dump and chase/forecheck game
Did any catch during the Tourney on Wed. night during one of the A quaterfinals, the tv broadcast mentioned that Shakopee doesn't call it dump and chase, but "deposit and chase"...
yep, cuz the thought of it being a deposit meant you plan on getting it back rather than dump it as trash, putting in their heads that it’s still ours just not at the current moment but is going to be real soon.
Back to #3 in the PWR after tonight’s Hockey East matchups
Here's why the Gophers are going to win the NCAA.
Although last weekend didn't go the way we'd hope, I think we have as good a chance as any to win it all. It's easy to get doom and gloom when you seemingly aren't playing well, but history shows that anybody can and will win this tournament, so why not us? There's also some serious home fan bias about how poorly we are playing after we lose a couple of tough games. Facts are we have 25 wins this year and only 3 teams are better with 26. As has been pointed out previously on this forum, we have 10 losses and the majority of those have been during a non-traditional OT format that won't apply in the tournament setting. We'd probably have the best record in the country if those had been decided using a tournament 5v5 OT format. We also play in the toughest division in college hockey. Notre Dame, the last place team, finished 8-5 in non-conference and at this point they have a realistic shot at crashing the NCAA party with just a couple more wins
Although anybody can and does win the tournament, being a #1 seed is clearly a huge advantage. Currently the Gophers project as the 3rd or 4th #1 seed. Since 2000, the tournament has been won by a #1 seed just under 70% of the time (17/25 years). Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter WHICH #1 seed you are as the champions have been evenly split among the different #1 seeds. The overall top seed has won it 5 times, and the 2, 3, and 4 overall seeds have each won it 4 times. I guess you could predict that it is most likely going to be won by the 2, 3, or 4th overall seed this year 
Only half of the past 20 NCAA champions won their conference tournament going into the NCAAs, so half of them came in on the heels of at least one loss. And while something can be said for "getting hot at the right time", you have to look no further than the "worst" champion of the century to prove how anybody can win it once they are in.
In 2013 Yale won the tournament as the overall 15th seed. You'd think they came in riding a hot hand, but they lost 5 of their last 8 regular season games and two of their 3 wins were by one goal. The conference tournament didn't go much better for them as they were shut out 0-5 in the semis and then 0-3 in the 3rd place game. I can't imagine their fans were expecting a whole lot entering the tournament after back to back shutouts and then drawing the overall #2 seed in Minnesota. Well, we all know how that year turned out. It is also worth pointing out that the team they beat in the title game that year was Q. Q beat them in the conference tournament 3-0 and then Yale turned around and beat Q 4-0 in the Championship Game. Past results mean very little in the tournament.
I think it is realistically possible you could have an all-Big10 FF this year. I wouldn't bet on it because there are obviously some other really good teams, but the conference was really strong this year. It's only happened once before, back in 2005 when it was an all-WCHA FF.
Losing Huglen feels like a huge blow and it obviously is because he had been one of our better players the past few weeks. Our greatest strength is our depth though. We don't rely on one line or just a couple of players and we don't need a single individual to step up and carry us through it. If we just play sound defense, win battles to loose pucks, win faceoffs, and find a way to get the puck to the net, I think we've got as good a chance as anybody to win it all. I think about the 2002 Final against Maine. How many of our goals that night were "pretty"? Ballard scores on a shot from the point on the pp (hello Rinzel, Koster, or Chesley?) Pohl scores one on an unscreened shot from wide on the wing, one that probably should have been saved. I could easily see Snuggy getting an identical goal this year. Koalska gets the tying goal just trying to get the puck near the net with the extra attacker (looking at you Wood...), probably hoping for a rebound more than anything, and then the Potulny OT winner was a bit of a scramble play on the powerplay (looked like a Lamb goal to me). Just get pucks to the net and see what happens.... Would love to see a final against MSU where we shut them out 4-0 after being swept in the season series.
I don't see any reason why we won't be the ones celebrating at the end. We have everything we need in the locker room, even with Huglen's injury. We still have 15 NHL draft picks and nobody in the country has more. Heck, dress Michel as the 12th forward. You don't think he'd bring some energy and enthusiasm to the lineup? Can't wait for St. Louis...
#WhyNotUs
Here's why the Gophers are going to win the NCAA.
Although last weekend didn't go the way we'd hope, I think we have as good a chance as any to win it all. It's easy to get doom and gloom when you seemingly aren't playing well, but history shows that anybody can and will win this tournament, so why not us? There's also some serious home fan bias about how poorly we are playing after we lose a couple of tough games. Facts are we have 25 wins this year and only 3 teams are better with 26. As has been pointed out previously on this forum, we have 10 losses and the majority of those have been during a non-traditional OT format that won't apply in the tournament setting. We'd probably have the best record in the country if those had been decided using a tournament 5v5 OT format. We also play in the toughest division in college hockey. Notre Dame, the last place team, finished 8-5 in non-conference and at this point they have a realistic shot at crashing the NCAA party with just a couple more wins
Although anybody can and does win the tournament, being a #1 seed is clearly a huge advantage. Currently the Gophers project as the 3rd or 4th #1 seed. Since 2000, the tournament has been won by a #1 seed just under 70% of the time (17/25 years). Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter WHICH #1 seed you are as the champions have been evenly split among the different #1 seeds. The overall top seed has won it 5 times, and the 2, 3, and 4 overall seeds have each won it 4 times. I guess you could predict that it is most likely going to be won by the 2, 3, or 4th overall seed this year
Only half of the past 20 NCAA champions won their conference tournament going into the NCAAs, so half of them came in on the heels of at least one loss. And while something can be said for "getting hot at the right time", you have to look no further than the "worst" champion of the century to prove how anybody can win it once they are in.
In 2013 Yale won the tournament as the overall 15th seed. You'd think they came in riding a hot hand, but they lost 5 of their last 8 regular season games and two of their 3 wins were by one goal. The conference tournament didn't go much better for them as they were shut out 0-5 in the semis and then 0-3 in the 3rd place game. I can't imagine their fans were expecting a whole lot entering the tournament after back to back shutouts and then drawing the overall #2 seed in Minnesota. Well, we all know how that year turned out. It is also worth pointing out that the team they beat in the title game that year was Q. Q beat them in the conference tournament 3-0 and then Yale turned around and beat Q 4-0 in the Championship Game. Past results mean very little in the tournament.
I think it is realistically possible you could have an all-Big10 FF this year. I wouldn't bet on it because there are obviously some other really good teams, but the conference was really strong this year. It's only happened once before, back in 2005 when it was an all-WCHA FF.
Losing Huglen feels like a huge blow and it obviously is because he had been one of our better players the past few weeks. Our greatest strength is our depth though. We don't rely on one line or just a couple of players and we don't need a single individual to step up and carry us through it. If we just play sound defense, win battles to loose pucks, win faceoffs, and find a way to get the puck to the net, I think we've got as good a chance as anybody to win it all. I think about the 2002 Final against Maine. How many of our goals that night were "pretty"? Ballard scores on a shot from the point on the pp (hello Rinzel, Koster, or Chesley?) Pohl scores one on an unscreened shot from wide on the wing, one that probably should have been saved. I could easily see Snuggy getting an identical goal this year. Koalska gets the tying goal just trying to get the puck near the net with the extra attacker (looking at you Wood...), probably hoping for a rebound more than anything, and then the Potulny OT winner was a bit of a scramble play on the powerplay (looked like a Lamb goal to me). Just get pucks to the net and see what happens.... Would love to see a final against MSU where we shut them out 4-0 after being swept in the season series.
I don't see any reason why we won't be the ones celebrating at the end. We have everything we need in the locker room, even with Huglen's injury. We still have 15 NHL draft picks and nobody in the country has more. Heck, dress Michel as the 12th forward. You don't think he'd bring some energy and enthusiasm to the lineup? Can't wait for St. Louis...
#WhyNotUs
Here's why the Gophers are going to win the NCAA.
Although last weekend didn't go the way we'd hope, I think we have as good a chance as any to win it all. It's easy to get doom and gloom when you seemingly aren't playing well, but history shows that anybody can and will win this tournament, so why not us? There's also some serious home fan bias about how poorly we are playing after we lose a couple of tough games. Facts are we have 25 wins this year and only 3 teams are better with 26. As has been pointed out previously on this forum, we have 10 losses and the majority of those have been during a non-traditional OT format that won't apply in the tournament setting. We'd probably have the best record in the country if those had been decided using a tournament 5v5 OT format. We also play in the toughest division in college hockey. Notre Dame, the last place team, finished 8-5 in non-conference and at this point they have a realistic shot at crashing the NCAA party with just a couple more wins
Although anybody can and does win the tournament, being a #1 seed is clearly a huge advantage. Currently the Gophers project as the 3rd or 4th #1 seed. Since 2000, the tournament has been won by a #1 seed just under 70% of the time (17/25 years). Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter WHICH #1 seed you are as the champions have been evenly split among the different #1 seeds. The overall top seed has won it 5 times, and the 2, 3, and 4 overall seeds have each won it 4 times. I guess you could predict that it is most likely going to be won by the 2, 3, or 4th overall seed this year
Only half of the past 20 NCAA champions won their conference tournament going into the NCAAs, so half of them came in on the heels of at least one loss. And while something can be said for "getting hot at the right time", you have to look no further than the "worst" champion of the century to prove how anybody can win it once they are in.
In 2013 Yale won the tournament as the overall 15th seed. You'd think they came in riding a hot hand, but they lost 5 of their last 8 regular season games and two of their 3 wins were by one goal. The conference tournament didn't go much better for them as they were shut out 0-5 in the semis and then 0-3 in the 3rd place game. I can't imagine their fans were expecting a whole lot entering the tournament after back to back shutouts and then drawing the overall #2 seed in Minnesota. Well, we all know how that year turned out. It is also worth pointing out that the team they beat in the title game that year was Q. Q beat them in the conference tournament 3-0 and then Yale turned around and beat Q 4-0 in the Championship Game. Past results mean very little in the tournament.
I think it is realistically possible you could have an all-Big10 FF this year. I wouldn't bet on it because there are obviously some other really good teams, but the conference was really strong this year. It's only happened once before, back in 2005 when it was an all-WCHA FF.
Losing Huglen feels like a huge blow and it obviously is because he had been one of our better players the past few weeks. Our greatest strength is our depth though. We don't rely on one line or just a couple of players and we don't need a single individual to step up and carry us through it. If we just play sound defense, win battles to loose pucks, win faceoffs, and find a way to get the puck to the net, I think we've got as good a chance as anybody to win it all. I think about the 2002 Final against Maine. How many of our goals that night were "pretty"? Ballard scores on a shot from the point on the pp (hello Rinzel, Koster, or Chesley?) Pohl scores one on an unscreened shot from wide on the wing, one that probably should have been saved. I could easily see Snuggy getting an identical goal this year. Koalska gets the tying goal just trying to get the puck near the net with the extra attacker (looking at you Wood...), probably hoping for a rebound more than anything, and then the Potulny OT winner was a bit of a scramble play on the powerplay (looked like a Lamb goal to me). Just get pucks to the net and see what happens.... Would love to see a final against MSU where we shut them out 4-0 after being swept in the season series.
I don't see any reason why we won't be the ones celebrating at the end. We have everything we need in the locker room, even with Huglen's injury. We still have 15 NHL draft picks and nobody in the country has more. Heck, dress Michel as the 12th forward. You don't think he'd bring some energy and enthusiasm to the lineup? Can't wait for St. Louis...
#WhyNotUs
How do we get you into the locker room?
OMG. YOU are my hero. Can you please just keep posting. There is so much negativity and I will admit I can get sucked innto that but your post really put all of it in perspective. This is an excellent team. Maybe we have some challenges but who DOESNT??? COME ON boys. There is not a reason in the world they cannot do it. All the talent in the world. An experienced group of older but also talented players. Hammer down boys. There are literally no excuses. Goai tending? Keep them out of our end endefended? Our goalies are excellent Lack of scoring? HIT THE NET. There is nothing else
I love the optimism but just feel like this team, as talented as they are, has too many warts to beat four good teams in a row. Of course I really hope I’m wrong.
My question for the hockey gods is why can’t we be the team that gets hot out of nowhere in the NCAA tournament? Why does it feel like we always have to be the juggernaut #1 overall seed type team to make a run.
Yale and Providence the years they won were atrocious in the month of March then flipped a switch in the tournament. We all remember Duluth in 2018. Why can’t we be the team that flips a switch in the NCAA tournament for once?
I love the optimism but just feel like this team, as talented as they are, has too many warts to beat four good teams in a row. Of course I really hope I’m wrong.
beating good teams 4 times in a row in extremely hard no matter when it is. There’s a reason it’s always a blood bath post season.
but you know what? why not us and why not now? Someone has to do it and we’ve had enough bad luck and failed finishes. Why not have it be a team we didn’t expect that ends the streak? This teams as good as 2023 QU or 2021 UMass and comparable to numerous other winners. Play your game and go out there swinging and I think we’ll be just fine
I’m not saying it can’t happen, just personally it seems pretty unlikely. Biggest hurdles to overcome in my opinion are goalie confidence, power play being a mess, and one of our best two way players being out. Doesn’t seem like a recipe for success at this point. But maybe they get some things figured out during the long layoff and they make a run. Hope so.
The Power Play is so weird. A lot of times they look clueless. They'll go the whole 2 minutes and barely gain the zone. And yet statistically they're pretty darn good. 24.4% on the season.
I’m not saying it can’t happen, just personally it seems pretty unlikely. Biggest hurdles to overcome in my opinion are goalie confidence, power play being a mess, and one of our best two way players being out. Doesn’t seem like a recipe for success at this point. But maybe they get some things figured out during the long layoff and they make a run. Hope so.
I’m not saying it can’t happen, just personally it seems pretty unlikely. Biggest hurdles to overcome in my opinion are goalie confidence, power play being a mess, and one of our best two way players being out. Doesn’t seem like a recipe for success at this point. But maybe they get some things figured out during the long layoff and they make a run. Hope so.
I know it may seem that the PP is not good, and look a bit disjointed at times, but they are ranked 13th and 24.4%. They have scored a PP goal in 6 straight while going 1-3, 1-2, 2-4, 1-3, 1-3,& 1-3. That is 7-18 and 38%
Last year they ended up 13th at 23.4%
The #1 ranked BC is at 19%
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
@frozen4champs I get that the stats overall on the PP haven’t been terrible, but with how awful the zone entry has been lately I’m just not filled with confidence.
I’m not saying it can’t happen, just personally it seems pretty unlikely. Biggest hurdles to overcome in my opinion are goalie confidence, power play being a mess, and one of our best two way players being out. Doesn’t seem like a recipe for success at this point. But maybe they get some things figured out during the long layoff and they make a run. Hope so.
I know it may seem that the PP is not good, and look a bit disjointed at times, but they are ranked 13th and 24.4%. They have scored a PP goal in 6 straight while going 1-3, 1-2, 2-4, 1-3, 1-3,& 1-3. That is 7-18 and 38%
Last year they ended up 13th at 23.4%
The #1 ranked BC is at 19%
yup this is the diehard fandom of being a Gopher and seeing all our first round picks and flash and thinking we should score on every PP. I’m hoping their recent play on the PP is a sign they’ve figured it out as there were some mid season doldrums. Special teams are increasingly important this time of year. More worried about the PK than the PP, especially without Huglen
This team is a bit of a conundrum. Hard to predict anything week to week or even day to day. As another die hard and long suffering fan, maybe this is the recipe for the playoffs. There is no formula, there is no trend. Play each game and play it like your life depends on it because now it does. They either will or they won't. I know as a hockey parent I cannot control it, just hope
I don't see any reason why we won't be the ones celebrating at the end. We have everything we need in the locker room, even with Huglen's injury. We still have 15 NHL draft picks and nobody in the country has more. Heck, dress Michel as the 12th forward. You don't think he'd bring some energy and enthusiasm to the lineup? Can't wait for St. Louis...
#WhyNotUs
Why Not Us... print the t-shirts.
v
This team is a bit of a conundrum. Hard to predict anything week to week or even day to day. As another die hard and long suffering fan, maybe this is the recipe for the playoffs. There is no formula, there is no trend. Play each game and play it like your life depends on it because now it does. They either will or they won't. I know as a hockey parent I cannot control it, just hope
I think Ben Franklin said the following: Do or do not. There is no try.
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.
Let me try!
"You make 100% of the shots you don't miss"
I feel like that model for success is less common but it's not like this team is a 13 seed or whatever. It's not impossible that Snuggy, Souliere, and some other guys like Moore could get hot.My question for the hockey gods is why can’t we be the team that gets hot out of nowhere in the NCAA tournament? Why does it feel like we always have to be the juggernaut #1 overall seed type team to make a run.
Yale and Providence the years they won were atrocious in the month of March then flipped a switch in the tournament. We all remember Duluth in 2018. Why can’t we be the team that flips a switch in the NCAA tournament for once?
This team is a bit of a conundrum. Hard to predict anything week to week or even day to day. As another die hard and long suffering fan, maybe this is the recipe for the playoffs. There is no formula, there is no trend. Play each game and play it like your life depends on it because now it does. They either will or they won't. I know as a hockey parent I cannot control it, just hope
I think Ben Franklin said the following: Do or do not. There is no try.
Wasn’t that Yoda?
This team is a bit of a conundrum. Hard to predict anything week to week or even day to day. As another die hard and long suffering fan, maybe this is the recipe for the playoffs. There is no formula, there is no trend. Play each game and play it like your life depends on it because now it does. They either will or they won't. I know as a hockey parent I cannot control it, just hope
I think Ben Franklin said the following: Do or do not. There is no try.
Wasn’t that Yoda?
Pretty sure it was Ben. Might have been Abe Lincoln, though, now that I think about it.
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.
If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
No matter what Regional they may end up in, these 7 teams have the best chance to reach St. Louis: Michigan State, Boston College, Maine, Western Michigan, Boston University, Denver & the Gophers, ya gotta win 2 to get there.
This weeks USCHO Bracketology--
Manchester Region
1. Boston College
8. Providence
9. Denver
16. Holy Cross
Toledo Region
2. Michigan State
7. Connecticut
10. Ohio State
15. Minnesota State
Allentown Region
3. Maine
6. Boston University
12. Penn State
14. Michigan
Fargo Region
4. Minnesota
5. Western Michigan
11. UMass
13. Quinnipiac
Last in: Michigan, Quinnipiac
First out: UMass Lowell, Arizona State
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
If Notre Dame beats Michigan St on Saturday, would that put everyone a little more at ease with the quarterfinal losses?
I’m holding on to 2004… Denver gets swept by CC in the best of 3, misses the WCHA Final 5, gets an at-large bid and wins the Nat’l Championship.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Yeah though I don't see that happening, mainly just curious if it's close or not.If Notre Dame beats Michigan St on Saturday, would that put everyone a little more at ease with the quarterfinal losses?
I like to believe this gopher team was ready to take on the NCAA Tournament awhile ago since they’ve been a lock. Sometimes I feel like they play bored with the regular season and B1G tournament. Just a feeling sometimes. Pride on ice has its ups and downs but never dies. Maybe they’ll flip that tournament switch to on and be that team that they’re capable of. Getting the first goal in their next game is really important for their bench imo.
I like to believe this gopher team was ready to take on the NCAA Tournament awhile ago since they’ve been a lock. Sometimes I feel like they play bored with the regular season and B1G tournament. Just a feeling sometimes. Pride on ice has its ups and downs but never dies. Maybe they’ll flip that tournament switch to on and be that team that they’re capable of. Getting the first goal in their next game is really important for their bench imo.
Love this mindset and attitude. I agree. Bring on the NCAAs. No reason the Gophers cant win 4 in a row.
I may be critical at times, but I'll be damned if I ever give up.
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 like to believe this gopher team was ready to take on the NCAA Tournament awhile ago since they’ve been a lock. Sometimes I feel like they play bored with the regular season and B1G tournament. Just a feeling sometimes. Pride on ice has its ups and downs but never dies. Maybe they’ll flip that tournament switch to on and be that team that they’re capable of. Getting the first goal in their next game is really important for their bench imo.
Love this mindset and attitude. I agree. Bring on the NCAAs. No reason the Gophers cant win 4 in a row.
My nerves won’t settle until they win the first one.
This team is a bit of a conundrum. Hard to predict anything week to week or even day to day. As another die hard and long suffering fan, maybe this is the recipe for the playoffs. There is no formula, there is no trend. Play each game and play it like your life depends on it because now it does. They either will or they won't. I know as a hockey parent I cannot control it, just hope
I think Ben Franklin said the following: Do or do not. There is no try.
Wasn’t that Yoda?
Pretty sure it was Ben. Might have been Abe Lincoln, though, now that I think about it.
Then who the f***s Anne Frank?
This team is a bit of a conundrum. Hard to predict anything week to week or even day to day. As another die hard and long suffering fan, maybe this is the recipe for the playoffs. There is no formula, there is no trend. Play each game and play it like your life depends on it because now it does. They either will or they won't. I know as a hockey parent I cannot control it, just hope
I think Ben Franklin said the following: Do or do not. There is no try.
Wasn’t that Yoda?
Pretty sure it was Ben. Might have been Abe Lincoln, though, now that I think about it.
Then who the f***s Anne Frank?
The second best conversation in that movie. 😀
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.
The playoffs is where the Gophers will need absolute mental toughness. Stay focused and don’t let anything get in your way. The talent is there.
I like to believe this gopher team was ready to take on the NCAA Tournament awhile ago since they’ve been a lock. Sometimes I feel like they play bored with the regular season and B1G tournament. Just a feeling sometimes. Pride on ice has its ups and downs but never dies. Maybe they’ll flip that tournament switch to on and be that team that they’re capable of. Getting the first goal in their next game is really important for their bench imo.
51 years ago today the Gophers won their 1st NCAA hockey championship 😎
Aloha!
I was there!51 years ago today the Gophers won their 1st NCAA hockey championship 😎
Alright friends. As we head into the final weekend and everyone has their own personal angles towards the postseason, at least we are locked and simply seed watching. For your Gopher angles, given we now have so few games left, there are not many things that will directly affect the Gopher RPI and all games do so very minimally (0.001-0.002).
So random things of interest/note.
AHA doesn't matter to us. B10 game won't change anything for us (OSU winning doesn't move them up; losing puts them below DU but they're pretty firm in the 3 band)
The CCHA game does matter to some extent in terms of opponent, so I'll mention it since some people are afraid of Kato because of history though this is clearly a very different purple cow team. Kato winning will move them ahead of Michigan which matters for seeding, particularly if both PSU and Michigan stay in the field (ie QU wins ECAC and DU/WMU win NCHC, and anyone not NE wins HE). If Kato wins and becomes the 14 (PSU 13, Mich 15, AHA 16), the committee gets to decide on bracket integrity versus H2H matchups and you could see them push us (if still a 1, obviously many dominoes to fall there) out to Allentown to play PSU or have MSU-Mich given 5 B10 teams to maintain bracket integrity. Think they'll be pretty solid on keeping BC-AHA winner given they've tried to preserve that, but would be interesting to see what the committee does. If Kato loses and is the 15 seed, keeping them with Mich St becomes a lot easier and then you may see them forced to either blow up the integrity or have us playing PSU or Mich.
In the ECAC, purely matters for adding an extra autobid (QU theoretically gets bounced in the "chaos" bracket where ECAC and NCHC or HE have an autobid). Could be quite likely that this team ends up making QU our opponent if they knock them out.
HE and NCHC are where you can make rooting interests for what you want to happen and/or avoid. If you want the 1, just need a WMU loss in the NCHC either in the semis or the finals. No one else in the NCHC can catch us. HE gets a little dicier as there is the chance HE could have 3 1 seeds. Maine locks ahead of us beating NE, but both BU and UConn pass us by winning the HE title, irrespective of if it is over NE or Maine. If NE wins HE, the Gophers lock as a 1 seed. Even if WMU loses, it won't be locked unless Maine also loses to NE.
As far as opponents, I've hit on the "if we're a 1 seed" options above. If we fall to the 2, 3 band teams look like a combo of Prov, DU, OSU, UMass, QU, and PSU pending how things go. I'll let your rooting interests decide which of those you want to end up with amongst Prov, DU, Umass, and QU but my lean would certainly be UMass or Providence, even if it means we head out east.
Here's why the Gophers are going to win the NCAA.
Although last weekend didn't go the way we'd hope, I think we have as good a chance as any to win it all. It's easy to get doom and gloom when you seemingly aren't playing well, but history shows that anybody can and will win this tournament, so why not us? There's also some serious home fan bias about how poorly we are playing after we lose a couple of tough games. Facts are we have 25 wins this year and only 3 teams are better with 26. As has been pointed out previously on this forum, we have 10 losses and the majority of those have been during a non-traditional OT format that won't apply in the tournament setting. We'd probably have the best record in the country if those had been decided using a tournament 5v5 OT format. We also play in the toughest division in college hockey. Notre Dame, the last place team, finished 8-5 in non-conference and at this point they have a realistic shot at crashing the NCAA party with just a couple more wins
Although anybody can and does win the tournament, being a #1 seed is clearly a huge advantage. Currently the Gophers project as the 3rd or 4th #1 seed. Since 2000, the tournament has been won by a #1 seed just under 70% of the time (17/25 years). Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter WHICH #1 seed you are as the champions have been evenly split among the different #1 seeds. The overall top seed has won it 5 times, and the 2, 3, and 4 overall seeds have each won it 4 times. I guess you could predict that it is most likely going to be won by the 2, 3, or 4th overall seed this year
Only half of the past 20 NCAA champions won their conference tournament going into the NCAAs, so half of them came in on the heels of at least one loss. And while something can be said for "getting hot at the right time", you have to look no further than the "worst" champion of the century to prove how anybody can win it once they are in.
In 2013 Yale won the tournament as the overall 15th seed. You'd think they came in riding a hot hand, but they lost 5 of their last 8 regular season games and two of their 3 wins were by one goal. The conference tournament didn't go much better for them as they were shut out 0-5 in the semis and then 0-3 in the 3rd place game. I can't imagine their fans were expecting a whole lot entering the tournament after back to back shutouts and then drawing the overall #2 seed in Minnesota. Well, we all know how that year turned out. It is also worth pointing out that the team they beat in the title game that year was Q. Q beat them in the conference tournament 3-0 and then Yale turned around and beat Q 4-0 in the Championship Game. Past results mean very little in the tournament.
I think it is realistically possible you could have an all-Big10 FF this year. I wouldn't bet on it because there are obviously some other really good teams, but the conference was really strong this year. It's only happened once before, back in 2005 when it was an all-WCHA FF.
Losing Huglen feels like a huge blow and it obviously is because he had been one of our better players the past few weeks. Our greatest strength is our depth though. We don't rely on one line or just a couple of players and we don't need a single individual to step up and carry us through it. If we just play sound defense, win battles to loose pucks, win faceoffs, and find a way to get the puck to the net, I think we've got as good a chance as anybody to win it all. I think about the 2002 Final against Maine. How many of our goals that night were "pretty"? Ballard scores on a shot from the point on the pp (hello Rinzel, Koster, or Chesley?) Pohl scores one on an unscreened shot from wide on the wing, one that probably should have been saved. I could easily see Snuggy getting an identical goal this year. Koalska gets the tying goal just trying to get the puck near the net with the extra attacker (looking at you Wood...), probably hoping for a rebound more than anything, and then the Potulny OT winner was a bit of a scramble play on the powerplay (looked like a Lamb goal to me). Just get pucks to the net and see what happens.... Would love to see a final against MSU where we shut them out 4-0 after being swept in the season series.
I don't see any reason why we won't be the ones celebrating at the end. We have everything we need in the locker room, even with Huglen's injury. We still have 15 NHL draft picks and nobody in the country has more. Heck, dress Michel as the 12th forward. You don't think he'd bring some energy and enthusiasm to the lineup? Can't wait for St. Louis...
#WhyNotUs
You aren't a native Minnesotan, are you? (Or just a young one.)
The Gophers need Maine or Western Michigan to lose a game. Don't really care if their the #3 seed or a #4 seed. Even though their having a rough season I really want to avoid playing North Dakota in Fargo if possible.
As much as I would love to see NoDak's season end on Friday night, the ideal scenario is probably NoDak beating Western Michigan on Friday and then losing in Saturday's final. But I do not want to see them in Fargo, even if they have been mediocre this year. We've had enough bad luck this season; we don't need to be the higher seed playing against the home team.
@theaura doesn’t matter which game western loses. If they lose they’re behind us. Might as well bounce und and lose in the title game
Gophers B1G honors..
https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/1902029893061300612?t=VhtiyUbGX-k8Mr1qSF-ibw&s=19
https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/1902032521539309641?t=DIVmHkuk6NiaUFa7lyaqEQ&s=19
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
Kurth, Wood, Chesley and Souliere were honorable mentions.
Huglen was the Gophers representative for the sportsmanship award.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
Bracket ABCs: One Last Look Before Selection Time : College Hockey News
Wodon's predictions on how it goes down in the bracket. He's got the Gophers hanging onto a 1 and Michigan getting bounced
Anyone have familiarity with the "Garden" seats at Scheel's arena? I sat behind that area last time but I wasn't sure if you have an actual seat or if it's just first come first served to sit at the rail along the glass?