All Things Hockey:

[stoutdude04]

Missed the game tonight, but see they were missing 4 guys...that bites. Gotta have better effort on defense.

[yourout]

Missed the game tonight, but see they were missing 4 guys...that bites. Gotta have better effort on defense.

 

"Gotta have better effort on defense..”

That's been a broken record for going on five years now.

[stoutdude04]

Missed the game tonight, but see they were missing 4 guys...that bites. Gotta have better effort on defense.

 

"Gotta have better effort on defense..”

That's been a broken record for going on five years now.

 

Thats fair, but outside of a period plus against Michigan I would say d-zone play has been really strong this year. However, I did not see either game this weekend. TPB, Ahcan, and Baker are experienced players that I'm sure hurt not having this weekend/for the next few weeks.

[yourout]

I forgot they played last night.

Sounds like I did not miss much.

Down 4 - 0 after one.

I don't see this train turning around until we have a new conductor.

[stoutdude04]

Next 2 games before break have been postponed...wild how Wisconsin can not get a handle on this.

[nodakfan17]

Wisconsin is still #17 in the Pairwise rankings, despite being 5-5. Generally, the top 11-13 make the NCAA tourney (depending on which teams win their conference tournaments).

[stoutdude04]

Wisconsin is still #17 in the Pairwise rankings, despite being 5-5. Generally, the top 11-13 make the NCAA tourney (depending on which teams win their conference tournaments).

 

They aren't using pairwise this year. They are using a committee, and one of the members said Wisconsin right now is the poster child of what to do. Do they look at how they've played full strength, or do they look at the overall resume.

[nodakfan17]

Bummer, I’m a big fan of the Pairwise system. Weighted standings work much better over 30+ games than they did for the old BCS football selection model. But hey, it’s 2020. Teams have to be prepared to face inequities if they want to play hockey (or any other sport).

[stoutdude04]

Bummer, I’m a big fan of the Pairwise system. Weighted standings work much better over 30+ games than they did for the old BCS football selection model. But hey, it’s 2020. Teams have to be prepared to face inequities if they want to play hockey (or any other sport).

 

Yep. I agree on all counts. The guy even mentioned that too. He said everyone is happy with the pairwise, but they didn't think it would be fair since many schools are only playing their conference/a limited schedule. Also why the Big10 went to a 3 on 3 overtime this year I think. Otherwise it's possible they would be 5-4-1. Not that that makes a huge difference, but a tie to a strong Michigan team may hold more water than a loss.

[nodakfan17]

Canadian NHL teams might have to relocate to the US for the 2021 season due to COVID travel restrictions in the Great White North. I wonder if Milwaukee would be a potential temporary home?

[pacopete4]

Canadian NHL teams might have to relocate to the US for the 2021 season due to COVID travel restrictions in the Great White North. I wonder if Milwaukee would be a potential temporary home?

 

This would make me so happy (if fans are allowed) so it probably won't happen.

[stoutdude04]

Spencer Knight was awful for USA today. I dont want to blame him for the loss...but it was bad.

[Jimbo]

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2021/01/04/ahl-says-3-teams-have-opted-out-of-the-season/?mi_u=E20C3E71-6BEB-4886-816F-72574F693232&mi_mids=2-2-2-2

 

Admirals not playing this year.

[stoutdude04]

USA v Canada for gold tomorrow. Canada wins easily I think.

[nate82]

Well this is just ummm stupid?

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-sells-naming-rights-to-divisions-for-2021-season/

[pacopete4]

Making money. Who cares what they’re called?

[young guns]

Probably a smart way to try to mitigate loss of revenue due to the pandemic.

[homer]

usa!

[stoutdude04]

USA played really well through the middle of that game, but Canada put on major pressure in the last 10 minutes. Was a fun game to watch and I am a little surprised Canada looked flat through the middle. Perhaps them coasting to the finals hurt them.

[pacopete4]

A perfect example of the best team doesn't always win. Team USA had their gameplan and worked it perfectly and got some great performances, especially from Knight.

[stoutdude04]

A perfect example of the best team doesn't always win. Team USA had their gameplan and worked it perfectly and got some great performances, especially from Knight.

 

Agreed. They had a few fortunate bounces as well. I really thought USA dominated from the 10 minute mark in the 1st period to the 10 minute mark in the 3rd period. Canada was absolutely buzzing the last 10 minutes of the game. If they had played with that intensity the entire game I think they would have won.

[stoutdude04]

Good win last night against Minnesota. The Goohers dominated most of the 3rd, but Beydoun played well.

[yourout]

I checked the score and see they're playing well so I turn it on and within 5 minutes they give up two goals so I'm turning it off.

[ZBTMP]

I hesitate to raise my expectations because of how much of a disaster the last almost decade has been, but they look good. I thought Holloway was the best player on the ice especially Sunday. Wisconsin forwards looked better than Minnesota. Gophers took advantage when Wisconsin got caught on a long shift with the bottom lines or a D pinched and shouldn’t have. Would be interesting to know what happened with Ranta and Wisconsin. Oh well.

Gophers D and goaltending was far better than Wisconsin though and even if they don’t fall apart this year that is probably going to limit them. Beydoun was fine all weekend and did a good job taking the lower half away. But he got cleanish looks at puck upstairs and couldn’t stop them. Granted its not easy, but an elite goalie stops a lot of those. And the Badgers weren’t able to pick the corners on Lafontaine. Ok the pipes helped but that’s not all luck.

Osieki needs to earn his paycheck. Vorlicky had a rough weekend and his 3rd period penalty is inexcusable. Peltonen looked out of place from skating speed and strength standpoint. Kehrer has shown potential this season but I thought he had a rough Friday night making bad decisions with the puck. Ess was out of position a few times as well. Next season could get rough assuming the 3 draft picks are gone. Coulemans should have expectations but asking him, with limited junior A experience, to play 25+ minutes a night and be the #1 d on a championship team isn’t fair. Laatsch still needs to add to his frame and NHL teams must not believe he is able to as he went undrafted despite being a plus skater and 6’5”. Martin should step in the lineup but again, would prefer him as a 18 year old that could be paired with a reliable veteran.

[stoutdude04]

I hesitate to raise my expectations because of how much of a disaster the last almost decade has been, but they look good. I thought Holloway was the best player on the ice especially Sunday. Wisconsin forwards looked better than Minnesota. Gophers took advantage when Wisconsin got caught on a long shift with the bottom lines or a D pinched and shouldn’t have. Would be interesting to know what happened with Ranta and Wisconsin. Oh well.

Gophers D and goaltending was far better than Wisconsin though and even if they don’t fall apart this year that is probably going to limit them. Beydoun was fine all weekend and did a good job taking the lower half away. But he got cleanish looks at puck upstairs and couldn’t stop them. Granted its not easy, but an elite goalie stops a lot of those. And the Badgers weren’t able to pick the corners on Lafontaine. Ok the pipes helped but that’s not all luck.

Osieki needs to earn his paycheck. Vorlicky had a rough weekend and his 3rd period penalty is inexcusable. Peltonen looked out of place from skating speed and strength standpoint. Kehrer has shown potential this season but I thought he had a rough Friday night making bad decisions with the puck. Ess was out of position a few times as well. Next season could get rough assuming the 3 draft picks are gone. Coulemans should have expectations but asking him, with limited junior A experience, to play 25+ minutes a night and be the #1 d on a championship team isn’t fair. Laatsch still needs to add to his frame and NHL teams must not believe he is able to as he went undrafted despite being a plus skater and 6’5”. Martin should step in the lineup but again, would prefer him as a 18 year old that could be paired with a reliable veteran.

 

This was a pretty good write up and I agree with a lot of it. Beydoun played really well Saturday I thought and made a lot of the tough saves, but yes, it's pretty clear he isn't elite. The Badgers might be an interesting case study for the tourny. They are 500, but lost one game on a 3v3 ot with 20 seconds left, and lost 3 games when they were short 5 guys due to covid. Splitting the next series with Minnesota could go a long way.