Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

That setup to Reedy by Sammy moving on net was stellar...Gophers need more of that. Reedy hatty

That was a new formula: Robson lets in every other goal and the team outplays the opponent.

Hope this means Reedy is finally stepping up his play from last year, instead of stepping backwards. Need a few more guys to start playing up to expectations still.

[Happy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

That was a new formula: Robson lets in every other goal and the team outplays the opponent.

Hope this means Reedy is finally stepping up his play from last year, instead of stepping backwards. Need a few more guys to start playing up to expectations still.

Half a season to get used to the new coach, things will be better. It doesn't hurt FSU really sucks.

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

It doesn't hurt FSU really sucks.

Hope the Gophers aren't thinking the same. They have no reason to feel overconfident against anybody. But maybe/hopefully they'll get their first sweep of the season.

[SteveO]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Déjà vu. Gophers had their chances tonight and once again can't find the back of the net giving FSU their first road win (1-9). A very disappointing loss. Apparently as a courtesy to visiting teams, the Gophers like to help struggling teams feel better about themselves when they leave.

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Déjà vu. Gophers had their chances tonight and once again can't find the back of the net giving FSU their first road win (1-9). A very disappointing loss. Apparently as a courtesy to visiting teams, the Gophers like to help struggling teams feel better about themselves when they leave.

It's common for many observers to blame the Gopher D for all the team's woes, and much of the criticism is deserved. But it's primarily the forwards' job to put the puck in the net, and when they only score twice on 46 shots, the blame shifts to them. Coming close doesn't count.

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Giving up 3 goals on consecutive nights to a team like Ferris...not cool. Just sayin'.

[SteveO]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

It's common for many observers to blame the Gopher D for all the team's woes, and much of the criticism is deserved. But it's primarily the forwards' job to put the puck in the net, and when they only score twice on 46 shots, the blame shifts to them. Coming close doesn't count.

Especially against the Bulldogs who are ranked 57th in GA/game (dead last @ 60th in total GA). FR Salmenkangas has let in more goals than any starting goalie in the NCAA.

The problem this season for the Gophers is not a lack of scoring out of the gate. We're ranked 9th in the nation in 1st period goals. But in the 2nd we drop to 16th, not too bad. But in the 3rd, we fall into the basement at 48th, which means we're letting teams back in the game. Ferris State is 9th in the 3rd and that proved true last night with their two in the third for the W. We're even worse in OT...zero goals.

Pure and simple, The Gophers have yet to develop the resilience and the firepower for 60 min. to close teams out. That makes next week's series against Penn St., the #1 scoring team in the NCAA @ 5.22 goals/game, quite a bit more omnious. They lead the nation in even strength goals in all three periods by a long shot.

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Halfway through the season and we still haven't swept anybody! And that includes two teams that are in the bottom 10% of the PairWise, with a combined record of 8-26-2....and we played both of them on home ice!

[SteveO]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Halfway through the season and we still haven't swept anybody! And that includes two teams that are in the bottom 10% of the PairWise, with a combined record of 8-26-2....and we played both of them on home ice!

Yeah...not looking good. The loss last night on home ice was very disappointing. We dropped from 19 to 25 in PWR after that fizzle.

I feel like the next three series: Penn St, Notre Dame (away) and Michigan State (away) could be "make or break" for a shot at the NCAA tourney this season. Splits will keep us above water. But 4/6 Ls out of this stretch and I think our RPI will bury the Gophers deep in the PWR. We close the season playing four currently ranked teams, half of them on the road.

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

I think we're toast in the PWR unless we get some sweeps there (which is unlikely).

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

I think we're toast in the PWR unless we get some sweeps there (which is unlikely).

We're not going anywhere this year. Even if we somehow come back and make the tourney, we're looking at a one-and-done, IMO.

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

We're not going anywhere this year. Even if we somehow come back and make the tourney, we're looking at a one-and-done, IMO.

Agreed 100%, oh wait make that 99%.

[SteveO]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

I think we're toast in the PWR unless we get some sweeps there (which is unlikely).

Not necessarily. We own the comparisons with ND, MSU and PSU. We'll actually get an RPI spike on splits, especially on the road. Albeit not huge.

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Not necessarily. We own the comparisons with ND, MSU and PSU. We'll actually get an RPI spike on splits, especially on the road. Albeit not huge.

I think the point is that it's unlikely. Yes we're not mathematically out of it, but given the very mediocre talent level and the poor effort that we've come to expect the odds strongly favor finishing out of the PWR cutoff. Honestly I was hoping that with the time off away from the rink the team would be rejuvenated and turn the corner for the 2nd half. But there was no evidence that was going to happen this weekend.

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Not necessarily. We own the comparisons with ND, MSU and PSU. We'll actually get an RPI spike on splits, especially on the road. Albeit not huge.

We're ranked 25th in the nation and need to get down to like 13. It might be mathematically possible to move up with a bunch of splits vs top teams and a bunch of other things happening but that's a lot of ground to make up via splits (not to mention they'd actually need to do that which is asking a lot of this squad).