Gophers @ Michigan: 12/8/20 & 12/9/20

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bonin21 said:
Player improvement/development should be expected at any contending school. I'll stick to my assessment that trading those two D for the two we got is the biggest factor.
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The D Corps probably is the biggest factor in the teams' improvement, but I'm also seeing a level of tenacity from every player that I can't ever remember seeing in a Gophers team. I don't think that should be underestimated. I didn't watch many games last season, so I'm not sure when they started playing like this. I just know it's a stark contrast from what I'm used to seeing from the Gophers. Coach Motzko appears to be doing a fine job!
 

UncleSam'sMisguidedChild said:
The D Corps probably is the biggest factor in the teams' improvement, but I'm also seeing a level of tenacity from every player that I can't ever remember seeing in a Gophers team. I don't think that should be underestimated. I didn't watch many games last season, so I'm not sure when they started playing like this. I just know it's a stark contrast from what I'm used to seeing from the Gophers. Coach Motzko appears to be doing a fine job!
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The effort level is not all that different than how they were playing at the end of last year. Motzko was the right choice.
 

I predict Gophs will be #1 in the next poll.
 

We're back on track. Now we just need to play in a real hockey conference.
 


bonin21 said:
Player improvement/development should be expected at any contending school. I'll stick to my assessment that trading those two D for the two we got is the biggest factor.
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It's absolutely the biggest factor. You have to have a good back end to be competitive. Those two we lost were to put it blunt, complete stiffs back there.

We added to legit college studs. The other 2 top end D men became sophmores. It's an absolute game changer being able to roll out 6 legit D-men.
 

UncleSam'sMisguidedChild said:
I know that you know this, but I'll mention it for others that don't watch the games. There's more to it than addition by subtraction. Reedy is on a whole different level so far this year. Meyers, Nelson, Ranta, and LaCombe have made big strides IMO. The teams' intensity is noticably higher and appears to be infectious.

As good as it's been, I can't wait for Walker, Brodzinski, and McLaughlin to really take off. Maybe they've been really good, too, but I just haven't noticed if they have.
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Meyers is the clear revelation. He has really taken the jump. Ranta has been improved and can improve even more I think, hes got so much size to use. Reedy has always been pretty steady at least, guy knows how to find ways to score.

McLaughlin is definitely one that still needs to get going, and he will. Walker can be even better, but hes still been pretty good. Just not to the level hes capable of.

This team could be really explosive before long.
 

Gophers1992 said:
Well said. Noticeable improvement from Perbix too IMO, as well as some already solid guys last year taking another step like Johnson.
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I've been extremely surprised by Munson. It's rare a player becomes who he needs to be in his fourth year. Perbix Nelson Munson is consistently getting offensive zone time and even getting some good looks in there as well
 

PMWinSTP said:
I predict Gophs will be #1 in the next poll.
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I don't think we jump BC. I watched their series against Mass and they looked good enough I don't think they drop until they lose
 



I heard the announcers talk about Michigan's coach pushing his guys not just to play, but to earn the right to wear their Michigan sweaters (something like that). For the rest of the game, all I saw were Gophers out-hustling Michigan to the puck. Up four goals and our guys still were pushing themselves.

That's the kind of stuff that can win you championships.
 

PMWinSTP said:
I predict Gophs will be #1 in the next poll.
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Don't think so.

Wont jump BC.

Doubt we drop a 1 loss UND(if they beat UMD tonight) their two games this weekend are easier.

If UMD happens to beat UND we def aint jumping them unless they lose at least 1 this weekend.

Love that we can have this type of convo right now though.
 

Forgive my ignorance, but what happens the rest of the way this season? Will they be releasing a second half of the schedule at some point?

Have they said what kind of tournaments will be played? B1G and NCAA?

It’s been a really fun start and has a casual fan like me taking interest!
 

GopherPharmaBiz said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what happens the rest of the way this season? Will they be releasing a second half of the schedule at some point?

Have they said what kind of tournaments will be played? B1G and NCAA?

It’s been a really fun start and has a casual fan like me taking interest!
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Yes

No
 



mndaily.com

Minnesota sweeps Michigan with 4-0 win to end first half with a perfect record

Jack LaFontaine earned his second career shutout against his former team
mndaily.com mndaily.com

emphasis added:

In post-game media availability, Gophers head coach Bob Motzko said that while the teams were currently in the dark on when the next half of the schedule would be released, “I’ve been told it could come yet this week, you’re sure hoping [it does], because we can’t make any plans until we know when we have to be back….but you know what, it’s fitting for 2020, right now.” Motzko said.
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I could see potentially a B1G tournament and well as a NCAA tournament depending on how the pandemic starts to look mid to late February and what the success rate of teams avoiding outbreaks is. It's not like it'd be tough for them to book venues for either last minute, since nothing else is going on and there won't be fans. All the venues would need to do is get the rink ready to go.
 

Regarding the last 16 games, the Big Ten 100% needs to schedule the badger series back to back like an NHL playoff series to up the intensity.
Thurs/Fri for the first two and Mon/Tue or Tue/Wed for the next two
 

Don’t overlook the audition Paul Martin makes as the graduate assistant coach with those young blue liners. The guy played for years in the nhl and also guided the gophers to 2 straight ncaa championships. He’s been a great addition to the coaching staff.

not for nothing but is Ben Myers not a 21 year old sophomore? Far too long the gophers didn’t tap into the older players and relied on 18-19 year old top draft picks. I like that bobs adding some older players for their class.
 

Well, just like that we have a shot to be ranked 1.

UND lost twice in regulation and had a tie(shootout loss)

BC had a tie(OT win) and a loss

UMD just got rolled by CC

Could be enough to jump all 3 of them this week.
 

MUgopher32 said:
BC had a tie(OT win) and a loss
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In the records this counts as a win. There is no pairwise this year so we don't know how it will be treated going forward but as of now an OT win is a true win like it always was.
 

bonin21 said:
In the records this counts as a win. There is no pairwise this year so we don't know how it will be treated going forward but as of now an OT win is a true win like it always was.
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Standings wise they got 2/6 possible points. So I guess for their overall record it shows as 5-1. Forgot towards overall it goes in the W column.

But it looks 0-1-1-0 for the week in their conference. Don't think that will be enough to keep them in front for the polls.
 

MUgopher32 said:
Standings wise they got 2/6 possible points. So I guess for their overall record it shows as 5-1. Forgot towards overall it goes in the W column.

But it looks 0-1-1-0 for the week in their conference. Don't think that will be enough to keep them in front for the polls.
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Agree. I think the Gophers will probably get the #1 spot. But I could see Duluth getting a lot of first place votes because of the harder competition.
 


Have to admit, I didn't foresee the Gophers being as good as they've been so far this year. Because of the odd scheduling, I've had the chance to watch them a bit and I must say, they've been extremely impressive. First time in a long time I've seen this level of play from them on a game-by-game basis. Lots of depth, solid goal-tending and a corps of defensemen that can really move the puck.

Anxious to see how well they do the rest of the way, but to say they've been on a roll to start would be a vast understatement.
 

First #1 ranking since November of 2014. More than six years. A very, very dark era of Gopher hockey.
 

MUgopher32 said:
No saying they "look unimpressive early" was a bit bold.

Figured that was kinda obvious when I then went on to explain how thus far none of the 3 have really been unimpressive.

Even if you swap Denver for St. Coud. They are 1-3(1 being a 1 pt overtime game) with those losses all coming to the 3 teams you listed.

So, I'll say it again apparently more definitively. While I have seen nothing from the Gophers that tells me we cannot compete with these teams that is strictly because I think we are really good. Not because the NCHC top teams are "unimpressive" or overrated or anything of the sort.
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Feeling different today, I assume.
 

PMWinSTP said:
Feeling different today, I assume.
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Not at all. Duluth has still been very impressive. And UND while they slipped up its due to them losing to those other top NCHC teams.

Nothing has changed at all. Gophers look really good in a trashy league. The best of the NCHC look really good in their league.
 

MUgopher32 said:
Not at all. Duluth has still been very impressive. And UND while they slipped up its due to them losing to those other top NCHC teams.

Nothing has changed at all. Gophers look really good in a trashy league. The best of the NCHC look really good in their league.
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So Gophers are undeserving of being #1?
 


The Gophers would not escape the NCHC pod 10-0. I know that much for a fact.

The Gophers are the best team in the Big Ten. Also a fact.

They should walk to the Big Ten regular season title, and that should be enough to get into any tournament that ends up being organized. Then we'll see just how good they are.
 

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