Gopher Hockey Notes vs Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs – 2-22-2013

Posted on March 4, 2013 by

The Minnesota Gopher hockey team has another big weekend of hockey ahead of them. It seems like in the last month or two, it’s been another weekend, another big rivalry for the Minnesota Gophers. This weekend they get the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs!

Line Chart – Minnesota Golden Gophers

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Kyle Rau-7 – Nick Bjugstad-27 – Zach Budish-24
F-Sam Warning-11 – Erik Haula-19 – Nate Condon-16
AJ Michaelson-15 – Christian Isackson-26 – Justin Holl-12
Tom Serratore-14 – Travis Boyd-22 –
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Seth Helgeson-4 – Ben Marshall-10
Mike Reilly-5 – Mark Alt-20
Brady Skjei-2 – Nate Schmidt-29
Jake Parenteau-6
Goalie
Adam Wilcox-32
Mike Shibrowski-1

Scratches: G-Matt LaPrade-30, G-Ryan Coyne-31, D-Blake Thompson-3, F-Ryan Reilly-9, F-Christian Horn-18, F-Jared Larson-23
Injured: F-Connor Reilly-21, F-Seth Ambroz

Line Chart – UMD Bulldogs

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Mike Seidel-17 – Caleb Herbert-21 – Justin Crandall-25
Austin Farley-11 – Tony Cameranesi-13 – Joe Baseraba-18
Cody Danberg-20 – Jake Hendrickson-15 – Keegan Flaherty-14
Dan DeLisle-10 – Cal Decowski-27 – Adam Krause-26
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Drew Olson-8 – Andy Welinski-7
Tim Smith-16 – Chris Casto-5
Derik Johnson-6 – Wade Bergman-28
Goalie
Matt McNeeley-36
Alex Fons-30

Scratches/Injured: G-Aaron Crandall-31, D-Willie Corrin-4, D-Luke McManus-22, F-Max Tardy-19, F-Austyn Young-23, F-Charlie Sampair-24

Let’s DROP THE CLUTTERPUCK!!!

1st Period

  • I met UMD starting goalie Matt McNeeley at a hockey camp I worked at a couple summers ago. He stopped by to get some work in with the coaches there and then all the kids wanted him to sign anything and everything they could get signed!
    • They were having him sign their sticks, skates, shoes, golf balls, baseball gloves, etc…
    • I kept telling him sorry but he didn’t mind & I would think it left him with a pretty good story to tell too.
  • GOAL – Nate Condon from Ben Marshall & Sam Warning at 4:04 of the 1st period – a good UMD scoring chance is saved by Adam Wilcox off his left pad and the rebound comes out right in front of the net. Jake Parenteau & Erik Haula have their guys covered so Sam Warning gets to the puck first but over-skates it. Ben Marshall is right there to pick it up and pass the puck to his right to Nate Condon, who skates down the right side. Condon cuts to his left after crossing the blue line with Sam Warning crossing behind him. Condon’s speed allows him to get enough space to get off a snap shot that Matt McNeeley gets most of but the puck sneaks under the catcher glove and trickles across the goal line.
    • The play is under review!!!
      • Looking at the replay, it doesn’t look like the puck went completely past the goal line but the official called it a goal on the ice. I’m not sure that matters. This isn’t the NFL and this isn’t a challenge!
      • If it crossed the line, it didn’t cross it by much!
      • FSN finally gets a different angle that shows the puck going across the line and it stays a goal!
    • GOPHERS 1-0!!!
      • Good job of the Gophers to have their guys covered for that rebound.
        • The scramble for that rebound allowed the Gophers to get out in transition.
  • PENALTY – Chris Casto for Interference on Travis Boyd at 10:24 of the 1st period – Travis Boyd was going to the net and ended up getting knocked to the ice by Chris Casto.
  • PENALTY – Travis Boyd for Hooking on Mike Seidel at 13:09 of the 1st period – A 3-on-2 develops and Travis Boyd had to use his stick to slow down Mike Seidel and he gets called for hooking by the official.
  • NO GOAL! – Travis Boyd scores at 18:18 of the 1st period – The goal is called off because the official blew his whistle when he saw Tom Serratore in the crease and running into the goalie.
    • Probably a good call there.
    • Not sure why its not a penalty for goalie interference.
      • I’ve never understood why a goal can be called off because of goalie interference but a penalty isn’t then given for it.

2nd Period

  • PENALTY – Wade Bergman for Boarding on Tom Serratore at 2:03 of the 2nd period – Tom Serratore gets a loose puck just inside the Bulldog zone on the right boards and dumps it in then gets checked by Wade Bergman into the boards partially from behind and the official calls boarding on the play.
    • Scott Sandelin doesn’t agree with that call and Casey Hankinson says the call was partially made because it was a dangerous play.
  • PENALTY – Travis Boyd for Slashing on Andy Welinski at 3:52 of the 2nd period – Travis Boyd is forechecking on the power play and gets knocked down. He gets up and slashes at Andy Welinski knocking the stick out of his hands and the official calls him for  the slash!
    • If the stick doesn’t get knocked out of Welinski’s hands, the call probably isn’t made or that’s a make-up call!
  • GOAL! (SHORT-HANDED) – Erik Haula from Zach Budish at 7:50 of the 2nd period – A bad pass to the point on the UMD power play turns into a scoring chance when Zach Budish is the first man to the puck getting to it just to the left of the left face-off dot and instead of just taking a shot, he looks for the pass and sees Erik Haula coming down the center of the zone and sets him up for a one-timer that Haula gets enough of to get it past Matt McNeeley into the lower right of the net. GOPHERS 2-0!!!
    • Great job by Haula to get something on that shot because it looks like it got tipped slightly by the defenseman.
    • Mike Seidel was watching the puck instead of looking for a man to cover!
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Justin Crandall from Cal Decowski at 8:27 of the 2nd period – Seth Helgeson makes a bad decision on the penalty kill when he gets the puck off a turnover and tries to make a move and he turns the puck back over. It goes in front of the net where Cal Decowski gets a backhand shot off and Adam Wilcox leaves a rebound that goes right to Justin Crandall and he quickly shoots it past Adam Wilcox to the short side and to the left of Wilcox’ right leg pad! BULLDOGS 1-2!!!
    • After seeing the replay it looks like Helgeson never had full control of the puck but he gets out of position and then turns the puck over towards the front of his own net. OOPS!
  • PENALTY – Keegan Flaherty for Holding on AJ Michaelson at 9:53 of the 2nd period – A face-off at the dot just outside the left of the Gopher blue-line is won by the Gophers back to Mike Reilly playing left D. He goes D-to-D to Nate Schmidt(?). AJ Michaelson, playing left wing, off the face-off win spins off the defending Bulldog winger and makes for the Bulldog zone through the center of the neutral zone. Nate Schmidt sees him and makes a long pass through the neutral zone to get Michaelson a breakaway and Keegan Flaherty has no choice but to hold on to AJ and take away a scoring chance & now he gets to sit in the sin bin and think about it!
    • Great play without the puck by AJ Michaelson getting open for the long pass!
    • Have to believe the coaching staff saw that as a weakness when watching film on the Bulldogs!
      • or an adjustment during the 1st intermission!
  • GOAL! – Austin Farley from Joe Baseraba & Tony Cameranesi at 13:10 of the 2nd period – Tony Cameranesi gets the puck at the middle of the red line, skates in the right of the Gopher zone, gets wide around Nate Schmidt and takes a bad angle shot that Adam Wilcox saves off his right pad but the rebound goes up the middle off Austin Farley and up in the air. Zach Budish catches the puck & drops it to the ice but seems to think he has more time than he does. Cameranesi kept skating around the back of the net and catches Budish from behind forcing a turnover that goes to Joe Baseraba at the left point. He skates in a couple strides & takes a wrist shot  that’s going wide but it hits Seth Helgeson’s right skate and deflects in on Adam Wilcox, who makes the save. Because the puck basically just hits Wilcox, he’s not able to control the rebound so the puck goes off the toe of his left skate and bounces to his goalie stick but he can’t react fast enough to cover the puck as Austin Farley is right there to shoot the rebound into the top of the net! BULLDOGS TIE IT AT 2!!!
    • A lot of bad things happened on this play for the Gophers! Turnover turns into bad coverage by the Gophers!
      • Zach Budish handling the puck as if he’s playing pick-up. No urgency to get it out of the zone
        • Was there anyone telling him Man On!!!? The players on the ice? The coaches and/or players on the bench?
        • Talk to your teammates on the ice! Tell them where the puck is! Tell them there’s a man coming at them. Tell them where to play the puck.
      • Every Gopher on the ice watching the puck. You need to know where the puck is and face the puck but you need to know where your man is so you can keep them covered defensively.
      • Seth Helgeson has to know where he is on the ice and where he is in respect to his goaltender. Then he makes the mistake of getting his foot in front of the shot so a shot that was going 2-3 feet wide ends up deflecting on goal, creating an awkward save for Adam Wilcox and ending up with the puck in the net and a tie game!
    • This is one of those situations where the Gophers were breaking out so they are trying to get some space between them and the nearest Bulldog player for an offensive rush then the puck is turned over and they scramble to get good defensive coverage but fail miserably.
      • So many goals happen because of panic after a turnover.
  • GOAL! – Sam Warning from Nate Condon at 14:52 of the 2nd period – After being caught in their defensive end for a good 30 seconds, Nate Condon finally gets his stick on the puck behind his own net wrapping it around the left corner so Sam Warning can pick it up off the left half-wall and head up the left boards. Nate Condon is even with Warning as they cross the blue line and Bulldog defenseman Andy Welinski is closer to Nate Condon than Sam Warning. Welinski finally goes to Warning, going down on one knee & putting his stick flat on the ice to take away the pass, but Warning pulls the puck back and just gets the puck under Welinski’s stick then makes a move to his backhand to get around Bulldog forward Adam Krause and make goalie Matt McNeeley move side to side so he can slide the puck through five-hole! GOPHERS 3-2!!!
    • It was a 2-on-2 so Andy Welinski should be taking the body there. Going for the puck means you might miss it and the player will get by you. Taking the body is the better play there.
      • He had a forward as his defensive partner (because the other d-man pinched) on the 2-on-2 so maybe he’s getting in Condon’s way for that reason.
      • He could be trying to keep Condon from driving the net too.
    • Adam Krause was alright but he can let Condon go once he’s out of the play but that’s what you get when you have a forward playing defense.
    • The threat of Nate Condon helped turn that play into a goal!
    • It doesn’t help that the back checker is coasting until he sees Warning get free for a scoring chance!
  • PENALTY – Ben Marshall for Hooking on Keegan Flaherty at 17:33 of the 2nd period – Ben Marshall is covering Keegan Flaherty but as the shot goes to the net, Flaherty goes to the net too and Marshall tries to hold him up by putting his stick in his midsection & ends up taking him down allowing Adam Wilcox to make a couple great saves with the toe of his right skate and then his stick & blocker.
    • You might say good penalty but Marshall allows Flaherty to get to the front of the net so he wasn’t covering him as well as he could’ve been. Get in the way of his path to the net!
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Austin Farley from Tony Cameranesi & Caleb Herbert at 19:16 of the 2nd period – Caleb Herbert is at the middle of the blue line and passes to Tony Cameranesi at the top of the left circle for a one-time slap shot that Mark Alt tries to block but it gets through him, hits the left post (to Adam Wilcox’ right) and bounces out to Austin Farley about 5 feet just off the right side of the net. He corrals the puck and shoots it into the empty net but it hits Seth Helgeson’s skate and the back of Adam Wilcox before going into the net.
    • Not sure that’s the technique you want when trying to block a shot, Mr. Alt!
      • Going down on one knee and leaving a chance for the puck to get through doesn’t help out your goalie at all!
      • You’re basically screening the goalie! Get your stick in front of you and in front of the shooting lane to deflect it up and out of play!

3rd Period

  • PENALTY – Caleb Herbert for Checking From Behind on Nick Bjugstad at 4:05 of the 3rd period – The puck gets deflected up in the air & Nick Bjugstad tries to catch it and gets drilled from behind and the Gophers will get a power play out of it!
  • Crazy sequence with the puck in or near the UMD crease for almost 10 seconds!
    • Wade Bergman almost covers it in the crease which would be a penalty shot but Matt McNeeley fishes it out and Dan DeLisle clears it out from his knees!
  • GOAL! – Kyle Rau from Nick Bjugstad & Zach Budish & Ben Marshall at 13:25 of the 3rd period – A face-off is won by Nick Bjugstad that goes through Kyle Rau (who falls down) to Ben Marshall, who came in from the right point to get to the puck on the right half-wall. Zach Budish went to the right point and Ben Marshall passed it back to him. Budish takes a wrist shot as soon as he gets the puck. The shot is going wide but Jake Hendrickson sticks his skate out to try to block the shot but it goes off his skates and rebound through Nick Bjugstad’s skates and to Kyle Rau as he’s going to the net so he has nothing but an open net to shoot at so its GOPHERS 4-3!!!
    • I bet goalies get really frustrated when players try to block every shot! They can stop the majority of the shots from the point if they can see them so having more bodies in their line of sight to the puck is not going to help and deflections are a nightmare for a goalie because the puck could go anywhere and they won’t know what to do to try and stop it!
    • Kyle Rau falls down, gets up and goes to the net and gets a goal for it!
  • PENALTY – Austin Farley for Boarding on Tom Serratore at 15:35 of the 3rd period – The puck hits Tom Serratore just outside the Bulldogs blue line and he doesn’t know where it is so he’s spinning around looking for the puck and he gets hit from behind by Austin Farley! Oops!
    • Probably not a good idea to try to drill a player who’s spinning around! Ya think!
  • We miss some 22 seconds of the power play because FSN is in commercial! You can’t make it up!
    • Go ahead! Try to make up some scenario that FSN could do to screw up a hockey broadcast! Can you think of something worse than what they actually do?
  • GOAL! (EMPTY NET) – Erik Haula Unassisted at 19:54 of the 3rd period – Wade Bergman gets the puck at the right point and tries to make a move with Nate Condon coming at him with speed so he loses the puck and Condon clears the zone but it hits the linesman allowing Zach Budish to force the puck deep in the Bulldog zone. Erik Haula sees the opportunity to be aggressive and gets the puck away from Andy Welinski and is able to backhand the puck into the open net. GOPHERS 5-3!!!

Final Score
Minnesota Gophers 5, UMD Bulldogs 3

Gopher Hockey Recap from GopherSports.com – Third Period Push Carries Gophers to 5-3 Win Over Bulldogs
Gopher Hockey Box Score from GopherSports.com – Minnesota-UMD Stats
Gopher Hockey Recap from UMDBulldogs.com – Minnesota Strikes Twice Late In The Third Period To Clip Bulldogs

In other WCHA College Hockey action tonight,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Colorado College won vs St. Cloud State 4-3
and
Denver won vs North Dakota 5-4

In other College Hockey action,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Air Force won @ RIT 5-3 – Minnesota Wild 2009 7th-round pick Anthony Hamburg scored the 1st goal of this game for RIT.
Michigan State won @ Alaska 1-0 – Minnesota Wild 2012 3rd-round pick John Draeger had the 2nd assist on the lone goal.

Bring The CLUTTER in the comments, on Google+ on Twitter and on Facebook.

You’ve Been ClutterPUCKED!!!

Posted in College Hockey, Gopher Hockey, Hockey In Minnesota, Wild Prospects | Leave a comment

Gopher Hockey Notes at St. Cloud State Huskies – 2-9-2013

Posted on February 11, 2013 by

Can the Gopher hockey team and its players defeat the Huskies on back-to-back nights and get their 2nd series sweep of the season and move to within a point of the WCHA lead?

Line Chart – Minnesota Golden Gophers

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Kyle Rau-7 – Nick Bjugstad-27 – Nate Condon-16
Erik Haula-19 – Sam Warning-11 – Zach Budish-24
Tom Serratore-14 – Travis Boyd-22 – Justin Holl-12
Jake Parenteau-6 – Christian Isackson-26 – Seth Ambroz-17
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Brady Skjei-2 – Nate Schmidt-29
Ben Marshall-10 – Seth Helgeson-4
Mike Reilly-5 – Mark Alt-20
Goalie
Adam Wilcox-32
Mike Shibrowski-1

Scratches: G-Matt LaPrade-30, G-Ryan Coyne-31, D-Blake Thompson-3 (Transferred), F-Ryan Reilly-9, F-AJ Michaelson-15, F-Chirstian Horn-18, F-Jared Larson-23
Injured: F-Connor Reilly-21

Line Chart – St. Cloud State Huskies

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Ben Hanowksi-10 (C) – Drew LeBlanc-19 (C) – Kalle Kossila-11
Jimmy Murray-16 – Nic Dowd-26 – Jonny Brodzinski-22
Garrett Milan-18 – Joey Holka-17 – Joe Rehkamp-37
Joey Benik-9 – Brooks Bertsch-21 – Cory Thorson-8
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Andrew Prochno-28 – Nick Jensen-14 (A)
Kevin Gravel-7 – Tim Daly-40
Ethan Prow-12 – Taylor Johnson-4
Goalie
Ryan Faragher-29
Joseph Phillippi-33

Scratches/Injured: G-Rasmus Reijola-35, D-Jarrod Rabey-2, D-Brendon Burrell-20, F-David Morley-13, F-T.J. Belisle-23, F-Nick Oliver-27

It’s Friday night and we have another WCHA in-state rivalry! Two great teams with two great goalies and two great offenses. This should be fun! Are you in a State of Hockey, physically and mentally?

Let’s DROP THE CLUTTERPUCK!!!

All comments are from an offensive point of view unless otherwise noted.

1st Period

  • I checked and Nic Dowd is not related to former Minnesota Wild player Jim Dowd!
    • That might be why we haven’t seen him circle the offensive zone!
  • You are almost guaranteed to miss the face-off when FSN goes to some highlight after a whistle!
    • Like the one they just missed!
    • and another!
    • and another! UGHH!!!
  • PENALTIES – Ben Marshall for Roughing on Jimmy Murray & Jimmy Murray for Goaltender Interference on Adam Wilcox at 13:55 of the 1st period – Coincidental minors on Jimmy Murray’s mini-breakaway when Ben Marshall body checks Murray at the last second sending him into Adam Wilcox.
    • It’s easy to see that both coaches are not happy with either of these calls!
      • FSN shows Bob Motzko as he screams to the official, “That’s Bull#*&%!!!”
      • then they show Don Lucia as he is told the calls and he snaps, “That’s F#&$ING Bull#*&%!!!”
      • Ahhh….to be an official in the game of hockey!
        • “Hmm…nobody seems to like what I’m doing! Have I chosen the right career?”
          • HEY!!! Somebody has to do it!
          • Don’t be THAT GUY!!!
          • Mothers, DON’T let your babies grow up to be referees!!!
    • Hey, we do get some 4-on-4 hockey though!
      • That seemed to favor the Gophers last night as they scored the game-winning goal and an insurance goal while 4-on-4!
    • Apparently, if you body check a player and that player ends up running into your goalie, that’s roughing!
    • AND if you go to the net with the puck trying to score and you get “roughed” with a body check and that sends you into the goalie, that is goalie interference!
  • PENALTY – St. Cloud State for Too Many Men On The Ice at 16:42 of the 1st period – Oops!
  • and another missed face-off! Maybe FSN stands for Face-offs Suck Network!
    • That’s at least 4 of them!

2nd Period

  • The Don is really switching up the lines quite a bit.
    • Christian Isackson has gotten a shift on the top line. Seth Ambroz has played a shift on the second line. Is The Don trying to take advantage of a matchup or just switching it up for a different look every now and then?
  • GOAL! – Joey Holka from Garrett Milan & Ryan Faragher at 2:39 of the 2nd period – Garrett Milan receives a pass off the left boards from goalie Ryan Faragher and takes it all the way up the left side and takes a shot with Ben Marshall going down to block it. The puck hits Marshall’s left leg and pops up into the air. Joey Holka catches the puck, drops it to the ice and takes a swing at it and gets enough of it to have it go just over Adam Wilcox and into the net! HUSKIES 1-0!!!
    • Not much Wilcox can do about that. Hard to read a shot off a bouncing puck!
    • Jake Parenteau attempts to hit the puck in the air with his stick but never stops skating taking himself out of the play after he misses it.
      • STOP! IN THE NAME OF PUCK!!! BEFORE IT’S MINUS ONE!!!
      • In front of your own net, don’t just allow the opponent to have the better position on the ice. Body him up especially if the puck is in the air!
      • When the puck is in the air, that’s the perfect time to line up someone for a body check! Watch puck…as player touches it….BOOM! CLUTTER BROUGHT!!!
    • Not sure if Parenteau knew where the puck went until the last second. He may have thought the puck was blocked into the left corner so there’s that.
  • The Gophers appear to have been lulled to sleep by the Huskies taking the lead!
    • Move your feet! Where’s the sense of urgency? Let’s GO!!! Geez!
  • GOAL! – Nic Dowd from Jimmy Murray at 17:48 of the 2nd period – Kevin Gravel makes a pass to Nic Dowd through the neutral zone that Nate Schmidt tries to intercept but misses and gives up a 2-on-1. Dowd tips the pass to his left to Jimmy Murray and Murray makes a couple moves then passes to Dowd for a one-timer that Adam Wilcox gets a piece of but not enough to keep the puck out of the net. HUSKIES 2-0!!!
    • Brady Skjei has to take the pass away and let Adam Wilcox have the shooter. He lets the pass get under his stick and basically gives his goalie no chance to make a save!
    • Wilcox knew he got a piece of it and was surprised it went in the net by his reaction!
  • PENALTY – Drew LeBlanc for Checking From Behind on Nick Bjugstad & Nick Jensen for Checking From Behind on Kyle Rau at 18:06 of the 2nd period – Nick Bjugstad is in the left corner battling for the puck and Drew LeBlanc checks him from behind. Bjugstad loses the puck and Kyle Rau gets in there to battle for it and he’s checked from behind by Nick Jensen.
    • Is it 2 or 5? They are discussing it!
    • It’s both penalties at the same time so the Gophers will get a full two minutes of 5-on-3!
      • Unless of course they score!
    • Not very often you see two penalties called on the same play against the same team!
    • and two Checking From Behind penalties too! WOW!
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Nate Schmidt from Erik Haula & Zach Budish at 19:09 of the 2nd period – Erik Haula has the puck at the right-half wall and skates to the top of the slot then passes it to Zach Budish at the left face-off circle. Budish one-times a pass right back to Haula. Haula then passes it to Nate Schmidt at the right face-off dot for a one-time slap shot that beats Ryan Faragher low on the short side. GOPHERS 1-2!!!
    • That shows you how hard Nate Schmidt can shoot the puck if he can beat the goalie low on a one-timer.
      • You usually have to go high since the goalie’s leg pad is the first thing to get over when they move side to side.
        • Not sure Faragher saw the puck until it was too late because he didn’t get over there right away and he didn’t get his pads down until after the puck went by him!
  • PENALTY – Nate Condon for Interference on Andrew Prochno at 19:27 of the 2nd period – This is a brutal call!!! or should I say make-up call after the Gophers got the 5-on-3? Mike Reilly is coming up the center of the neutral zone and drops the puck to Nate Condon. Condon misses the puck and Andrew Prochno goes toward the loose puck. Condon gets in his way to get to the puck first and the official calls him for interference.
    • The main reason I don’t like this call is because the loose puck is within the reach of Nate Condon so a puck/position battle is initiated by both players and Nate Condon won and got the puck.
      • Nate Condon has a right to that ice just as much as Andrew Prochno does!
    • Is it a make-up call? Do the officials look for a penalty from Gophers to try to even up the call of two checking from behind penalties on the same play?
      • If they do, that’s wrong! The checking from behind calls were legit calls so there’s no reason to “even it up.”

3rd Period

  • Gophers kill off the Huskie power play to begin the period.
  • Gophers haven’t won when trailing after 2 and the Huskies haven’t lost when leading after 2 so I guess I should just stop watching the game then!
    • Stupid stats! Records were meant to be BROKEN…with a PUCK!!!
  • GOAL – Jonny Brodzinski from Nick Jensen at 3:50 of the 3rd period – After a Nick Bjugstad face-off win in the Huskie zone, Nick Jensen gets to the puck first and passes cross ice to Jonny Brodzinski coming up the right side and he takes a slap shot at the blue line that Adam Wilcox doesn’t see and its HUSKIES 3-1!!!
    • Jake Parenteau put his feet together to try to block the shot and the puck must’ve deflected off Parenteau’s skates or stick because Wilcox isn’t going to get beat from that far out very often.
    • Tough goal to give up when you’re only down one goal!
  • They say a 2-goal lead is the worst lead in hockey!
    • I disagree!
    • The worst lead in hockey is an opponent’s lead! BOOM!
  • GOAL! – Drew LeBlanc from Kalle Kosilla & Kevin Gravel at 6:40 of the 3rd period – Brady Skjei skates the puck into the offensive zone and then makes a change but he never looks to see who has or where the puck is so when Kevin Gravel has the puck behind his own net and passes to Kalle Kosilla at the right half-wall of the Huskie zone, Andrew LeBlanc has nothing but ice in front of him as that would be where Brady Skjei (or whoever’s covering for him) should be. LeBlanc skates in all alone on Adam Wilcox and beats him with a shot to the blocker side and its now HUSKIES 4-1!!!
    • Bad line change by Brady Skjei!
    • Not sure if anyone covered for Skjei when he took the puck on an offensive rush.
  • The Gophers are throwing away the win from last night with a bad stretch in the 3rd period!
  • A big hit by Tom Serratore gives the Gophers a little energy.
  • PENALTY – Taylor Johnson for Unsportsmanlike Conduct at 10:09 of the 3rd period – No idea what he did. I thought the penalty was going to be for enclosing the hand on the puck.
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Nick Bjugstad from Erik Haula & Kyle Rau at 10:53 of the 3rd period – A shot from the point leaves a rebound in front of the net and Kyle Rau battles for the puck and it squeaks out to Erik Haula at the right face-off dot. Haula waits and makes a pass through the slot to Nick Bjugstad  just above the left face-off dot and he corrals the puck and finally takes a slap shot that goes Bar Down over Faragher’s right shoulder. GOPHERS 2-4!!!
    • Someone should probably get to Bjugstad when he has the puck and isn’t moving!
    • or at least get in front of him. Even on the PK!
  • Will this get the Gophers back in the game?
  • GOAL! – Nate Condon from Mark Alt & Mike Reilly at 14:26 of the 3rd period – Mike Reilly takes the puck up the right boards into the Huskie zone, turns towards the net then makes a turnaround move on his backhand to get around Andrew Prochno. Prochno forces him to go behind the net but Reilly makes a centering pass that goes through everyone in front of the net and back to the point where Mark Alt gets it and takes a slap shot. Ryan Faragher makes the save but leaves a juicy rebound that comes right to Nate Condon at the right of the net (Faragher’s left) and Condon puts it into the open net and its GOPHERS 3-4!!!
    • Mark Alt didn’t take a full wind-up on his slap shot. He only went waist high to get the shot off quicker to get it to the net.
      • He shot it low to get a rebound or a tip.
      • He didn’t shoot high to try to score. He shot low to get an assist!
    • I’m not sure how long we’ll get to see Mike Reilly play for the Gophers but man, it’s going to be fun to watch him grow and progress into a great defenseman!
      • The kid can skate, handle the puck and make plays and we saw it all on that play! WOW!
  • We have ourselves a hockey game now!
  • Over 5 minutes to go! Can the Gophers tie the game?
    • Some Mo for the Gophers!
  • PENALTY – Zach Budish for Tripping on Drew LeBlanc at 19:25 of the 3rd period – Zach Budish loses a puck battle in the right corner of the Huskie zone and gets his stick between the legs of Drew LeBlanc tripping him up and getting a call from the official.
    • Probably the right call but that might kill most of the possibility for the Gophers to tie this game up.

This one ends with the Huskies winning 4-3 but having to stave off a comeback from the Gophers in the last 5 minutes.

The Gophers started the game out good but after the Huskies took the lead, they seemed to let up and it wasn’t until the got a 5-on-3 power play late in the 2nd period when they got some energy back. Then two quick goals from St. Cloud State looked to end any hope of a Gopher sweep until another power play goal gave them some more energy for a comeback that fell just short in the end.

The Huskies keep their 5-point lead in the WCHA over the Gophers with a series split making it tough for the Gophers to get back-to-back WCHA titles. Gopher hockey still has two games in hand on the Huskies with 8 games left to play to the Huskies 6 games left to play so they can still close the gap but needed a better overall effort tonight to get it done.

Next weekend the Gophers head to Wisconsin on Friday night and then head to Chicago for Sunday’s 1st annual Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field. Friday night’s game is at 7pm on FSN and Sunday afternoon’s game is at 3:30pm on the Big Ten Network!!!

Gopher Hockey Recap from GopherSports.com – Gophers Settle for Split with No. 8/10 St. Cloud State
Gopher Hockey Box Score from GopherSports.com – Minnesota-St. Cloud State Stats
Gopher Hockey Recap from .com – SCSUHuskies.com – #8/10 St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey Upends #1 Gophers, 4-3

In other WCHA College Hockey action tonight,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Colorado College won vs Denver 6-5 in OT,
Michigan Tech won vs Alaska-Anchorage 6-1,
Minnesota State won @ Minnesota-Duluth 5-1,
North Dakota won @ Nebraska-Omaha 5-2 – Played outdoors at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska as part of the Battles On Ice event – Recap,
and
Wisconsin won vs Bemidji State 3-2

In other College Hockey action,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Notre Dame won vs Michigan 6-4 – Minnesota Wild Draft Pick Mario Lucia (or is it Thedonson (The Don’s Son! Get it? Nevermind!)) assisted on the 2nd Notre Dame goal
and
Penn State won vs Alabama-Huntsville 4-3 – Former Gopher Max Gardiner assisted on the 2nd Penn State goal

Bring The CLUTTER in the comments, on Twitter, on Facebook and on Google+.

You’ve Been ClutterPUCKED!!!

Posted in College Hockey, Gopher Hockey, Hockey In Minnesota, Minnesota Wild, News/Transactions, Wild Prospects | Leave a comment

Gopher Hockey Notes at St. Cloud State Huskies – 2-8-2013

Posted on February 10, 2013 by

Gopher hockey gets back on the ice after a weekend off where they split a home and home series with Minnesota State. This weekend they take on the the St. Cloud State Huskies who are leading the WCHA conference and are ranked #10 in the country. Add that the series takes place in St. Cloud at the National Hockey Center and that’s makes even tougher for the Gophers to get back in the race for the top spot in the WCHA. This is also the last regular season series for another big rivalry for the Gopher hockey team. Fortunately, this rivalry won’t end as there is a plan for an annual tournament* featuring the Minnesota, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State and Minnesota-Duluth starting next season. That’s the future so let’s get back to the now! GOPHERS vs HUSKIES!!!

*The Minnesota Cup? The Cup of Minnesota? Would you order a Cup of Minnesota? What would be in that? For a while the Minnesota based team from the WCHA was given the DQ Cup for having the most points against the other WCHA Minnesota based teams but that hasn’t happened for a few years and it went away without a peep. I hope they come up with a good name that looks into the history of Minnesota Hockey & the state of Minnesota. How ’bout the Herb Brooks Cup or Herb Brooks Trophy? The Herbie Cup? The Loonie? Any thoughts?

Line Chart – Minnesota Golden Gophers

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Kyle Rau-7 – Nick Bjugstad-27 – Nate Condon-16
Sam Warning-11 – Erik Haula-19 – Zach Budish-24
Tom Serratore-14 – Travis Boyd-22 – Seth Ambroz-17
Jake Parenteau-6 – Christian Isackson-26 – Justin Holl-12
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Brady Skjei-2 – Nate Schmidt-29
Ben Marshall-10 – Seth Helgeson-4
Mike Reilly-5 – Mark Alt-20
Goalie
Adam Wilcox-32
Mike Shibrowski-1

Scratches: G-Matt LaPrade-30, G-Ryan Coyne-31, D-Blake Thompson-3 (Transferred), F-Ryan Reilly-9, F-AJ Michaelson-15, F-Chirstian Horn-18, F-Jared Larson-23
Injured: F-Connor Reilly-21

Line Chart – St. Cloud State Huskies

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Ben Hanowksi-10 (C) – Drew LeBlanc-19 (C) – Kalle Kossila-11
Jimmy Murray-16 – Nic Dowd-26 – Jonny Brodzinski-22
Joey Holka-17 – Joe Rehkamp-37  – Brooks Bertsch-21
Joey Benik-9 – David Morley-13 – Cory Thorson-8
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Andrew Prochno-28 – Nick Jensen-14 (A)
Kevin Gravel-7 – Ethan Prow-12
Tim Daly-40 – Taylor Johnson-4
Goalie
Ryan Faragher-29
Joseph Phillippi-33

Scratches/Injured: G-Rasmus Reijola-35, D-Jarrod Rabey-2, D-Brendon Burrell-20, F-Garrett Milan-18, F-T.J. Belisle-23, F-Nick Oliver-27

It’s Friday night and we have another WCHA in-state rivalry! Two great teams with two great goalies and two great offenses. This should be fun! Are you in a State of Hockey, physically and mentally?

Let’s DROP THE CLUTTERPUCK!!!

All comments are from an offensive point of view unless otherwise noted.

1st Period

  • Why don’t they go over the lines for each team before the game?
    • Do they do it in the pre-game show?
    • I don’t watch that because I try to limit my exposure to FSN!
      • I can only take so much before I snap!!!
  • Lots of long hair from the Huskie players. What’s that about?
    • This is a charity thing for Locks of Love according to Casey Hankinson.
  • Sam Warning collides with Jimmy Murray in the neutral zone at the red line and the Huskies get a scoring chance out of it but Adam Wilcox makes a good save to keep the game scoreless.
    • Jimmy Murray made a pass to Andrew Prochno for a quick tip right in front of the net. He tried to go five-hole but Wilcox took it away at the last second.
  • The Huskies get another scoring chance off a shot from the left when Nate Schmidt stops the puck and Adam Wilcox has to know the puck away from Andrew Prochno.
  • GOAL – NO GOAL – Zach Budish from Sam Warning at 4:52 of the 1st period – A turnover in the neutral zone by Cory Thorsen off a Joey Benik pass lets Nate Schmidt make a quick play off the right boards that goes to Zach Budish. Budish makes a quick pass to Sam Warning to his left and Warning is able to make a move around Ethan Prow and get to the net. He tries to make a move around Ryan Faragher, gets a shot off and then runs into Faragher, knocking his mask off. The rebound comes out to Zach Budish and he puts it into the mostly open net. The whistle was blown about the same time as the puck went into the net.
    • The goal was waved off right away but they’ll review it anyways.
    • I assume the goal was waved off for goalie interference and/or the goalie’s mask coming off.
      • It’s usually an instant stoppage once a goalie’s mask comes off.
    • Yep…NO GOAL!
  • How does a no goal affect both teams?
    • Are the Gophers able to keep up the aggressiveness? Keep up the intensity?
    • Do the Huskies start playing safe worrying about defense?
      • How about the goalie? Is Ryan Faragher rattled from the puck going into his net even if its called off?
  • Christian Isackson takes a shot that is blocked by Kevin Gravel and he gets up limping to the bench after the whistle.
  • I didn’t realize that Bob Motzko coached under Herb Brooks in 1986-87.
  • Zach Budish hits the post off a line rush that turns into a quick 2-on-1 with Erik Haula. PING!!!
  • GOAL – Nick Bjugstad from Kyle Rau and Nate Condon at 8:45 of the 1st period – Jake Parenteau dumps the puck around the left corner behind the net. Both Nick Jensen and Andrew Prochno go back to get it. Prochno had gone around the right of the net with Kyle Rau following him to pressure the puck. Nick Jensen went to the left of the net and gets to the puck first but he sees Nick Bjugstad coming to throw a body check so he throws the puck back around the left corner again (to Ryan Faragher’s right). Nate Condon gets the puck at the left half-wall, skates toward the net at the goal line and makes a pass to Kyle Rau behind the net. Bjugstad had gone to the front of the net and is knocked down by Nick Jensen and Andrew Prochno so Rau just skates around the net (to Faragher’s left) and takes a shot that rebounds out to Bjugstad, who is now on his feet again, and he’s able to take a quick shot on the ice that goes under Ryan Faragher. GOPHERS 1-0!!!
    • A little puck-watching by the Huskies and nobody getting open for a pass when the puck was dumped in behind the net.
      • It doesn’t help that both defenseman are within 5 feet of each other behind the net.
    • Nick Jensen should know where most of the Gopher players are and not throw the puck back to where they are.
      • He knows two are behind the net because he saw Rau and he sees Bjugstad coming at him so even eating it behind the net and forcing a puck battle is a better option than trying to wrap it around the corner.
        • or play it back into the other corner.
        • It’s obviously easy to second guess the game after but the players should know the options they have in every situation.
      • Are his teammates talking to him and telling him where to play the puck?
    • Then you have both defenseman defending one man in front of the net.
      • Even if that man is Nick Bjugstad, you need to be able to defend him with one man.
  • We miss the penalty because FSN decides to look at another replay of the goal by Nick Bjugstad. Oops!
    • FSN = Failed Sports Network!
  • PENALTY – for Interference at 9:52 of the 1st period – I’d love to tell you about it but FSN didn’t show it and didn’t show a replay either so…
  • GOAL (POWER PLAY) NO GOAL – Zach Budish from Kyle Rau and Erik Haula at 10:07 of the 1st period – Erik Haula sets up on the right half-wall, gets a pass from Nate Schmidt and skates toward the center. The Huskies are in a diamond formation in front of the net giving easy passing lanes on the outside so Haula passes it to Kyle Rau at the right side of the net. Rau takes the puck to the net with Zach Budish in front of the net. The puck is blocked by Ryan Faragher and Rau kind of runs into Faragher. The puck goes out to to the right of the net and Budish is there to shoot the puck into the empty net.
    • The officials will review the goal.
    • Casey Hankinson thinks it should be a goal but the officials say no because of goalie interference by Kyle Rau.
      • Rau did run into Faragher but he was pushed into him by Nick Jensen so that’s a bit of a controversy.
    • My biggest question when goals are called off for goalie interference is why doesn’t that wind up in a penalty for the offender committing goalie interference?
      • Is taking away a goal enough of a penalty?
      • If a goal isn’t scored there, is a penalty called?
        • Not in most cases.
        • Does this mean that the rules are different when a goal is scored?
  • Two goals taken away? WOW! How often does that happen?
    • Will that affect the Gophers and Huskies for the rest of the game? Faragher?
  • Is Nic Dowd related to Jim Dowd, the former Minnesota Wild player who used to circle the offensive zone?
    • It’s Time to Circle the Offensive Zone with Jimmy Dowd!!!
  • GOAL – Joey Benik from Cory Thorsen at 14:48 of the 1st period – Travis Boyd is skating behind the net and tries to stop and go the other way but loses the puck. Cory Thorsen was going to forecheck Boyd so he’s right there to get the loose puck and he just throws it in front of the net. The puck bounces off of Ben Marshall’s skates and goes right to Joey Benik for a quick shot that beats Adam Wilcox through the five-hole. HUSKIES TIE it at 1-1!!!
    • Puck-watching after a turnover! Three Gophers go for (gopher?) the puck leaving Benik open for the shot. FIND A MAN!!!
    • Kind of a tough goal off a turnover behind your own net but you still have to cover a man and not space.
      • Turnovers cause panic and panic causes puck-watching.
        • Panic is never good! Change panic to poise and instantly look for somebody to cover!
        • This is easier said than done and I’m not sure you can work on it in practice.
          • It happens in all levels of hockey so if you can find a way to coach it or practice it and get players to adopt it in game situations, you could probably win a lot of games and not give up many goals!
    • Joey Benik holds the Minnesota high school record for goals scored in a single season with 63. He
      • St. Francis’ Joey Benik breaks Minnesota’s scoring mark for a season – TwinCities.com – Kevin Hagstrom – 2/13/2009
      • Benik Blasts his way to scoring record – Minnesota Hockey Hub – 2/14/2009
      • Unexpected Sequel – ESPN RISE – Christopher Parish – 1/19/2010
  • PENALTY – Jake Parenteau for Checking from Behind on David Morley at 17:43 of the 1st period – David Morley is receiving the puck at the right boards of his own blue line and he turns as Jake Parenteau goes to body check him. Parenteau lets up a little bit but not enough to avoid a penalty.
    • This is a minor penalty! No doubt about it! He let up and actually hit him at an angle not directly into the boards.
  • PENALTY – Nic Dowd on Jake Parenteau for Hooking at 19:58 of the 1st period – Jake Parenteau gets a loose puck in front of the net after coming out of the penalty box and Nic Dowd takes a couple whacks at him and gets his stick under him slowing him up and the official gives him a minor penalty for it.

2nd Period

  • Gophers start the period on the POWER PLAY!!! A nice, clean sheet of ice to see if they can take the lead right away in the 2nd period!!!
    • and…..nothing!!!
  • GOAL – Erik Haula from Mark Alt at 4:31 of the 2nd period – Zach Budish gets pressure on the puck in the Gophers defensive zone and forces a play to the point where an attempted dump in is blocked by Mark Alt at the left half-wall. He tries to get a pass to Erik Haula going up the center of the neutral zone but its stopped by Jonny Brodzinski. Alt keeps coming at Brodzinski and poke checks the puck away from him and up to Haula now at the right blue line. Alt drives the net for force a 2-on-1 and forcing Ethan Prow to hesitate in defending Haula. This gives Haula enough time to take a wrist shot that goes in low left past Ryan Faragher’s right pad. GOPHERS 2-1!!!
    • Prow decides at the last second to try to get in front of the shot but instead of getting low he looks like he’s jumping up like he’s afraid to get hit with the puck and actually looks like he gets a piece of the puck with his stick deflecting it past his goalie.
      • Ryan Faragher looks like he’s trying to stop a shot from going to his five-hole that ends up going to his left.
      • Get down to block a shot! Don’t just let a player shoot the puck!
        • AND put your stick in front of the puck forcing the player to change the angle or pass the puck.
        • That was on a partial 2-on-1 so that made it a little harder to defend.

3rd Period

  • PENALTY – Seth Helgeson for Hooking on Jimmy Murray at 3:21 of the 3rd period – Seth Helgeson is trying to chase down Jimmy Murray while the Huskies are cycling the puck and he puts his stick in Murray’s midsection and gets called for hooking by the official.
  • GOAL (POWER PLAY) – Drew LeBlanc from Kalle Kosilla and Nick Jensen at 3:59 of the 3rd period – On the power play, Nick Jensen makes a nice spin move at the left point to create some space and then skates in, fakes a slap shot then takes a wrist shot that deflects to the right off Mark Alt’s stick. Kalle Kosilla gets to the puck and passes it back to Drew LeBlanc at the right point. LeBlanc takes a low snap shot that appears to deflect off Kyle Rau’s stick and goes high off the left post and in to the net for a 2-2 TIE!!!
    • After seeing the replay, I’m not sure the shot got deflected at all! Really hard to tell with the replays FSN showed.
  • PENALTIES – Seth Ambroz & Taylor Johnson for Roughing at 8:47 of the 3rd period – After the whistle roughhousing and we will get some 4-on-4 hockey!!!
    • Which team does this favor?
      • Gophers have more speed?
  • GOAL – Erik Haula from Nate Schmidt at 9:31 of the 3rd period – Drew LeBlanc makes a backhand centering pass that Ethan Prow doesn’t get all of so the puck is flat on the ice for Nate Schmidt to intercept the puck and transition to offense with Erik Haula on his right on a 2-on-1 against Kevin Gravel. LeBlanc is back checking so Gravel decides to go towards Schmidt forcing the play. Gravel gets his stick in front of the puck but Schmidt is still able to get the puck over to Erik Haula for a 1-on-1 with Ryan Faragher. Haula catches it on his backhand, moves to his forehand and puts it through Faragher’s five-hole! GOPHERS 3-2!!!
    • I guess the Gophers have the advantage in a 4-on-4 matchup.
    • Kevin Gravel forces the play and he doesn’t have to.
      • He can deny the pass or…
      • he can go down and try to deny the pass and force Schmidt to shoot over him.
      • LeBlanc wasn’t close enough to Haula for Gravel to leave him alone.
  • GOAL! – Nate Schmidt from Brady Skjei at 10:29 of the 3rd period – Nate Schmidt starts the play from behind his own net, passes to Brady Skjei going up the left side. Skjei skates the puck into the zone then turns around on his backhand at the half-wall and makes a backhand sauce pass to Nate Schmidt and he has enough time to tee up a slap shot that is blasted past Ryan Faragher for a 4-2 GOPHER LEAD!!!
    • SCHMIDT HAPPENS!!!
    • Drew LeBlanc and Andrew Prochno wasn’t really covering anyone on that play. They were both covering Nick Bjugstad until he passed the net. LeBlanc then turns and nobody ever had the trailer Nate Scmidt
    • How often does the trailer end up scoring a goal or being the most important player to cover on the ice?
      • Too often!!! Look for the trailer!!!
  • BIG SAVE! – Adam Wilcox on Jimmy Murray at 16:55 of the 3rd period – Jimmy Murray gets a pass from Jonny Brodzinski for a breakaway. He fakes to his backhand and tries to go upstairs but Adam Wilcox gets his blocker on it and deflects the puck out of play keeping the game at a 2-goal lead!
    • I love how Adam Wilcox gets low and basically forces the player to raise the puck but then takes that away by coming out and challenging them cutting down the angle.
  • The Huskies pull their goalie at the 17:15 mark!!! WOW!
    • It’s been said that you want a minute per goal behind so maybe this isn’t that shocking.

The Minnesota Gopher hockey team came out with a sense of urgency and purpose in this game. That’s what they didn’t do last weekend letting Minnesota State steal the Friday night game late! The Huskies came back twice to tie it but a critical two minute 4-on-4 was the difference as Erik Haula and Nate Schmidt made it a 4-2 game and the Gophers finished it off with a couple good saves by Adam Wilcox, who was sharp all game long and had to make some big saves early to keep the Gophers even in the opening minutes!

We’ll see ya tomorrow night! Same Gopher Time! Same Gopher Channel! The Saturday night rematch is also on FSN Plus but it starts at 7pm as opposed to 7:30pm so I guess that means Different Gopher Time!!!

Gopher Hockey Recap from GopherSports.com – Gophers Open Weekend with 4-2 Win Over League-Leading Huskies
Gopher Hockey Box Score from GopherSports.com – Minnesota-St. Cloud State Stats
Gopher Hockey Recap from .com – SCSUHuskies.com – #8/10 St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey Falls 4-2 to #1 Minnesota

In other WCHA College Hockey action tonight,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Colorado College tied Denver 1-1 in OT,
Alaska-Anchorage won @ Michigan Tech 5-4,
Minnesota State won @ Minnesota-Duluth 4-2,
North Dakota won @ Nebraska-Omaha 2-1, – Former Gopher Ryan Walters scored the 1st goal of this game and Minnesota Wild Draft Pick Nick Seeler was a -1
and
Bemidji State tied @ Wisconsin 2-2 in OT

In other College Hockey action,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Notre Dame won vs Michigan 7-4 – It doesn’t look like Mario Lucia played in this game. I’m not sure why.
Penn State won vs Alabama-Huntsville 4-0 – Former Gopher Max Gardiner scored the 2nd goal of the game

Bring The CLUTTER in the comments, on Twitter, on Facebook and on Google+.

You’ve Been ClutterPUCKED!!!

Posted in News/Transactions | Leave a comment

Gopher Hockey Notes at Minnesota State Mavericks – 1-26-2013

Posted on January 27, 2013 by

The controversial goal that was reversed by the officials!

The Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey team had their 10-game unbeaten streak snapped last night by the Minnesota State Mavericks with a goal in the last minute of the game. The Gophers didn’t play particularly well or particularly as hard as we’ve seen them play during their streak. I expect that to change tonight and for last night’s game to be a wake-up call for this team that every game matters and there are no easy games in Division I college hockey and WCHA college hockey especially when being at the top of the conference is at stake! Tonight’s game is in the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato. Will the Mavericks gain some home-ice advantage with their fans cheering them on in their rink?

Line Chart – Minnesota Golden Gophers

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Kyle Rau-7 – Nick Bjugstad-27 – Erik Haula-19
Sam Warning-11 – Nate Condon-16 – Zach Budish-24
Tom Serratore-14 – Travis Boyd-22 – Justin Holl-12
Jake Parenteau-6 – Christian Isackson-26 – Seth Ambroz-17
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Brady Skjei-2 – Nate Schmidt-29
Ben Marshall-10 – Seth Helgeson-4
Mike Reilly-5 – Mark Alt-20
Goalie
Adam Wilcox-32
Mike Shibrowski-1

Scratches: G-Matt LaPrade-30, G-Ryan Coyne-31, D-Blake Thompson-3 (Transferred), F-Ryan Reilly-9, F-AJ Michaelson-15, F-Chirstian Horn-18, F-Jared Larson-23
Injured: F-Connor Reilly-21

Line Chart – Minnesota State Mavericks

Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Chase Grant-21 – Matt Leitner-18 – Johnny McInnis-22
Jean-Paul LaFontaine-12 – Teddy Blueger-23 – Eriah Hayes-25
Brett Knowles-24 – Zach Lehrke-19 – Bryce Gervais-9
Dylan Margonari-26 – Eli Zuck-29 – Max Gaede-8
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Tylor Elbrecht-16 – Josh Nelson-2
Zach Palmquist-7  – Evan Mosey-17
Brett Stern-27 – Jon Jutzi- 28
Goalie
Stephon Williams-35
Phil Cook-30

Scratches/Injured: G-Evan Karambelas-31, D-Nick Buchanon-4, D-Mat Knoll-10, F-Corey Laivermann-11, F-Taylor Herndon-14, F-J.P. Burkemper-15, F-Charlie Thauwald-20

It’s Saturday night and we have a rematch of a WCHA in-state rivalry! It’s a beautiful thing to be in a State of Hockey, physically and mentally!!!

Let’s DROP THE CLUTTERPUCK!!!

1st Period

  • Are those new jerseys for the Mavericks? Those are Nice!
  • PENALTIES – Zach Budish & Johnny McInnis for Roughing at 6:34 of the 1st period – A scrum in front of the Gopher net literally as Budish takes McInnis down!
    • That’s my Puck, Baby! DON’T YOU EVER TOUCH MY PUCK!!!
    • or GOALIE!!!

  • NO GOAL! – Justin Holl Unassisted at 12:35 of the 1st period – Justin Holl makes a great play stealing a D-to-D pass and going in on Stephon Williams. He tries to go 5-hole and Williams makes the save, the rebound goes off of Justin Holl’s leg and into the net but the net appears to have come off the moorings before the puck crossed the goal line. The officials called it no goal on the ice and head to a video review. GOAL!!! The officials reverse the goal and the Gophers score the first goal of the game! GOPHERS 1-0!!!
    • Last night was the first game this season that the Gophers lost when scoring the first goal of the game!
      • How will this one turn out?
  • PENALTIES – Brady Skjei & Teddy Blueger for Cross-Checking at 14:37 of the 1st period – More after the whistle pushing & shoving in front of the Gopher net AND more 4-on-4 hockey!
  • BIG HIT! – Tom Serratore on Jon Jutzi at 17:00 of the 1st period – A battle in the left corner of the Maverick zone is won by the Mavericks and the puck goes towards the right corner. Jon Jutzi skates to the puck and makes a pass up the right boards, watches his pass and lands on his ASS!!! Tom Serratore hits him high and watches him fly!
  • PENALTY – Zach Palmquist for Interference on Nate Schmidt at 17:19 of the 1st period – Nate Schmidt starts the breakout of the Gopher zone coming up the left center of the ice. He passes the puck to Justin Holl on his left and drives to the net. As he gets close to the net, Zach Palmquist takes him down and gets called for interference.
    • Controversy! Justin Holl makes a move around Evan Mosey and gets in on Stephon Williams all alone, makes a move around him and for some reason the whistle blows. The Mavericks never touched the puck!
      • Inadvertent whistle or what?
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Nate Schmidt from Zach Budish & Kyle Rau at 18:11 of the 1st period – Nate Schmidt gets the puck from a Nick Bjugstad pass at the middle of the blue line and makes move the pull the puck back but Zach Lehrke is right there with a poke check and Schmidt has to get rid of the puck quick passing it through Lehrke’s legs to Bjugstad. Bjugstad was coming towards the center of the zone from the left face-off circle and passes to Erik Haula just off the right half-wall for a one timer that Stephon Williams saves but he leaves a rebound that Kyle Rau whacks at then Zach Budish whacks at it and the puck deflects back up the middle to Nate Schmidt and he one-times it into the upper right corner of the net and its GOPHERS 2-0!!!
    • Stephon Willams complains to the ref about something but I can’t imagine what he thinks happened that gave Minnesota an advantage there.
      • The only thing I see watching the replay is maybe Budish’s stick interfering with Williams’ glove and that’s where the puck went into the net so he might have an argument.
    • Zach Budish takes a couple two-handed chops to his hands and his stick while planting himself in front of the net showing what it takes to get a net front presence!
  • PENALTIES – Seth Ambroz, Ben Marshall, Evan Mosey & Teddy Blueger for Roughing at 18:57 of the 1st period – Some more wrestling in front of the Gopher net makes a crowded penalty box for both sides and we stay at 5-on-5 hockey!
  • PENALTY – Sam Warning for Elbowing on Brett Stern at 19:42 of the 1st period – Brett Stern coming out of his own zone up the left side passes the puck and gets hit by Sam Warning and Warning gets an elbowing for it.
    • Brett Stern is tall and he bent down after releasing the pass.
    • Players seem to put themselves in danger to draw a penalty.
      • You’re seeing it in all levels of hockey. Since rules have changed regarding checking from behind and boarding, players will turn their backs at the last second knowing they could draw a major penalty that could change the whole hockey game.
      • That seems crazy to me to put yourself in a position to get a concussion or worse!

2nd Period

  • PENALTY – Mike Reilly for Cross-Checking on Jean-Paul LaFontaine at 13:18 of the 2nd period – Mike Reilly is in front of his own net and trying to move Jean-Paul LaFontaine but he does so with two hands on his stick across the back of him and he gets to sit and think about what he did!
    • Do we need a penalty box in everyday life situations? On the highway? At work? For officials too?

3rd Period

  • PENALTY – Eriah Hayes for Boarding on Tom Serratore at 8:44 of the 3rd period – Tom Serratore is against the boards in his own zone and Eriah Hayes hits him from behind. Serratore hits the boards hard and goes down and the officials try to figure out what to call.
    • Not sure why that’s not checking from behind. Should it be a major? Not sure but it’s close.
    • Before Eriah Hayes took the penalty, he was knocked to the ice by Seth Helgeson and that probably should’ve been called for interference.
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Zach Budish from Erik Haula at 9:46 of the 3rd period – Erik Haula gets the puck at the right half-wall and has time to survey the ice to see where he wants to put the puck. Zach Budish is at the top of the slot waiting. Haula plays with the puck until Brett Knowles gets close enough for Haula to send a backhand sauce pass to Budish for a catch and shoot shot to the lower left of the net past Stephon Williams who was partially screened when Brett Stern rotates out to Budish.
    • Nice play by Haula to bait Knowles into coming to get him.
    • Knowles doesn’t need to go get him there. Just stay in the passing lanes and keep good position. By committing to Haula, he forced everyone else to change their position on the kill.
  • GOAL! – Zach Lehrke from Bryce Gervais and Jean-Paul LaFontaine at 12:59 of the 3rd period – The Mavericks break out of their zone with a pass to Jean-Paul LaFontaine at the left of the blue line. LaFontaine makes a pass to Bryce Gervais going up the middle of the neutral zone that Ben Marshall misses with a poke check attempt so Gervais gets a step on him and tries to get to the net. For some reason, Seth Helgeson also turns and chases Gervais instead of covering the trailing forward Zach Lehrke so Gervais takes a shot that rebounds off of Adam Wilcox right to Lehrke who shoots it into the net and the Mavericks are on the board! MAVERICKS 1-3!!!
    • Seth Helgeson is not good in panic situations. Trust your defensive partner every now and then and most of the time. That’s better than trying to help him out and leaving someone wide open for a rebound. DO YOUR JOB!!!
    • Zach Budish didn’t help out on the back check by coasting and watching Lehrke go to the net uncovered either!
      • He wouldn’t have anyone to cover if Helgeson covers the guy he should though!
      • I wonder what it’s like in the film room watching these kinds of plays.
  • GOAL! – Johnny McInnis from Matt Leitner & Chase Grant at 13:26 of the 3rd period – Matt Leitner curls around the right corner, skates towards the blue line and decides to take a shot on net. Chase Grant gets his stick on it but might’ve been too high. The puck goes toward the net where Johnny McInnis appears to punch it into the net or at least deflect it with his glove. The goal is under review!
    • Make that NO GOAL!!! Video highlights of this play is at the top of the post!
    • Johnny McInnis punched the puck into the net. Was it done on purpose? Does it matter? Can you deflect the puck into the net off of your glove?
      • The puck can deflect off any part of you but you can’t deflect it into the net on purpose unless its with your stick or your skate.
    • McInnis is in the crease but he’s not keeping Adam Wilcox from having an attempt to make a save on the shot.
      • That won’t keep it from being a goal! No harm, no foul!
    • Should it be high-sticking the puck off the tip from Chase Grant?
  • Mavericks take a chance and pull the goalie with 3:46 left in the 3rd period down by 2 goals!
  • GOAL! (EMPTY-NETTER) – Erik Haula from Kyle Rau at 16:28 of the 3rd period – The Gophers get the puck out of the zone and it goes down the left boards into the Maverick zone and Kyle Rau gets there to block the clearing attempt, gets possession and passes it up to Erik Haula, who had skated in the zone alongside him and when he saw Rau get possession, he went to the net, and Haula shoots it into the empty net for a 3-goal lead! GOPHERS 4-1!!!
  • PENALTY – Bryce Gervais for Boarding on Ben Marshall at 18:08 of the 3rd period – Bryce Gervais goes in on the forecheck and hits Ben Marshall up high and from behind and the official calls him for boarding.

That’s another win for Gopher hockey! The Gophers came out with a little more battle and wanted to make up for losing last night and are now one point behind St. Cloud State for the WCHA conference lead! If the Gophers play like they want to win, they can beat any team on any night! No letdowns the rest of the season!

Gopher Hockey Recap from GopherSports.com – Gophers Take Down No. 14 Mavericks 4-1 for WCHA Split
Gopher Hockey Box Score from GopherSports.com – Minnesota-Minnesota State Stats
Gopher Hockey Recap from MSUMavericks.com – Mavericks Drop 4-1 Decision to Gophers in Mankato Saturday

In other WCHA College Hockey action tonight,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Nebraska-Omaha won @ Bemidji State 2-1 – Minnesota Wild 2011 5th-round pick Nick Seeler apparently had a Head-Butting Major & a Game Misconduct for Nebraska-Omaha in this game!
St. Cloud State tied North Dakota 2-2 in OT
Wisconsin won vs Alaska-Anchorage 2-1
and
Minnesota-Duluth won vs the US Under-18 Team 3-1 in Exhibition

In other College Hockey action,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Notre Dame won vs Ferris State 5-2 – Minnesota Wild 2011 2nd-round pick Mario Lucia had a goal & 2 assists for Notre Dame
Niagara won vs RIT 6-4 – Minnesota Wild 2009 7th-round pick Anthony Hamburg had an assist on RIT’s 3rd goal
Penn State won @ Michigan State 3-2 – Former Gopher Max Gardiner had 2 assists for Penn State

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Posted in College Hockey, Gopher Hockey, Hockey In Minnesota, News/Transactions, Wild Prospects | Leave a comment

Gopher Hockey Notes vs Minnesota State Mavericks – 1-25-2013

Posted on January 27, 2013 by

Gopher hockey stayed on a roll last weekend with a win and a tie against rival North Dakota but it doesn’t get any easier this weekend as the Gophers play a home and home series with the Minnesota State Mavericks with tonight’s game at Mariucci Arena and Saturday night’s game in Mankato at the Verizon Wireless Center. The Mavericks have been very competitive with the Gophers for awhile now and it’s a shame this series will go away after this season with Gopher hockey moving to the new Big Ten Conference for the 2013-14 season.

Line Chart – Minnesota Golden Gophers
 
Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Kyle Rau-7 – Nick Bjugstad-27 – Erik Haula-19
Sam Warning-11 – Nate Condon-16 – Zach Budish-24
Tom Serratore-14 – Travis Boyd-22 – Justin Holl-12
Jake Parenteau-6 – Christian Isackson-26 – Seth Ambroz-17
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Brady Skjei-2 – Nate Schmidt-29
Ben Marshall-10 – Seth Helgeson-4
Mike Reilly-5 – Mark Alt-20
Goalie
Adam Wilcox-32
Mike Shibrowski-1
Scratches: G-Matt LaPrade-30, G-Ryan Coyne-31, D-Blake Thompson-3 (Transferred), F-Ryan Reilly-9, F-AJ Michaelson-15, F-Chirstian Horn-18, F-Jared Larson-23
Injured: F-Connor Reilly-21
Line Chart – Minnesota State Mavericks
Left Wing – Center – Right Wing
Chase Grant-21 – Matt Leitner-18 – Johnny McInnis-22
Jean-Paul LaFontaine-12 – Teddy Blueger-23 – Eriah Hayes-25
Brett Knowles-24 – Zach Lehrke-19 – Bryce Gervais-9
Dylan Margonari-26 – Eli Zuck-29 – Max Gaede-8
Left Defenseman – Right Defenseman
Tylor Elbrecht-16 – Josh Nelson-2
Zach Palmquist-7  – Evan Mosey-17
Brett Stern-27 – Jon Jutzi- 28
Goalie
Stephon Williams-35
Phil Cook-30
Scratches/Injured: G-Evan Karambelas-31, D-Nick Buchanon-4, D-Mat Knoll-10, F-Corey Laivermann-11, F-Taylor Herndon-14, F-J.P. Burkemper-15, F-Charlie Thauwald-20

Let’s DROP THE CLUTTERPUCK!!!

1st Period

  • PENALTIES – Nick Bjugstad & Matt Leitner for Roughing at :30 of the 1st period – On the first whistle of the game we get some pushing and shoving in front of the Mavericks net between 1st-line centers and we’ll get some 4-on-4 hockey for a couple minutes.
    • I don’t mind that as both teams are showing they aren’t going to back down.
  • The Big Ten Network announcer says Brady Skjei has been impressive when he pinches on one possession. That’s all he says. He doesn’t explain why he’s been impressive and I don’t know what he’s done to make him think that.
    • Brady has improved from the beginning of the season on the defensive end and hasn’t really had the chances to show much offensively but he’s had some time on the power play so The Don must think he can bring something to the offense.
  • Nate Schmidt gets tripped right in front of the official and there’s no call.
    • The announcer says he tripped on an “errant stick on the ice” because the stick came loose after Eli Zuck had stuck it in Nate Scmidt’s feet.
    • I’m dumbfounded as to why that isn’t called. I do not and will probably never understand why some calls aren’t made.
      • Does the official not want to be a part of the game or the reason a game goes one way or another? A penalty is a penalty so call it! That’s why you’re out there!

2nd Period

  • PENALTY – Nick Bjugstad for Interference on Chase Grant at :39 seconds of the  2nd period – Nick Bjugstad and Chase Grant run into each other and Bjugstad is bigger so Grant falls down and the official calls Bjugstad for interference.
    • You could see Bjugstad look the other way and when he looks back, Chase Grant is right there, runs into him and falls down because Bjugstad in a bigger player.
    • That call is made but a trip right in front of the official isn’t.
    • Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Whistle Boys?
      • Or Officials? Or Refs? Or Umps? Or Judges? At least for sports! 
      • What a miserable life that must be!
  • GOAL! – Nate Schmidt from Nate Condon & Tom Serratore at 7:48 of the 2nd period – Travis Boyd gets the puck at the right blue line of the Maverick zone and makes a centering pass to Tom Serratore but he can’t handle it and the puck goes into the left corner and wraps around towards the left half-wall where Justin Holl picks it up and sends it back into the left corner. Tom Serratore had gone around the right of the net and curled to the left corner. He sends it around the back of the net to the right half-wall to Nate Condon. Condon makes a move towards the right corner but then comes back towards the blue line. Nate Schmidt see all the Minnesota State players watching the puck so he heads to the net from the left point, receives a pass in his feet (because it was deflected), kicks it to his stick with his right skate, fakes a move to his backhand then roofs it over Stephon Williams. GOPHERS 1-0!!!
    • Nate Schmidt will have most of the NHL making offers to sign him as a free agent after the season ends.
  • PENALTY – Eriah Hayes for Elbowing on Ben Marshall at 9:13 of the 2nd period – Ben Marshall gets the puck on his backhand in the neutral by the benches and Eriah Hayes hits him with his shoulder but follows through with the elbow and gets a visit to the penalty box for it!
    • Keep your arms down through the whole check and that won’t be called or at least shouldn’t be called.
  • PENALTIES – Mark Alt & Chase Grant for Roughing at 12:11 of the 2nd period – Chase Grant delivers a pretty good hit on Mark Alt knocking him down and then jumps on top of him for what I assume was to try to get the puck that went underneath Alt and Alt takes exception to it and gets up and knocks Grant to the ice. They both get to cool off in the penalty box and we get two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey!
  • PENALTY – Seth Ambroz for Checking From Behind on Josh Nelson at 15:02 of the 2nd period – Josh Nelson gets the puck to the right of his own net and Seth Ambroz hits him from behind in the open ice and will sit for couple minutes for his efforts.
  • GOAL! (POWER PLAY) – Johnny McInnis from Matt Leitner & Chase Grant at 16:42 of the 2nd period – Johnny McInnis brings the puck up the right side of the ice into the Gopher zone. His line mates Matt Leitner & Chase Grant enter the zone at the same time with Chase Grant coming in the center of the zone and Leitner coming in the left of the zone. Grant went to the right corner & Leitner skated behind the net to the back wall to Adam Wilcox’ left. McInnis brings the puck into the right of the zone stops at the right half-wall, turns around the passes it around the right corner to Chase Grant. Grant has time to skate towards the net then make a pass off the wall to Leitner. He takes the puck behind the net. Mark Alt is there to defend Leitner and tries to take the body but Leitner turns back like he’s going to go back around the other side of the net but sees McInnis open at the left of the net and makes a pass back to him for a quick shot into the net. TIED AT 1!!!
    • Adam Wilcox, Brady Skjei and Nate Condon all thought Leitner was going to the other side of the net.
    • Zach Budish & Nate Condon were within reach of Johnny McInnis in front of the net but neither of them had him covered or at least had his stick covered. They both were defending the area he was in but not covering the player.
    • Budish made a move towards the corner because it looked like Mark Alt might gain possession of the puck so that took him far enough away to give McInnis the opening he needed to get the quick shot off.
      • Tough play because you want to gain possession to get the puck out of the zone but if Alt had gained possession, he would’ve had time to ice the puck anyways.
      • Keep good position on the penalty kill.
  • PENALTY – Matt Leitner for Tripping on Kyle Rau at 19:52 of the 2nd period – Kyle Rau gets the puck at the top of the right circle of the Maverick zone and Matt Leitner turns to play the puck sweeping his stick in an attempt to get the puck and catches Rau in his skates tripping him to the ice and the official makes the call!

3rd Period

  • PENALTIES – Kyle Rau & Josh Nelson for Holding & Unsportsmanlike Diving at 16:38 of the 3rd period – Kyle Rau sends the puck past Josh Nelson then tries to get around him. Nelson grabs him high getting the holding penalty but Rau embellishes or at least makes it look too much like he’s embellishing and the official puts both of them in the penalty box for a couple minutes. More 4-on-4 hockey!
  • GOAL! – at 19:16 of the 3rd period – the Mavericks dump the puck in the left corner where Zach Lehrke gets to it first and passes it behind the net to Brett Knowles, who passes it back to the right point to Evan Mosey. Mosey then passes D-to-D to Zach Palmquist. Palmquist takes slap shot that hits Eli Zuck in front of the net. The puck falls to the ice, Eli Zuck takes a quick shot that rebounds off of Adam Wilcox out to Brett Knowles for a shot into an open net! MAVERICKS 2-1!!!
    • Late Goals are MONEY!!!
    • Just a hard-working goal getting a shot and a rebound to give you a chance late in the game!
    • A loose puck is usually bad news for the defense. Seth Helgeson goes to the puck and forgets about the man in his area and that man was the goal-scorer.
  • The Gophers get a ton of chances with an empty net but just can’t get one past Stephon Williams and the Mavericks get the late upset in this one!
The Golder Gopher hockey team didn’t seem to have a sense of urgency about this game, playing like it wasn’t going to be that tough to beat a conference opponent. No team should play that way in any game and I expect a completely different effort in tomorrow night’s rematch in Mankato!

 

Gopher Hockey Recap from GopherSports.com – Mavericks Snap Gophers’ Unbeaten Streak with Late Goal
Gopher Hockey Box Score from GopherSports.com – Minnesota-Minnesota State Stats
Gopher Hockey Recap from .com – MSUMavericks.com – 14th-Rated Mavericks Skate Past #1 Minnesota 2-1 Friday

In other WCHA College Hockey action tonight,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Nebraska-Omaha won @ Bemidgi State 5-3,
St. Cloud State won @ North Dakota 3-1,
and
Wisconsin won vs Alaska-Anchorage 5-2

In other College Hockey action,
Home=”vs”, Away=”@”
Ferris State won @ Notre Dame 3-1,
Maine won @ Boston College 4-1
Michigan State won vs Penn State 5-3
and
Western Michigan won vs Michigan 3-2

What did you think of the Gopher hockey game? Did they play as hard as you expect them to play?

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