The Gophers had a ton of shots on net They didnt lose because of ND's defense, they lost because they didn't do a better job of putting more of those shots behind the goalie. And despite the 1 PP goal which was flukey, the PP has been abysmal.
Any time I see furniture on the hwy reminds of the time some friends of mine lost their couch on the Hwy 2 bridge going from Duluth to Superior. By time they went back it was already gone.
The mess was right next to a bridge… They had a city plow out moving the piles of what looked like insulation. Although there was some wooden bits down the road too. Fun adventure.
What can you say? Notre Dame didn't win by puck luck tonight. They won because the Gophers had 3 massive breakdowns in their own zone. #71 has had a rough start to the season and his bumble tonight to start the 2nd was like spotting Notre Dame a goal.
Minnesota had good energy, but they can't make dumb mistakes like that against a quality team. This game reminded me of some of the losses to UMD, St.Cloud, and Mankato. It also resembled the game last Friday at Yost, except the roles were reversed.
They definitely left one on the table tonight and failed to gain a game on the Badgers.
This is definitely not last year's team and the league is a lot tougher top to bottom. Could be 3 or 4 teams in the mix.
Notre Dame had better goaltending as well, Close definitely got outplayed in that one.
Another barn burner against a trap team with refs who won’t call anything in the third period. Tackling, hooking, interference? All legal with ten mins left in the third.
That’s not to say the gophers don’t have things they could be doing better, namely figuring out how to generate more chances down low like the last two weeks. They take way too many terrible shots from the point that kill any chance of longer zone possessions. The new look PP seems like an improvement but not scoring on a 5v3 early is the difference between playing with a lead vs not which seems more important in these types of games. Also having Moore at wing instead of center just kills our forward depth, that’s nothing against Clark but I don’t think he’s better suited for that role than Nelson, Moore, or Huglen. It also creates other problems down the lineup like Pitlick with Nelson/Brodz, I get that Bob is tinkering early in the year but this hopefully changes tomorrow. Also they need to figure out how to break down the high pressure man to man D teams like Notre Dame and Wisconsin, basically someone like Cooley was really good at winning 1v1s to break down the structure and create chances, they need to figure out how to do that more consistently. Too often it seems like they’re deferring and panicking under defensive pressure throwing the puck away.
They've dropped 11 through five games. Conference title is not going to happen.
This might be a bubble team. So now the focus is trying to make the tournament with an at large and not stressing about the conference tourney.
The Gophers were a machine last year. There's not many Gopher teams in the program's history that compares to that one.
You might want to bucke up. This year, the Big10 is going to be a slug fest. It could go down to the wire with a lot of teams in the mix. I think the league winner will have a fair number of losses. The conference tournament should also be a good one.
All that said, Gophers are on the hot seat for a win tomorrow. Surrendering a second sweep to a conference opponent on home ice would not be good.
Not knowing what to do, they do what they know . . .
Knowing what to do, they sometime don't do it . . .
The 26th year of the Gopher Men's Hockey Profile got to be too much for this ol' codger to handle . . . what with all of the possible activity on the transfer portal . . . . So, I'm closing it down at the 25th year . . .
They've dropped 11 through five games. Conference title is not going to happen.
This might be a bubble team. So now the focus is trying to make the tournament with an at large and not stressing about the conference tourney.
The Gophers were a machine last year. There's not many Gopher teams in the program's history that compares to that one.
You might want to bucke up. This year, the Big10 is going to be a slug fest. It could go down to the wire with a lot of teams in the mix. I think the league winner will have a fair number of losses. The conference tournament should also be a good one.
All that said, Gophers are on the hot seat for a win tomorrow. Surrendering a second sweep to a conference opponent on home ice would not be good.
didn't we also win the conference by like a hundred points?
The mess was right next to a bridge… They had a city plow out moving the piles of what looked like insulation. Although there was some wooden bits down the road too. Fun adventure.
I told the Ms that it looked like a semi-couch obliteration. But there was only couch. No other cars or anything. And we had gotten there just after the cops did. Like right after.
This team needs to learn that they can't cover up for their mistakes like last years team could. Snuggy is definitely trying to do too much. Hopefully the goal will now get him going. I am not an elite hockey strategist, but I would have preferred Snuggy on the point during the last bunch of face-offs when the goalie was pulled to maybe get the puck for a 1 timer, but he was lined up on the wing by the glass. The defense unit as a whole just isn't gelling yet. Not sure if Chesley is putting too much pressure on himself or what, and Luke Mittelstadt has been MIA. The team really isn't that far off, and I believe that they will figure it out at some point. Every loss is tough, but some people really need to either shut the TV off of subscribe to the NCHC stream.
Side note-- Bob has his annual meeting with some season ticket holders tonight. He is usually very open and honest, so it will be interesting on how he is tonight. I hope someone doesn't ask a Jess Myers like question, or it could be a quick meeting.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
I feel like they're relying on the Snuggy one-timer too much.
Worse case they could have drawn it back to him and ND would have focused on him and he could have passed it across to Lamb on the other side. As I said, I do think Snuggy is pressing a bit. They need to get back at creating traffic in front and looking for the greasy goals.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
So far this feels like a hybrid of the last two seasons. 2021-2022 expectations and start with a good chunk of last year’s squad. Except they just happen to be missing five studs from last year. I think they will get it figured out. The pieces are there but for some reason it’s not clicking quite yet. I’m hoping it doesn’t take until mid January to start rolling like two years ago. Tbh I don’t think it will. But as Vegoe mentioned on the podcast we might to fight for the winter break, hopefully be above .500, get healthy and cohesive, and then make hay and go on a tear in the second half.
So far this feels like a hybrid of the last two seasons. 2021-2022 expectations and start with a good chunk of last year’s squad. Except they just happen to be missing five studs from last year. I think they will get it figured out. The pieces are there but for some reason it’s not clicking quite yet. I’m hoping it doesn’t take until mid January to start rolling like two years ago. Tbh I don’t think it will. But as Vegoe mentioned on the podcast we might to fight for the winter break, hopefully be above .500, get healthy and cohesive, and then make hay and go on a tear in the second half.
The ol' Hakstol Special, in other words.
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 thought they looked great for the second period*. Passes were crisp, not taken blindly, and on target. In the third they tried doing too much of the pass to where they "felt" the player was instead of taking that quarter second to look. The passes were soggier than than wet cabbage and off target.
*it took 45 GD minutes to go from Huron off-ramp to Lot 37. And it was only 75% full. This university has a serious traffic issue and it's getting worse. I really wish the state would step in and tell them to fix their s**t because it's creating a massive hazard on 94 in both directions.
Side note-- Bob has his annual meeting with some season ticket holders tonight. He is usually very open and honest, so it will be interesting on how he is tonight. I hope someone doesn't ask a Jess Myers like question, or it could be a quick meeting.
Hubster and I are going to the pre-game Bob talk. I’ve threatened to ask “ if this team was a tree, what kind of tree would they be?” just to see the look on Bobs face. ?. And I might preface it with…my husband wants to know.
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
I thought they looked great for the second period*. Passes were crisp, not taken blindly, and on target. In the third they tried doing too much of the pass to where they "felt" the player was instead of taking that quarter second to look. The passes were soggier than than wet cabbage and off target.
*it took 45 GD minutes to go from Huron off-ramp to Lot 37. And it was only 75% full. This university has a serious traffic issue and it's getting worse. I really wish the state would step in and tell them to fix their s**t because it's creating a massive hazard on 94 in both directions.
During the great U overhaul, housing and retail are the priorities. Parking is a mere afterthought. Well, except when they post street signs that read, "Permit Parking Only."
I thought they looked great for the second period*. Passes were crisp, not taken blindly, and on target. In the third they tried doing too much of the pass to where they "felt" the player was instead of taking that quarter second to look. The passes were soggier than than wet cabbage and off target.
*it took 45 GD minutes to go from Huron off-ramp to Lot 37. And it was only 75% full. This university has a serious traffic issue and it's getting worse. I really wish the state would step in and tell them to fix their s**t because it's creating a massive hazard on 94 in both directions.
During the great U overhaul, housing and retail are the priorities. Parking is a mere afterthought. Well, except when they post street signs that read, "Permit Parking Only."
I really hope with 33 closing that they "move" 33 to 37, get rid of that entrance to the lot, and block traffic from coming down the street to the exit of 37. It's just a clusterf*k when people use that as a through street. One dingus got into the line to turn right into 37, then realized it was pass only, then ended up blocking both lanes for like 5-6 minutes because traffic wasn't flowing.
I do remember times last season, especially up until January or so, when the first line had an "off" night, the team struggled a bit at times to get going. But, someone would step up and make a play to cover up for lackluster play.
That's not happening yet for this years team. Losing all that talent, especially on the back end really makes for some struggles getting the puck out of the D zone cleanly, which hurts our transition game imo.
Our great Gopher teams had great puck movers and were dangerous on the PP, something this team hasn't really shown yet outside a few periods here and there.
Hope they can get going quickly and be grooving by January!
I would definitely agree. MSU beat Wisconsin last night and are currently leading them 1-0 in the second so it doesn’t get any easier next weekend.
Trey Augustine is going to be a superstar and wouldn't be surprised if he's Big Ten goalie of the year the next two seasons after Bischel gets his back to back this year.
Why do Pitlick, Lamb, and Clark get results this season? Because they hustle and good things happen when you hustle. Take note N64 line. (lame line name BTW but fast to type)
Pitlick and Clark each have 3 goals. Brodzinski has 5 goals and Nelson has 4 goals. Yep Pitlick and Clark get results but Brodzinski and Nelson don't. ?
Pitlick and Clark each have 3 goals. Brodzinski has 5 goals and Nelson has 4 goals. Yep Pitlick and Clark get results but Brodzinski and Nelson don't. ?
Stat watching is always a good idea. Those 5th year guys are not doing nearly as much as they need to if this team is going to go anywhere.
I'm a grown up. I won't confirm nor deny the obvious lol. Needed a Big+ discount code.
I'm happy to analyze the bright spots, but this team is full of players (like 75%) not playing to their potential and anyone without maroon and gold glasses can see that.
Break down the roster by those exceeding, meeting, or not meeting expectations at the moment. With that, you'll see why the team is struggling. It can change but they are the ones that need to change it. And play 120 minutes in a row.
There's a reason Bob is pissed too. They have been phoning it in during so many games this year.
@gophers2023 it’s not the fact you post negatively. It’s the fact you post every 5 seconds negatively. You really take the enjoyment of reading the board. How about you watch the game and make one post at the end.
WOW!! That’s a snipe that would make Snuggerud proud! Also, how about Nelson and Nevers battling out in front and screening Bischel? Great work all around.
