NORTH DAKOTA vs ST. CLOUD Saturday game

[Sioux-cia]

Line the losers up against the wall, players, coaches, equipment manager, the whole lot, get out the AK47s and lets move on to a new team/coaches, etc. It's early in the season, we have time...

[siouxforce19]

I've turned the page.

I'm mentally preparing for Omaha now.

Feel free to join me!

[gfhockey]

do you guys think we played toe to toe with them?

[Goon]

from what I saw this weekend. they are an average team that needed its opponent to stand around all weekend doing nothing in order for it to win. anyone could have walked into the ralph this weekend and won two games, including huntsville, army, sacred heart, holy cross,american international....

Um, I don't think so. Friday's game could have gone either way. It was pretty close. Saturday's game was kind of a stinker. I don't see any of the aforementioned teams coming in here and beating UND.

[Goon]

Goon can you put up the videos of the breakaways? I was a little busy watching the football team do whatever it is that they do.

Goon can not, I have DirecTV, I can put up the low lights of the Bruins getting beat 3-1 by Brock Nelson team though. Sorry!

[Goon]

Line the losers up against the wall, players, coaches, equipment manager, the whole lot, get out the AK47s and lets move on to a new team/coaches, etc. It's early in the season, we have time...

I want to know why you picked the AK-47 the preferred weapon of our enemy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIv_RrgCfWs

[fightingsioux4life]

1) It's UND's system that causes lack of scoring. Off the glass and out for the breakout and then dump it in after gaining the redline. The coaching staff's theory is this, it's trying to reduce mistakes/turnovers etc that could lead to scoring chances for the opposition. Hak is known for this style, especially with freshman in the lineup as they need to "learn" and "adjust" to the college level. This style of play is always noticeable at the beginning of the year. Trying to keep the "risks" low while competing in the game with a probability of winning the game or keeping it close most nights.

2) With that said, the style of play is not a possession game. This is what frustrates me and Hak's style. A possession game is huge, see the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. That's why the Hawks are so successful and tough to play against. To have a team that has the makeup to play a possession game you need speed and skilled players, especially on the bluneliine, a quick transition game. You might take some risks offensively here and there with a mistake that ends up in the back of your net, but last time I checked you have to score goals to win in hockey. It's a lot more fun to watch too. St. Cloud State moved the puck and transitioned better all weekend. You tell me what team was more exciting to watch this weekend. It sure wasn't UND...boring hockey.

3) UND hasn't had a good power play in years. This lies on the coaching staff. You need to find a player on the power play that can gain the zone. Dumping it in and chasing the puck is so ineffiecient. The gophers rarely dump the puck in on a power play. The best NHL teams rarely dump it in. Guys like Kane and Datsyuk are such an asset to their team because their skill and speed allows them to gain the zone on most attempts. Don't buy into this? The NHL is tracking statistical data on this. The ability to gain the zone with speed on the power play is huge! Not only is this crucial on the power play, but even 5-on-5 play. It generates more offensive.

4) UND's inability of scoring is also due to their past recruiting classes and skill sets. There's plenty of parity in college hockey and there's a lot of good college players out there. Not every recruit wants to go to UND and is going to be sold on the program, tradition, and it's facilities. We don't need to land every NHL draft prospect recruit too. Over the last 2-3 years, UND has struggled to find and recruit those good college players. Give them credit on finding Drake, that's a perfect example and great find. UND struggles on scoring because of their players ability and skill set. Mitch, Conner, Step, Derick, both coltyn's, and Chyzk all bring different elements to the team and play a role for the team. You need role players, however that's too much commonality in the lineup with these players and as a result they bring the same skill set to the lineup. They are not able to generate offense. The inability to score or become true scorers, especially at the college level hurts UND. I'm not throwing these players under the bus or claiming by all means they are terrible college players, I'm stating UND has too many players with the same skill set and what they bring to the table. This dispalys their lack of efficiency in generating offense. UND's forward recruits the past few years haven't been great, it's the harsh reality. That's why they can't score and generate more offense.

Agree with all this. Hak's Jacques Lemaire style of offense simply will not work in the NCHC and it has never worked in March and April when we have to go up against those speedy, skilled teams from out east.

[MafiaMan]

anyone could have walked into the ralph this weekend and won two games, including huntsville, army, sacred heart, holy cross,american international....

Holy buckets! Army? Alabama-Huntsville? TWO GAMES? Do you think Hill-Murray or Duluth East would have swept the Sioux too? Stay away from the cyanide caplets today, LOL!

[Wilbur]

Holy buckets! Army? Alabama-Huntsville? TWO GAMES? Do you think Hill-Murray or Duluth East would have swept the Sioux too? Stay away from the cyanide caplets today, LOL!

I'm glad my dad's pios made the list of UND world beaters!

[siouxweet]

Line the losers up against the wall, players, coaches, equipment manager, the whole lot, get out the AK47s and lets move on to a new team/coaches, etc. It's early in the season, we have time...

just whoever coaches the power play. the pp that this program runs is absolutely brutal(especially on 5 minute pp's). not just this year but years past as well. with as many nhl draft picks as und gets it should never be below 25%.

[sprig]

Goon can you put up the videos of the breakaways? I was a little busy watching the football team do whatever it is that they do.

The first one is at the beginning of the highlights on undsports. Not sure, but it looked like the SC dman got his stick on Rocco's hands just as he made the move back to his forehand, which seperated him from the puck, in what looked to be a sure goal. I thought it could have been a penalty, much like the slash on another of his breakaways.

[Wilbur]

just whoever coaches the power play. the pp that this program runs is absolutely brutal(especially on 5 minute pp's). not just this year but years past as well. with as many nhl draft picks as und gets it should never be below 25%.

I just have a tough time getting what the concept of UND's power play is. I mean on a powerplay you are trying to make it into a 2-1 situation somewhere along the line. Whether it be down low to create a backdoor tap in or up high to set up an open one timer towards the net then crash, or a player with space moving towards the net with the puck on his stick, etc.

IMHO way too much indirect passing on UND's powerplay and cycling. There is plenty of space out there. With five on four, someone has got to be open. If they decide to put the pressure box on someone is open if your spacing is adequate.

[Sioux-cia]

I want to know why you picked the AK-47 the preferred weapon of our enemy.

Just to see these young men running in their skivies, why else!?!

[yzerman19]

1) It's UND's system that causes lack of scoring. Off the glass and out for the breakout and then dump it in after gaining the redline. The coaching staff's theory is this, it's trying to reduce mistakes/turnovers etc that could lead to scoring chances for the opposition. Hak is known for this style, especially with freshman in the lineup as they need to "learn" and "adjust" to the college level. This style of play is always noticeable at the beginning of the year. Trying to keep the "risks" low while competing in the game with a probability of winning the game or keeping it close most nights.

2) With that said, the style of play is not a possession game. This is what frustrates me and Hak's style. A possession game is huge, see the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. That's why the Hawks are so successful and tough to play against. To have a team that has the makeup to play a possession game you need speed and skilled players, especially on the bluneliine, a quick transition game. You might take some risks offensively here and there with a mistake that ends up in the back of your net, but last time I checked you have to score goals to win in hockey. It's a lot more fun to watch too. St. Cloud State moved the puck and transitioned better all weekend. You tell me what team was more exciting to watch this weekend. It sure wasn't UND...boring hockey.

3) UND hasn't had a good power play in years. This lies on the coaching staff. You need to find a player on the power play that can gain the zone. Dumping it in and chasing the puck is so ineffiecient. The gophers rarely dump the puck in on a power play. The best NHL teams rarely dump it in. Guys like Kane and Datsyuk are such an asset to their team because their skill and speed allows them to gain the zone on most attempts. Don't buy into this? The NHL is tracking statistical data on this. The ability to gain the zone with speed on the power play is huge! Not only is this crucial on the power play, but even 5-on-5 play. It generates more offensive.

4) UND's inability of scoring is also due to their past recruiting classes and skill sets. There's plenty of parity in college hockey and there's a lot of good college players out there. Not every recruit wants to go to UND and is going to be sold on the program, tradition, and it's facilities. We don't need to land every NHL draft prospect recruit too. Over the last 2-3 years, UND has struggled to find and recruit those good college players. Give them credit on finding Drake, that's a perfect example and great find. UND struggles on scoring because of their players ability and skill set. Mitch, Conner, Step, Derick, both coltyn's, and Chyzk all bring different elements to the team and play a role for the team. You need role players, however that's too much commonality in the lineup with these players and as a result they bring the same skill set to the lineup. They are not able to generate offense. The inability to score or become true scorers, especially at the college level hurts UND. I'm not throwing these players under the bus or claiming by all means they are terrible college players, I'm stating UND has too many players with the same skill set and what they bring to the table. This dispalys their lack of efficiency in generating offense. UND's forward recruits the past few years haven't been great, it's the harsh reality. That's why they can't score and generate more offense.

Good post- I think Miller and Matteau and Lemieux woulda helped...

You know what I see way too much of? Guys that only know how to play systems - I attribute that to doing nothing but organized hockey. We need some good old fashioned improvising like we used to create on the outdoor

[siouxforce19]

Good post- I think Miller and Matteau and Lemieux woulda helped...

You know what I see way too much of? Guys that only know how to play systems - I attribute that to doing nothing but organized hockey. We need some good old fashioned improvising like we used to create on the outdoor

We definitely would lead the league in penalties with them here

[yzerman19]

I'm not upset about losing to St Cloud. What I'm upset about is our persistent inability to generate TEAM offense. Whether it be in the offensive zone or in transition, 5x5 or PP, it just aint there. Our scoring and scoring chances seem to all come from great individual efforts. See Jewels channeling Stevie Y circa 1988 and Rocco Mr. I get many breakaways and not many goals.

I feel like a broken record, but we just don't attack and come through the neutral zone with speed and numbers. You have to be able to make somebody miss one on one and then you need to hit the tape with your passes. It wasn't that long ago that our identity was that of a transition team!

[Rory]

So Hakstols plan is to fall behind early then spend the second half catching up in the pair wise and run out of gas before the end, seems like I have seen this before.

I'm with ya. Crap gets old year after year.

[burd]

I'm not upset about losing to St Cloud. What I'm upset about is our persistent inability to generate TEAM offense. Whether it be in the offensive zone or in transition, 5x5 or PP, it just aint there. Our scoring and scoring chances seem to all come from great individual efforts. See Jewels channeling Stevie Y circa 1988 and Rocco Mr. I get many breakaways and not many goals.

I feel like a broken record, but we just don't attack and come through the neutral zone with speed and numbers. You have to be able to make somebody miss one on one and then you need to hit the tape with your passes. It wasn't that long ago that our identity was that of a transition team!

It's a chip-it-along-the-wall-then-dump transition. Most often, it's a chip-it-along-the-wall-to-covered-winger-and-play-defense transition.

[siouxweet]

I say no premiere steakhouse this weekend for the boys they haven't earned it. to paraphrase alec baldwin in glengarry glen ross; put that steak knife down, steak is for winners only and 2-3-1 doesn't equal winning.

[TNF]

"It's a chip-it-along-the-wall-then-dump transition. Most often, it's a chip-it-along-the-wall-to-covered-winger-and-play-defense transition."

That is what had me the most frustrated. Stetcher was the only player on the ice that seemed to resist this temptation consistently. He was the bright spot on Saturday and it had as much to do with the little things in his game than the fact that he scored.

[Wilbur]

I'm agreeing with pretty much everything thats being said. Two years ago they needed to play goose egg hockey. They had 9 healthy forwards and one line that could score goals.

With this group you've got guys like Drake and Rocco that can create such speed with the puck coming out of the zone. This high off the glass and then red line and in just isn't as effective against good defensive teams. If St. Cloud or any team for that matter has five guys in their defensive end you are going to have a difficult time getting the puck to the net, simple as that. I like the fact that when UND gets a chance they give their defensemen every liberty to jump up into a rush to create more of an advantage when they're attacking with speed. We just haven't seen it a lot because you can't attack with speed when its high off the glass just about every time.

[The Sicatoka]

Not like Blais needs this info but ...

- If UND is at even strength they will try to enter the zone with a two-man game on the right wing between the dot and the boards.

- If UND is up a man they will try to enter the zone between dead center and the left wing dot, and expect that the LD will be bringing it up the middle.

Additional note: if it's 4x4 play UND will play like they are down a man.

[burd]

I'm agreeing with pretty much everything thats being said. Two years ago they needed to play goose egg hockey. They had 9 healthy forwards and one line that could score goals.

With this group you've got guys like Drake and Rocco that can create such speed with the puck coming out of the zone. This high off the glass and then red line and in just isn't as effective against good defensive teams. If St. Cloud or any team for that matter has five guys in their defensive end you are going to have a difficult time getting the puck to the net, simple as that. I like the fact that when UND gets a chance they give their defensemen every liberty to jump up into a rush to create more of an advantage when they're attacking with speed. We just haven't seen it a lot because you can't attack with speed when its high off the glass just about every time.

Their breakout scheme at this point seems predictable and easy to forecheck. That keep-it-on-the-perimeter mentality has our D constantly passing to a stationary (and covered) target along the boards. Maybe those aren't turnovers--call 'em turnbacks, because that's what happens most of the time.

[scpa0305]

I'm not upset about losing to St Cloud. What I'm upset about is our persistent inability to generate TEAM offense. Whether it be in the offensive zone or in transition, 5x5 or PP, it just aint there. Our scoring and scoring chances seem to all come from great individual efforts. See Jewels channeling Stevie Y circa 1988 and Rocco Mr. I get many breakaways and not many goals.

I feel like a broken record, but we just don't attack and come through the neutral zone with speed and numbers. You have to be able to make somebody miss one on one and then you need to hit the tape with your passes. It wasn't that long ago that our identity was that of a transition team!

I hear ya....those losses were painful to watch. We we get up 1....our team looks absolutely terrible. The best our team looks is right off the faceoff of a 0-0 game, after that it's all down hill.

[Blackheart]

I think you need to give SCSU more credit...However, we are/should be one of the Alabamas of college hockey.

Huntsville?