Swept by the Gophers. What could be worse.
Last night the Sioux played very well against the Gophers until there was only six minutes left in the game.
At that time the Sioux were ahead of the Gophers two to one on goals by Brock Nelson and Rocco Grimaldi.
At that time Nick Larson scored a goal and then the impressive Freshman Kyle Rau scored the game winner with less than a minute to go.
At first it looked to me that Rau's goal showed have been disallowed because of a handpass but going back on the DVR convinced me that the official made the right call.
That's not to say that the officials had a good game. They were wildly inconsistent both ways. I don't think the players know what's going to be called from one shift to the next.
At this point of the season the Sioux are tied for 10th in the WCHA with a singe victory. I'm sure the coaching staff is going to be working hard on a number of things.
By and large I've been happy with most of the effort by the Sioux. They've stayed in in nearly every game. Unfortunately this team seems to have a let down late in the third period. Last night it cost us the game, where in most of the other games we've lost we've just not been able to challenge the game late.
Last night was the first game that we were really outshot. Aaron Dell stopped 39 of 42 shots. In contrast Kent Paterson for the Gophers only stopped 17 of the 19 shots against him.
The other problem that the coaching staff is going to have to address is getting our scoring up. With the losses from last year we knew it would take some doing to get our scoring up, we lost five our or top six scorers. I've not looked it up, but it's pretty clear that those were Frattin, Malone, Trupp, Gregoire and Hexstal.
Getting Grimaldi in the lineup is going to help a lot. He's a dynamic player and his goal last night was a beaut. Aside from that I think we're going to have to get some players in close, too many of our shots are coming from the outside.
The season is just getting started and I still think we'll be a force in March and April, but we've got some growing to do.
Finally I want to commend the Gophers for getting their mojo back.
Showing posts with label Analysis - College hockey. UND Fighting Sioux vs UMN Golden Gophes.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Analysis - College hockey. UND Fighting Sioux vs UMN Golden Gophes.. Show all posts
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
More Matt Frattin goals...
This is an awesome video that is making it's way around the Internet right now. Like I said in another blog post; "Golden Gopher goalies, you can watch all of the film you want, it’s not going to make a difference, you're going to be in the butterfly and Matt Frattin is going to release his howitzer and all you're going to feel is the puck zinging by your ear as you wave at the puck. Then we will hear the horn and see the fireworks going off."
Sunday, January 09, 2011
NoDak vs. Minny pontifications (Redwing77)
Since my posts are so often misconstrued as being those of Goon's, I'll come right out and say that Goon didn't write this. He probably will wish he did though. I spell better than him. (:D)
Just the Facts Jack
The University of North Dakota enters this series on fire. They've had a great first half with only a few hiccups along the way. They're very highly ranked and busy living up to the preseason hype. Sophomore goaltender Aaron Dell has been a surprise and Matt Frattin has been on fire. Corbin Knight has emerged as the scorer that many had thought him capable of when UND got his committment out of the AJHL.
It has been discussed here, I believe, that cohesion is a big factor in UND's success. This team does play like a team. Everyone seems to know his place and his role and, though perfection isn't there (nor do I expect it will be), they work hard and try to get as close to it as possible.
The University of Minnesota enters this series after whalloping the U-18 team. They're operating barely above water as they are just one game over .500 overall. They're better on the road (they're sub-.500 at home). Coach Lucia has come out with having some emotional issues apparently, but whatever it takes to take the heat off of the most incompetent coach in DI hockey (John Hill), I guess tDon will do whatever it takes. Baffles me as to why though.
The Gophers play a finesse style of hockey that can be dangerous if they are able to execute their game plan without too much disruptions or mistakes on their part. Though it is true that they've had a lot more down seasons than most of us (even those of us who dislike the Gophers with a passion) can believe. Looking at their talent, one would wonder what in the world is going on in the Twin Cities that could make all that talent underperform. Again, I look to Hill.
My take Jake
You can argue that special teams and goaltending have been questionable for the Gophers as of late, but I don't think so. I still maintain that Kangas is a good goaltender who has been hung out to dry more often than would be acceptable to maintain sanity. There is no doubt as to why his numbers have declined or his performance deteriorated as of late. It sometimes seems as though Kangas has to steal the game in order for the Gophers to win. The result of this complex that Kangas has been put through, Kent Patterson, who has been abysmal vs. the Sioux, has wrested the starting role away from Kangas.
My take is thus: The Gophers will go nowhere without Team Defense. Their Team D the past few years has been nothing short of a punchline. You get physical on them and they fall apart and eventually fold in on themselves much like a flimsy Wal-Mart folding chair at fat camp.
Look, they're a lot more talented than they've shown on the ice. Only a moron would disagree with that. They just can't put it together. This is a function of leadership and personnel. And again, I return to Hill. I'm going to do a bit of assuming when I say that Hill has a large hand in recruiting (much like Hakstol did when Blais was coaching at UND). They seem to have the opinion that the best on the table is better than the best for the team. For example, UND jumped at Robbie Bina because of the way he played the game and what he brought in leadership. I don't see Minnesota recruiting this type of player because he's nowhere on the radar of any NHL teams nor does he have the hype etc. that players like Leddy, Ness, Fairchild, etc. had/have. Personnel wise, they just don't seem to hold much faith in role players and lunch pail type players.
I really feel that the Gophers don't have any Lamoreauxs, Martos, Davidsons, Genoways, Hextalls, Malones, Rowneys, or Rodwells. They only seek out players like Knight, Gregoire, Frattin, and Kristo. Sure, I love players like Kristo, Knight, Gregoire, and all. I loved having Parise, Panzer, Toews, Oshie, Bochenski, Stafford, and so on but they don't work if you don't have a full team behind you and a team concept.
What to expect
I expect a tightly checked game. I expect a lot of hits and a lot of penalties. I think the officials will switch off. Friday night, UND gets the benefit of the doubt. Saturday, the officiating is much more swung to the other side. I think that hits that were legal on Friday won't be legal on Saturday. I also feel like diving could make its appearance in the game.
Leading 2011 Robbie Earl Memorial Frozen Water Freestyle Diving Candidate Jacob Cepis is swiftly running away with the award after defending champion Garrett Roe seemingly hitting a regression in his diving abilities. Look for Cepis to firm up at least a berth as a finalist this weekend as he heads to Grand Forks.
Expect big hits, crying Gopher fans, complaining Sioux fans (regarding what is sure to be a plethora of missed calls and buffoonery by the officials). The river will the thawed out in a good stretch in case a Sioux or Gopher player is to be sent down the river after making a bad play or not being as much of a fan favorite as he should be compared to fans preconceptions and draft position.
UND wins on Friday
UMN wins on Saturday
Fire Hakstol threads appear 12:01am Sunday.
This post will update as the week goes on so stay tuned!
Just the Facts Jack
The University of North Dakota enters this series on fire. They've had a great first half with only a few hiccups along the way. They're very highly ranked and busy living up to the preseason hype. Sophomore goaltender Aaron Dell has been a surprise and Matt Frattin has been on fire. Corbin Knight has emerged as the scorer that many had thought him capable of when UND got his committment out of the AJHL.
It has been discussed here, I believe, that cohesion is a big factor in UND's success. This team does play like a team. Everyone seems to know his place and his role and, though perfection isn't there (nor do I expect it will be), they work hard and try to get as close to it as possible.
The University of Minnesota enters this series after whalloping the U-18 team. They're operating barely above water as they are just one game over .500 overall. They're better on the road (they're sub-.500 at home). Coach Lucia has come out with having some emotional issues apparently, but whatever it takes to take the heat off of the most incompetent coach in DI hockey (John Hill), I guess tDon will do whatever it takes. Baffles me as to why though.
The Gophers play a finesse style of hockey that can be dangerous if they are able to execute their game plan without too much disruptions or mistakes on their part. Though it is true that they've had a lot more down seasons than most of us (even those of us who dislike the Gophers with a passion) can believe. Looking at their talent, one would wonder what in the world is going on in the Twin Cities that could make all that talent underperform. Again, I look to Hill.
My take Jake
You can argue that special teams and goaltending have been questionable for the Gophers as of late, but I don't think so. I still maintain that Kangas is a good goaltender who has been hung out to dry more often than would be acceptable to maintain sanity. There is no doubt as to why his numbers have declined or his performance deteriorated as of late. It sometimes seems as though Kangas has to steal the game in order for the Gophers to win. The result of this complex that Kangas has been put through, Kent Patterson, who has been abysmal vs. the Sioux, has wrested the starting role away from Kangas.
My take is thus: The Gophers will go nowhere without Team Defense. Their Team D the past few years has been nothing short of a punchline. You get physical on them and they fall apart and eventually fold in on themselves much like a flimsy Wal-Mart folding chair at fat camp.
Look, they're a lot more talented than they've shown on the ice. Only a moron would disagree with that. They just can't put it together. This is a function of leadership and personnel. And again, I return to Hill. I'm going to do a bit of assuming when I say that Hill has a large hand in recruiting (much like Hakstol did when Blais was coaching at UND). They seem to have the opinion that the best on the table is better than the best for the team. For example, UND jumped at Robbie Bina because of the way he played the game and what he brought in leadership. I don't see Minnesota recruiting this type of player because he's nowhere on the radar of any NHL teams nor does he have the hype etc. that players like Leddy, Ness, Fairchild, etc. had/have. Personnel wise, they just don't seem to hold much faith in role players and lunch pail type players.
I really feel that the Gophers don't have any Lamoreauxs, Martos, Davidsons, Genoways, Hextalls, Malones, Rowneys, or Rodwells. They only seek out players like Knight, Gregoire, Frattin, and Kristo. Sure, I love players like Kristo, Knight, Gregoire, and all. I loved having Parise, Panzer, Toews, Oshie, Bochenski, Stafford, and so on but they don't work if you don't have a full team behind you and a team concept.
What to expect
I expect a tightly checked game. I expect a lot of hits and a lot of penalties. I think the officials will switch off. Friday night, UND gets the benefit of the doubt. Saturday, the officiating is much more swung to the other side. I think that hits that were legal on Friday won't be legal on Saturday. I also feel like diving could make its appearance in the game.
Leading 2011 Robbie Earl Memorial Frozen Water Freestyle Diving Candidate Jacob Cepis is swiftly running away with the award after defending champion Garrett Roe seemingly hitting a regression in his diving abilities. Look for Cepis to firm up at least a berth as a finalist this weekend as he heads to Grand Forks.
Expect big hits, crying Gopher fans, complaining Sioux fans (regarding what is sure to be a plethora of missed calls and buffoonery by the officials). The river will the thawed out in a good stretch in case a Sioux or Gopher player is to be sent down the river after making a bad play or not being as much of a fan favorite as he should be compared to fans preconceptions and draft position.
UND wins on Friday
UMN wins on Saturday
Fire Hakstol threads appear 12:01am Sunday.
This post will update as the week goes on so stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A few things Sioux vs Gophers.
The video is coach Hakstal talking about his weeks series with the Minnesota Gophers.
Teams: #4 North Dakota (12-6-4, 8-6-2 WCHA)at Minnesota (11-10-1, 6-7-1 WCHA) Jan. 15-16, 2010
Time: 7:07/7:07 pm CT
Location: Mariucci Arena (10,000) • Minneapolis, Minn.
RADIO: 96.1 The Fox (KQHT-FM) • LIVE AUDIO: FightingSioux.com TV: Big Ten Network
Television: (Friday)(318 MIDCO Grand Forks, ND), Fox Sports North (channel 28 Midco Grand Forks, ND)(Saturday)
UND is a second half team under coach Hakstol, check out the record.
UND is 49-36-9 before Christmas under Hakstol and 84-33-14 after. In 07-08, the Sioux won an amazing 20 games after the break. [UNDSID Twitter]
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