karl(east) wrote:Edina showed a little more life that period (the sloppiness went away), but by the point they'd figured things out, Kruger and the Tonka defense were completely locked in. That was probably one of the best defensive performances of the year.
Minnetonka is the hottest team in the state right now. Great win for them, and Edina is left searching for answers. Gut check time for the Hornets. Time is starting to wind down, and a Classic Lake championship looks very unlikely at the moment.
It is still a wide-open race with the parity in the Classic Lake, but I agree that their chance is getting slimmer by the moment. I was disappointed in Baker's play tonight, as well as the whole first line, but I thought Eppel played very well, besides two bad penalties, and set the rest of the second line up on chances that weren't converted. Lee played pretty well but he doesn't have the explosiveness that he had earlier. I actually thought the second and third lines of Edina almost matched the first lines play.
Anyway, is there anything Budish isn't good at, sounds like he has been doing some coaching and he was pretty good as a broadcaster.
I really don't know what to think....why has this team melted down the past 2 weeks?
Maybe there just acting vulnerable so teams (like Jefferson) will overlook them going into sections and then all of a sudden they'll take off again lol
Roseauverrated wrote:Did Edina pick up a point in the Classic Lake standings for the OTL to Hopkins or do teams not getting any points for losing in OT?
I don't think so. Wayzata lost to Tonka in OT and it doesn't appear you get a point for that.
Speaking of which, game of the year for Edina on Saturday against Wayzata. Let's see if they're the same team before their late season skid.
dynamicD wrote:I really don't know what to think....why has this team melted down the past 2 weeks?
Maybe there just acting vulnerable so teams (like Jefferson) will overlook them going into sections and then all of a sudden they'll take off again lol
Sure looked like the same thing in this loss as the others. Edina does not come from behind well at all and they fell behind tonight. Their goaltender did not play well and Kruger was excellent.
Yes Edina has lost 3 of 4, but has anything changed? Holy Angels and Edina will most likely be seeded #2 and #3, but both Holy Angels and Jefferson will still fear the Hornets.
Edina has won the conference the past two years and fell short at state. Let's say they do lose the Classic Lake this year. So? It wasn't like they were heaped with laurels for winning it.
Edina plays Minnetonka again soon and that should be interesting. The Hornets definitely have something to prove.
karl(east) wrote:Edina showed a little more life that period (the sloppiness went away), but by the point they'd figured things out, Kruger and the Tonka defense were completely locked in. That was probably one of the best defensive performances of the year.
Minnetonka is the hottest team in the state right now. Great win for them, and Edina is left searching for answers. Gut check time for the Hornets. Time is starting to wind down, and a Classic Lake championship looks very unlikely at the moment.
It is still a wide-open race with the parity in the Classic Lake, but I agree that their chance is getting slimmer by the moment. I was disappointed in Baker's play tonight, as well as the whole first line, but I thought Eppel played very well, besides two bad penalties, and set the rest of the second line up on chances that weren't converted. Lee played pretty well but he doesn't have the explosiveness that he had earlier. I actually thought the second and third lines of Edina almost matched the first lines play.
Anyway, is there anything Budish isn't good at, sounds like he has been doing some coaching and he was pretty good as a broadcaster.
The first line definitely did not live up to hype tonight, nor has it in general lately. It hasn't necessarily looked bad, but it doesn't look like a line with someone contending for Mr. Hockey, let alone two. Gardiner was the most impressive player on the ice tonight. I agree that Baker looked off his game for the 1st 2 periods, but seemed to revert to form in the 3rd. Max Everson seemed to have a pretty spotty game too. This team has yet to respond well when faced with an early defecit, or at least in what I've seen of them.
I think that Edina is playing the best they can. Teams do not fear them as they did in the past. They were good in the beginning, but the end is where you need to be.
I am going out in a limb and saying that AHA, more than likely the 3 seed and Edina 2, does not fear them. Only that they want to play them again. I think that semi final will be a barn burner and AHA will win this time!!!
Had to watch this one on tape. Great win for Tonka. They looked strong all game long, and Kruger stood on his head. They're going to be tough to beat come sections.
I was worried through the first period or so, though, with all the time they spent talking about his rehab and daily schedule and pros he admired and calls to the Gophers that I'd taped the first installment of the Zach Buddish Chronicles by mistake. . .
Goldy Gopher wrote:This Edina team looks completely different than the team that I saw earlier in the year. The tape to tape, tic tac toe passes just aren't there at all.
Needless to say, I'm very impressed by the Skippers tonight and I can't believe this is the same team I saw go 0-10 on the power play against the Hounds early in the season.
Let's see if they can hold on. I keep waiting for the Edina eruption.
Lee
I couldn't agree more. Gorg made a good point when he said that the juniors on the team are playing like seniors now. You could definately notice the confidence, composure, etc they had in a big time game like this. They're a much different hockey team than I saw in early December.
What I like most about Minnetonka is that, looking at the games they have played, they are remarkably consistent. Other than a 2-1 win over Park early in the season, there really isn't a single other game in which they appeared to have an ugly performance. They win the games they should win handily, and their early season losses were all close games to good teams. But they appear to have flipped some switch in recent weeks, and now those losses are turning into wins. They deserve a lot of credit for their steadiness...it's certainly something a team like Edina should envy.
I agree with Karl. Tonka has really stepped up their game every week. They appear to be a very young team whose Juniors have really stepped up their game with the three senior forwards. Gorg made the point that there isn't one Senior on defense which is remarkable given the defensive performance tonight. It also appears that two of their sophomores have had big contributions on the top two lines which is a big help to a team that lost 9 seniors that saw a lot of ice last year...
karl(east) wrote:Edina showed a little more life that period (the sloppiness went away), but by the point they'd figured things out, Kruger and the Tonka defense were completely locked in. That was probably one of the best defensive performances of the year.
Minnetonka is the hottest team in the state right now. Great win for them, and Edina is left searching for answers. Gut check time for the Hornets. Time is starting to wind down, and a Classic Lake championship looks very unlikely at the moment.
It is still a wide-open race with the parity in the Classic Lake, but I agree that their chance is getting slimmer by the moment. I was disappointed in Baker's play tonight, as well as the whole first line, but I thought Eppel played very well, besides two bad penalties, and set the rest of the second line up on chances that weren't converted. Lee played pretty well but he doesn't have the explosiveness that he had earlier. I actually thought the second and third lines of Edina almost matched the first lines play.
Anyway, is there anything Budish isn't good at, sounds like he has been doing some coaching and he was pretty good as a broadcaster.
The first line definitely did not live up to hype tonight, nor has it in general lately. It hasn't necessarily looked bad, but it doesn't look like a line with someone contending for Mr. Hockey, let alone two. Gardiner was the most impressive player on the ice tonight. I agree that Baker looked off his game for the 1st 2 periods, but seemed to revert to form in the 3rd. Max Everson seemed to have a pretty spotty game too. This team has yet to respond well when faced with an early defecit, or at least in what I've seen of them.
They are exhausted, over played, and under coached.
Wow the Skippers were impressive. I couldn't believe I was watching a team with only 4 seniors - they were solid, especially the goalie Kruger. I think they have to be pretty optomistic about their chances since they are playing so consistently and well at this juncture in the season. The line match ups were interesting and very effective at times. Very impressed with #11 - defenseman Prochno - Well done Skippers.
The Hornets have to be plenty worried right now dropping 3 games of the last four. I thought the second and third lines were exciting to watch and played pretty well and had some close chances and big hits. Not sure what's up with their strong seniors though. Maybe Zach Budish was more than the leader of this team, maybe he was the heart too? Never a good thing if you can't come back from behind with heart and intensity in a big game.
I still think they will figure it out - way too much talent on all three lines - and I would not underestimate them in sections. If they don't mix up the lines now, it could be a long, long season. Have to admit I was quite surprised they didn't try some new combinations when they had the chance against Armstrong. They need to inject some energy into that first line.
I don't think you can say that very many teams have quit fearing the Hornets. Minnetonka always plays Edina tough and won right before sections last year. Centennial doesn't fear the Hornets, with the way they played in bantams and last year. Hopkins probably does fear the Hornets, but they had a great goalie standing on his head. The teams that didn't fear the hornets, won't stop, but very few that feared the hornets will stop. I think AHA probably never feared the hornets.
I really think that the hornets will get this figured out but they have to start somewhere and last night really gave them nothing to start on.