Blaming Motzko after every lose is old and boring. It’s real bad on other social media sites. People have no clue and are unrealistic.
Keep your stick on the ice...
It’s a curse to be #1 right? Let’s just quietly fly under the radar and kick ass in the end. Happy holidays everyone!
I don't know why I do it, but I always look at the twitter comments after games and I always work myself up lol. People that never say anything when we win and only chime in when things go wrong to shit on the program that they are "fans" of. I hate it.
Gotta respectfully disagree with your take on this. Howard’s goal on an odd man rush resulted from the Gophers (specifically Hendrickson line) pressing hard to score 4th goal, they narrowly failed to connect, resulting in all 3 forwards getting caught deep & gassed, resulting in slow developing 3-2 Sparty rush, Howard made a great play holding the puck while his linemates drove the net, then made an absolute snipe.
I said this at the game. That was the start of State hammering Minnesota for 5 or six minutes. The Gophers were not smart at all on that play. They had a 3-1 lead and gave up an odd man rush. Can't do that.
They played so well defensively for 2 and a half periods and suddenly got careless playing offense instead of protecting a two-goal lead.
Also, thought that Souliere didn't make any saves to pick up his team like Augustine did several times. If there was a single reason State fleeced Minnesota this weekend, it was goaltending.
One more thing, with the goalie pulled Lamb was wide open in the slot but Kurth tried going goal mouth instead. Lamb is killer from that spot and I would like to see what would have happened if a pass was made.
The boys legs were dead halfway through the 3rd, it was obvious to see and not surprising. Disappointing that some bad decision making on some of those clearing attempts ended up costing them because they were close to pulling out a win despite being gassed. Not sure what was up with #2 this weekend, he struggled to even make a simple play. Strange. I do find the overreactions to a loss by a depleted team in December pretty comical.
Playing only three lines yesterday caught up with them in the third. MN lost its jump.
“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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They did. Failing to clear pucks seems easy but when you're gassed, it seems impossible to do sometimesPlaying only three lines yesterday caught up with them in the third. MN lost its jump.
I didn't see this one as anything like the 2023 NC. They looked physically and mentally fatigued, and the latter can be especially troublesome against a team as good as MSU that's desperate to get back into the game. People are reading way too much into this loss.
Short-handed team, and we still ALMOST swept. Just couldn't finish.....against the #3 in the country. I'll take it.I didn't see this one as anything like the 2023 NC. They looked physically and mentally fatigued, and the latter can be especially troublesome against a team as good as MSU that's desperate to get back into the game. People are reading way too much into this loss.
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.
Michigan State was very good. Isaac Howard a total difference maker. Great first half of the year for the Gophers.
They were out played and out hustled. It's ok to ice the puck instead of just continually trying to pass the puck out. The whole team looked tired.
So far it's been a great year, and if this team gets rested up and healthy they can beat anyone. They will just have to sweep Sparty next time.
Go Gophers!
Michigan State was very good. Isaac Howard a total difference maker. Great first half of the year for the Gophers.
Augustine makes them better than they appear. If that was Michigan State’s best shot against a depleted Gophers team, I’ll take the Gophers everyday of the week.
Michigan State was very good. Isaac Howard a total difference maker. Great first half of the year for the Gophers.
Augustine makes them better than they appear. If that was Michigan State’s best shot against a depleted Gophers team, I’ll take the Gophers everyday of the week.
Hunny P as the kids say these days. 😉
Augustine is sick. So sick.
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’m not buying that everyone on the team got tired with 10 minutes left. You could feel them let down thinking they had a win with a 2 goal lead. Once that happens you can’t just flip the switch and turn the intensity back on. It’s called the most dangerous lead in hockey for a reason. This game needs to be in the back of their minds for the remainder of the season..
It’s amazing how quick Huglen can get off that wrist shot.
Really good weekend for Whipple, good to see the rapid improvement.
You aren't buying that a team that was shorthanded might have been worn out? Interesting...
How many times have seen an NHL team look depleted the 2nd night of a back-to-back, but it can't happen to a college team?
There was an actual fight in the student section last night. A group of 6 students wearing Sparty gear and a bunch of Gopher students were going back and forth all game long. Not friendly stuff, really loud and NSFW stuff. It started before the game and I told my wife this isn't going to end well. Sure enough, after the Gophers scored a goal, punches and beer cans were flying. One kid went backwards over the seats about 2 rows. During the fight, a bunch of us tried to wave down the ushers and nothing. Finally someone from the band got help. Security and the U Police did nothing when they came down there except to say we are watching... Both parties should have been thrown out. What a joke. They were disrupting the whole game, and there were little kids in ear shot hearing every thing. Security has no problem throwing a kid out for booze before, but did nothing during this. What a joke.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
The boys legs were dead halfway through the 3rd, it was obvious to see and not surprising. Disappointing that some bad decision making on some of those clearing attempts ended up costing them because they were close to pulling out a win despite being gassed. Not sure what was up with #2 this weekend, he struggled to even make a simple play. Strange. I do find the overreactions to a loss by a depleted team in December pretty comical.
This. Was I shocked to see their legs fall off in the third? No. But there were plays they could’ve made to alleviate pressure that they failed to make.
Was the 3 goal implosion acceptable? No but I can at least understand why it happened. I GUARANTEE they don’t lose that game with a full lineup. Guarantee. With a full lineup we’re probably looking at a win and a tie or just a full out sweep.
All three of these sentences are accurate. It could be worse, you could be Sandy knowing he botched handling Isaac Howard and watching him thrive while his team sits at 5-10. Michigan State is for real, Augustine is a GREAT goalie, Stramel is having a nice bounce back season (encouraging for Wild fans) Gavin O’Connell must be injured as he didn’t play last night & the Gophers have opened 15-3-2…this loss sucks but it’s still December & one to learn from for when things really count when March & April roll around.Michigan State was very good. Isaac Howard a total difference maker. Great first half of the year for the Gophers.
I really felt rinzel both nights and chesley Saturday were really off their games and I think Luke mittlestad has more offense in his game that I think will see here in the second half plus pahlsson will make us much stronger up the middle I hope
plus I thought Bob mentioned that last week some flu was going through the locker room, including himself. Injures, illness, shortened cobbled together lines…I’m not surprised that by Saturday they looked beat. Rest up and come back strong the second half. It was one bad weekend.I’m not buying that everyone on the team got tired with 10 minutes left. You could feel them let down thinking they had a win with a 2 goal lead. Once that happens you can’t just flip the switch and turn the intensity back on. It’s called the most dangerous lead in hockey for a reason. This game needs to be in the back of their minds for the remainder of the season..
It’s amazing how quick Huglen can get off that wrist shot.
Really good weekend for Whipple, good to see the rapid improvement.
You aren't buying that a team that was shorthanded might have been worn out? Interesting...
Note: Due to inflation dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.
Minnesota is for real. Michigan State is for real. Augustine was great the whole weekend --- covered up a lot of off odd man chances the Gophers had. But farbeit from the Gophers to ever score on a breakaway whoever the goalie is.
Team had to be gassed light night, not just from Friday but also last weekend --- very intense, emotional series with Michigan. Still gotta get the W on Saturday night, when you're that close against a good team at home.
Think Ziemer is dinged up a little as well, left the ice a couple times last weekend and this weekend, seems to be something with his right(?) side.
Break and rest is good. Get healed and start building for the second half.
I look forward to the next series as it’s near impossible to imagine the gophers being less healthy than they are now. A split in their barn would be perfectly acceptable but this team damn near swept with not even three full lines for the first game (which undoubtedly affected their stamina in game 2) and a partial lineup for game 2. You also had one guy in particular who was clearly off his game and normally is an above average top 6 player. It should be a good series where the gophers fare better.
Losing that game in the manner that they did can be more beneficial to the team than had they won.
- It seemed MN got a little lazy with line changes in the third, long shifts in particular, and that came back to haunt them
- Ziemer has a wicked fast release on his shot
- If I’m Bob I put the video of this game away until February then show the team the third period as a reminder of how forgetting the little things against a good team - and MSU is a damn good team - can lead things spiraling out of control in a hurry.
- The most impressive thing about Augustine is his anticipation. I suspect he spent a lot of time studying MN’s forecheck and their propensity to look for a pass or perfect play because he was always in the right position
- Results aside it was a hell of a weekend of college hockey
“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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Talking with some of the gang last night, the consensus is that we feel sorry for Mercyhurst. They're the worst team in D1 this season, and next up for the Gophers who will definitely want to get a good start to the second half of the season after this weekend.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
I don’t think the team just got tired at the 10 min mark of the 3rd, I thought they were tired the whole game. It was very sloppy play by almost everyone with difference in jump from what we are used to seeing. Almost got lucky to get away with it. Doesn’t change how good this team has played up until now and they’re still one of the best teams in the country.
On the second goal that Michigan St scored, it was a 3 on 2. The first guy into the zone drive towards Chesley to create space. They’re never going to call it, but he definitely interferes with Chesley to spin him around and not let him attack the shooter. Savvy play by them and it really turned the tide of the game.
btw just a small nitpick, but I don't like them wearing the maroon at home.
That is all.
btw just a small nitpick, but I don't like them wearing the maroon at home.
That is all.
Nor do I. Might’ve had something to do with State bringing their whites on the road. Maybe they only brought their whites.
I don’t think the team just got tired at the 10 min mark of the 3rd, I thought they were tired the whole game. It was very sloppy play by almost everyone with difference in jump from what we are used to seeing. Almost got lucky to get away with it. Doesn’t change how good this team has played up until now and they’re still one of the best teams in the country.
On the second goal that Michigan St scored, it was a 3 on 2. The first guy into the zone drive towards Chesley to create space. They’re never going to call it, but he definitely interferes with Chesley to spin him around and not let him attack the shooter. Savvy play by them and it really turned the tide of the game.
Did they get tired because they got sloppy or did they get sloppy because they got tired? Kind of a chicken or the egg thing. Either way it snowballed there in the last ten minutes. It’s a shame, I thought they played their asses off all weekend. I really thought they were gonna hunker down and gut it out after Lamb’s goal to open the third.
Oh and Miller’s penalty kill which is supposed to be God’s gift to hockey needs a major overhaul in the second half.
Idk if it’s a personnel problem (I know Thomas and Nevers are pk guys for sure) but it needs to be figured out.
There was an actual fight in the student section last night. A group of 6 students wearing Sparty gear and a bunch of Gopher students were going back and forth all game long. Not friendly stuff, really loud and NSFW stuff. It started before the game and I told my wife this isn't going to end well. Sure enough, after the Gophers scored a goal, punches and beer cans were flying. One kid went backwards over the seats about 2 rows. During the fight, a bunch of us tried to wave down the ushers and nothing. Finally someone from the band got help. Security and the U Police did nothing when they came down there except to say we are watching... Both parties should have been thrown out. What a joke. They were disrupting the whole game, and there were little kids in ear shot hearing every thing. Security has no problem throwing a kid out for booze before, but did nothing during this. What a joke.
yep, I was about 10 rows below it with my daughter and her friends in that section. When you’re chirping in the home student section for the other team I ask myself what part of this isn’t gonna be trouble? In this situation they seemed to be looking for trouble and they got it. I was also surprised and a little confused why there wasn’t a more aggressive response. There’s certain people that can give and take and be good sports in that situation. That wasn’t the case here.
The toe save Augustine made looked like he pulled a groin. It hurt mine just watching it. He was obviously fine afterwards though, huge save by him unfortunately.
At the 3-2 point in the game state seemed to find another gear. Their intensity was overwhelming winning every loose puck race and it seemed to me it mentally took a toll on a tired short benched team on day 2. I was proud of our effort overall under the circumstances. This will build more confidence for Michigan state moving forward, that scares me somewhat.
At the 3-2 point in the game state seemed to find another gear. Their intensity was overwhelming winning every loose puck race and it seemed to me it mentally took a toll on a tired short benched team on day 2. I was proud of our effort overall under the circumstances. This will build more confidence for Michigan state moving forward, that scares me somewhat.
Michigan State was gifted a tie and win (and 5 conference points) by the sheer luck of being scheduled to play the Gophers late in the first half of the season when the Gophers were significantly handicapped by injuries and missing players. Had this game been in October we sweep them at home, just like we will sweep them in East Lansing in January. Minnesota is significantly more talented than MSU and that will become apparent in the second half of the season.
btw just a small nitpick, but I don't like them wearing the maroon at home.
That is all.
Nor do I. Might’ve had something to do with State bringing their whites on the road. Maybe they only brought their whites.
This is on Minnesota. They requested that MSU bring their whites only since they were going to wear the Taconite. No reason to make them bring both road and home jerseys. So MN had the option for both Taconite and Maroon.
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Top five loss! (This year) Were they tired? I'm sure they were. But I also feel like they went into a shell after it went to 3-2, not matching MSU intensity. They seemed content to just clear the puck, like they were more worried about making a mistake than playing the same game that got them to that point. Playing to preserve a lead often turns into playing to not win. Yeah, things are worse when you've been skating short all weekend. But once MSU took the lead, MN was able to still find the energy to create chances. Just too late. Hopefully this will give them a lesson to remember at the end of the year.
As for people saying that MN is clearly the better team, I agree, when it comes to the skaters. MSU seemed to mainly get offensive pressure from the Howard line. Not sure the rest of their lines can match the talent of the Gopher lines. But a goalie is a kind of important part of a team. While I have no problem with the way the Gopher goalies have played, Augustine makes MSU a better team. Period. So I am not sure MN is as clearly a better team as some think, when you factor him in.
That being said, I want to see MN win the rest of them against MSU this year.
@koho How the game ended going into the break, the players won’t forget it any time soon. That should prove beneficial for the 2nd half. When healthy this team is really DEEP, that’s it’s strength. Not as top end talented as the 2023 team, but potentially very formidable in the post season. Ziemer has really looked good, especially for a freshmen. Snuggy needs to get it going in the 2nd half & be more dominant at burying pucks in clutch situations. Rinzel is very talented. Airey has played well. Teams like Denver & little bro to the North, when they got on runs & won titles didn’t worry too much about losing some games through end of January, it’s more critical what a team builds for (to peak) in March/April.