Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Thread 2017-18 Part II
Gophers got off to a rough start, but I thought the push back effort from the second period onward was very good. Unfortunately this weekend, with the only exception being Ramsey's goal in the 2nd tonight, all the scoring came from one line: Mittelstadt (3), Reedy (3), Pitlick (1). Sheehy, Gates Jr., Novak, Szmatula have all lit the lamp in previous weeks, but shot blanks for the entire series. A revived PP with 4 total PPGs was sorely needed, but we didn't have enough guys stepping up 5x5 this weekend.
Throughout the series, both goalies struggled between the pipes which surprised me. Going into the weekend, I thought the goaltending situation was firming up with Robson, but tonight Schierhorn's SV% was .823, last night Robson was .862. Allowing 21 Gs in 4 straight losses is on both the D and the netminders.
First time the season schedule closed for the Gophers before the NCAA tournament with 4 consecutive losses to the same team. With all the seasonal talent the Gophers recruit, the new low certainly raises questions about the direction of the Gopher hockey program going forward. And a 5th consecutive loss in the first round of the NCAAs will most definitely amplify the voices calling for a leadership change. Is this season the beginning of Don Lucia's swan song? All things considered, it could be although an NCAA win may soften things a bit.
Gophers got off to a rough start, but I thought the push back effort from the second period onward was very good. Unfortunately this weekend, with the only exception being Ramsey's goal in the 2nd tonight, all the scoring came from one line: Mittelstadt (3), Reedy (3), Pitlick (1). Sheehy, Gates Jr., Novak, Szmatula have all lit the lamp in previous weeks, but shot blanks for the entire series. A revived PP with 4 total PPGs was sorely needed, but we didn't have enough guys stepping up 5x5 this weekend.
Throughout the series, both goalies struggled between the pipes which surprised me. Going into the weekend, I thought the goaltending situation was firming up with Robson, but tonight Schierhorn's SV% was .823, last night Robson was .862. Allowing 21 Gs in 4 straight losses is on both the D and the netminders.
First time the season schedule closed for the Gophers before the NCAA tournament with 4 consecutive losses to the same team. With all the seasonal talent the Gophers recruit, the new low certainly raises questions about the direction of the Gopher hockey program going forward. And a 5th consecutive loss in the first round of the NCAAs will most definitely amplify the voices calling for a leadership change. Is this season the beginning of Don Lucia's swan song? All things considered, it could be although an NCAA win may soften things a bit.
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