With the way MN played tonight it was a tough game to not win. Three pipes in OT alone plus at least 3-4 in regulation.
With the way MN played tonight it was a great game to attend.
“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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MN had many chances in the first, and just couldn't get that last shot off. Turned out, it burned them.
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.
First, I really dislike shootouts. I just don't think any points in the standing should be decided by just a 1-1 action.
Second, why are the Gophers so bad at shootouts?
I thought we played well and hammered at the net. Sparty got a lucky tying goal with the high deflection. Keep hammering at the net like that and the season will go well.
Great effort tonight. Every weekend in the Big Ten is going to be tough this year. Many people complained not too long ago about how bad the conference was. They were better by a good margin over a team undefeated in said conference. It sucks the game was tied, but that last goal by State was pretty good puck luck. Give that effort every night and they will win many games.
The sky is not falling and although I am frustrated I just need to take a deep breath and calm down. Remember that the season is long and the sun will come up again tomorrow. However, of two ties and three loses we have in conference so far this year all but one were one goal games. Now tbf our Michigan win in Ann Arbor was definitely a game we stole so we got the benefit of highway robbery on that one. But even take that weekend out of the equation we were the better team tonight, last Friday, and the second game against Wisconsin but we were unable to get a lead and hold it. That’s eight points that we have left on the table. Wisconsin is a good team. Michigan State is a good team. Notre Dame is a good team. But we are also supposed to be a good team. We knew the B1G was going to be a gauntlet this year but we have to learn how to capitalize on our chances and see a game out. Sooner rather than later. It’s just frustrating to see this team do so many things right, which they definitely are, and not get rewarded for it.
I thought it was a great effort, and the team deserved better than a tie. But my goodness we need to get better at holding leads.
also, I said I would stop harping on this but I just can’t help myself… Pino on the Power Play in a tie game with 12 minutes left?? Are you kidding!
Lower than normal ranting about shootouts in here
On a 5 minute power play with extended play with no whistle you can't keep running out your top 2 power play units especially against a team that has 4 short handed goals already this season. We use a lot of 4 forwards on our power play so Pino was one of the forwards on the third power play unit. The 3rd power play unit got one shift.
also, I said I would stop harping on this but I just can’t help myself… Pino on the Power Play in a tie game with 12 minutes left?? Are you kidding!
Bob had Huglen centering Pinimino & Clark (?) on for a bit on that PP and it seemed like he was trying to send a message. The Gophers did seem to turn it up a notch after that.
“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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My last few posts have been negative so here’s some positives.
1. Kurth got his first goal tonight! Hopefully a lot more to follow.
2. Huglen looked great tonight. He and Pitlick were everywhere.
3. Overall the team defense looked decent. Seemed overall better at breaking the puck out. Some things to clean up obviously but I saw a lot of good.
4. I personally loved Snuggerud’s intensity tonight. The penalty he took tonight was in no way a penalty. Don’t let that put out the fire young man. Keep fighting.
This team has the necessary tools and seems to have a good attitude even when things aren’t always going their way. I hope they keep that going and get rewarded for it over the course of the season and, fingers crossed, in St Paul in April.
I will add something that I noticed yes it sucks to not be able to hold third period leads (the last Michigan State goal was a really good/fortunate/lucky deflection depending on which team you are rooting for) but what I REALLY liked is each time Michigan State tied the game we came right back and play really well. The shots in the 3rd period were 19-4. Often times a team has to hang on when they give up a tying goal in the 3rd period because when you tie the game you get a jolt of energy and it can be demoralizing for the team giving up the lead but twice the Gophers shook it off and can right back playing even better.
We have hit A LOT of posts this season usually that tends to even out over the season.
Coach mentioned after the loss to Notre Dame that we need to mature and stop getting down when we are getting chances but not scoring. Today's game showed a lot of progress in that area. The Michigan State goalie played really well but we just kept coming to the tune of 47 shots.
MN's team defense has really improved since the series against the red team. They can still be a little too cavalier with the puck in the blue lines but defensive zone coverage and center support has been much, much, better. Really encouraging to watch them come together and to see the younger defensemen improve from week to week.
“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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Need to start winning these type of games but the team looks like they’re improving week to week which is nice
also, I said I would stop harping on this but I just can’t help myself… Pino on the Power Play in a tie game with 12 minutes left?? Are you kidding!
Bob had Huglen centering Pinimino & Clark (?) on for a bit on that PP and it seemed like he was trying to send a message. The Gophers did seem to turn it up a notch after that.
Bob has done this in the past during a 5 minute PP if the top 2 units haven't scored yet. It is either to motivate or give the other units a rest.
As far as Pino in general, Bob is a huge "what has the player done in practice guy". Pino must be out performing #19 in practice to keep him in the lineup.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Yeah that was a fun game to watch overall, you could tell the opponent was talented but the gophers played well, just didn’t quite get the outcome we hoped for. The zone entries on the PP need to be better but other than that the rest of the game was solid.With the way MN played tonight it was a tough game to not win. Three pipes in OT alone plus at least 3-4 in regulation.
With the way MN played tonight it was a great game to attend.
This team is 12th in the pairwise, they got unlucky tonight, and the line combos have been in a blender up until today. I’m not exactly worried, the teams record at this point last year was kinda similar IIRC.
I will also say it was fun to watch a game with refs who actually call penalties.
They played good, but need to clamp down with leads. They need to keep improving and play at a higher level to beat these guys on Sunday. Go Gophers!
Really fun game, except for the little kids kicking our seats all game and the parents throwing popcorn all over the place, and one of the children behind us climbing on the seats and falling backward and smacking Ms. dx in the head...
...But I will say I am nervous about a mid-day game on Sunday. Anyone have any stats on how we look on Sunday afternoon games, because my assumption is that it's not pretty.
A couple of thoughts from last nights game--
Was pleasantly surprised by the size of the crowd last night. Also, the student section was fuller than I anticipated.
I took a friend who hadn't been to a Gophers game since 2011, and he said " Boy, those students in the band look pretty old". I chuckled and said that it was the alumni band...
Koster is taking a beating this year. Man that kid is tough.
Brodzinski is taking no s**t from anyone this year. But he needs too be careful and don't take dumb penalties.
This team is getting closer. You can sense it.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
As far as Pino in general, Bob is a huge "what has the player done in practice guy". Pino must be out performing #19 in practice to keep him in the lineup.
I doubt it. Pretty sure Brodzinski and Snuggerud specifically called out #19 for work ethic and effort in practice in that podcast they did.
As far as Pino in general, Bob is a huge "what has the player done in practice guy". Pino must be out performing #19 in practice to keep him in the lineup.
I doubt it. Pretty sure Brodzinski and Snuggerud specifically called out #19 for work ethic and effort in practice in that podcast they did.
Not saying #19 doesn't work hard, should have said Bob likes what he sees in Pino more than #19 in practice and he must feel that he is a better fit in the lineup, especially if #23 is centering the 4th line.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
their goalie is seeing everything, need to screen him.
The big ten has so many talented netminders this year. Good gravy.
Honestly don’t remember the last time they had one but with it being home and losing the first game but playing well, I think they’ll be fine. Only early games they had last year were the SCSU ot win, the 3 pm game vs western Michigan in playoffs, and a 4pm win vs OSU....But I will say I am nervous about a mid-day game on Sunday. Anyone have any stats on how we look on Sunday afternoon games, because my assumption is that it's not pretty.
Time to put this weekend’s woes behind us and get three points this afternoon! Play like we did on Friday, especially in that first period, and get some pucks behind Augustine for the win. Let’s go Gophs!
MSU-MN, then BUF-PHI...I'll just be sitting here having a few heart attacks. 😉
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.
More desperate team is gonna win. The Gophers need these points and Sparty really doesn’t. I bet MSU is content with their shootout win. Convincing 4-0 win for the fellas
“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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Student section is maybe 1/3 full today. Surprising after a full showing Friday.
What game are these refs watching!?
Apparently they are only looking to call soft or non existent hooking penalties today?
I guess you can't lift a stick anymore.
But you can slew foot a player and send another one head first into the boards.
BRODZINSKI on the POWER PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bryce now leads the team in points by two with 13 (7 goals, 6 assists). Nelson (5 goals, 6 assists) and Snuggy (8 goals, 3 assists) are tied for second at 11.
Brodz sucks.
I love pissed off Jaxson Nelson.
Red Savage isn’t a real name……
Not an impressive period.
Gophers sleepwalking through extended parts of that period.
So many turnovers.
So far this season, this is one of the worst passing teams we’ve seen in awhile. They fumble passes, pass to nonexistent players, completely miss their mark or miss wide open guys constantly. Basically ruins any chance of long offensive possessions or smooth exits out of the zone. I hope they will only get better as the season goes along and get cohesion, but woof it’s tough to watch right now.
Also, I think Moore is going to be a great player for us but right now he’s trying way too hard and he’s constantly turning the puck over. Most of the team actually looks to be gripping the stick a little too tightly…
Did Clymer just call our PP good and potent?
This team has so many unforced errors
Oh ffs.
Well that just proved my point.
this team does not lack effort. They are just making it so difficult on themselves constantly.
I was able to stomach the tie Friday because they looked dang good. Today is another step back so far. Disheartening.
What a dangerous hit
That is the same Michigan State player who got thrown out for a hit to the head on Friday night. He gets kick out two straight games.