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.....same problems as last year.

Looks like the U needs to hire two coaches!

Can the U afford to have all those empty seats next year?

Mailman wrote:.....same problems as last year.

Remove fork.
Good effort today.
Start Patterson, from here on out.
Keep the intensity up.
All will be fine.

WayOutWest wrote:

Mailman wrote:.....same problems as last year.

Remove fork.
Good effort today.
Start Patterson, from here on out.
Keep the intensity up.
All will be fine.

You're more optimistic than I. Only Patterson and a poor St. Cloud effort made the difference from what I saw.

And if as said, Ness is the blueliner that Lucia counts on, oh boy, that says a lot, and in not a good way.
He needs to be moved to forward, then maybe the Gophers can get some points.

Defense is NOT his strong suit. Still.

But hopefully I'm wrong.

Mailman wrote:And if as said, Ness is the blueliner that Lucia counts on, oh boy, that says a lot, and in not a good way.
He needs to be moved to forward, then maybe the Gophers can get some points.

Defense is NOT his strong suit. Still.

But hopefully I'm wrong.

Checking the Gophers' individual stats, Ness is leading all the other D in plus/minus, at a +3. Overall the team is a -15, so he's holding his own back there. So far Cade Fairchild has the worst plus/minus, at -7.

One big surprise today was that first round draft choice Nick Bjugstad was not dressed. He has had a bit of disappointing start in his freshman season, tallying just one assist in the first 5 games. He's also a -6 so he needs to get better in his own end as well. Still way early and I expect Nick to start to pick it up once he gains some more experience playing at this level.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

Mailman wrote:And if as said, Ness is the blueliner that Lucia counts on, oh boy, that says a lot, and in not a good way.
He needs to be moved to forward, then maybe the Gophers can get some points.

Defense is NOT his strong suit. Still.

But hopefully I'm wrong.

Checking the Gophers' individual stats, Ness is leading all the other D in plus/minus, at a +3. Overall the team is a -15, so he's holding his own back there. So far Cade Fairchild has the worst plus/minus, at -7.

One big surprise today was that first round draft choice Nick Bjugstad was not dressed. He has had a bit of disappointing start in his freshman season, tallying just one assist in the first 5 games. He's also a -6 so he needs to get better in his own end as well. Still way early and I expect Nick to start to pick it up once he gains some more experience playing at this level.

Bjugstad has mono. Also, Ness has a plus rating solely due to being on the ice during Bariball's scoring.

Many times every game, he looks confused, panicked, and behind the play on defense, especially around his net.

Mailman wrote: Bjugstad has mono. Also, Ness has a plus rating solely due to being on the ice during Bariball's scoring.

Many times every game, he looks confused, panicked, and behind the play on defense, especially around his net.

Had not heard about Bjugstad getting mono - that's a tough break for him, and I hope he recovers quickly.

I will disagree with you about the play of Ness. Yes, he still makes mistakes, but his play is MUCH improved over last year. And I've seen every game in person this year and believe I'm qualified to offer an opinion. IMO he's been the most creative player on the team, and their best offensive D-man for sure. I'm looking for even better things ahead for him.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

Mailman wrote: Bjugstad has mono. Also, Ness has a plus rating solely due to being on the ice during Bariball's scoring.

Many times every game, he looks confused, panicked, and behind the play on defense, especially around his net.

Had not heard about Bjugstad getting mono - that's a tough break for him, and I hope he recovers quickly.

I will disagree with you about the play of Ness. Yes, he still makes mistakes, but his play is MUCH improved over last year. And I've seen every game in person this year and believe I'm qualified to offer an opinion. IMO he's been the most creative player on the team, and their best offensive D-man for sure. I'm looking for even better things ahead for him.

I'd still like to see him as a forward, always have. I think it'd be better for him and the U.

With his hands, speed, etc., he'd be a great forward, and two of his major liabilities, his size and lack of physical play wouldn't be such a problem as they are as a defenseman.

Maybe we should coach the G's.....I've always wondered what Lucia was smoking by having a very under sized Ness on the blueline. He would make a great forward!

Not surprised to see Fairchild with the worst +/-. He is absolutely horrible in the defensive zone.

Now a question for all you HOUNDS fans. Has he always had this problem of shooting the puck either wide of the net, or right into the guy in front of him?

Last but not least, the U is making a huge mistake in going to the priority seating. With the quality of play the last three years, they will not get more money out of the season ticket holders. Everybody I talk to at the arena is talking about dropping their season tickets, rather than give more money for better seats! Who needs better seats to watch a lower level team in the WCHA?

Have to agree wholeheartedly with Body Shots, Cade has struggled mightily in front of his net, especially the weak side forward open at the post... He is certainly not alone, but has struggled the most of the Gopher Dmen...

Each game feels like the definition of Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over, game after game, expecting a different outcome...

Each game, from UNO on, has provided the following: Poor backchecking, very weak defensive coverage in front of net, weak side pick up was loose, and the forwards did not help out low... The defensive zone breakdowns were many and consistent from line to line, from the neutral zone to our net...

What makes this frustrating, is that these things can be corrected, but they are not... We have very talented hockey players on this team, that have succeeded at every level of hockey to this point, they need the right guidance... Give them the system, tools, and motivation to succeed...

To the 2nd point of priority seating, it was a major factor in my father and I not renewing for the first time in 15 years... Cost... Business life and coaching hockey did not help, but cost was the major factor...

With as many empty seats there have neen during the first 7 games at Mariucci (I've been to 5 of the games) I can't imagine why Maturi thinks he can get more money from the real fans and not the corporations.

I for one would like to see this forum used as a sounding board to stop the Maturi plan for taking more money from us.

I'm starting a new post now.....

Marty McSorely wrote:Maybe we should coach the G's.....I've always wondered what Lucia was smoking by having a very under sized Ness on the blueline. He would make a great forward!

Actually, changed my mind. He'd be a great center.

A forward can't be afraid to go into the corners

Last night, the kids played more disciplined D zone coverage... It was encouraging to watch.

CC arena has lots of room behind the net, and it was the Gophers who used it to cycle and grind, and they forchecked well from neutral zone in...

And, Mailman, Ness looked very comfortable last night playing from the blueline... In both zones...

I did not notice Cade, which is a good thing as well, props to that young man!

Alt looked good last night Patterson was very good... we may have a little goaltending competition for the rest of the year Who would have thunk that before the season...

See how they come out tonight.

DmanDad1980 wrote:Last night, the kids played more disciplined D zone coverage... It was encouraging to watch.

CC arena has lots of room behind the net, and it was the Gophers who used it to cycle and grind, and they forchecked well from neutral zone in...

And, Mailman, Ness looked very comfortable last night playing from the blueline... In both zones...

I did not notice Cade, which is a good thing as well, props to that young man!

Alt looked good last night Patterson was very good... we may have a little goaltending competition for the rest of the year Who would have thunk that before the season...

See how they come out tonight.

Being comfortable at the line was never a problem; it's the rest of the ice

But they looked the best they have in quite a while last night. I hope I have to retract my statement that started this thread !

Making a case that they aren't done yet 9-4 win tonight over CC. Cade played extremely well tonight a short handed goal. Wonder what happened between the UNO weekend, the 5-2 defeat from St. Cloud State to this weekend. It looked like I was watching a completely different team. Hopefully they can keep this up heading into next week.

Mailman wrote:I hope I have to retract my statement that started this thread !

Looks like your hopes are coming true. Quite honestly, I never thought I'd see the Gophers score 9 goals in a game this year. But based on what we saw this weekend, you have to conclude that CC will really struggle this year - they appear to be very vulnerable defensively. Are the Gophers finally breaking out and showing their true potential, or is CC really that bad? Whatever, a sweep on the road in the WCHA is always good.

Next weekend vs. the Badgers at home should be fun!

Agreed ! For the first time in a looong time I saw team play and excitement/confidence on the bench and ice.

Sure hope it continues and grows.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

Mailman wrote:I hope I have to retract my statement that started this thread !

Looks like your hopes are coming true. Quite honestly, I never thought I'd see the Gophers score 9 goals in a game this year. But based on what we saw this weekend, you have to conclude that CC will really struggle this year - they appear to be very vulnerable defensively. Are the Gophers finally breaking out and showing their true potential, or is CC really that bad? Whatever, a sweep on the road in the WCHA is always good.

Next weekend vs. the Badgers at home should be fun!

I'm not really surprised by the goal scoring. They have talent up front and they should have some quality goal totals this year. It is the defense that is (and likely will be) the issue with regard to how they do.

I think the weekend's results were as much who they played as much as how they played. The jury is still out for me.

Gopher Blog wrote:I'm not really surprised by the goal scoring. They have talent up front and they should have some quality goal totals this year. It is the defense that is (and likely will be) the issue with regard to how they do.

I think the weekend's results were as much who they played as much as how they played. The jury is still out for me.

Couldn't agree more with everything you say. I'm just trying to see the glass as half full.

There may be more of the Jekyl and Hyde thing to come. But, I think Lucia is narrowing in on what he's got and who can play.

Thank god Patterson has kept a good attitude.

What happens to the Gopher goalies as they get older? First the former AHA "superstar" that got pulled in the St. Cloud game and never came back and now Kangas?

The Gophers were definately better this past weekend, but CC's defense was about as bad in their own zone as the Gophers looked against UNO. I can't figure out the coaching philosophy to let the opposing players stand unobstructed in front of your own net? The Gophs did it against UNO, and CC did it this past weekend.

Did anyone else notice the lack of fans in CC? Watching the game on TV, everytime they showed the stands, it looked like the place was half empty. I also heard the Wisconsin games next week are not even sold out! I would be very nervous if I was the U and we can't even sell out a border battle. The WCHA has attendance issues.

BodyShots wrote:The Gophers were definately better this past weekend, but CC's defense was about as bad in their own zone as the Gophers looked against UNO. I can't figure out the coaching philosophy to let the opposing players stand unobstructed in front of your own net? The Gophs did it against UNO, and CC did it this past weekend.

No question CC played very poorly on defense both games - porous would be the correct adjective. If they don't tighten things up considerable the preseason predictions of a mid-pack finish will prove to be overly optimistic.

BodyShots wrote:Did anyone else notice the lack of fans in CC? Watching the game on TV, everytime they showed the stands, it looked like the place was half empty. I also heard the Wisconsin games next week are not even sold out! I would be very nervous if I was the U and we can't even sell out a border battle. The WCHA has attendance issues.

The official attendance numbers were 6,878 and 6,798, but like you I noticed the arena being half-empty especially when they showed the crowd toward the end of the each game. Probably a combination of lots of no-shows and many fans not being pleased with the Tigers' play and deciding to "beat the traffic".

You would expect the Gophers to draw well this weekend, at least by this year's standards (during which they've probably averaged 3,000 no shows). But it will take several great seasons (lots of wins including post-season) before they'll need to move the "Border Battle" series to a larger venue to accommodate the ticket demand. The way things have been going the past few years, Mariucci is plenty big.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

Mailman wrote:And if as said, Ness is the blueliner that Lucia counts on, oh boy, that says a lot, and in not a good way.
He needs to be moved to forward, then maybe the Gophers can get some points.

Defense is NOT his strong suit. Still.

But hopefully I'm wrong.

Checking the Gophers' individual stats, Ness is leading all the other D in plus/minus, at a +3. Overall the team is a -15, so he's holding his own back there. So far Cade Fairchild has the worst plus/minus, at -7.

One big surprise today was that first round draft choice Nick Bjugstad was not dressed. He has had a bit of disappointing start in his freshman season, tallying just one assist in the first 5 games. He's also a -6 so he needs to get better in his own end as well. Still way early and I expect Nick to start to pick it up once he gains some more experience playing at this level.

The Don needs to "accelerate" more kids to the D1 level. Boys getting schooled by men week in and week out. Dump the don and that cheese dick Hill too.