2024-25 Gopher Hockey Season

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Leaves a bad taste in your mouth for the next few weeks. The not wanting to or able to control the puck from the 10 minute mark of the 3rd period was something. Everything was just trying to go high of the glass to clear the zone and they failed to do that a lot.
 

Confounding & humbling—I’ll chalk it up to the accumulation of fatigue after playing four tough games missing key players. Get healthy and come back with an edge for the second half of the conference season. Need to kick some ass at Munn Arena next month—a little Quinnipiac de ja vu…
 



To think Gophers were riding high after back to back shutouts and taking over the top spot in the rankings and then decided this was the appropriate time to unveil new "Iron Range" inspired jerseys and then it all went to shit. Of course playing with one hand tied behind your back wasn't ideal, but the chances were still there to take game one and tonight, well what can I say that hasn't already been said a million times about a two goal lead. This was our chance to solidify our spot atop the standings, instead we get humbled in our building. *Sigh*

To Gopher Nation, have a happy and safe holidays and we'll see you guys in a few weeks.
 


On a happy note, my relatives kid made the broadcast for his Holiday cheer!
 

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Gophers1992 said:
Feels like the short lineup fatigue hit at the worst time. Ugh
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Was at the game and I would say they had a stretch in the 3rd where they went into cruise control... that's ok if you can win the possession game...but they did not. That in turn hampered line changes and they got caught long and gassed on a couple of sparty's goals. Chesley was one who stayed out and it was costly. I do think it was a good series as far as learnings. Gophs have the talent.
 

Gophers head into the break at #3, which is almost exactly where we expected them to be. BC ahead as expected, but MSU is the surprise that has taken DU's predicted place in the top 2. I think UND will start to climb back up to join the bottom of the contender group, though Michigan is a mess and not sure they will do the same. BU also a mess.

Looking back on this weekend, I still have a sour taste in my mouth when you consider their effort left them with only 1 of 6 points. They deserved more than that. But nothing to do about that.

One thing to note about #1 and #2 that the Gophers don't have: NHL-bound superstar goalies. It really shows in head to head games against those kinds of goalies.
 

bonin21 said:
Gophers head into the break at #3, which is almost exactly where we expected them to be. BC ahead as expected, but MSU is the surprise that has taken DU's predicted place in the top 2. I think UND will start to climb back up to join the bottom of the contender group, though Michigan is a mess and not sure they will do the same. BU also a mess.

Looking back on this weekend, I still have a sour taste in my mouth when you consider their effort left them with only 1 of 6 points. They deserved more than that. But nothing to do about that.

One thing to note about #1 and #2 that the Gophers don't have: NHL-bound superstar goalies. It really shows in head to head games against those kinds of goalies.
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agreed. definitely "deserved" more if you're just going by things like xG (MN 2.9-2.7 Sat, 5.4-3.3 Fri) as well as carrying the play. Looked the better team for probably 5.5/6 periods and came away with one point. luckily it's only one loss and a tie in the PWR but I'm hoping its fuel for the 2nd half.

As far as the H2H things, didn't think Airey or Souliere were bad, but Augustine made multiple "bail out" saves when you really could've put MSU in a hole. But it's also the thing of a one and done in that variance in how goalies play becomes less a thing given all it takes is one night your guy is on. Both Airey and Souliere have done that this year already so I think it's a bit of balance as I'll take our team and D core over MSUs for sure and BC is a little more toss up up front (their top end is better, our depth is better) but our D core looks better, which makes it easier on your goalie.

Michigan we'll know within the first 4 games if they'll figure it out or not. Have to start off right or they'll play themselves back onto being a bubble team this year again. UND will get healthier, but in all honesty I don't think they have it (have some fun pieces, but there's an awful lot of blah on that team as well)

As far as teams that have surprised, WMU looks like they will be a very tough out with how good their defense has been. Mankato looks tough as do Maine and Providence in HE. The ECAC looks like a mess and the AHA is the AHA. Fun first half but let's hope this isn't the peak, but rather the start and continuation of the build to playing our best hockey in March and April. Absolutely no reason this team can't join us in STL and finally end a way overdue drought.
 

upnorthkid said:
But it's also the thing of a one and done in that variance in how goalies play becomes less a thing given all it takes is one night your guy is on.
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IMO some of Close's worst careers games came in NCAA tourney losses. It matters a ton even then.
 



bonin21 said:
IMO some of Close's worst careers games came in NCAA tourney losses. It matters a ton even then.
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And we saw Matt Davis stand on his head. Augustine was pretty poor when they got bounced by Michigan (by his own admission). It happens. More meaning in one and done less chance for the discrepancy to come out
 

upnorthkid said:
And we saw Matt Davis stand on his head. Augustine was pretty poor when they got bounced by Michigan (by his own admission). It happens. More meaning in one and done less chance for the discrepancy to come out
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But over the course of 4 games it adds up more and more.

For example if a goalie like Augustine has a 5% chance of a bad game vs a "mortal" goalie like Close and Airey having say, a 10% chance of a bad game. The more games you play the greater the risk of your goalie having a bad game becomes. The same for the chance of an insane game. For example Matt Davis having four insane games in a row? A lot of luck. Augustine has a way, way higher chance of four insane games in a row.
 

bonin21 said:
But over the course of 4 games it adds up more and more.

For example if a goalie like Augustine has a 5% chance of a bad game vs a "mortal" goalie like Close and Airey having say, a 10% chance of a bad game. The more games you play the greater the risk of your goalie having a bad game becomes. The same for the chance of an insane game. For example Matt Davis having four insane games in a row? A lot of luck. Augustine has a way, way higher chance of four insane games in a row.
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for sure agree. so far we haven't seen many "clunkers" from our goalies giving up bad ones. Much of that is that our team defense has been quite good outside those last 10min vs MSU and that weird stretch up in Duluth where both teams were scoring repeatedly. That said, I'd much rather have Augustine in net.
 

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