SCSU vs. Minnesota

[Reggie]

Gophers will need to score more than 2 goals to win this one, Kangas is the X-factor, he plays well Gophers win! 3-2 Gophers!!!

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

I think most of you would be surprised as to how little impact the length of the Gopher-Maverick series will have impact. The momentum is a more important factor.

I'm agreeing with bobber again. They've had time to rest, being tired will not be an issue at all.

[George Blanda]

I think most of you would be surprised as to how little impact the length of the Gopher-Maverick series will have impact. The momentum is a more important factor.

I'm agreeing with bobber again. They've had time to rest, being tired will not be an issue at all.

I don't think they'll be tired...three days off SHOULD be sufficient.

But, I do disagree with Bobber's momentum comment. Both teams won in OT in their last game...who decides who has more momentum??

[MNHockey75]

If we're talking about momentum...

Minnesota had to beat Mankato in 14 periods to get here.
St. Cloud State had to beat Wisconsin in 7 periods to get here.

Think about it.
St. Cloud State is coming in with two ties in North Dakota, a clean sweep of the Badgers, and have not lost to Minnesota this year. Minnesota only scored 3 goals in regulation last weekend.

These are just statistics, but I'd say SCSU is coming in as confident as they've been all year.

[The Exiled One]

I'd say SCSU is more of a top heavy team. I don't think they have better depth though. They rely heavily on their top three guys to get the job done and that is mainly on the power play as their top guys aren't nearly as effective 5 on 5.

Compared to themselves on the PP, or compared to the Gophers top three regular strength goal scorers?

Wheeler 5x5 goals - 14
Gordon 5x5 goals - 8
Hoeffel 5x5 goals - 6

Lasch 5x5 goals - 12
Roe 5x5 goals - 9
Nodl 5x5 goals - 7

Looks about the same to me. If you meant compared to themselves on the PP, then I agree that's where they shine. If you mean the Gophers can get more 5x5 goals from the bottom lines, I'll agree with that too. But if you say the top three Huskies don't play quite well 5x5, I'd have to strongly disagree with that.

[61ache]

If we're talking about momentum...

Minnesota had to beat Mankato in 14 periods to get here.
St. Cloud State had to beat Wisconsin in 7 periods to get here.

Think about it.
St. Cloud State is coming in with two ties in North Dakota, a clean sweep of the Badgers, and have not lost to Minnesota this year. Minnesota only scored 3 goals in regulation last weekend.

These are just statistics, but I'd say SCSU is coming in as confident as they've been all year.

Couldn't agree more. Gophers will need to play their A game against this team. You can slice momentum and skew stats all you'd like but St. Cloud is dangerous offensively, and well frankly, the Gopher's will need to play solid d-fence to survive. They're going to have to slice through the SCSU and CC to get to the Sioux Gopher game I want to see. So here's to hoping.

[Gopher Blog]

But if you say the top three Huskies don't play quite well 5x5, I'd have to strongly disagree with that.

Is it "quite well" when they are all rated as minus players on the year? Even worse in that regard in conference play. After all, plus/minus does take power play situations out of the equation. For guys with some pretty good offensive numbers as a whole (which gives them greater margin for error in a plus/minus rating), I'd say it is fair to say it raises questions.

I probably should have clarified some. Obviously top scorers in general are going to have a healthy percentage of their stats from the power play. But at what point does it become a bit lopsided and show a guy who is mostly a special teams type? I didn't look carefully at Lasch or Nodl but they seem to have a decent balance in how they get their points.

On the other hand, I was pretty surprised to see how lopsided Roe's numbers were. Almost 75% of his offense was because of the power play. 9 goals and 23 assists (32 points out of his 44). Almost 90% of his assists were on the power play (only three assists in any other situation!). Now, are you going to tell me he is kicking ass 5 on 5?

I am not hear to act like the Gophers are whooping ass in all areas either. But I think it is fair to point out that a healthy portion of SCSU's offensive success relies on one facet and a team can limit that if they play smart.

[Gopher Blog]

Minnesota had to beat Mankato in 14 periods to get here.
St. Cloud State had to beat Wisconsin in 7 periods to get here.

Keep in mind that the Gophers also had a tougher challenge in the games you mention above. On the road as opposed to at home.... and I don't think anybody would dispute that Mankato is a better team and playing better hockey than Wisconsin.

But I am not all that sold on the momentum argument favoring anybody at this stage. I don't think anybody will give a crap who did what in prior weeks once the puck drops. Especially in a one game elimination situation.

[WayOutWest]

....and SCSU will cease the opportunity.

LOL. Geez..........I HOPE so!!!!

[The Exiled One]

On the other hand, I was pretty surprised to see how lopsided Roe's numbers were. Almost 75% of his offense was because of the power play. 9 goals and 23 assists (32 points out of his 44). Almost 90% of his assists were on the power play (only three assists in any other situation!). Now, are you going to tell me he is kicking ass 5 on 5?

Well, he is leading the conference in penatlies against! Diving accusations aside, his hard-nosed play 5x5 is what gets him to the PP, where he can put points up for his team. The reason he and Lasch differ so much in the scoring ratio is their style of play. Lasch can deke and dangle, Roe prefers the direct route. Lasch's style creates offensive opportunities, while Roe's style results in a hook/trip/interference call. I don't think there's anything wrong with either style.

As for the minus ratings, I don't like the way they calculate them. I think it's fair to say Marvin wouldn't have a +6 if he spent half his time on the PP. Regardless, the +/- stat from what I've seen almost always improves with experience. Thank goodness those three guys still have room to improve!!

Anywho, I agree the Gophers will have a better chance if they stay out of the box and Kangas stays on form. The Huskies also have to have Weslosky stay on form, and should concentrate on moving the puck like they did last Friday. Their breakout on Saturday was terrible!

It should be a great game, and I don't see either team winning by more than two goals. Of course, predictions are like a-holes between these two teams, everybody has one and they all stink!!

EDIT: Example on the +/- stat... the team has scored 70 even strength goals and allowed 69 even strength goals, yet they are a combined -16!!

EDIT2: Oops, I forgot to count the ENG goals. Those things always mess everything up!!

[Lopresti]

Another thing about this tournament is how serious teams take it. Since the NCAA seeds probably won't change much regardless what happens this weekend, some teams might show more intensity than others. Although I want the Gophers to win, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they lost thursday night. A win would have them play the equivalent of nearly 8 games in 9 days, barring any OT this weekend. They'll be a 2 or a 3 seed anyway. Either way, it's hockey, and that's always a good thing.

[DmanDad1980]

If we're talking about momentum...

Minnesota had to beat Mankato in 14 periods to get here.
St. Cloud State had to beat Wisconsin in 7 periods to get here.

Think about it.
St. Cloud State is coming in with two ties in North Dakota, a clean sweep of the Badgers, and have not lost to Minnesota this year. Minnesota only scored 3 goals in regulation last weekend.

These are just statistics, but I'd say SCSU is coming in as confident as they've been all year.

Remember though, Mankato is a better team than Wisconsin and about par w/ SCSU... just equating the two series...

I still believe that the Gophers will have trouble scoring going forward, as they have all year, and see that SCSU will win this play-in game w/ better PP skills than Minnesota... Gophs have to stop the PP to win...

[MNHockey75]

#7 Minnesota Golden Gophers - 1
#5 St. Cloud State Huskies - 1

AFTER 1

Goals by Tony Lucia (Wayzata) and Garrett Raboin (Detroit Lakes).

[MNHockey75]

#7 Minnesota Golden Gophers - 2
#5 St. Cloud State Huskies - 1

AFTER 2

Goal by Evan Kaufmann (Robbinsdale Armstrong).

Shots: 21-20 MINN

[PASTRAPIDSFAN]

Gopher 3-2 final

[Joey (nine toes) Marcoux]

GO GOPHS

[WendyClark]

Gophers will need to score more than 2 goals to win this one, Kangas is the X-factor, he plays well Gophers win! 3-2 Gophers!!!

Good Call

[Hockeyguy_27]

Gophers will need to score more than 2 goals to win this one, Kangas is the X-factor, he plays well Gophers win! 3-2 Gophers!!!

Good Call

The Gophers are playing better now than they have all season. I still doubt they will get an NCAA bid but you never know.

[puckluck19]

What was up with the Huskies? It looked like they didn't even want it. I was sure the Huskies would handle the Gophers but the Gophers definatly outworked them tonight. It looked like St.Cloud was the team that played 4+ games last week.

[Tenoverpar]

Anyone else think that D.Shephard, our main man with the orange stripe tonight, is from District 6?

(if you have a kid who has played youth hockey in D6 this year, you'll hopefully find this amusing)

[Reggie]

Gophers will need to score more than 2 goals to win this one, Kangas is the X-factor, he plays well Gophers win! 3-2 Gophers!!!

Good Call

Thanks, another close one for the Gophers.

[pacman]

Great Game, Go Gophers!

[boblee]

Gophers will need to score more than 2 goals to win this one, Kangas is the X-factor, he plays well Gophers win! 3-2 Gophers!!!

Good Call

The Gophers are playing better now than they have all season. I still doubt they will get an NCAA bid but you never know.

Are you serious? If the season ended today they'd be in and they are only two wins away from getting an automatic bid...

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Good Call

The Gophers are playing better now than they have all season. I still doubt they will get an NCAA bid but you never know.

Are you serious? If the season ended today they'd be in and they are only two wins away from getting an automatic bid...

Automatic bid? Is there such a thing?

They are in for sure now.

[Gopher Blog]

The game plan worked well for the Gophers. Limit SCSU on the power play, keep them to two or fewer goals, and outwork them/play more physical. Although I don't think they would have wanted to give SCSU that many PP chances. Seven is a few too many against them. But the Gophers equaled SCSU on the power play and outplayed them 5 on 5. As I said earlier in the week, hold down SCSU's power play and they are very beatable.

I also thought Weslosky looked shaky out there. Looked like a bad case of big game nerves. If he had been playing against a better offensive team than this year's Gophers, I think he would have let in five or more last night. He looked uncomfortable out there under the big game lights.