the score. WTF?
Someone showed up, and someone didn't.
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 don’t know if I just have gold colored glasses on, but minus two terrible errors, gophers have looked like the better team. xG have to be favoring gophs right now. Sholl is just playing a hell of a hockey game
@boats they’ve dominated this period yes. BSU just doing a great job blocking shots and Sholl has been lights out