***OFFICIAL MINNESOTA VS CANISIUS NCAA TOURNAMENT ROUND 1 IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

[Stan]

HERE WE ARE!!!!!!! LFG!!!!!!!!!!! This team is good enough, deep enough and hopefully hungry enough to win it all. It's been a looooong time, too long, since we won a natty. It all starts tonight vs Canisius. We can't overlook anyone. Play our game and be physical, don't let them stick around. Bury them when we have the chance.

GET 'ER DONE MOTZKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lady Gopher]

HERE WE ARE!!!!!!! LFG!!!!!!!!!!! This team is good enough, deep enough and hopefully hungry enough to win it all. It's been a looooong time, too long, since we won a natty. It all starts tonight vs Canisius. We can't overlook anyone. Play our game and be physical, don't let them stick around. Bury them when we have the chance.

GET 'ER DONE MOTZKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree 100% I hope the team does! - much more important than i believing. I remember Yale and Holy Cross - I was so disappointed. But then i remember seeing the Gophers while in Buffalo in 03 beat Michigan and New Hampshire and in ‘02 in St Paul beat Michigan and Maine. in’02 while not winning in 2014 sending North Dakota home from Philadelphia in the semi final was pretty joyful .

 

[STPGopher]

Agree 100% I hope the team does! - much more important than i believing. I remember Yale and Holy Cross - I was so disappointed. But then i remember seeing the Gophers while in Buffalo in 03 beat Michigan and New Hampshire and in ‘02 in St Paul beat Michigan and Maine. in’02 while not winning in 2014 sending North Dakota home from Philadelphia in the semi final was pretty joyful .

This is what is kind of scary. 2014 our Gophers faced Union. Filled with 24 (and older) players. Canisius is the oldest team in the tourney if the source I listened to is correct (many 23 and 24 year olds.

Canisius 2022-23 Men's Hockey Roster

I know that our Gophers could and should prevail, but I am also aware that anything can happen in single game elimination tournaments.

 

[Gophers1992]

This is what is kind of scary. 2014 our Gophers faced Union. Filled with 24 (and older) players. Canisius is the oldest team in the tourney if the source I listened to is correct (many 23 and 24 year olds.

Canisius 2022-23 Men's Hockey Roster

I know that our Gophers could and should prevail, but I am also aware that anything can happen in single game elimination tournaments.

The difference is that Union team was the #1 seed in that tourney, and a consensus top 5 team in the country. Canisius is the #43 ranked team in the country.

For reference, the Holy Cross team we lost to in 2006 was #22 in the pairwise, so this would be a significantly larger upset than that game.

EDIT: I was a little off. Union was a #1 seed, but not the #1 overall, which was us. They were #3 overall.

 

[STPGopher]

The difference is that Union team was the #1 seed in that tourney, and a consensus top 5 team in the country. Canisius is the #43 ranked team in the country.

For reference, the Holy Cross team we lost to in 2006 was #22 in the pairwise, so this would be a significantly larger upset than that game.

EDIT: I was a little off. Union was a #1 seed, but not the #1 overall, which was us. They were #3 overall.

Yes to all of what you said, but Union wasn't really more talented. They were savvy, and to paraphrase Coach Motzko, grizzled veterans. In one and dones, you only need to be the best for 60 minutes.

With that said, I think our Gophers will cruise. Start fast, play smart and relentless, crush any hope Canisius has...

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

If we get past Canisius tonight, we'll be going up against a red hot SCSU team.

 

[DinkyTownDawg]

If we get past Canisius tonight, we'll be going up against a red hot SCSU te

Red hot is a stretch.

 

[SHGopher]

1-1. Canisius ties it up with a shot through the 5 hole.

 

[Gophers1992]

Close needs to have that one. He's done a good job not letting up as many softies this year, don't start now.

 

[DarrenTheGreek]

I know it wasn't a PP goal but that was a really dumb penalty to take

 

[Gophers1992]

Questionable call on Mittelstadt. Can't say I'm loving this first period. Need to bury these guys.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

What could go wrong…hopefully Denver losing has calmed the upset gods.

Stop with the drop passes.

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

Knies was in the perfect area to shoot and he decides to do a blind back pass.

 

[Crosby]

I have to say that I am not liking the way this one feels.

 

[DarthGopher]

I have to say that I am not liking the way this one feels.

It feels a lot like last weekend where they seem to think going through the motions is going to be enough.

 

[Gophers1992]

Ugly period , no denying that. With that said it is clear we have significantly more talent and even playing what was probably our D game, we controlled much of the play. I'm confident the boys will kick it up a notch. Won't be able to get away with it Saturday night, but that's an issue for another day.

Canisius is going to try to keep this game as ugly and sloppy as possible and hope they get an ugly goal or two. So far their strategy is going ok for them, but our boys just need to play the way they know how.

 

[SHGopher]

Lots of stuff to dislike.

Turnovers on sloppy handoffs and passing leading to breaks for Canisius.

Solos point blank shots on exposed goalie.

Only 1 score.

Gave up medium-easy goal.

The turnovers for breakaways were most alarming. Good way to be sniped by an underdog.

The other team just won a tournament by outperforming as a longshot. Minnesota is playing the opposite.

What are they practicing in practice? Certainly not the sudden death intensity Canisius must be feeling.

 

[bonin21]

Gophers look like trash.

 

[BTChamp]

Well, that was fun.

 

[bonin21]

And people were saying Cloud looked bad.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Lot of flat feet and puck watching on that goal.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Ryan Chesley should never leave the bench for the rest of the period.

 

[bonin21]

This is pathetic. They are 41st. This would be way more pathetic than Holy Cross.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Gophers look like trash.

That’s too nice of a compliment.

 

[SHGopher]

Pathetic Gophers losing 1-2.

The Gophers defender is standing there and standing there turns head to watch the goal go in. Wow. Horrible. Where is the give all to stop that.

The women's hockey team in the recent tournament throwing their bodies into blocks and limping off after shots to legs make this lounge practice team look embarrassing.

 

[DarthGopher]

Gophers look like trash.

The look sluggish and disinterested. This is pathetic.

 

[DanvilleGopher]

WOW, what was that? When did they look good last? It's been a while...

Can they pickup the intensity?

Time will tell, but if they don't, they get embarrassed.

 

[DanvilleGopher]

The only player looking good so far has been Knies...

 

[bonin21]

People are scared of criticism but a loss to Canisius would be at least one strike for Motzko if not more.

 

[Lady Gopher]

Ugly period , no denying that. With that said it is clear we have significantly more talent and even playing what was probably our D game, we controlled much of the play. I'm confident the boys will kick it up a notch. Won't be able to get away with it Saturday night, but that's an issue for another day.

Canisius is going to try to keep this game as ugly and sloppy as possible and hope they get an ugly goal or two. So far their strategy is going ok for them, but our boys just need to play the way they know how.

Thought Denver would too but just didn’t happen. Can’t imagine what they are thinking.