I'll eat a panload of those acutely disgusting unripened fried tomatoes before I'll stomach the regular season as it happened. Yep. I'm not going to spend the weeks before the WCHA playoffs or the off-season focus on records or numbers. The team was better than their record. Plain and simple. I know it. You know it. The coaches know it. The players know it. The opponents know it. Why am I sticking with the same refrain? Because it's the truth. Reality "suggests" the team is exactly as good as it's record. But sports is often a case where truth and reality can be in opposition. That's how it is. I've convinced myself it's the case. And I guess that's all I'm going to say about it.If I'm not mistaken UAA's first round opponent isn't quite set. Colorado College is in 1st place with 39 points and UND is 2pts back with 37. Colorado College faces a home and home series with arch-rival DU this weekend and UND host's St. Cloud for a pair. If the teams finish tied then CC will have the better out of conference record. They split in their only series of the year against one another. I'm not exactly all up to speed with regard to the tiebreakers. I'm hoping they go to "WayLessThanGrand" Forks only because we might get to see it on TV. I'm guessing the UND games earlier this season weren't on TV because the originator thinks it's worth more than it is and GCI choked on paying whatever the were asking. There seems little chance of seeing a game from CC as I don't think one has EVER been on in Anchorage.
I'm dispensing with any sort of recap of Saturday except to say that with the game at 2-1 instead of a puck off a Gopher thigh onto Selby's stick we had a puck off a Seawolf defenseman dropping in front of a Gopher forward. That's the difference between a 2-2 tie and a 3-1 loss. Just one bounce on both nights determined the game. The ADN's story was pretty much right on so read it if you haven't already.
16 comments:
So who in the WCHA would you say is actually worse than their record indicates? Reality is that even though UAA has better talent, so does the rest of the league. What we lack is the ability to create and bury the precious few chances are there. Unless some guys develop over the summer, I doubt if we'll see much improvement in the standings next year.
Next year will definitely come down to who has matured and developed and who hasn't.
I wouldn't call UAA's chances "precious few", but there is definitely a lack of finishers right now. It wasn't that way the first half of the season.
Dumping and cycling down low are okay, but let the puck go from the point once in a while. Look at Crowders goal, you never know what can happen, as long as you don't shoot it into the other teams legs.
It was a nice to see the team not relying on the "cycling" game so much last night. They created some good chances but Kangas played a great game and shut UAA down. Unfortunately, the Gophs are very good positionally and they ALWAYS have their sticks in the right place to break up the pass, block shots, and disrupt the offensive flow. This made passing the puck very difficult and was the difference in the game Sat.
We can only hope that the coaches sign a couple of snipers before next season and hope that the guys that are here stick around...
Good luck in the playoffs boys.
It seems futile to put 6 forwards out on the ice when the goalie is pulled. It is the defensemen of late that are scoring or are creating chances. Use them at the point instead of throwing the puck back around the back of the net. It's the boys on the blueline that have the shots.
I was surprised to see all 6 forwards on the ice as well, but Gwoz does that regularly now on DU's power plays. Not sure how I feel about that.
Reality is another last place finish, probably 10 points behind 9th. Giving up the most goals in the WCHA.
As I said:
Truth and Reality are in opposition in this case.
We have some skilled d-men on this team. I don't see the point (no pun intended) of putting forwards at the point on the PP. Lovedal, Robbie, LaFranchise, and Backstrom are more valueable on the blue line than any forward. The d-men are better at holding the puck in the zone and better defending if the play goes the other way. They have some great shots and are skilled at moving the puck so I don't see the benefit of having forwards on the blue line...
But conversely I must ask; Don't you have anything better to do than read then comment some guys blog who knows jack about hockey? I mean hey ... I get lots of good feedback for what I write. How much good feedback do you get for your comments?
So with no upside for you in opening your mouth why exactly do you do it? Especially, since anonymously questioning my life is the best that came out of your festering gob.
UAA should put 5 forwards on the PP !!!
LOL @ 5 forwards. Please NO NO NO!
Here's why:
Defensemen have games and games and games and games and games .... of experience holding the puck in the zone. If you can show me four forwards that can deliver a better shot consistently than our four best defensemen (Robbie, Lafranchise, Backstrom, Lovdahl) then maybe you'd have a point. But most of the forwards you'd name are also very valuable as forwards on the power play. UAA has been bringing in dmen with offensive upside and power play quarterback resume's to fill that need. Start letting them play that role now. No reason to wait until next year to get them experience in those roles.
Or Instead loading the PP with forwards .... How about all the defensemen on a power play with no forwards. Lovdahl and Robbie on the wings with Beaverson at center and Lafranchise and Backstrom on the points? I could make an decent argument for that lineup on the PP but I wouldn't actually do it.
1st PP unit: Clark, Crowder and Lunden with Robbie and Lafranchise
2nd PP unit: Waldrop, Cartwright and Parkinson with Beaverson and Lovdahl.
First Anon on this string asked (and I never answered):
So who in the WCHA would you say is actually worse than their record indicates? Clearly North Dakota is worse than their record. That'll be seen soon enough in the playoffs and the final five (if they get there). DU also is worse than their record. After them UMD would be the third team
And I'm not saying and never have that teams other than UAA are also better than their records. Minnesota is one and MTU is another.
I for sure believe UAA, MN, and MTU are better than their records. UAA imo, is a lot better than last year. There skating and skill level have improved they need some more finishers.
Anon 3/5 @ 10:06A
That whole Junior High lunch scene got you down or something? Pressures of pre-algebra lead you to mouthing off on people's blogs?
At least a couple of UAA's d-men played a few of their minor hockey years as forwards. They have experience on both ends of the ice, so good choices to put out on the PP and particularily on a 4on4 situation.
Good luck to the boys in the up-coming play-offs. Good luck to retiring players. Go Seawolves!!!!!
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