As the Gophers men's hockey team prepares for its final four games of the men's hockey season, coach Don Lucia says he might have to tinker with his goaltending this weekend.
"Everything's being evaluated right now," he said. "Whether we split our goalies this week, that's not a decision that's been made. Have we talked about it as a staff? Sure we have."
Sophomore Alex Kangas has started all 30 of Minnesota's games as the Gophers have gone 13-11-6, including 10-10-4 in the WCHA going into a weekend home series against Minnesota-Duluth.
After earning the team's designation as most valuable player last season with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, Kangas this season has a 2.94 GAA and a .895 save percentage. The numbers have been even worse as the Gophers have gone 6-11-2 in their past 19 games: 3.63 and .869.
The option is backup goaltender Kent Patterson, a 19-year-old freshman from Plymouth who spent two seasons with Cedar Rapids of the U.S. Hockey League and recorded a 2.75 GAA and a .913 save percentage. Patterson has played only four games for the Gophers and has stats of 2.09 and .933.
Would Kangas benefit from sitting out a game?
(read the whole article)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lucia might start Patterson.
Check out the Story here. Lucia must be feeling the heat? I think Kangas is the least of the Gophers problems. If I was a Gopher fan I would be more concerned with their porous defense that has left their goaltending out to dry numerous times and the Gophers are starting to pay for this. I don't see Patterson making much of a difference.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I don't think that Patterson is going to be the answer, but it might not hurt to give Kangas a rest. It looks like the Gophers are going to need ride him hard if they have any chance at making the NCAA's.
ReplyDeleteIMO Kangas is still the same goalie, he's just worn out, and has lost not only confidence in himself, but probably the confidence of those in front of him.