MN_Gopher
01-25-2004, 01:42 AM
Wow what a week end. The two best offenses in the nation combine for nine goals, one which was an empty netter. On the averages it should have been 19 goals all week end. Brandt, Briggs and Parise all came up huge. Both games were hard hitting, fast paced, and full of great scoring chances. As far as individuals go i ll try to be as unbiased as i can, go gophs.
Brandt: Played huge, shut down the gophs when he had too. Just about single handedly kepy the Sioux in the second peroid. Great game Fri.
Jordan Parise: Looks like a cocky freshman. Trips players in front, jabs and pokes along with all the melee action. Took a divng penality in the third. Needs to settle down out there. When calm he is solid, but lets his emotions dictate his actions and gets caught out of place. He is trying to give his team a spark or draw a pen. but he needs to learn when to do it.
Kellen Briggs: On sat he let in one goal, to a team that averages 5. Played a clean game. Couldn't ask for more from him. Stopped a 3 on 0 on fri. Gave his team a chance both nights. Still needs to gobble up the rebounds, but is getting much better.
Keith Ballard: Played well, showed he can carry the puck end to end. Put some move on Parise and left him in the dust. Good on the PP, threw his weight around. Kept the tempo favorable for the gophs. There is a reason we are 12-2-2 when and Harrington are in the linup.
Chris Harrington: See Ballard. He just plays well. An undrafted FA too.
Thomas Vanek: Either makes things happen or doesn't. I dont think the guy knows wgat it means to dump the puck in. He is always trying to carry it in and shot and sometimes pass. Had a couple of nice passes that were not finished, gets the puck on net well. Even saw him back check on an odd man rush. Played big in front of the net on PP. Getting hacked and held his own. Definitly stepped up his physical play layed or tried to lay some hits. Should be able to silence his critics about not playing physical. As far as being lazy, yeah he coasts out there, could do more at times, but does what he has to on D.
Zack Parise: Probally the smartest player i have seen come through Mariucci. He takes his time when it is there. Is patient with the puck. Is able to look over his shoulder and see where guys are and still keep the puck on his stick and dish of a tape to tape pass. Just has that extra sense of where the puck and players are going to be. Can't teach what he's got. Seemed a little to patient at times. Ballard nipped em a couple of times, think he underestimats guys. Made his adjustments quick, just needs to play against better talent and figure out what he can and can't do. Played PP, and PK in critical situations. Didnt score on sat but had his chances and created for others.
Matt Koalska: When the guy wants to he can go up and down the ice and weave through guys and create great chances for his team mates. Left a few Sioux holding there jocks. Then we put him with Vanek and he gets the idea he needs to be a passer. Never know what Matt is there.
Brandon Bochenski: Much like Parise always out there. Never a liabilty in any situation. Smooth skater. Dangerous on every play.
The rest of the guys, everyone played physical. Lots of hits, scrumbs, and odd man rushes. The week end was stole by the goalies. Wish everyone could of seen this game to judge college hockey. Either Minny or NoDak have been in the last four NCAA championship games. And after this game i see no reason why one wont be there this year.
Brandt: Played huge, shut down the gophs when he had too. Just about single handedly kepy the Sioux in the second peroid. Great game Fri.
Jordan Parise: Looks like a cocky freshman. Trips players in front, jabs and pokes along with all the melee action. Took a divng penality in the third. Needs to settle down out there. When calm he is solid, but lets his emotions dictate his actions and gets caught out of place. He is trying to give his team a spark or draw a pen. but he needs to learn when to do it.
Kellen Briggs: On sat he let in one goal, to a team that averages 5. Played a clean game. Couldn't ask for more from him. Stopped a 3 on 0 on fri. Gave his team a chance both nights. Still needs to gobble up the rebounds, but is getting much better.
Keith Ballard: Played well, showed he can carry the puck end to end. Put some move on Parise and left him in the dust. Good on the PP, threw his weight around. Kept the tempo favorable for the gophs. There is a reason we are 12-2-2 when and Harrington are in the linup.
Chris Harrington: See Ballard. He just plays well. An undrafted FA too.
Thomas Vanek: Either makes things happen or doesn't. I dont think the guy knows wgat it means to dump the puck in. He is always trying to carry it in and shot and sometimes pass. Had a couple of nice passes that were not finished, gets the puck on net well. Even saw him back check on an odd man rush. Played big in front of the net on PP. Getting hacked and held his own. Definitly stepped up his physical play layed or tried to lay some hits. Should be able to silence his critics about not playing physical. As far as being lazy, yeah he coasts out there, could do more at times, but does what he has to on D.
Zack Parise: Probally the smartest player i have seen come through Mariucci. He takes his time when it is there. Is patient with the puck. Is able to look over his shoulder and see where guys are and still keep the puck on his stick and dish of a tape to tape pass. Just has that extra sense of where the puck and players are going to be. Can't teach what he's got. Seemed a little to patient at times. Ballard nipped em a couple of times, think he underestimats guys. Made his adjustments quick, just needs to play against better talent and figure out what he can and can't do. Played PP, and PK in critical situations. Didnt score on sat but had his chances and created for others.
Matt Koalska: When the guy wants to he can go up and down the ice and weave through guys and create great chances for his team mates. Left a few Sioux holding there jocks. Then we put him with Vanek and he gets the idea he needs to be a passer. Never know what Matt is there.
Brandon Bochenski: Much like Parise always out there. Never a liabilty in any situation. Smooth skater. Dangerous on every play.
The rest of the guys, everyone played physical. Lots of hits, scrumbs, and odd man rushes. The week end was stole by the goalies. Wish everyone could of seen this game to judge college hockey. Either Minny or NoDak have been in the last four NCAA championship games. And after this game i see no reason why one wont be there this year.