Sioux vs the Gophers round 2 tonight.

[fightingsioux4life]

I want to believe in this team, but every step forward is followed by another step back. This Gopher team is not strong on the blueline and not strong in goal. If you put pressure on their defensemen and get some good shots on their goaltender (I don't care which one), you will create scoring opportunities and get some goals. We did that in the third period on Friday and the last 5 minutes or so tonight. But we didn't do it enough over the weekend. And that is why we are still .500 in the league, still haven't swept at home and still have a lot of work to do before the second half. I hope this time off will help them like it did last year.

[Fighting Sioux Fan]

After what I had heard about UM's D coming into this series, I was impressed by how well they played defense as a team! They collapsed around the net and gave UND very little chance to do anything and they shut down the cycle which is usually how UND sets up thier goals by getting the other team out of position. I think this series is going to give UM the boost they need to start the new year. Watch UM get hot now. As for what happens to UND, who knows? Hopefully they got yelled at in the locker room after the game about played a sixty minute game...

[happy]

Good Lord, now you're starting to sound like Wooger. I could see giving Lammy two minutes on that, but guys get away with a lot more than that. It was basically a love tap, which is why the ref didn't do anything about that.

Gophers played better than the Sioux tonight (probably both nights) and got the win. Be happy, Happy, but don't start complaining about little bumps like that. This isn't Disney on Ice, nor do I think any of us want it to be.

actually, I just wanted to point out that I don't think the reffing was all that good, and if a sue fan is going to go back and change one screw up, a gopher fan might as well go back and change another. And, UND had plenty of chances to stop that goal, at least 6 or 7 players touched that puck after it made it into the zone. the offsides call should have been called, but I am sure we could go back, and find a missed call that helped the sue. I personally think that oshie had a kicking motion, but I am like woog, I want to see a player shoot the Puck, not tip it in with a blade.

[USA Hockey]

After what I had heard about UM's D coming into this series, I was impressed by how well they played defense as a team! They collapsed around the net and gave UND very little chance to do anything and they shut down the cycle which is usually how UND sets up thier goals by getting the other team out of position. I think this series is going to give UM the boost they need to start the new year. Watch UM get hot now. As for what happens to UND, who knows? Hopefully they got yelled at in the locker room after the game about played a sixty minute game...

I totally agree, strategically the Gopher d-men played very well all weekend.

[Fetch]

even hurt TJ Oshie is better than everyone on the ice - maybe even better, because he is slowed down & use his body to control the puck - Get Well TJ

[fightingsioux4life]

After what I had heard about UM's D coming into this series, I was impressed by how well they played defense as a team! They collapsed around the net and gave UND very little chance to do anything and they shut down the cycle which is usually how UND sets up thier goals by getting the other team out of position. I think this series is going to give UM the boost they need to start the new year. Watch UM get hot now. As for what happens to UND, who knows? Hopefully they got yelled at in the locker room after the game about played a sixty minute game...

I am not convinced that the Rodents are all of a sudden a solid defensive team. They looked solid for long stretches Friday and Saturday night, but some of that was a lack of energy and forechecking on our part. When we did get momentum in the offensive zone (which didn't happen much this weekend), we were able to generate chances and they had trouble getting it out (the third period on Friday and the last five minutes of tonights game). They did collapse around the net this weekend and it was effective, but I think they went into a shell a little too much tonight and it almost cost them. The Rodents have struggled in the third period this season (the Saturday Anchorage game in Minneapolis comes to mind). Minnesota still has some improvements to make on the blueline before the playoffs.

Also, I don't think their goaltending is all that great. Sometimes Frazee will look solid, then he'll give up a goal that he shouldn't and the momentum will shift because of it. Kangus is a young player who still has to learn how to win at this level. Our second goal tonight is what turned the tide and almost led to a tie game and overtime. Minnesota is very good up front, but they still have to develop their defensemen and goaltenders if they want to make a run in the playoffs. They needed a good weekend and some league points and they got it in a tough environment. But I will believe in their defense and goaltending when they do it on a week to week basis.

[Fighting Sioux Fan]

Frazee is an OK goalie. If he had to face the onslaught that JPL faced on Friday night from UND, we would have seen Kangas in the net on Friday. That is why UND needs to start getting more shots on net and bombard the goalie! Make thier goalie win the game...

[fightingsioux4life]

Frazee is an OK goalie. If he had to face the onslaught that JPL faced on Friday night from UND, we would have seen Kangas in the net on Friday. That is why UND needs to start getting more shots on net and bombard the goalie! Make thier goalie win the game...

Frazee is more talented and more consistent than Kellen Briggs was, but he still has some occasional lapses that cost his team games or momentum in games. Kangas is an unproven commodity at this point and we didn't do anything to test him tonight until the very end.

Getting shots on net is important, but it's quality scoring opportunites that can either win or lose games for you. I hate it when we put 30 shots on goal and most of them are not good scoring opportunties and then we have to hear about "running into a hot goaltender". Get guys in front of the net, screen the goaltender, get some tip-ins, crash the net, ect. Sometimes we don't do that enough and it is one of the reasons for our up and down offense this year.

[franchise]

actually, I just wanted to point out that I don't think the reffing was all that good, and if a sue fan is going to go back and change one screw up, a gopher fan might as well go back and change another. And, UND had plenty of chances to stop that goal, at least 6 or 7 players touched that puck after it made it into the zone. the offsides call should have been called, but I am sure we could go back, and find a missed call that helped the sue. I personally think that oshie had a kicking motion, but I am like woog, I want to see a player shoot the Puck, not tip it in with a blade.

But I'm sure that Woog and yourself were just fine with the MN goal that went off Bina's skate on Friday. No stick, no goal right?

[passit_offthegoalie]

dude, happy is from minnesota. the state of hockey. ... if it were up to him the game would be a lot purer like if redirects were just done away with all together, and if your team loses posession of the puck you should be penalized.

[soohockey15]

Alright, time for some thoughts on the weekend...and no one roll their eyes. I'll be objective as possible.

After watching the Gophers play on T.V. so far this year, i figured we were gonna see a team that was a lot worse than what we saw this weekend. They were pretty good. But pretty good is it. The sioux were outplayed for AT LEAST 105 of the 120 minutes this weekend. They were faster, worked harder, beat us to nearly EVERY foot race and were so so much stronger in the corners that it all most made me sick. If their defense played at about a 7 on the weekend, ours played at about a 2. No excuse for the odd-man rushes...if you try to pinch and miss the puck...take the body. Not hard. Bina is torched because of this frequently and is behind the play often. Finley played alright and he was the best on the ice tonight at D. And he only played alright.

The forwards are a mess. Vandy mentioned after the game that the sioux just weren't getting the bounces. Well...they were because had they not been getting the bounces it was a 4-0 game and not a 4-3 game. All three goals were on broken plays and fortunate bounces. Absolutely zero production from anyone but the Oshie line. Someone mentioned that a hurt Oshie is still the best forward for the Sioux and thats dead on. Some of these forwards are young..but not all. Miller isn't, Kaip isn't, Martens isn't, Kozek and Watkins aren't. Our forward group isn't very good and doesn't create anything. Couple that will an effort that left something to be desired and your just flat out screwed.

Good news? Plenty of time to right the ship. Yeah yea we've seen this before...their just building up for a late season run. But they don't have a Stafford and Travis Zajac from 05' or a healthy Toews for the stretch run like last year. And i stress Travis on the Zajac because Darcy was the worst player on the ice by leaps and bounds this weekend. Here's to turning it around and fast because we were awful fortunate for a split this weekend.

Rant Over

[redwing77]

Hey Happy,

Remind me... with that justification..... Chucko never scored a single goal for the Gophers, right? When Oshie scored that goal, the first thing out of my mouth was: "HOLY COW! A CHUCKO SPECIAL!"

So, go ahead, tell me none of those goals that happened to "bounce" off of Chucko's skate into the net are goals. They were and Oshie's was too.

Anyways, solid lack of effort tonight. Surprised to see we ended up the night only down one goal. We played like we should have been down 10.

Seriously...what's it going to take to put two consecutive games together against the same team?

We go on the road against UNH right? So, we'll lose two games consecutively before beating UNH on saturday? Seriously, this trend is retarded.

And it was nice to know that Minnesota let us get back into the game at the end. I seriously thought they'd be greedy and not make all those mistakes.

This ship needs to get fixed up. NOW.

[clarkegs]

Two refs and two linesmen, you'd think they could figure out offsides.

You might want to go back to Hockey 101. It wasn't offsides. The Gopher player clearly was in the zone before the puck, but the Sioux player was the one who knocked the puck back into his zone. Anyone who is educated about hockey would understand this is not an offside violation!

From the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Book:

Preceding Puck into Attacking Zone

SECTION 38. a. Players of an attacking team must not precede the puck

into the attacking zone. For violation of this rule, the play shall be stopped

and the puck faced off in the neutral zone at the face-off spot nearest the

attacking zone of the offending team, if the puck was “carried” offside.

The face-off shall be at the origin of the pass, if passed offside.

A player in full control of the puck who crosses the blue line ahead of the

puck shall not be considered offside.

b. If the puck is intercepted cleanly by a member of the defending team

and is carried or passed by the player’s team into the neutral zone, the

offside shall be ignored and play permitted to continue, even if a member

of the attacking team has preceded the puck into the attacking zone.

(Officials shall carry out this rule by means of the slow whistle.)

c. If a player legally carries or passes the puck back into his or her own

defending zone while a player of the opposing team is in that defending

zone, the offside shall be ignored and play permitted to continue.

That said you could probably argue whether or not the Siox player had complete control of the puck.

[SiouxFanatic]

We go on the road against UNH right? So, we'll lose two games consecutively before beating UNH on saturday? Seriously, this trend is retarded.

The UNH games are a home series. So there's a good chance we win on the Friday .

[SiouxForever]

Alright, time for some thoughts on the weekend...and no one roll their eyes. I'll be objective as possible.

After watching the Gophers play on T.V. so far this year, i figured we were gonna see a team that was a lot worse than what we saw this weekend. They were pretty good. But pretty good is it. The sioux were outplayed for AT LEAST 105 of the 120 minutes this weekend. They were faster, worked harder, beat us to nearly EVERY foot race and were so so much stronger in the corners that it all most made me sick. If their defense played at about a 7 on the weekend, ours played at about a 2. No excuse for the odd-man rushes...if you try to pinch and miss the puck...take the body. Not hard. Bina is torched because of this frequently and is behind the play often. Finley played alright and he was the best on the ice tonight at D. And he only played alright.

The forwards are a mess. Vandy mentioned after the game that the sioux just weren't getting the bounces. Well...they were because had they not been getting the bounces it was a 4-0 game and not a 4-3 game. All three goals were on broken plays and fortunate bounces. Absolutely zero production from anyone but the Oshie line. Someone mentioned that a hurt Oshie is still the best forward for the Sioux and thats dead on. Some of these forwards are young..but not all. Miller isn't, Kaip isn't, Martens isn't, Kozek and Watkins aren't. Our forward group isn't very good and doesn't create anything. Couple that will an effort that left something to be desired and your just flat out screwed.

Good news? Plenty of time to right the ship. Yeah yea we've seen this before...their just building up for a late season run. But they don't have a Stafford and Travis Zajac from 05' or a healthy Toews for the stretch run like last year. And i stress Travis on the Zajac because Darcy was the worst player on the ice by leaps and bounds this weekend. Here's to turning it around and fast because we were awful fortunate for a split this weekend.

Rant Over

I agree, pretty good reflection of the game and the weekend in general by soohockey. After seeing both games I think that the sioux were very lucky to come away with a win Friday night. This team is just lacking in so many phases of the game to be consider an above average WCHA team. The lack of offense and excitement that this team creates for me is hard to watch. This team lacks a lot of key elements of past great Sioux teams. A few things that really bother me are the breakouts and transitioning and along with that, puck possession. This team doesn't have the smooth breakouts and passing skills of forming teams as well as an effective offense attack. This team is a one line team with Oshie, Duncan, and Vandy, after that the offense just tails off and is really ineffective and cannot generate scoring chances.

Also, the powerplay looked so out of synch and has all year. With all the skill out there on that first powerplay unit, I really don't understand why the powerplay in general hasn't been more effective. For the second powerplay unit, all I have to say is find the right people for it and stick with them. I am sick of seeing different players playing on the second powerplay unit one night and then the next night rolls around and we see someone else. I could be wrong on this, but wasn't Martens on the second powerplay unit friday night and then tonight he was obviously a scratch? Talk about not developing consistency let a lone chemistry with a unit when you have different players on that unit every game. I am not Hak, but I think with this team the way it is you have to have Frattin, Kaip, Trupp, and then Genoway and develop Marto on that second powerplay unit, those are your best options of players and talent to give this team somewhat a more realistic powerplay unit that may generate scoring chances when out there.

[Oxbow6]

This is now 4 straight sub-par games at home. Stalock was aweful Fri. vs. UMD and we got the win and this Fri. JPL stole one.

JPL is no where near a/the problem for this team. With his save % and GAA, this should not be a .500 WCHA team.

The D lapses that occur in games like last night and in prior loses are mind boggling. I thought Bina was aweful all weekend. LaPointe stuggled Fri. Chorney was aweful last night and Marto didn't play well either. The D play this year has really been a disappointment in many games.

The offense is up and down at best. They looked lost as to get anything going all weekend. No consistant play from any lines offensively even though the top line has good moments. Zajac and Miller, to name 2, give us nothing night in and out.

But I feel the biggest issue if effort/urgency! I took some (different) buddies who don't get to UND ever often on both nights and to a person they commented on how "slow" and "lazy" UND looked. UND won 1 period all weekend...Friday's 3rd. If you want to count last night's 3rd to make yourself feel better go ahead.

Maybe Gophs aren't that bad from what I saw this weekend, but I'm leaning towards UND might not be as good as originally advertised. Because there is no excuse to play the way they have played at home this year, especially the past to series against, at best, decent teams in UMD and UM.

Toughest part of the WCHA schedules is over but we can't sweep at home and unfortunately there is going to be some road weekend that we don't play well and maybe get swept? So then where are we?? More than likely around .500 in the WCHA when it is all said and done. Unless we get the second half surge for the 4th year in a row???

[soohockey15]

This is now 4 straight sub-par games at home. Stalock was aweful Fri. vs. UMD and we got the win and this Fri. JPL stole one.

JPL is no where near a/the problem for this team. With his save % and GAA, this should not be a .500 WCHA team.

The D lapses that occur in games like last night and in prior loses are mind boggling. I thought Bina was aweful all weekend. LaPointe stuggled Fri. Chorney was aweful last night and Marto didn't play well either. The D play this year has really been a disappointment in many games.

The offense is up and down at best. They looked lost as to get anything going all weekend. No consistant play from any lines offensively even though the top line has good moments. Zajac and Miller, to name 2, give us nothing night in and out.

But I feel the biggest issue if effort/urgency! I took some (different) buddies who don't get to UND ever often on both nights and to a person they commented on how "slow" and "lazy" UND looked. UND won 1 period all weekend...Friday's 3rd. If you want to count last night's 3rd to make yourself feel better go ahead.

Maybe Gophs aren't that bad from what I saw this weekend, but I'm leaning towards UND might not be as good as originally advertised. Because there is no excuse to play the way they have played at home this year, especially the past to series against, at best, decent teams in UMD and UM.

Toughest part of the WCHA schedules is over but we can't sweep at home and unfortunately there is going to be some road weekend that we don't play well and maybe get swept? So then where are we?? More than likely around .500 in the WCHA when it is all said and done. Unless we get the second half surge for the 4th year in a row???

Agreed completely on the Lamoureux bit, but have to disagree about that other part. This is a .500 WCHA team. It's not their fault all you guys crowned them before the season but I said on earlier posts before this season that they will have to rely on one line to produce and thats gonna catch up to them badly. Looking at their roster I saw no reason to believe anyone besides the top line would score. If you couple that with terrible coverage in your D-zone (which is not just defenceman, the forwards are terrible at covering the points and they run around and chase a lot) your working towards disaster. Toews made those other two A LOT better. Not saying they aren't talented in their own right, but if they are a 6 this year on the talent/effectiveness scale, then they were a 200 with Toews centering.

[soohockey15]

Other than that Oxbow...GREAT weekend summary. You nailed the up and down offense and just Extremely extremely disappointing play of Zajac. He absolutely looks like a fish out of water. Never in my life have i seen a D-1 college hockey player let a puck bounce of his stick on a tape to tape pass so many times. Should never happen. I see mighty mites able to catch those. (Yes smart guys i know they pass harder in college)

[soohockey15]

I agree, pretty good reflection of the game and the weekend in general by soohockey. After seeing both games I think that the sioux were very lucky to come away with a win Friday night. This team is just lacking in so many phases of the game to be consider an above average WCHA team. The lack of offense and excitement that this team creates for me is hard to watch. This team lacks a lot of key elements of past great Sioux teams. A few things that really bother me are the breakouts and transitioning and along with that, puck possession. This team doesn't have the smooth breakouts and passing skills of forming teams as well as an effective offense attack. This team is a one line team with Oshie, Duncan, and Vandy, after that the offense just tails off and is really ineffective and cannot generate scoring chances.

Also, the powerplay looked so out of synch and has all year. With all the skill out there on that first powerplay unit, I really don't understand why the powerplay in general hasn't been more effective. For the second powerplay unit, all I have to say is find the right people for it and stick with them. I am sick of seeing different players playing on the second powerplay unit one night and then the next night rolls around and we see someone else. I could be wrong on this, but wasn't Martens on the second powerplay unit friday night and then tonight he was obviously a scratch? Talk about not developing consistency let a lone chemistry with a unit when you have different players on that unit every game. I am not Hak, but I think with this team the way it is you have to have Frattin, Kaip, Trupp, and then Genoway and develop Marto on that second powerplay unit, those are your best options of players and talent to give this team somewhat a more realistic powerplay unit that may generate scoring chances when out there.

Ha great points sir, and doesn't Martens out on the Second Unit for power play sum up the lack of talent we have to throw out there right now? Because thats what a power play is, you throw out your skill guys and let them do their thing.

Now, with that said, I have to disagree about chemistry on the power play. 5 v. 4 is much different than 5 v. 5 when talking about chemistry simply because when with the man advantage you should know already what the plan is. You work on specific things in practice to set up shots from the slot, or to pull d-men over with your points and set up one timers/back door plays/etc. The Sioux are just struggling because when other teams use a pressure penalty kill they are failing to make that one extra pass, because simply put...if they all have one guy covered...someone is open. For that to work, however, you must make quick short passes to set up the long back door pass. They'll work on it i'm sure, but they need to start scoring on special teams because the future doesn't look to extremely bright for even strength.

p.s. beyond the first line Hak could switch up the other three lines on a nightly basis and i wouldn't notice simply because they all do the same thing anyway.

[Oxbow6]

Agreed completely on the Lamoureux bit, but have to disagree about that other part. This is a .500 WCHA team. It's not their fault all you guys crowned them before the season but I said on earlier posts before this season that they will have to rely on one line to produce and thats gonna catch up to them badly. Looking at their roster I saw no reason to believe anyone besides the top line would score. If you couple that with terrible coverage in your D-zone (which is not just defenceman, the forwards are terrible at covering the points and they run around and chase a lot) your working towards disaster. Toews made those other two A LOT better. Not saying they aren't talented in their own right, but if they are a 6 this year on the talent/effectiveness scale, then they were a 200 with Toews centering.

There in lies the a big answer with this year's team...Toews was really THAT good. And his absence is shown/felt more that I thought it would be this year even with all the other returning talent we had coming back. I still feel this is a very talented group, but they just don't show you anything on consecutive nights to get you excited about March/April...at least not yet.

[Goon]

6-6-0 in the WCHA. Not exzaclty the "fast start" the team was looking for, is it?

It is better than the 4-7-1 start of last season. I think UND played for 26 1/2 minutes this weekend and got 2 points and almost pulled the game off last night. That is unsatisfactory. If the boys can't be ready to play against the Goofers they need to have their pulse checked. Minnesota is not a good team and they peed one down their leg last night.

I think UND should send the league office the tape where they missed a obvious offsides that lead to a goofer goal. That is unsatisfactory.

Finally; Campion is a horse bleep official, call me a I don't give an ef, the penalty on Wheeler dive was horrible. Unfortunately, the Sioux team gave up a goal before the power play. Campion was just waiting to call a penalty against UND. Also the reviewing of the goals was over the top. Everyone knows that Oshies goal off the skate was an obvious NON-kicking motion.

Edited December 9, 2007 by Goon

[Bob in Wisconsin]

FYI, if your were at the game, but want to see it on TV, looks like it's replayed on FSN today at 1230pm. On TV, I saw a few pucks go into the crowd, anyone here get one?

[Goon]

I was at the game last night, not drunk or drinking but I don't remember this big kicking motion that the Goofer fans are whinning about. Can someone tell me when that was so I can review it on the DVR?

[Siouxdonyms]

I was at the game last night, not drunk or drinking but I don't remember this big kicking motion that the Goofer fans are whinning about. Can someone tell me when that was so I can review it on the DVR?

14:46 into the period or with 6:14 remaining in the first. His skate was moving forward a little bit, due to his body turning, but it wasn't a distinct kicking motion.

[Goon]

14:46 into the period or with 6:14 remaining in the first. His skate was moving forward a little bit, due to his body turning, but it wasn't a distinct kicking motion.

Goofer fans were calling Phil a hack for that play over on Gopherlovefeast.com I will have to review the tape when I get home from work.