Was at the game last night. Was going numb waiting for the OT to start! So deflating. Really unfortunate us Gopher fans there couldn’t have a wonderful moment. We really showed up! Sports are brutal.
They didn’t willingly go into a defensive shell. Unless I’m missing something I did not see an official edict from Motzko about how to play the remainder of the game. The so called national media and the fair weather local media have no clue what they are talking about.
Q found their game in the 2nd and 3rd. Go watch the Ohio st and Michigan games. Q were sloppy in the first which led to the first Gopher goal. They cleaned it up and settled in. A coach can only prepare a team so much. Players have to execute.
You should have not went to the game, you should have known better that Gophers are going to lose since Minnesota sports usually choke which is unfortunate but sadly true
That's overly harsh but there is evidence to support this program's medioce NCAA closure rate.
Close had nothing to do with the loss. I think the Gophers morphing into prevent defense was the deciding factor. If they played their usual game with a 2-0 lead, I think they’d have won going away.
Doesn't seem like a reason to stop going to championship games.Was at the game last night. Was going numb waiting for the OT to start! So deflating. Really unfortunate us Gopher fans there couldn’t have a wonderful moment. We really showed up! Sports are brutal.
They didn’t willingly go into a defensive shell. Unless I’m missing something I did not see an official edict from Motzko about how to play the remainder of the game. The so called national media and the fair weather local media have no clue what they are talking about.
Q found their game in the 2nd and 3rd. Go watch the Ohio st and Michigan games. Q were sloppy in the first which led to the first Gopher goal. They cleaned it up and settled in. A coach can only prepare a team so much. Players have to execute.
You should have not went to the game, you should have known better that Gophers are going to lose since Minnesota sports usually choke which is unfortunate but sadly true
That's overly harsh but there is evidence to support this program's medioce NCAA closure rate.
People can argue what would’ve been (turtle strategy paid off!) if they pulled out the win but they didn’t and this team isn’t built to play that style. Up a goal you can probably afford to take more risks if anything and instead they played and probably were coached not to lose and it literally caused said result. Q had some decent chances aside from their goals but this is a sport where a puck can just take a weird bounce or get through a screen even with enough bad attempts. I really wish the skilled players of this team tried to make a play rather than just repeatedly throwing the puck off the glass/into the corner, Q is plenty skilled in their own right but it just feels like the team beat themselves on some level. If you form a roster that isn’t at all like Mankato’s then it doesn’t really make sense to try and just copy their style and hope it works. Playing the trap is one thing, even attacking oriented teams do that successfully. Constantly throwing the puck around was the problem.
I know I said that this was a great season no matter what happened yesterday and I still believe that but it’s also hard to ignore what we watched in the biggest game of the year.
This was my 6th Frozen Four championship game and the 6th time the team I was rooting for lost (2nd Gophers loss).
Is that reason to stop going to the games?
In fact, now that I think about it, between Gopher men's hockey, the Twins, and Vikings, I've gone to about 15 postseason games, and Thursday was the first time I saw a win!
The Gopher women's titles in 2012, 13, and 15 are really the only bright spots I've got, and yet for some reason I keep going.
As much as I'd like to vent about a few things, I'm gonna leave it at this...
Thanks Gophers for a fun season. Probably the most fun I've had with a Gopher hockey season in quite a while.
People can argue what would’ve been (turtle strategy paid off!) if they pulled out the win but they didn’t and this team isn’t built to play that style. Up a goal you can probably afford to take more risks if anything and instead they played and probably were coached not to lose and it literally caused said result. Q had some decent chances aside from their goals but this is a sport where a puck can just take a weird bounce or get through a screen even with enough bad attempts. I really wish the skilled players of this team tried to make a play rather than just repeatedly throwing the puck off the glass/into the corner, Q is plenty skilled in their own right but it just feels like the team beat themselves on some level. If you form a roster that isn’t at all like Mankato’s then it doesn’t really make sense to try and just copy their style and hope it works. Playing the trap is one thing, even attacking oriented teams do that successfully. Constantly throwing the puck around was the problem.
I would agree that this team IS very able to play a defensive game and did it well for half the game. We just got too passive in the third. 2 SOG in the third is not gonna win you many games.
Didn’t Herbie beat the Russians by running the puck down their throat? Offense is your best defense? I won’t say that you go full fire wagon hockey but make offense more of your plan to win that nothing but defense.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
It was clear midway through the 2nd that we were not going to send any forecheckers or hold the blue line in the O zone. Motzko thought that gave us the best opportunity to win the game. The team was committed to the strategy and held them off as best as they could until the final minutes. I hated every minute of it. That was a special team, too bad it ended the way it did, but what a fun season!
Defensive is one thing, I’m not advocating that they should’ve done a five man engage 8 blitz forecheck. But they needed to try and make plays when they had the puck rather than just throwing it away repeatedly in hopes that the opposition just spontaneously self combusted and gave them the win. That was the part that was uncharacteristic.People can argue what would’ve been (turtle strategy paid off!) if they pulled out the win but they didn’t and this team isn’t built to play that style. Up a goal you can probably afford to take more risks if anything and instead they played and probably were coached not to lose and it literally caused said result. Q had some decent chances aside from their goals but this is a sport where a puck can just take a weird bounce or get through a screen even with enough bad attempts. I really wish the skilled players of this team tried to make a play rather than just repeatedly throwing the puck off the glass/into the corner, Q is plenty skilled in their own right but it just feels like the team beat themselves on some level. If you form a roster that isn’t at all like Mankato’s then it doesn’t really make sense to try and just copy their style and hope it works. Playing the trap is one thing, even attacking oriented teams do that successfully. Constantly throwing the puck around was the problem.
I would agree that this team IS very able to play a defensive game and did it well for half the game. We just got too passive in the third. 2 SOG in the third is not gonna win you many games.
When North Dakota won it in 2016 against the same program (not the same team obviously and other variables etc.) did they just completely take their foot off the gas like we saw yesterday? I can’t say I watched that game closely but I don’t think that’s how they played it.
no. He beat the Russians with defense and counter attacks. And a goalie that stole the gameDidn’t Herbie beat the Russians by running the puck down their throat? Offense is your best defense? I won’t say that you go full fire wagon hockey but make offense more of your plan to win that nothing but defense.
Defensive is one thing, I’m not advocating that they should’ve done a five man engage 8 blitz forecheck. But they needed to try and make plays when they had the puck rather than just throwing it away repeatedly in hopes that the opposition just spontaneously self combusted and gave them the win. That was the part that was uncharacteristic.People can argue what would’ve been (turtle strategy paid off!) if they pulled out the win but they didn’t and this team isn’t built to play that style. Up a goal you can probably afford to take more risks if anything and instead they played and probably were coached not to lose and it literally caused said result. Q had some decent chances aside from their goals but this is a sport where a puck can just take a weird bounce or get through a screen even with enough bad attempts. I really wish the skilled players of this team tried to make a play rather than just repeatedly throwing the puck off the glass/into the corner, Q is plenty skilled in their own right but it just feels like the team beat themselves on some level. If you form a roster that isn’t at all like Mankato’s then it doesn’t really make sense to try and just copy their style and hope it works. Playing the trap is one thing, even attacking oriented teams do that successfully. Constantly throwing the puck around was the problem.
I would agree that this team IS very able to play a defensive game and did it well for half the game. We just got too passive in the third. 2 SOG in the third is not gonna win you many games.
When North Dakota won it in 2016 against the same program (not the same team obviously and other variables etc.) did they just completely take their foot off the gas like we saw yesterday? I can’t say I watched that game closely but I don’t think that’s how they played it.
Thats what I said, they got too passive
Since the 2023 season thread is locked I better get my thoughts out here since this one is apt to be shut down soon too. It’s disappointing to see everyone bickering so much…..really wish @Jupiter would turn off registration before tourney time.
I’ve had the night to toss and turn and have nightmares about last night’s game.
We were playing our game in the first. Going up 2-0 I wasn’t confident yet but felt better that if we kept playing our game we’d get though the game on top.
After that we clammed up. Faber looked jittery and I think the others followed suit. We all knew the style of play Q was going to bring and we decided to play along and not stick to what we do best. While I do not blame the refs entirely, as we often like to say, it’s not their job to create parity in the game, and by unfairly giving the other team the opportunity for a 6-4 advantage in the waning minutes that’s exactly what they did.
I was surprised not to see the first line out in OT, I’ve said for weeks that would be the difference in OT but I guess my crystal ball is broken.
No one person lost this game. The leadership, captains, and all the moving parts played a factor in the decisions and execution that ended in the final result.
This was an absolutely heartbreaking loss and it’s going to hurt not just the players, but some of us fans who live and die by this team, for a long time. At least until we get to hoist that trophy ourselves.
My life revolves around Gopher Hockey, and for that I do not apologize. I know a few others here resemble that.
My best friends and best memories in my life are because of Gopher Hockey, and I hope that continues for decades to come.
I really thought this was our year, and if wishing for it to come true was enough believe me, that trophy would be in Dinkytown right now.
What an amazing season. Beyond fun. So many once in a lifetime players and such amazing chemistry. Sad to see this broken up but life never stops changing. A lot of tears were shed last night but I will forever be thankful to have been a part of this ride, and to have watched my team play hockey on the very last day of the season.
I really hope the guys that return use this as motivation to bring us home a natty in THE state of hockey. The work for that begins right now.
I know I’m not really saying much that hasn’t been said already, but that’s my 10 cents.
Thankyou to the seniors, and any of the guys who will not be wearing the M this fall. We appreciate the ride you took us on and for helping get Mariucci back to loud and proud.
Here’s to reloading this off-season, I cannot wait for puck drop this fall.
No matter what I will forever bleed maroon and gold.
Go Gophers!
What a tough loss. I can't imagine how hard it was for Huglen and Pitlick to do that press conference.
I was shocked with how the game played out and feel terrible for the team.
Thia was the best team, top to bottom that I can remember. I am hopeful for next year but this team was special.
Go Gophers!
Did anyone see Shelley Motzko at the game yesterday? I'm wondering why ESPN was showing Q's head coach's wife every 3 seconds but not Shelley?
Did anyone see Shelley Motzko at the game yesterday? I'm wondering why ESPN was showing Q's head coach's wife every 3 seconds but not Shelley?
the entire broadcast both in the building and on air was a whole lot of Q
Emotions will subside, but fans at home need to understand how traumatic this loss was to witness in person. It was on the level of the Harvard loss to watch that gut wrenching final goal 10 seconds into overtime.
I'll go to my grave believing that the late call on Cooley decided the outcome.
The same distraught faces of Gopher fans emerged from the arena on Saturday as they did on Thursday for Michigan fans. Q mowed under 3 Big10 teams on their way to a title so it twanst a fluke.
I've seen two national title wins and three times now have watched the team spit shine the trophy for first-time NCAA winners Harvard, Union, and now Q.
Not sure if this has been posted in this thread, so I apologize if it has. I tried to go back a couple of pages to look.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Not sure if this has been posted in this thread, so I apologize if it has. I tried to go back a couple of pages to look.
It got dusty in here. Again. ?
Emotions will subside, but fans at home need to understand how traumatic this loss was to witness in person. It was on the level of the Harvard loss to watch that gut wrenching final goal 10 seconds into overtime.
I'll go to my grave believing that the late call on Cooley decided the outcome.
The same distraught faces of Gopher fans emerged from the arena on Saturday as they did on Thursday for Michigan fans. Q mowed under 3 Big10 teams on their way to a title so it twanst a fluke.
I've seen two national title wins and three times now have watched the team spit shine the trophy for first-time NCAA winners Harvard, Union, and now Q.
it was absolutely brutal. I was in the Q hotel, was seated next to their family section, and after that game, left the hotel around 5 this morning and rand and the boys were still partying in the hotel lobby.
Tampa is becoming a place with brutal memories
Emotions will subside, but fans at home need to understand how traumatic this loss was to witness in person. It was on the level of the Harvard loss to watch that gut wrenching final goal 10 seconds into overtime.
I'll go to my grave believing that the late call on Cooley decided the outcome.
The same distraught faces of Gopher fans emerged from the arena on Saturday as they did on Thursday for Michigan fans. Q mowed under 3 Big10 teams on their way to a title so it twanst a fluke.
I've seen two national title wins and three times now have watched the team spit shine the trophy for first-time NCAA winners Harvard, Union, and now Q.
It was terrible. My wife and I will never forget yesterday, it was gut wrenching.
On a lighter note one memory I’ll always have is my buddy getting frustrated with not being able to get a beer from the bar, so he went to U liquors quick and brought some back/poured it in the pitcher ?. The overall energy at Stubs was on another level too. Also getting to see friends I don’t get to see that often, I have some positive things to take away from it at least.
The locker room after the game was bleak. I just feel so bad for the team, deserved better than going out that way.
It ain’t on you don’t take it personally.Went for a walk alone in the dark with a beer in hand after that one.
I appreciate those words. I get the sense that I'm a younger GPLer. I was just a toddler during the back to back years. So even though I was glued to the tv, I have no memory of those championships. I've already matured enough to the point where the Wild/Twins/Vikes playoff results don't really emotionally affect me.
But Gopher hockey I think will always be a bit different from any other sport/team. My first Gopher memory is the 2007 WCHA championship game. For obvious reasons, that game got me hooked for life. This season exuberates everything I love about Gopher hockey. Whatever sadness I felt about the loss, has already started to fade.
Still this season will always sting a little bit more than usual. I attended and graduated from the U. During my last semester, I happened to have an astronomy class with Brock Faber. Him and I sat next to each other. We would occasionally talk before he stopped coming to class after like the first 3 weeks. LOL
It ain’t on you don’t take it personally.Went for a walk alone in the dark with a beer in hand after that one.
I appreciate those words. I get the sense that I'm a younger GPLer. I was just a toddler during the back to back years. So even though I was glued to the tv, I have no memory of those championships. I've already matured enough to the point where the Wild/Twins/Vikes playoff results don't really emotionally affect me.
But Gopher hockey I think will always be a bit different from any other sport/team. My first Gopher memory is the 2007 WCHA championship game. For obvious reasons, that game got me hooked for life. This season exuberates everything I love about Gopher hockey. Whatever sadness I felt about the loss, has already started to fade.
Still this season will always sting a little bit more than usual. I attended and graduated from the U. During my last semester, I happened to have an astronomy class with Brock Faber. Him and I sat next to each other. We would occasionally talk before he stopped coming to class after like the first 3 weeks. LOL
After the loss to Harvard in '89, I couldn't sleep and found myself raking the lawn at 2:30 in the morning?
I enjoy most Minnesota sports, but Gopher hockey has always been special for me. I'm with them through thick and thin, alternately defending or irrationally criticizing them. It's not unlike a relationship with that one family member who you love and adore but who at times also drives you crazy.
Gopher hockey hurts the most cause it’s the one sport in town I expect to do well. When the Wild and Twins bow out in the first round I’m like oh well coulda seen that coming. With Gopher hockey I actually raise my expectations to the point where a game like this REALLY hurts.
I am pretty tired of all of the criticism of Motzko and the claim that the Gophers went into a "shell". That claim is false. I was at the game and the Gophers tried lots of longer stretch passes through out the game. That is not conservative shell. QUinnipiac forced them to dump the puck because they were stacking the blue line so even the top line could not penetrate it.
The real problem was when they had they took the 2-0 lead the younger players became very tentative, with Ryan Chesley icing the puck when he had reasonable open ice as an example. This was coupled with the Bobcats reaching the point of having nothing to lose. They stormed the net and one of Justen Close's biggest weakness is the physical play in the crease. I think he misplayed the first Quinnipiac and the second goal was just shoved in from between his pads.
I seriously question the penalty call on Cooley. I am not saying that he did not commit a penalty and some people keep arguing that he should have just "let it go". But the fact is, he was called for high sticking an opponent who was holding his stick. That is a coincidental minor or no-call at that stage of the game so the refs screwed us again giving the opponent the perfect opportunity to tie the game.
I am pretty tired of all of the criticism of Motzko and the claim that the Gophers went into a "shell". That claim is false. I was at the game and the Gophers tried lots of longer stretch passes through out the game. That is not conservative shell.
The real problem was when they had they took the 2-0 lead the younger players became very tentative, with Ryan Chesley icing the puck when he had reasonable open ice. This was coupled with the Bobcats reaching the point of having nothing to lose. They stormed the net and one of Justen Close's biggest weakness is the physical play in the crease. I think he misplayed the first Quinnipiac and the second goal was just shoved in from between his pads.
I seriously question the penalty call on Cooley. I am not saying that he did not commit a penalty and some people keep arguing that he should have just "let it go". But the fact is, he was called for high sticking an opponent who was holding his stick. That is a coincidental minor or no-call at that stage of the game so the refs screwed us again giving the opponent the perfect opportunity to tie the game.
The Cooley line tried offense, but they weren't too successful. When that line is forced to defend the Q swarmed the Gophers zone. The Cooley line honestly struggled in their end.
I do think that for half the second period and for the entire 3rd the Gophers were definitely trapping. More than once there were four white jerseys falling back through the neutral zone, an uncommon sight indeed.
The blue bloods won't follow that recipe because they get the best players in the country wanting to play for their schools. Good grief, this is so obvious I feel dumber for writing it. The other schools load up on older players because that's how they can get a competitive team.
I already said ad much - go back and read what I wrote. More to my pount I already demonstrated several prevuous titles were won by teams with ages similar to that of this year's Gophers team and the Gophers weren't out-muscled last night. This insipid argument can go to bed.
The players deserve some criticism in this game. I know, it’s easy to blame the coach than the 20 players out there on the ice. All we know is that Motzko changed the neutral zone setup in the second to not allow a clean transition for Q. That move alone does not put them in a defensive shell.
Snuggy had the game on his stick in the 3rd with that 2 on 1 chance. He should’ve buried that and missed badly. This team missed the net far to many times this year.
This team had the players and fortitude to get it done against the style like Q. They didn’t. But let’s stop conveniently blaming the coach. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make ‘em drink.
Even if you think Bob’s strategy wasn’t at all to blame you’d have to acknowledge that 20 guys all simultaneously choking is kind of an indictment of the coaching as well. One team played scared and the other didn’t, saying the coaches bare no responsibility for that is a bit off imo.
When you have skilled players repeatedly icing the puck and throwing it off the glass it’s kinda tough to imagine that they weren’t on some level instructed to do these things. Obviously I’m not on the bench so there’s some blank filling involved here but I don’t think Q is vastly better than Michigan and the gophers played them fairly evenly all year and even bested them over the course of 5 games. If they played Q in the reg season I can almost guarantee they don’t play like they did for 30 mins yesterday and manage the risk a bit more appropriately.
Obviously this isn’t an all or nothing argument where you need to take a side, there’s some of both involved here imo. But I do think it was a bit of a coaching blunder to get outplayed that badly by a team that wasn’t vastly more talented or bigger etc.
edit: also hopefully that ^^ doesn’t come off as too harsh but that game was extremely frustrating to watch and I don’t think it’s undeserved
It was most definitely a coaching decision starting about midway through the 2nd period not to send more than one forechecker and to not have the defense hold the blue line. The whole game plan from that point on was to fall back and try to protect the lead. It almost worked, but unfortunately we all know how it ended.
Also apples and oranges and all because the rosters obviously weren’t the same but North Dakota didn’t just sit on a lead and throw the puck around in 2016 against this same coach/system. They managed to get over 30 shots on net. And I don’t think that’s because they’re a vastly better coached team or iced a significantly more talented roster (maybe Q was just that much less talented back then but I kinda doubt it). I just think Motzko kinda overthought this one a bit maybe.
Also apples and oranges and all because the rosters obviously weren’t the same but North Dakota didn’t just sit on a lead and throw the puck around in 2016 against this same coach/system. They managed to get over 30 shots on net. And I don’t think that’s because they’re a vastly better coached team or iced a significantly more talented roster (maybe Q was just that much less talented back then but I kinda doubt it). I just think Motzko kinda overthought this one a bit maybe.
There's more than one reason they blew it, but blow it they did.
The more I think about this game the more I think their wounds were self inflicted. Coaching, play style, defensemen laying back, goal tending...I mean, they weren't even ready for overtime. 10 seconds?!
Then you have the terrible penalty call.
I'm in the anger stage of my grief. ?
I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
Bob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
Motzko deserves to be questioned and even criticized for deciding to go with a much more passive system. But it was clear from the start that that was his plan. It was the players that went from playing the system perfectly in the 1st period to looking like they were afraid to even touch the puck in the 3rd. I guess you can argue that maybe Motzko helped create that fear on the bench? But I don't know how you would ever substantiate that idea?
Bob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
Motzko deserves to be questioned and even criticized for deciding to go with a much more passive system. But it was clear from the start that that was his plan. It was the players that went from playing the system perfectly in the 1st period to looking like they were afraid to even touch the puck in the 3rd. I guess you can argue that maybe Motzko helped create that fear on the bench? But I don't know how you would ever substantiate that idea?
Sports is a results oriented business for those collecting paychecks. Motzko is at the top of that list. He hasn't had a lot of success in the tournament and that will dog him until he wins the big one.
I mentioned earlier I'm in the anger stage of my grief, so take this with a grain of salt, but I thought the Cooley line wasn't good in Tampa and that unfortunately set the tone.
They got off the schnide with a couple goals by #20 on Thursday, but they needed Cooleys line to do something last night. Instead, they got a goal from a fourth liner and one from a defensive center. That's it. Those are gifts, and under ordinary circumstances are unexpected plus goals that add up to a victory.
I don’t know for sure what’s being said on the bench in the third but my guess is get pucks deep and move the puck quickly, simplify your game, that type of stuff. With the overall gameplan and what we saw it just seems like the gameplan generally speaking was to avoid risk/mistakes so I’m just assuming the comms at the time reflected that. Unless you know someone on the bench there’s no way to know for certain. I’m not sure it matters nearly as much as the passive gameplan/risk management which I think we agree was flawed. I honestly would’ve rather seen Cooley, Knies or LaCombe try something even if it didn’t work. It just felt like cards were left on the table, I think that’s what bothers me about that game more than anything.Bob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
Motzko deserves to be questioned and even criticized for deciding to go with a much more passive system. But it was clear from the start that that was his plan. It was the players that went from playing the system perfectly in the 1st period to looking like they were afraid to even touch the puck in the 3rd. I guess you can argue that maybe Motzko helped create that fear on the bench? But I don't know how you would ever substantiate that idea?
But I agree that players visibly panicked too, certainly not denying that. How much blame the coach deserves for that is debatable I guess.
Bob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
He changed their neutral zone play in the middle of the second period to play more conservatively. That’s panicking, and it bled down to the team.
I hear ya. After last night Motzko is absolutely going to have to wear the "can't win the big one" title until he does.Bob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
Motzko deserves to be questioned and even criticized for deciding to go with a much more passive system. But it was clear from the start that that was his plan. It was the players that went from playing the system perfectly in the 1st period to looking like they were afraid to even touch the puck in the 3rd. I guess you can argue that maybe Motzko helped create that fear on the bench? But I don't know how you would ever substantiate that idea?
Sports is a results oriented business for those collecting paychecks. Motzko is at the top of that list. He hasn't had a lot of success in the tournament and that will dog him until he wins the big one.
I mentioned earlier I'm in the anger stage of my grief, so take this with a grain of salt, but I thought the Cooley line wasn't good in Tampa and that unfortunately set the tone.
They got off the schnide with a couple goals by #20 on Thursday, but they needed Cooleys line to do something last night. Instead, they got a goal from a fourth liner and one from a defensive center. That's it. Those are gifts, and under ordinary circumstances are unexpected plus goals that add up to a victory.
IMO- Cooley was good both nights. Knies was bad both nights. Snuggerud was good thursday with zero puck luck, and not very good last night. If 81 cashes in on a 10 foot tap-in last night everything changes.
He didn't change anything about their neutral zone play all night. He or they changed how hard they forechecked the offensive zone and how willing the defensemen were to trying to hold the offensive zone, but the dzone and neutral zone didn't change at allBob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
He changed their neutral zone play in the middle of the second period to play more conservatively. That’s panicking, and it bled down to the team.
The game is done. Just saying. Move on.
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 saw some images after the game that the Q game tying goal may have been offside… was there any discussion of that, or of challenging the play? Was watching live obviously and never saw a replay
The game is done. Just saying. Move on.
I literally started watching this on the plane tonight then changed my mind and watched John Wick instead. After watching Violent Night. I watched The Menu on the way down. Apparently John Leguizamo gets around a lot. ?
John L is great. He was in 1983's "Scarface" with Pacino and Viggo Mortensen, also. 😀
The Menu is awesome, and Violent Night is off the rails.
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.
Just watched the Post Game press conference. For those of you that think Bob threw Close under the bus.....you are NUTS
1 - I don't think Bob is the type of person to throw any player under the bus
2 - He could of been talking about many other things. A bad penalty call, a missed opportunity to clear the puck etc. etc.
The game has been dissected a hundred different ways since Saturday and I would agree and disagree with many of the views. It is disappointing that what we saw was the best gameplan even though there were almost two weeks to come up with a game plan. My comment the night of the game "Steve Miller is a Commodore 64" is in regards to tBob referring to him as a computer. If he locked himself up and this was his best game plan, maybe he should have just stayed in the hotel.
The lack of offense, the defense staying behind the blue line, and the incessant icing and dump and lose pucks made for the worst game all year. Yes yes yes...tip the hat to Q for how they played but was it how well they played or was it how poorly we played. Stop the Mankato comparisons as well, Mankato does NOT stack the blue line like Q did all...game...long. Trust me, I've seen more Maverick hockey than any other person on this message board in the last eight years. Do they use it, when they need to yes but it is more situational than systemic.
I didn't enjoy the game and it wasn't only for the outcome. I think the style of play that Q plays is just not fun to watch. I've enjoyed watching the Gophers play their game throughout the playoffs but they abandoned that completely which is one of the many reasons why they lost.
It has been an amazing year for Gopher hockey and I will miss the players that have signed and those yet to have signed. That said I can't wait for next year and what tBob will do with this core of a team along with the new guys coming in. No excuses going forward getting back to the FF and the final game is the goal next year...nothing less. Go Gophers!
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
That is what I saw as well. I also thought that the changes in the offensive zone were of minimal effect since they were not in the zone for half the second period and the third. When Q turned up the pace and took chances I saw players back off and not match the intensity level afraid to make mistakes. It got them on their heels and lost races to loose pucks which ultimately limited their possession. I didn’t see as much of a failure to plan as a failure to execute in the second half.He didn't change anything about their neutral zone play all night. He or they changed how hard they forechecked the offensive zone and how willing the defensemen were to trying to hold the offensive zone, but the dzone and neutral zone didn't change at allBob didn't panic, the players did.I think Motzko deserves most of the criticism for this game for all the reasons stated above. Changing your style with 30 minutes left, seriously? Especially when we haven't practiced sitting on a lead all year. That is not the style the team ever plays, and they are not built to do it. Bob panicked, I don't think there is any question about it.
However, the players had plenty to do with this and deserve criticism also. The only time Cooley and Snuggerud showed up on the stat sheet was for taking penalties. One of them proved to be a dagger. We got destroyed in the faceoff dots. Faber was shaky all night and even iced the puck a few times. It bled throughout the lineup and the team seemed afraid to possess the puck and keep it on their stick in fear of making a bad turnover.
He changed their neutral zone play in the middle of the second period to play more conservatively. That’s panicking, and it bled down to the team.