I think Minnesota finally learned their lesson.
 
Perhaps it is too early to say that, but the Gophers looked awfully
convincing, for the first time skating to a definitive lead in the
first period, a lead that would be enough to win them the game: 3-0
at the end of the first.
 
Once again, as has already been mentioned, the officiating was bad.
But in the first period, it went in Minnesota's favor. It almost
seemed, in fact, to make up for yesterday's third period debacle. I
am not claiming that the refs did any sort of intentional penalty
calling against one team or another on either afternoon; rather, it
was my mistake for being upset yesterday. I should have realized, as
I have today, that the calls for/against a team will even out--in a
series, not necessarily in a game. So the early calls went in the
Gopher's favor, which allowed them to dominate early, something which
doesn't seem to happen often.
 
The whole game was Minnesota, with a few brief but bright flashes
from the Huskies. I can't help but wonder what Coach Woog said to
them in the locker room between Saturday and Sunday. I was looking at
the game, and trying to figure out what they did differently, and
came up with a few things.
 
-Minnesota kept the puck off the boards. This is something they had
not done in the previous three games, in which they struggled. Every
time I saw the puck going for the boards, I said to myself, "Get it
off the boards, get it off the boards!" This mantra seemed to help,
because in many cases, a quick pass got it out to a skating player.
 
-Passes were crisper, sharper, and more thought out. One of the
biggest problems in Saturday's game was the lack of finished passes.
One player begins a pass, which the receiver couldn't hold onto.
Under the stick or over, or just plain out of reach--almost no passes
seemed to connect. But Sunday was different. Players seemed to make
more of an effort to make the passes so the receiver could handle
them--at first. Then it became automatic. Minnesota really started to
fly at that point, and there was precious little Tech could do then.
 
-Even strength play. Only two goals, I believe, were power play
goals, and it was very gratifying to see the team put some in playing
five on five. This was definitely a weak point in past games.
 
Not everything was peaches and cream, however. There were some
disturbing trends. With the lead well in hand, the Gophers had about
1:20 in a 5 on 3 situation, which they handled miserably. They just
took the wrong approach to the whole thing. The Tech defenders sat
deep in their own zone, and when the Gophers played dump and chase,
they had nothing to chase, because a defender was back to kick it
into Gopher territory. The situation was ripe for bringing the puck
into the zone in a controlled fashion, and Minnesota didn't seem up
to it.
 
Plus there were plenty of blown chances by the Gophers. There were a
few shorthanded situations, and a few breakaways that just poorly
handled. For example, #11 Bobby Dustin had the puck all by himself,
skating in on the goalie (I think it was in the third), and on the
shot, he missed the net by a pretty large margin. Sure, the Gophers
had a substantial lead, but what happens if he gets that opportunity
in a one goal game? Or when the Gophs are down? There were
opportunities that should have been capitalized on, even if it means
just putting a strong shot on net.
 
But overall, it was a gratifying game--the kind of game we Gopher
fans have suspected the team capable of playing, when they are really
clicking. Once again, the shorthanded staff played big, killing off
all penalties, which must put them atop the Div I teams in penalty
killing percentage (above 95% now). Plus two power play goals, and a
heap load of momentum and confidence going into two tough games
against two of the toughest teams in the country next week: Michigan
and Michigan State. With the play of Wisconsin of late, I can't help
but think these will be the premiere games in the country over
Thanksgiving (not to take anything away from a potential BU/Maine
matchup in the Great Western Freezeout).
 
Plus, a tip of the hat to Michigan Tech, who played a heck of a
series. Good hockey (if a bit rough on Sunday). They got two
important league points on Friday, and was a spoiler on Minnesota's
supposed home ice advantage. I look forward to the games at the
Winter Carnival early next year.
 
A couple of league notes: Note that the three teams toughest at home
in the WCHA, who went undefeated at home until the last two or three
weeks in the season last year, have all lost at home already this
year: Northern Michigan, Minnesota, and St. Cloud.
 
St. Cloud has had a terrible start, and I feel sorry for them. But
don't count them out just yet. I suggest they will still get their
act together, and make a serious run at the top come January.
 
                                                Lee-nerd
                                                [log in to unmask]
 
"Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." --Isaac Asimov