Games Saturday 2-15-2025

[ChrisK]

Unfortunately I couldn't make it today- or I'd be perched in my usual spot. Eat a hotdog in my memory!

In fact, if you eat two hotdogs and a twix, thats known as the BlueLineSpecial...Special

Hey Ohhhh!!!!

The Zamboni had issues, left a long gouge in the ice. Lex and rink attendants confering now.

Let's call it, neither team wants someone to get hurt today.

Looks like they're going to play. @$_&&-+!!Pioneers will do anything to get an edge!

[ChrisK]

Unfortunately I couldn't make it today- or I'd be perched in my usual spot. Eat a hotdog in my memory!

In fact, if you eat two hotdogs and a twix, thats known as the BlueLineSpecial...Special

Hey Ohhhh!!!!

The Zamboni had issues, left a long gouge in the ice. Lex and rink attendants confering now.

Let's call it, neither team wants someone to get hurt today.

Looks like they're going to play. @$_&&-+!!Pioneers will do anything to get an edge!

[ChrisK]

Unfortunately I couldn't make it today- or I'd be perched in my usual spot. Eat a hotdog in my memory!

In fact, if you eat two hotdogs and a twix, thats known as the BlueLineSpecial...Special

Hey Ohhhh!!!!

The Zamboni had issues, left a long gouge in the ice. Lex and rink attendants confering now.

Let's call it, neither team wants someone to get hurt today.

Sorry about the multiple posts, got an error message so I didn't think they'd posted. Good game so far!

[raidergrad72]

ESPG, where are you at. Maybe I can come over and say hi.
I'm wearing a Greenway button.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

ESPG, where are you at. Maybe I can come over and say hi.
I'm wearing a Greenway button.

Right at the concession stand. And the 100 people in line there.

[BlueLineSpecial]

Facebook stream isn't bad. Camerawork is choppy, but beggers can't be choosers.

Great start to the game by Hill, and then their standard kyptonite (silly penalties) completely turned the game, flow and momentum. This continues to be a major issue for this team. I can't tell you how many 5-3 penalties I've seen them have to try and kill off this year. It's pervasive on this team, and I believe it'll cost them this year. Whether it's in sections against Stillwater/WBL or it's at State, this team will lose a game when it matters most because they just can't stay disciplined.

And I say this recognizing that Hill may still come back and win this game. It's just that almost every game they stack up penalties on top of each other or in a row. Thats not a winning formula and needs to be addressed by Lechner and Co.

[CitiesSpudsGuy]

Refs are sure trying to help HM after the Spuds were up 5-2. My God...

[kpryan888]

Refs are sure trying to help HM after the Spuds were up 5-2. My God...

Not sure what you’re watching, first PP was the same check Hill got called for and the trip in the corner was pretty obvious, I thought.

[CitiesSpudsGuy]

Refs are sure trying to help HM after the Spuds were up 5-2. My God...

Not sure what you’re watching, first PP was the same check Hill got called for and the trip in the corner was pretty obvious, I thought.

The no call on the tripping by the HM goalie that EVERYBODY in the building saw except the refs. The last penalty on the Spuds was a phantom call

[kpryan888]

Refs are sure trying to help HM after the Spuds were up 5-2. My God...

Not sure what you’re watching, first PP was the same check Hill got called for and the trip in the corner was pretty obvious, I thought.

The no call on the tripping by the HM goalie. The last penalty on the Spuds was a phantom call

Seemed clear on the stream, stick in the skates took down a player. Didn’t see the tripping by the goalie, that’s not a call you see pretty much ever. Not sure what you’re begging for there. Not to mention, penalties are 4 on Hill and 2 on Moorhead, including a 5 on 3 for Moorhead. Didn’t understand what the 2nd penalty was for to get the 5 on 3, but also wasn’t paying close attention to that sequence as I was walking into my son’s game.

Either way, who had 8 goals scored in the 2nd period on their bingo cards. Did not see that coming. I thought a 3-2 game was the most likely outcome. Lots of offense today for sure.

[raidergrad72]

ESPG, I'll come over now. Wearing a Green Power button
By the concession line.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Free hockey at Aldrich!

[CitiesSpudsGuy]

Not sure what you’re watching, first PP was the same check Hill got called for and the trip in the corner was pretty obvious, I thought.

The no call on the tripping by the HM goalie. The last penalty on the Spuds was a phantom call

Seemed clear on the stream, stick in the skates took down a player. Didn’t see the tripping by the goalie, that’s not a call you see pretty much ever. Not sure what you’re begging for there. Not to mention, penalties are 4 on Hill and 2 on Moorhead, including a 5 on 3 for Moorhead. Didn’t understand what the 2nd penalty was for to get the 5 on 3, but also wasn’t paying close attention to that sequence as I was walking into my son’s game.

Either way, who had 8 goals scored in the 2nd period on their bingo cards. Did not see that coming. I thought a 3-2 game was the most likely outcome. Lots of offense today for sure.

I saw what I saw. I'm not going to argue with you or anybody else who saw it differently.

[BlueLineSpecial]

Welp, leave it to the best two teams in the state on the last game of the regular season to have what was the craziest game of the year.

[TourneyEarnie]

Watching from Florida. What an insane finish. I only caught the last ~8 minutes of the 3rd. What in the world happened to the Spuds, did they let off the gas pedal?

[Sparlimb]

In probably the greatest regular season game I can recall watching in high school hockey, HM gives up 6 goals in the 2nd period, enters the third trailing 7-4 against the #1 team in state and somehow scores 3 to tie and Boden Sampair snipes a gorgeous goal in OT to win it for the Pioneers 8-7 over Moorhead. I'm not really sure I've ever seen an 8-7 game in hockey. If so, they are very rare (probably would have been a Gopher game in the 80-s). I know the result of this one doesn't matter all the much, but it sure was fun. Heading out with the wife to a concert, so will try and process what I just watched for the next 6 hours.

[Sparlimb]

Watching from Florida. What an insane finish. I only caught the last ~8 minutes of the 3rd. What in the world happened to the Spuds, did they let off the gas pedal?

Game had ebbs and flows. At times HM dominated. At times Moorhead dominated. Moorhead finished like 36 breakaways with goals in the second period (or so it felt). Moorhead got up 5-2, HM scored two to get back within 1, spent about 2 minutes on a 5-5 pp in the spud zone but couldn't tie it. Moorhead finally clears the zone, kids walks right in on the Hill goalie and scores. I'd sure like to see these two play again. Possible Moorhead got tired, but I didn't see it that way.

[CitiesSpudsGuy]

I give HM a lot of credit for not giving up in the 3rd when they were down 7-4. They took their play up a level and the Spuds didn't respond. Personally, I think Ammerman got outcoached by Lechner. But Lechner outcoaches a lot of other coaches. Congrats to the Pioneers on a crazy win.

[slacsap]

Sparlimb
Those who are really old like me will recall the final game of the 1982-83 season when an undefeated Hill Murray team went down to Rochester and fell behind John Marshall 7-1. They got a goal late in the second period to make it 7-2 then scored five times in the third, including two shorties on the same penalty, to tie it. The Pioneers went on to win 8-7 in OT and three weeks later won their first state title.

[BlueLineSpecial]

I give HM a lot of credit for not giving up in the 3rd when they were down 7-4. They took their play up a level and the Spuds didn't respond. Personally, I think Ammerman got outcoached by Lechner. But Lechner outcoaches a lot of other coaches. Congrats to the Pioneers on a crazy win.

If it’s any consolation, I’ve watched Hill play Edina, STA, Rogers, and plenty of the states other great teams, and I put Moorhead above them all. They can move the puck. Holy cow. They will be a wagon for anyone to match up against.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Sparlimb
Those who are really old like me will recall the final game of the 1982-83 season when an undefeated Hill Murray team went down to Rochester and fell behind John Marshall 7-1. They got a goal late in the second period to make it 7-2 then scored five times in the third, including two shorties on the same penalty, to tie it. The Pioneers went on to win 8-7 in OT and three weeks later won their first state title.

I'm quite certain that was not the last game. It was a weekday, and none of us went down there, it was a middling JM team.

In the locker room, everyone was bickering. Skrypek stood and said nothing. One by one, the players notice him, and the chatter dies Down. Skry says nothing, just looks around, then walks out.

[raidergrad72]

When Hill got within 2, I could feel the nervous level on the MH side pick up. Then at 7-6, to somewhat reference a previous post, HM poured it on & the whole place felt the momentum shift.
I'll agree Lechner outcoached Moorhead.
So.... Moorhead has bookended their 2 losses in the regular season + last weeks tie to Roger's May be a little early to speculate if they've peaked too soon, though.
One hell of a game though.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Tonka hung a 6 on us last season, for running time. You have to go back to 2017-18 when both Edina and STA beat us 7-1. But those were not good Hill teams. it's just crazy either of these teams gave up as many as they did today.

Spar, the Andover MG final three(?) years ago was 8-7 in OT. I recall MG going up 2-0 early, and thinking, wow that's a huge lead in a championship game, I was hoping for something better. And just like today, I marveled at how such good teams could give up so many goals.

There was absolutely no home cookin' for Hill today. Both of the penalties that lead to the 5 on 3 was complete bee ess. That Moorhead PP is really something. They move the puck around in a systemic pass pattern, then everyone moves in tighter, another passing cycle, move everyone in closer, lather, rinse, repeat. it's pretty wicked.

And that's the sort of thing Lex adjusts for in a re-match. He'll come up with something to counteract that. It may not work, but he'll have something up his sleeve.

At the end of the day, there's a new sheriff in town, I'm not thrilled to have the #1 target on our backs. But when it only comes at the end of the season, it's not so bad. Plus, if Rogers or STA falls in section play, #1 will draw an enviably softer opponent in the semis. You learn over the years to shamelessly enjoy the breaks that come your way, because over time you get enough bad breaks. Anyone other than HM/Stillwater or STA would be a pleasant surprise.

Now this is predicated on Hill getting past Stillwater or White Bear, which is no guarantee. It was maybe 7 years ago that Section 4AA was the weakest section. This year it's the deepest; I'll put our #3 seed against any other #3. Moorhead has a nearly insignificant chance of getting upset, Rogers is in not quite as good of a position, but still a heavy favorite. Hill and STA are better than even money bets, but not heavy favorites by any stretch. Either getting upset would be a surprise but not shocking. Stillwater will be the intensity that Hill's section final opponent always brings. They pop one in early and grab the momentum, and it'll be a dog fight for Hill to claw their way back. If the first period ends 0-0 or Hill up by anything, I'll be thrilled.

Hill paying 3 OT games in 15 days is a good tune-up. The rap on Hill early was, "Nice record, but they haven't played any top ten teams." But the scheduling gods were favorable to Hill, going through the grinder the last 3 weeks here.

[east hockey]

In a 7AA play-in game, East spots Anoka a 3-0 lead before coming back to win 4-3 in ot. They play Rock Ridge on Tuesday

Lee

[Lino Lakes Hockey]

CDH vs WBL 1-1 and heading to OT.