Badgers at Gophers ?

[Snickers]

Any comments on this great match up this weekend who will win and why?

[ARM]

Any comments on this great match up this weekend who will win and why?I hope it is a great match up. Too often in the last couple of years it has looked more like "The Far Side" cartoon where a steamroller runs over the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Wisconsin has won the last seven games played in Minneapolis.

The Gophers are aware of that streak. They are anxious for it to end. The Gophs have been playing well. Good enough to beat the Badgers? Probably not, but then I don't think they've played as well as they are capable of playing either. I'd say Minnesota has to score at least 3 goals to win. We'll find out whether or not the Wisconsin defense is back to the suffocating level of past years.

[BigT]

Gophers with the sweep. why? Marvin, McKenzie and Ross

[Snickers]

Badgers answer with Zaugg Duggan Lawler Sanders Knight Deluce

[RStarr]

Badgers answer with Knight, Sanders and Zaugg...In reality it will probably be Giles, Kesley and Duggan.


I want a Badger sweep, but I would be just as happy with a split (or a tie)

[RStarr]

I hope it is a great match up. Too often in the last couple of years it has looked more like "The Far Side" cartoon where a steamroller runs over the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Wisconsin has won the last seven games played in Minneapolis.
By chance, do you know the record for when they play at the Kohl? The last series between these two teams this season ended up with a Minny 3-2 win after going up 3-0. And the Gophers are hott on a 20 game win streak...Despite Wisco's record in Minneapolis, the Gophers are going to be tough to beat.

[ARM]

By chance, do you know the record for when they play at the Kohl?Over the same period? UW leads 3-2-1 over the past three seasons in games played in Wisco'. Prior to that, Minnesota had the better results in either state.

[CrazyDave]

I want a Badger sweep, but I would be just as happy with a split (or a tie)

Even as a Gopher fan, I cannot argue with the second half of that statement.

Why? Given the current standings, the Gophers need only a single point to retain the second seed in the conference and leave the Badgers third. If UMD forfeits their victories from earlier, the Gophers will only need a split to win the conference title and leave the Badgers second. ;)

My prediction is that the Gophers will get at least 3 points out of the weekend. I'm not necessarily predicting a Gopher sweep, but I don't think Bucky will be able to break the Gopher's undefeated streak.

One thing for certain -- the Badgers better stay out of the box if they hope to have any chance.

[ARM]

I'm not necessarily predicting a Gopher sweep, but I don't think Bucky will be able to break the Gopher's undefeated streak.February 16, 2002 -- the Badgers end the longest unbeaten streak in Gopher history at 24 games. Unfortunately, there is a precedent.:(

One thing for certain -- the Badgers better stay out of the box if they hope to have any chance.They do. At 9.5 PMI/Game, 'Sconi' is one of the least penalized teams in the country.

[CrazyDave]

DOH! :eek:

[brookyone]

Gophers with the sweep. why? Marvin, McKenzie and Ross
As instrumental as Gigi, Mac & Bobbi are to the Gophers success, I tend to think it will require a very strong, nearly mistake free effort from the whole roster to take points from UW this weekend. I doubt Minnesota will enjoy a puck possession edge vs. UW as they have against some other WCHA opponents...so the strong effort will obviously need to be at both ends, and or, without the puck...the mistake free part, in their own end particularly. IMO, it will be the Gophers that need to stay out of the box...while I hope...almost expect Minnesota to create enough pressure, maybe force UW to up those penalty minutes a little. The Gophers have been producing a number of nice "Bang Bang" scoring plays of late, both on the PP and at even strength. Hope to see that continue this weekend. It's a tough task with Lawler on the ice...she's a real thorn with always strong play in her own end...who seems to specialize in picking off centering passes from the side boards and behind the net.

[binnyrus]

I nearly have to grit my teeth in saying it, but I too think the Goofs will sweep.

Bucky doesn't have the team speed nor the experience at the blue line to keep up with the Gophers. If the Gophers play their game, stay out of the box (WI actually had more penalties than UMD did two weeks ago! Maybe a first in the Johnson era.), and have decent passing they'll be fine. Vetter still seems more susceptible than the last couple of seasons (D again) which will give those high-powered Gophers plenty of good chances.

Of course, I hope I'm wrong. The Goofer goalie will still need to play very good and hustle to the puck will mean everything. It'll be a great warm-up for the WCHA tournament for both teams.

[Snickers]

Nash scores first goal for Bucky

[RStarr]

Nash scores first goal for Bucky
I'll go with Keseley.


Or Sanders. With 14 goals on the season, only one less than team leaders Zaugg, Duggan, and Knight, she tends to fly under the radar.

[binnyrus]

Lawler

[brookyone]

I don't care who scores first for Minnesota...or second...or third...

[CrazyDave]

I don't care who scores first for Minnesota...or second...or third...

or fourth or fifth... :D

[Snickers]

Starr second time how do u know so much about Sanders just asking?

[RStarr]

Starr second time how do u know so much about Sanders just asking?
I know that she is a good player with a knack for the net. I also think that she has the potential to be a leader on this team. But I don't consider myself to know any more than anyone else that follows women's hockey as closely as I do... :confused:

[WHKY blogger]

Preview from Minnesota (http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=1394351)

Preview from Wisconsin (http://uwbadgers.com/sport_news/whky/headlines/story.html?sportid=138&storyid=13134)