@Bemidji

[jpfalcon09]

Scoring is down because everyone plays the same way now...trap the neutral zone, play tight checking and work to force turnovers. This has become evident in the NHL where coaches are playing to keep their jobs and need to keep the games close, which is the only downfall of awarding the loser point. Newer coaches are trying to employ new strategies by having a defenseman join the rush more times than not, but that leaves the door open to an odd-man opportunity going the other direction. There's really only so much they can do, the red line has always been eliminated in college and the game is typically more free-flowing than other levels of hockey, I believe coaches have honed in on doing whatever it takes to win games and survive.

[Falconfreak90]

Good to get the sweep over the weekend!!

[apollo]

Scoring is down because everyone plays the same way now...trap the neutral zone, play tight checking and work to force turnovers. This has become evident in the NHL where coaches are playing to keep their jobs and need to keep the games close, which is the only downfall of awarding the loser point. Newer coaches are trying to employ new strategies by having a defenseman join the rush more times than not, but that leaves the door open to an odd-man opportunity going the other direction. There's really only so much they can do, the red line has always been eliminated in college and the game is typically more free-flowing than other levels of hockey, I believe coaches have honed in on doing whatever it takes to win games and survive.

There aren't more than 1 or 2 teams in college hockey that run a neutral zone trap with any type of consistency. Most teams try to keep their 3rd forward high when forechecking, but they are not trapping.
I agree scoring is down from the 80s and early 90s and the game is more defensive minded overall. The WCHA just doesn't have guys that can score. It is a conference of try hard teams that lack offense.
My concern is that we haven't seen many games where when you make a mistake or take a dumb penalty the other team can make you pay. It will be interesting to see how we do against Clarkson and Miami who both have a few kids with some skill.

[birdsofafeather]

Perhaps we do have skill. Maybe it is the style that they are being asked to play. Just a thought.

[pdt1081]

Perhaps we do have skill. Maybe it is the style that they are being asked to play. Just a thought.

My single biggest complaint about how this team is playing is passing. It's horrible. Improve the passing to where it should be for a D1 team, and there's very few teams in the country that will be able to play with them. There's really nothing else that needs improvement. Improving the passing will solve every other problem. As is, they are finding ways to get it done. We haven't had that in the recent past. This team does it. The only thing that will limit what this team accomplishes this season is their own ability to improve their passing. Guys are wide open, they just can't get the puck on their tape.

[jbakerifm]

The way I see things now, we have the talent to pull games out that otherwise would be lost. Next step is to elevate the level of play from pretty good to really good on a consistent basis, which is just as difficult as going from bad to pretty good. That's why I didn't expect us to absolutely run wild this season. Making that next leap takes time too (having said all that I'm perfectly happy with our record right now, and the experience from all these tight games could really pay off come march and April).

[poltergeist]

Perhaps we do have skill. Maybe it is the style that they are being asked to play. Just a thought.

yeah, we have more skill than is showing in the box score.
being able to dress 6 D again will help the offense too.

The lack of depth on the blueline has led to the defensemen not joining the rush as often as Bergeron and the defensemen would like. Having the defensemen involved in the rush provides another option offensively.
“I want our (defensemen) to be more involved offensively, in particular on the rush,” Bergeron said. “But when you’re playing as many minutes as our guys have been playing, you don’t have the energy to get involved in the (rush).

http://www.bgsuhockey.com/2015/12/falco ... irst-half/" target="_blank