This is true, that one PP sequence where they tied to execute five cross ice passes in a row comes to mind. I also agree that the North Dakota strategy of just going hard to the net on rebounds and causing chaos up front would prob be a better strategy if all else isn’t working.Bemidji had two high quality scoring chances in the first ten minutes and executed on both. After that the Gophers mostly dominated puck position but came up against an excellent goalie. Like the Omaha game, these are the games less talented teams play against Minnesota- and BC-type teams because they can't compete in a track meet. They either get a lead early and protect it or they keep it close as long as they can and tie it up at the end. If there's one thing I've learned from seeing countless games like this it's that sometimes the very talented team that comes up a against a hot goalie starts giving the goalie too much credit and they start thinking they need to make the perfect play to beat him, when more often than not it's the ugly goals and the odd bounces that do it. Create more chaos and rebounds in front of the net and get some garbage goals. Last night the Gophers got some good first chances but not as many second and third chances in front of the net. When the scalpel isn't working try the shovel.
It felt like Minnesota was trying to get a greasy goal. There were a number of high shots that didn't get through, and Bemidji blocked a lot of shots and covered rebounds well.
Minnesota isn't exactly known for their grittinness, and when cute isn't working, they can't punch their way through.
They need to figure out like Denver has how to balance grit with talent.
Less Passy-Passy, more Shooty-Shooty, pleaseThis is true, that one PP sequence where they tied to execute five cross ice passes in a row comes to mind.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
I don't think this particular roster lacks the ability to play with grit, I think they haven't yet been coached to use it when all else has been failing. That's on the coaches.
I don't think this particular roster lacks the ability to play with grit, I think they haven't yet been coached to use it when all else has been failing. That's on the coaches.
For sure. Players are generally engaged in physical battles all game long and as a team Minnesota doesn't seek to avoid this. It's just that when the skating lanes aren't there, they can't adjust.
Much of that is coaching, but as I mentioned about Moore, players who have succeeded throughout their entire hockey experience by using their feet and skills are the ones who struggle the most. Teams that aren't blessed with those skills can play only one way. They need to smother faster teams, keep it close, and hope for a one-goal game.
Comebacks are hard, however, when they get down by a goal or two. When they get up, they gain the advantage because they can play the only game they know how. As I mentioned in a previous thread, Denver has this figured out. They have skilled players who can go up and down the ice and put the clamp down on opponents. The 2024 NC in St. Paul is a good example of that. BC had the talent. Denver had talent and grit.
I don't really know about the commentary on lack of grit from this team. They manufactured chances (numerous, including getting multiple 2v1s late on BSU), protected the net while doing so, and do a way better job cycling the puck down low while maintaining possession than they have in the past.
Excluding ENs, they've already played 7 1 goal games where they've protected extremely well when leading while giving up very few grade A looks (ie your smothering tactic). They've also shown an ability to grind out wins when they're not at their best (1-0 over PSU) or when getting down to teams who play that clamp down/trap style (WI both times)
This team has looked the closest to having the ability to play both ways as any team we've seen here in quite some time (the 22-23 team beat you by getting up early and then playing keep away). Denver is a really interesting team to bring up because they absolutely didn't play like that at all last year to start the year (track meets up and down and gave up a bunch of goals averaging 5.5G/g in Oct/Nov but giving up 4 or more in 6 games). Part of this is we don't see Denver as much but see how they do in the postseason where Carle clearly understands how to take advantage of games being called tighter with more let go and how to put up that defensive shell but DU only scored 2 or fewer goals 7 times last year and the only 4 they won were all in the NCAAs
I’m not seeing a lack of grit either. The team has come back multiple times already. Both losses weren’t total clunkers. First period of Bemidji definitely was, but they responded well in the 2nd and 3rd.
I am still high on this teams chances
I looked up Sholl—He was listed at 5’10”. He seemed bigger than that to me…
I looked up Sholl—He was listed at 5’10”. He seemed bigger than that to me…
I'm glad you posted this. Someone on TV called him a big goalie but when I saw him live at Mariucci, I was scratching my head over that. 5'10" makes more sense.
I agree with the others that this Gophers team does not lack grit. I've been consistently impressed by how hard they forecheck, how often they win the puck battles, and how often they appear to be outworking the other team. That's actually what I've been most impressed by about this team - they are not only extremely talented but are also putting in the effort. However, I do think this is more of a tactical question - when the high end talent isn't allowing you to break through, you need to play a less talented game even if that sounds counter-intuitive. Get pucks in deep. Get pucks on the net. Keep the shots on the ice. Create chaos in front of the goalie. Get on the rebounds. It's less about working harder or grittier and more about shifting your hard work and grit toward a different style of play. Of course, these are just my armchair observations and I'm sure the coaches are doing what they can to push different buttons behind the scenes and sometimes nothing works and that's just hockey. I'm still extremely excited about this year's team. When I saw them in St. Cloud for the first game, they immediately looked like a different team compared to last year, in the best ways possible.
Why can't Bob Motzko get a goalie who can stand on his head? I find it interesting that all these teams we play find a way to get great goalies and we always are below average.
Yeah, our goalies don’t come Close to
matching up with our opponent’s goalies. They get breakaways and our goalie doesn’t even come Close to stopping them over and over again. On the other hand, I agree with you that we seem to have trouble executing on breakaways. You’d think with all the NHL level talent we’d at least come Close to matching our opponents on breakaways. Unfortunately Close can make the difference Just-in these Close games and right now our goalie play isn’t Close to what we saw from that Scholl character. Maybe Motzko can find a goalie next year a little Close-er to what we need to win these Close games…..