‘We Had It’: Gophers Fall In Heartbreak Fashion To Quinnipiac In The National Championship

[GopherHole Staff]

“We had it,” Gophers head coach Bob Motzko said. “We had it. That one is going to sting.”

'We Had It': Gophers Fall In Heartbreak Fashion To Quinnipiac In The National Championship - GopherHole.com

Gophers fall in the National Championship in heartbreaking fashion to end what was such a promising season.

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[Ewert86PC]

You play to win. You don't play to not lose.

 

[Nax5]

What a huge comeback by Quinnipiac. They did everything they could to stay in it.

And as usual, MN is at the losing end. This is probably the closest we'll get to sniffing a championship in MN for quite a few years...F#$%.

 

[beavergopher]

You play to win. You don't play to not lose.

Yup! On their heels the whole third period and then punctuated with the stupid penalty. How predictable was this.

 

[Outsider]

As predictable as sending only one forechecker once we got a two goal lead. Stupid prevent defense prevents you from winning.

 

[46Gophers]

You're right Bob, you did "Have it", until you overcoached the team and went into a total shell after you had the lead. Take a good hard look in the mirror, it should sting since you are seeing the person whose late strategy was a main cause for the loss.

 

[denguegopher]

You're right Bob, you did "Have it", until you overcoached the team and went into a total shell after you had the lead. Take a good hard look in the mirror, it should sting since you are seeing the person whose late strategy was a main cause for the loss.

Reminded me of Glen Mason's teams strategy at holding a lead...

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Reminded me of Glen Mason's teams strategy at holding a lead...

Especially when contrasted with the QU coach pushing his chips in with the goalie pull on the powerplay and several minutes to play. At the time I though, "I think coaches tend to wait too long, but this feels too risky." Credit to him, though. He liked the way the game flow was going, trusted his players, and went for it.

 

[bonin21]

Unfortunately the pathetic showing yesterday is what will be most associated with this year's team.

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

 

[GophersFan12345]

What a huge comeback by Quinnipiac. They did everything they could to stay in it.

And as usual, MN is at the losing end. This is probably the closest we'll get to sniffing a championship in MN for quite a few years...F#$%.

It sucked but the 1989 overtime loss to Harvard was more painful since the national championship game was in Minnesota but I am already over this loss, at least Gophers had a great season and already have won 5 national championships, Gophers should regroup and focus on next year and try to go back to the national championship

 

[Nax5]

It sucked but the 1989 overtime loss to Harvard was more painful since the national championship game was in Minnesota but I am already over this loss, at least Gophers had a great season and already have won 5 national championships, Gophers should regroup and focus on next year and try to go back to the national championship

I can appreciate the optimism. But we also haven't won in 20 years...That's ancient history in this fast-moving world. Wisconsin has a more recent championship than we do. And more championships to boot!

What's going on in the "state of hockey"?

 

[Bad Gopher]

I swear, when they showed the stat of how they were 22-0 in games they led going into the third period, I immediately thought of Gary Anderson having not missed a kick all year. I felt a wave of dread come over me. When the Gophs went into the prevent, a tying goal felt inevitable.

 

[GoodasGold]

Reminded me of Glen Mason's teams strategy at holding a lead...

Fleck would’ve called a timeout.

 

[GoodasGold]

I swear, when they showed the stat of how they were 22-0 in games they led going into the third period, I immediately thought of Gary Anderson having not missed a kick all year. I felt a wave of dread come over me. When the Gophs went into the prevent, a tying goal felt inevitable.

I felt a little chill when Midellstadt said after the first period: “we don’t have anything to worry about”

 

[denguegopher]

I swear, when they showed the stat of how they were 22-0 in games they led going into the third period, I immediately thought of Gary Anderson having not missed a kick all year. I felt a wave of dread come over me. When the Gophs went into the prevent, a tying goal felt inevitable.

Same here. That was creepy.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Same here. That was creepy.

As God is my witness, I think they put the Anderson stat on screen in the fourth quarter of that NFC title game. Are the gods not already angry enough that you have to shake a fist at them?!

 

[alchemy2u]

That was a major coaching failure!!!!

That was one of the best teams the Gophers have ever had. Coach called off the dogs after the 2 goal lead and lost the game. You can not let the other team just fire away and then just reload and come back in the zone. It is a shame to not let the team win the game. You could tell the team was getting nervous and started to make mistakes in the 3rd period after getting hammered over ans over again. Q has a good team, but not as good as we made them look. It should have ended up about 5-1 Gophers.

 

[BleedGopher]

I felt a little chill when Midellstadt said after the first period: “we don’t have anything to worry about”

I agree. It’s one thing to be relaxed and calm, but I was surprised how cavalier that comment was.

Go Gophers!!

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

That was a major coaching failure!!!!

That was one of the best teams the Gophers have ever had. Coach called off the dogs after the 2 goal lead and lost the game. You can not let the other team just fire away and then just reload and come back in the zone. It is a shame to not let the team win the game. You could tell the team was getting nervous and started to make mistakes in the 3rd period after getting hammered over ans over again. Q has a good team, but not as good as we made them look. It should have ended up about 5-1 Gophers.

+1

Whether it's pro, college, hockey, football, basketball, soccer, I'm always shocked at how often coaches will get a lead, and then instead of keeping their foot on the case, go into a shell and hope the clock runs out before the lead evaporates.

 

[Brian Shaughnessy]

It sucked but the 1989 overtime loss to Harvard was more painful since the national championship game was in Minnesota but I am already over this loss, at least Gophers had a great season and already have won 5 national championships, Gophers should regroup and focus on next year and try to go back to the national championship

To me it's very comparable to the Harvard loss in '89. The title drought was much shorter then, only ten years, but losing at the St. Paul Civic Center was brutal. Like Harvard in 1988-89, Quinnipiac was having its best season in school history after coming close to the mountain top in recent years. Harvard of '89 played a more entertaining style than the Bobcats, as coach Bill Cleary detested dump-and-chase hockey.

Last night demonstrated how even the best teams usually need breaks to win it all. If the Cooley penalty isn't called, there is no way Quinnipiac wins. It's a break that didn't go Minnesota's way. As a Boston College fan, I endured a ridiculous number of heartbreaking NCAA tourney defeats. Except for 2010, when they steamrolled everyone, BC was extremely fortunate in 2001 (didn't have to face Ryan Miller in the final), 2008 (didn't have to face a loaded Michigan team in the final), and 2012 (didn't have to face Union in the final).

I was pulling for the Gophers last night and seeing Brock Faber after the game was difficult to watch. I root for Minnesota because their fans are so knowledgeable and passionate. You'll be in the mix just about every season and I believe it will all come together one of these years.

 

[Ski-UT-Mah]

As predictable as sending only one forechecker once we got a two goal lead. Stupid prevent defense prevents you from winning.

The prevent in prevent defense stands for preventing you to win. -John Madden I think?

 

[Ski-UT-Mah]

The prevent in prevent defense stands for preventing you to win. -John Madden I think?

*from winning

 

[Ski-UT-Mah]

It sucked but the 1989 overtime loss to Harvard was more painful since the national championship game was in Minnesota but I am already over this loss, at least Gophers had a great season and already have won 5 national championships, Gophers should regroup and focus on next year and try to go back to the national championship

Pls tell me the secret to getting over the loss. Asking for a friend

 

[DarthGopher]

When I read the "We had it" article, that really said it all to me about the mindset.

No. You didn't have it. The problem is you THOUGHT you had it and played like it. The sporting world is full of failed teams who thought they had it.

Agree the penalty was about as BS as they come. But you had to assume the officials were going to be looking for something, anything to even up the calls. However, I'm not sure Q doesn't end up tying it, because sitting there getting peppered for 20+ minutes is a recipe for something bad or flukey to happen. And it did.

 

[Big Dawg]

Total BS. Over 1/4 of all college hockey players are from MN. The U is the premier (or should be) college hockey school in the state. The gophers should be at the FF 5-6 times every 10 years. They should win 2-3 Natty's every decade. Was at the game with my son. I told him half way through the 3rd that yes I hope they win 2-1 but this game is shit and the coach is an idiot. Of cours in typical MN fashion they blew it. Take nothing away from Q. They are a good team and worked hard. But, that game was there for the gophers to take. Can't believe the players and coach accepted that strategy. All of the MN fans in our section saw that glacier coming from late in the 1st period. We thought maybe they were just flat late in the 1st. We thought they would come out on fire in the 2nd. When they didn't, we all started to have that sinking feeling. MN sports (Twins/Vikings/Timberwolves/Wild/Gophers football/Gophers mens BB) will NEVER win another championship.

 

[Big Dawg]

When I read the "We had it" article, that really said it all to me about the mindset.

No. You didn't have it. The problem is you THOUGHT you had it and played like it. The sporting world is full of failed teams who thought they had it.

Agree the penalty was about as BS as they come. But you had to assume the officials were going to be looking for something, anything to even up the calls. However, I'm not sure Q doesn't end up tying it, because sitting there getting peppered for 20+ minutes is a recipe for something bad or flukey to happen. And it did.

I wasn't a hockey player but my son played 2 years of juniors and still plays competively at age 30. He and I were at the arena. At the time of the penalty he wasn't sure. After reviewing the video he thinks it was DEFINITELY a penalty and I agree. Penalty or not the gophers DID NOT deserve a victory saturday night.

 

[DarthGopher]

Pls tell me the secret to getting over the loss. Asking for a friend

You realize in the grand scheme of things, whether we won or whether we lost, does your life drastically change?

If there is one thing I've learned is that everything in life is temporary. The good, the bad and everything in between. Had we won, the very next minute, my life would have returned to normal. The temporary boost in feeling good about something I had no part in would be replaced with all the same challenges, aches, pains, worries and other life events I had going on prior to the game. Likewise, the temporary state of feeling bad about something I had no part in will also quickly fade as life returns to normal here on a Monday morning. Same boring meetings. Same dysfunction at work. The outcome of the game wouldn't have magically changed any of it. The problems I had Saturday morning are the exact same ones I have right now. No need to add to it, especially considering I do not have ANY personal ties to anybody on the team.

Is it disappointing? For sure. I'm bummed the team I root for didn't get it done. As far as life is concerned, it has absolutely zero impact, just like it would have had we won.

You didn't fail nor did you lose. A team you root for lost a game.

That is the secret.

 

[Bad Gopher]

I wasn't a hockey player but my son played 2 years of juniors and still plays competively at age 30. He and I were at the arena. At the time of the penalty he wasn't sure. After reviewing the video he thinks it was DEFINITELY a penalty and I agree. Penalty or not the gophers DID NOT deserve a victory saturday night.

At the end of the day, Q outshot the Gophers in the game. After the first period, they were the better team on the ice.

 

[bonin21]

This was the year. I'm still saddened and frustrated.

Rinzel/Staudacher/Rud can't plug the hole left by Faber/Lacombe/Johnson
Moore/Hendrickson can't plug the hole left by Knies/Cooley