Minnesota @ UND - Friday night game thread

[Blackheart]

Just back to the No-tell Motel here in GF.  What a fun atmosphere for tonight’s game!  Gophers looked like they were ready to play from the start and they jumped on the Sioux right away.  UND never quit moving their feet though and were even after one.  Second period had chances but nobody could cash it in.  Third period, Sioux imposed their will on the Rodents and really limited their offensive chances.  Even up 2 goals in the third, guys were laying on the ice trying to block shots.  Gofers ended up with 2? SOG in the period.  Love the aggressive style UND plays, could be a fun year.

[brianvf]

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-delivers-rivalry-win-over-minnesota-for-raucous-crowd

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"I don't know if I'll experience something like this again — pro hockey or wherever hockey takes me," James said. "I don't think there's a crowd or a fan base that has more passion for their players. I'm grateful to be here and score in front of them."

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"The whole week, you just have that feeling — the energy of the city," Emery said. "You're walking around campus and students are getting fired up for a big series like this. You see it all over Instagram. You really feel it the whole week. Coming in to the game today, you can really feel how special this is. Going out there and playing, it was incredible. There's not going to be much more that tops playing the Gophers in The Ralph."

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UND is now 8-3 in last 11 rivalry games against Minnesota, and 20-3-4 in the last 27 against college hockey teams from the state of Minnesota.

 

[JakeLove]

8 hours ago, nodakgirl93 said:

He must of got the stick on the glove. 

Anything near the hands is supposed to get penalized.. 

[burd]

6 hours ago, Blackheart said:

Just back to the No-tell Motel here in GF.  What a fun atmosphere for tonight’s game!  Gophers looked like they were ready to play from the start and they jumped on the Sioux right away.  UND never quit moving their feet though and were even after one.  Second period had chances but nobody could cash it in.  Third period, Sioux imposed their will on the Rodents and really limited their offensive chances.  Even up 2 goals in the third, guys were laying on the ice trying to block shots.  Gofers ended up with 2? SOG in the period.  Love the aggressive style UND plays, could be a fun year.

Do you remember an atmosphere like that in the last 10 years, Blackheart?

[Oxbow6]

10 hours ago, Wilbur said:

North Dakota wins 5-2.  And honestly I don't think they played that great. 

Totally agree. Definitely wasn't their A game. Maybe their C game. The ceiling for this squad is ridiculously high.

[Oxbow6]

8 hours ago, nodakgirl93 said:

Rickwood does all the little things right. 

As they like to say "He’s a pro's pro". He is sneaky good shift after shift.

Early into this season he's been the best new addition to this squad.

[The Sicatoka]

Immediate returns: Rickwood

We don't yet fully understand what we got: Ollie 

[Wilbur]

The onus is now on @streetsahead to get the Saturday game thread up and going today.  Respect the process.

[bubbaball69]

1 hour ago, burd said:

Do you remember an atmosphere like that in the last 10 years, Blackheart?

When we beat Denver when they were ranked #1 and we were like 10. Atmosphere was crazy.

[streetsahead]

37 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

The onus is now on @streetsahead to get the Saturday game thread up and going today.  Respect the process.

Planning to start it after the football game for maximum visibility. 

[Blackheart]

1 hour ago, burd said:

Do you remember an atmosphere like that in the last 10 years, Blackheart?

Not really, but I don’t make it to many home games.  Minnesota vs Holy Cross in the NCAA regional at REA would probably be the top…this would be right up there.

[Johnny Five]

10 hours ago, Cratter said:

Motzko with some odd body language throughout the game.

Gophers gonna have one of their worst seasons this year? They can barely get any shots on goal in multiple games this year.

Might we be witnessing Motzko's last year?

 

 

Second question?  yes.  It's going to be a loooooong year.

Last question.  I don't think so.  Pipeline is really strong.  Stevie Wonder could see this was coming.  

That being said, UND is really...really....really.....good.

Regarding penalties: I always feel the better skating team will draw more penalties, and UND is the better skating team.

[gfhockey]

16 hours ago, Und Princess said:

Let's Go North Dakota!!! Und Princess means it!!!!

We need  a plisr tonight

[nascar99]

11 hours ago, Cratter said:

Motzko with some odd body language throughout the game.

Gophers gonna have one of their worst seasons this year? They can barely get any shots on goal in multiple games this year.

Might we be witnessing Motzko's last year?

 

2025-26 Minnesota looks very similar to 2024-25 Michigan. Some solid talent, but some recruiting misses/half asses recruited classes/recruits not developing like they thought leads them to be a middle of the pack, bubble team.

[Blackheart]

7 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

We need  a plisr tonight

Who’s with me?  Our quest for a plisr!

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Haven't seen much praise for Smaby on here, but I get the feeling he's the slam dunk hire Shaw was supposed to be.

[nodakgirl93]

25 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Haven't seen much praise for Smaby on here, but I get the feeling he's the slam dunk hire Shaw was supposed to be.

Yes. Really enjoying the aggressive play. Complete 180 from boring Berry hockey. 

[90siouxfan]

Motzko always looks very constipated, among other things. I wonder if he slept well?

[90siouxfan]

1 hour ago, streetsahead said:

Planning to start it after the football game for maximum visibility. 

Your killing me smalls....

 

The football team could win an impromptu war with aliens and take over the world....   but Siouxsports game day thread against the goofs will still be top traffic thread.

[streetsahead]

8 minutes ago, 90siouxfan said:

Your killing me smalls....

 

The football team could win an impromptu war with aliens and take over the world....   but Siouxsports game day thread against the goofs will still be top traffic thread.

Gotta let this thread sit for a while so people can talk last nights game.

And we need to give the football team the proper respect!

But I can certainly start it earlier. Stand by.

[tnt]

1 hour ago, Johnny Five said:

 

Second question?  yes.  It's going to be a loooooong year.

Last question.  I don't think so.  Pipeline is really strong.  Stevie Wonder could see this was coming.  

That being said, UND is really...really....really.....good.

Regarding penalties: I always feel the better skating team will draw more penalties, and UND is the better skating team.

I agree regarding penalties, but that wasn’t the case, most of those were really soft calls both ways.  I know it is the new focus in some cases, but I always like letting the players play in a rivalry game unless it is getting out of control.  That check from behind called on Minnesota was horrible.  
Hopefully they let them play tonight, but no doubt they will try even out the marbles instead.

[tnt]

1 hour ago, nascar99 said:

2025-26 Minnesota looks very similar to 2024-25 Michigan. Some solid talent, but some recruiting misses/half asses recruited classes/recruits not developing like they thought leads them to be a middle of the pack, bubble team.

I think with all they lost on defense I think bubble team was always going to be in the equation, and frankly that may still be the case for us as well.  Remember how like 9-16 fluctuated substantially last year from week to week?   It could be even more so this year with all the new talent infused in most teams.  
We’ve already seen a ton of upsets that seemed improbable.  Going to be even more bubble teams this year.  As bad as we were at times last year, there were games that would have boosted us into the equation if we would have just taken advantage of them.

[RedFrog]

It appeared the team played with tempo the entire night and there was no let up at any point in the 3rd period.  I have been impressed with the effort and conditioning through the first 3 games of the season.

On an unrelated note, no crashes of the NCHC app on Roku last night.

[Sodbuster]

Anybody know if UND had any potential recruits there last night?

[ND_Texan]

I’ll say it again, even though I got mocked for it last time: There’s not a lot of talent on that Gopher squad.