Eagan @ Eden Prairie 1/16

[northwoods oldtimer]

Eagan is way overrated they got throttled, no doot aboot it!! Patsy schedule cost them.

[Slap Shot]

How so? They got beat by a better team.

They didn't just get beat, they got smoked.

[besthockeyfan]

I saw this game and it was a blow out after 5 min. Eagan did not look sharp, they looked like they knew what the outcome was going to be half way thru the first. EP was the better team hands down. The goalie for Eagan did not look like a top 10 goalie either. This is one of the first real tests for them after the Jefferson win. The next few games are going to be a real tough for them now.

Justwatching,
Maybe this is why you have only posted 3 times. The game was a blowout after 5 minutes? No it was 1-1 until 1:10 left in the first. While the final was a blowout, the first was not, as the shots were 8-5. EP's special teams were great all game as that was the difference. EP will win the Lake again but unfortunately is in Minnetonka's section

[HappyHockeyFan]

Ok, sorry it has taken me so long to reply those of you who have been waiting see what I have to say after the Eagan loss today. My son is playing in the Edina Jr Gold tourney so I have been away all day. I did however have time to take in the EP/Eagan game. Yes I was dissapointed to see the outcome today as EP showed to be the better team. I was not surprised by that as they are ranked ahead of us. The final score does not bother me as only 2 of EP's 7 goals were scored 5 on 5, the others on special teams and a penalty shot. This was a great test for the Wildcats, the best team they have faced this season. It was a good experience for them, now they know where they need to be to be an elite team. I fully expect that now that they have seen EP that they will be more prepared and ready to play them on the 26th on home ice. I also expect a much different game. I will not predict a win but wont rule it out either, and at the very least I will expect a closer more competitive game out of Eagan. And like besthockeyfan said, decent chance EP could be watching Eagan play in the State tourney from their couches and today's victory over Eagan wont mean much to them at that point.

[keepyourheadup]

Unless number 7 on ep gets hurt ,arrested or somehow prevented from playing in the rematch the result will be similar. The kid is the best player out there and Eagan has got big match up problems trying to stop him.

[HappyHockeyFan]

Unless number 7 on ep gets hurt ,arrested or somehow prevented from playing in the rematch the result will be similar. The kid is the best player out there and Eagan has got big match up problems trying to stop him.

Like I said, they've seen them now and will be more prepared for the rematch...in my opinion.

[GopherHockey]

That should put the Eagan talk to the side for awhile. Top 5 team? Phew

[CB00]

Am I the only one who isn't sold in Eagan? They have one quality OT win versus an opponent who has shown the most inconsistency in HS hockey. (Beat Cent. 9-2, then tied Cent./ SO loss; Beat Wayzata 2-1, then tied Burnsville 2-2).

I see other threads where people are putting Eagan in their top five. Congrats on the good start, but this team has done nothing really to impress me. They tied a decent team and pulled off one upset against a top team. How does this put them in the top five?

I'm hoping EP doesn't make me look like a jackass tonight and handles Eagan.

4-1 Final.

Papa your not a jacka--, there's only one jacka-- on this thread

[keepyourheadup]

They've been "SEEING" them for the better part of the last 8 years of there hockey lives and like the rest of the metro have had little luck slowing down Rau. I'm not sure people recognize how good this kid is or how much he means to EP. Both Minnetonka and Edina were able to contain him and the result was a win. The rest of EP's games the kid has been pretty much unstopable. SO i truly doubt Eagan has the ability to contain him now that they have seen him...again.

[HockeyMN1]

I saw this game and it was a blow out after 5 min. Eagan did not look sharp, they looked like they knew what the outcome was going to be half way thru the first. EP was the better team hands down. The goalie for Eagan did not look like a top 10 goalie either. This is one of the first real tests for them after the Jefferson win. The next few games are going to be a real tough for them now.

Justwatching,
Maybe this is why you have only posted 3 times. The game was a blowout after 5 minutes? No it was 1-1 until 1:10 left in the first. While the final was a blowout, the first was not, as the shots were 8-5. EP's special teams were great all game as that was the difference. EP will win the Lake again but unfortunately is in Minnetonka's section. Would suck to be sitting home tourney time while Eagan or AV is in state, wouldn't it? Maybe they'll ask to have sections re-alligned after that!

Minnetonka's section? Don't be so sure, they lost 1-0 to Tonka in Pagel and remember last year they handled Tonka at Mariucci in the section championship. On a neutral ice this is anyone's game and I know I sound like a homer but EP is the #2 team in the state. They played their worst game of the year against Edina at Breamar and the refs didn't make it any easier on them. They will finally get to play an elite team at home on Tuesday vs. Jefferson.

[HockeyMN1]

Unless number 7 on ep gets hurt ,arrested or somehow prevented from playing in the rematch the result will be similar. The kid is the best player out there and Eagan has got big match up problems trying to stop him.

Like I said, they've seen them now and will be more prepared for the rematch...in my opinion.

He got 3 goals and 3 assists. This isn't a case of just not being ready to face a player. Kyle Rau is on a level above every player on Eagan and they won't be able to stop him no matter what ice surface they are playing on.

[shakey]

To HHF & BHF: After all your big talk, your team gets throttled and you have the gall to minimize the outcome by suggesting that your team will be at state while EP sits at home. What a putz....(both of you).

[gerryodrowski]

Ok, sorry it has taken me so long to reply those of you who have been waiting see what I have to say after the Eagan loss today. My son is playing in the Edina Jr Gold tourney so I have been away all day. I did however have time to take in the EP/Eagan game. Yes I was dissapointed to see the outcome today as EP showed to be the better team. I was not surprised by that as they are ranked ahead of us. The final score does not bother me as only 2 of EP's 7 goals were scored 5 on 5, the others on special teams and a penalty shot. This was a great test for the Wildcats, the best team they have faced this season. It was a good experience for them, now they know where they need to be to be an elite team. I fully expect that now that they have seen EP that they will be more prepared and ready to play them on the 26th on home ice. I also expect a much different game. I will not predict a win but wont rule it out either, and at the very least I will expect a closer more competitive game out of Eagan. And like besthockeyfan said, decent chance EP could be watching Eagan play in the State tourney from their couches and today's victory over Eagan wont mean much to them at that point.

Somehow you take solace in the fact that Eagan gave up two (2) shorthanded goals (yes the penalty shot counts as a shorty) and three (3) power play goals?! Maybe you should open your mind to the notion that a significant percentage of goals scored in hockey games involve special teams. You may choose not to be bothered by the final score but you probably should be concerned about Eagan's PP and PK because they were not good.

[Factsmatter1]

I saw this game and it was a blow out after 5 min. Eagan did not look sharp, they looked like they knew what the outcome was going to be half way thru the first. EP was the better team hands down. The goalie for Eagan did not look like a top 10 goalie either. This is one of the first real tests for them after the Jefferson win. The next few games are going to be a real tough for them now.

Justwatching,
Maybe this is why you have only posted 3 times. The game was a blowout after 5 minutes? No it was 1-1 until 1:10 left in the first. While the final was a blowout, the first was not, as the shots were 8-5. EP's special teams were great all game as that was the difference. EP will win the Lake again but unfortunately is in Minnetonka's section. Would suck to be sitting home tourney time while Eagan or AV is in state, wouldn't it? Maybe they'll ask to have sections re-alligned after that!

Minnetonka's section? Don't be so sure, they lost 1-0 to Tonka in Pagel and remember last year they handled Tonka at Mariucci in the section championship. On a neutral ice this is anyone's game and I know I sound like a homer but EP is the #2 team in the state. They played their worst game of the year against Edina at Breamar and the refs didn't make it any easier on them. They will finally get to play an elite team at home on Tuesday vs. Jefferson.

Yep, you sound like a homer... forget about last year... that was a different team than this years team... no one debates that this years' EP team is a good team... but they are not last years' team and neither is Tonka... I saw the EP vs Tonka game on MYFOXHOCKEY.com....It turned out to be a game of dueling goalies but Tonka outshot EP 3-2 without Gardiner... Tonka is the better team right now but clearly on any given night any of the top 5 could give Tonka a run..

[shakey]

Yep, you sound like a homer... forget about last year... that was a different team than this years team... no one debates that this years' EP team is a good team... but they are not last years' team and neither is Tonka... I saw the EP vs Tonka game on MYFOXHOCKEY.com....It turned out to be a game of dueling goalies but Tonka outshot EP 3-2 without Gardiner... Tonka is the better team right now but clearly on any given night any of the top 5 could give Tonka a run..

How do you compare last year's teams to this season? Contending that last year's EP team beat better teams, scored more, gave up fewer goals or had a better record at this point is simply not accurate. From a personnel standpoint, Tonka is virtually the same team.

[Factsmatter1]

Yep, you sound like a homer... forget about last year... that was a different team than this years team... no one debates that this years' EP team is a good team... but they are not last years' team and neither is Tonka... I saw the EP vs Tonka game on MYFOXHOCKEY.com....It turned out to be a game of dueling goalies but Tonka outshot EP 3-2 without Gardiner... Tonka is the better team right now but clearly on any given night any of the top 5 could give Tonka a run..

How do you compare last year's teams to this season? Contending that last year's EP team beat better teams, scored more, gave up fewer goals or had a better record at this point is simply not accurate. From a personnel standpoint, Tonka is virtually the same team.

I think we are in violent agreement... you can't compare the two teams ... they are different teams this year... personnel, skills, depth, etc... you can only go on this years results with this years talent...

[wildthing]

This game was no contest no matter how you spin things. 5 Powerplay goals means that on this particular day, one team was overmatched and they hooked, held, and hauled down from behind to keep up with the Eagles speed. Eagan is better than they showed Saturday ,but there will not be a split....
Rematch prediction:
EP 5
Eagan 3

[shakey]

Yep, you sound like a homer... forget about last year... that was a different team than this years team... no one debates that this years' EP team is a good team... but they are not last years' team and neither is Tonka... I saw the EP vs Tonka game on MYFOXHOCKEY.com....It turned out to be a game of dueling goalies but Tonka outshot EP 3-2 without Gardiner... Tonka is the better team right now but clearly on any given night any of the top 5 could give Tonka a run..

How do you compare last year's teams to this season? Contending that last year's EP team beat better teams, scored more, gave up fewer goals or had a better record at this point is simply not accurate. From a personnel standpoint, Tonka is virtually the same team.

I think we are in violent agreement... you can't compare the two teams ... they are different teams this year... personnel, skills, depth, etc... you can only go on this years results with this years talent...

fair...

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

For Factsmatter, and the two happy dudes, throw out the first period of the Tonka game, and shots were dead even. Minnetonka was the best team EP had played and EP adjusted. The better scoring chances after the first were all EP. Pipes, fanning on open nets and great saves all played a part.

To the happy dudes that aren't that happy today. According to you two fellas, EP was going to be exposed as a "not" top ten team when they played Tonka. Well, I think you just became exposed. One upset win over a Jefferson team?????????

As for the Eagan game........whew!.....I think we all saw that Eagan talks a big game, but I remember back in peewees and a late night outing with a couple of parents from Eagan up at the Jazz club in Duluth. Back then Eagan was talking to be world beaters only to get thottled 10-1. If not for the running clock, it would have been dej a vue.

And for Eagan going to the state...... very good chance. Who is in that section? If they do go to state, the outcome will be very similiar to what happened yesterday......thump, thump, thump. By the way number 17 is cheap.

[Lakeviewing]

I saw this game and it was a blow out after 5 min. Eagan did not look sharp, they looked like they knew what the outcome was going to be half way thru the first. EP was the better team hands down. The goalie for Eagan did not look like a top 10 goalie either. This is one of the first real tests for them after the Jefferson win. The next few games are going to be a real tough for them now.

Eagan is young and will be a force, but not now.

[eastside hockey]

Unless number 7 on ep gets hurt ,arrested or somehow prevented from playing in the rematch the result will be similar. The kid is the best player out there and Eagan has got big match up problems trying to stop him.

Like I said, they've seen them now and will be more prepared for the rematch...in my opinion.

HHW, don't sweat the small things. History will show you how the outcome of sections can really go. In 2007, the defgending state champs Cretin, lost to Woodbury 4 to 3 in the section final. This would be the same Cretin who had Hickey, Mc dounagh, Borer, and Ben House in nets. Ryan Mc Dounagh was also named Mr Hockey that year. My point is they lost both season match ups with Cretin during the year by at least a 4 to 5 goal spread. One of the wins was a shut out. Every one down played the win and said it was a fluke. Woodbury got throttled by Roseau in game one, knocked off Hill Murray in round two, and played Edina to a 3 to 2 loss in the cons final. Remember what my signature says. Because it can happen....

[HappyHockeyFan]

I fully expect the lopsided loss to EP will eat at the Eagan boys til the rematch and fully expect them to redeem themselves. These kids can play with EP and will show it on the 26th. Sometimes a loss does a team good, even a lopsided one, I believe thats the case here. They got the undefeated monkey off their back, they got knocked around a bit but they will be a stronger team mentally for it. This is a young team, whatever happens this year is going to pay dividends come sections and in the next two years. GO CATS !!

[HockeyMN1]

I fully expect the lopsided loss to EP will eat at the Eagan boys til the rematch and fully expect them to redeem themselves. These kids can play with EP and will show it on the 26th. Sometimes a loss does a team good, even a lopsided one, I believe thats the case here. They got the undefeated monkey off their back, they got knocked around a bit but they will be a stronger team mentally for it. This is a young team, whatever happens this year is going to pay dividends come sections and in the next two years. GO CATS !!

See, there's some major flaws in your logic here. First and foremost, they did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to show that they can, in fact, play with EP, so I don't see how you can just throw that statement out there. Secondly, they lost 7-1 and Eagan's only goal came on their first shot about two minutes in so for essentially the entire game they got their rear ends handed to them on a silver platter. On EAGAN's powerplay EP won 2-0. And lastly and probably most importantly, they have absolutley nobody that can come close to stopping Kyle Rau. This is not at all a case of just not being ready to play or lacking motivation, they got throttled by a much better team and this was not a "good loss" at all. The next result wont be much different.

[Roseauverrated]

HHF, I think you need to accept that Eagan just isn't up to par with the state's top teams and quit making excuses for their blowout. From what I've heard, they really got dominated in all aspects of the game. Jefferson is proving to not be as good as most thought this season so their win over them doesn't seem so impressive anymore. EP is the only top team they've played and they got absolutely demolished. I fully expect at least a 4+ goal win for EP in the rematch later this year.