hockeytherapy13

Why would we change things up when we’ve been creating so many offensive chances tonight?

Yeah we need to make a few changes in this game, badly. Time to switch the lines up a little and stop trying to force chemistry that doesn’t exist in certain places. Bump Perron up to the line with gaber and berg. Most importantly we need to start activating the defenseman into the rush because we didn’t have a lick of sustained o zone pressure the last 15 mins of the period. We have been outcoached for 35 of 40 mins tonight and it’s time for a counter punch. huge props to Persson for keeping us afloat along with our d zone play chipping out the second chances so that can’t get a rebound

That shot by McLaughlin was what started the rush the other way. St. Cloud has kept us to the perimeter all game so O Mac forced a shot that had zero chance of going in and zero chance of a rebound which sprung st cloud the other way and boom it’s in. Boneheaded play that I hope he learns from.

Yeah he made about 3 passes that ended up on the tape of someone wearing whine but anytime that happened he was in good position to prevent a major breakout or scoring chance. Definitely the best game he’s played defensively this year. I think the bigger rink plays to his advantage but of he keeps trending the way he played last night, this team will be scary. I’m also in the camp that Schmaltz needs to bump down to 4th line so we can get strinden with Jammer and Perron because even though they are all right handed shots, that trio could make up a top line on many teams.

I was there, too, and it was insane. Once the game got to 7-1 a couple of St. Cloud fans probably in their 60s started flipping us off and were telling “eff the Sioux”. It was comical and sad at the same time haha but man, what a road game to be at while in college.

We haven't played on the road in a really long time so hopefully we can shake off the road rust quickly. Might be especially tough since we will be on the Olympic sheet but our team speed should make up for that as long as the forwards go hard through the neutral zone both directions. Seems like a weekend where James and Strinden are both going to shine.

I actually don't mind losing. But losing games where we have 2-goal leads is frustrating, especially in our own barn. The Friday game against Omaha we lost 3 separate leads and one of them was a 2-goal lead. On home ice. Also having a 2-goal lead go down our legs against CC at home is a tough way to lead to a loss. I thought Saturday against Omaha we did an excellent job of locking things down defensively (with the exception of maybe 1 of the forwards ). We were able to lock it down with Zmolek out of the lineup, which made it even more impressive. So if we can consistently play that well defensively with a lead, then we can do some good things. But if we show flashes of last year where we lose leads repeatedly, then the hopes for this team go down drastically.

I agree but he’s playing himself into a spot where he shouldn’t be on the ice in a later 1-goal game and should be mostly utilized when on the power play or when scraping our way back into a game. I was terrified with his line on the ice with a little over 2 mins to go because he hasn’t shown ability to change yet. If Blake hadn’t played last night or if he and Perron were switched on lines we night have gotten a shutout because yet again, one of his mistakes led to a goal. I really do want him on our team, badly. But for having played 1.5 years, he should be better on both ends of the puck now. Bumping him to a line with Jammer and Johannes would still be enough fire to get him going but also give him 2 line mates who play the game the right way.

I like this a lot. But I would be nit picky and have jammer at center and strinden on the wing because Jammer is more consistent on faceoffs and Strinden can use his speed and size well on the wing. Other than that I like this. Although I’m still in favor of something changing with Blake to get him with 2 guys that are really good defensively because he’s got a loooong ways to go

Can we at least get a stick tap for Hedquist? The confidence we have in him has to be notably higher than 2 weeks ago. Win or lose tonight he has done his job

No way but if he can’t see that Blake is more of a problem than a solution then he needs a strong cup of coffee

I’d like to see Perron and James swap for a while. At least they are both right handed shots but getting Perron’s speed together with James’ speed could be fun. Plus then Blake gets a little demotion and would be playing with 2 very defensively reliable guys in Jammer and schmaltz. As an aside, it seems like Jammer has been really good this weekend, love the leadership he’s bringing when he’s on the ice.

Time for a serious demotion for Blake. He’s been more of a liability than an asset. Strinden or even Kunz would be better on that line where he’s at.

Giving this a self bump. Ness needs more reps on that 4th line

It’s at least 4, maybe 5

It’s not an energy thing. We are getting outsmarted with structure. They figured out how to kill us in the neutral zone and how to trap us in our own zone

This is a much better D pairing for our top 4 with Zmolek out sick. Would like to see Ness getting more ice than the usual extra skater because he brings more to the table than what his ice time shows. Plays 200 feet really well and knows when to push the offensive side. Sorry to say it but he’s a better all-around player than Albrecht, and I’m in no way trashing Albrecht. Ness just has a more rounded game.

Guessing it was somewhat painful for Adam Wodon to do that

This team has started to defend the same ways we did last year. Blown coverage left and right. Hedquist has gotten the Drew DeRidder treatment this weekend in that he hasn’t gotten the proper D zone assistance that we were providing in October and November

1 SOG during 3 power plays. Thank goodness it went in

With Perron on the 3rd line it’s almost like having a guy with a killer shot out there 3/4 of the game. Love that gaber is away from Omac and Blake and I love that James is in the top 6 where he belongs. Consider me concerned with us not having Persson in. This is bound to be a tight game and every save and shot will count . Let’s commit to some super strong D in our own end please

Yeah we have to get Gaber on a different line altogether because his offensive weapons are not getting properly utilized. We all know what he's capable of and if he gets on a line where he can be popping as a senior, this team could be scary.

Big props to Berry in his press conference today. He sounds like he's holding guys accountable and is making sure that the boys don't take this series lightly. You can tell he's fired up and really wants to make a run in the 2nd half. He also alluded to there being some changes to lines this coming weekend now that all bodies are ready to go. Going to be a heck of a physical series.

Yeah with how tight and physical Alaska plays, it seems very likely that one game gets to OT. I'm guessing we struggle to score in at least one of these games if we haven't made some tweaks.

I actually thought of that season last night after the game. Lost to a couple of nobodies in exhibition, Adam Tambellini left halfway through and then a 4-seed UND team beats Sconnie in Wisconsin and then Ferris double OT. Outplayed the gophs who were more talented in the frozen 4 and still lost on the flukey 0.6 goal. Weird season but man it displayed how incredible of a coach Hakstol was. This years team will be good if we can get offense at tough times in the 2nd half