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Following the off weekend, our Falcons (2-4-0) now head to Mankato, MN to take on the #8 team in the nation, the Minnesota State Mavericks (3-3-0). Friday night's game will begin at 8:07pm EST, while Saturday night's game will begin at 7:07pm EST. Both games will be available to stream on FloHockey.

This will be our first game since the dreadful 8-2 performance at home against WMU, so it'll be important to see how this team responds to that. Also, I'm hopeful that the extra week of rest helped us in the health department, as we have been missing a ton of bodies so far this season.

This will be the first pair of a total of 4 games where we will see MSU this season. They drubbed us pretty badly last season and made the national championship game, so this is obviously a very high quality opponent we are seeing. However, though they were picked to win the CCHA this season, they have had an interesting season so far. They were beaten badly in an exhibition against Omaha, they split with Minnesota, they swept Duluth, and then they were swept themselves by St. Cloud State. So, they have played .500 hockey so far, but it has been against really strong competition. Realistically, I think we would be thrilled to get any CCHA points out of this weekend, so I'm hoping we can go up there and somehow manage a split.

Go Falcons! Beat Mankato!

Depends how healthy BG is coming into this. If Malmstrom can go it'll be a boost to the back end. Obviously that group struggled with Parker, Blake, and Norris out there vs. WMU. Honestly though I don't feel encouraged that there's enough skill up front to match the Mavs this weekend. Furry has had a quiet start to the season and it feels like this will be the weekend he breaks out of his slump.

I'd like to be proven wrong and see some leadership out of the covid year guys (Barber, Schneider, Burke) but I think the Mavs take both games and they won't be particularly close.

The lack of excitement from this group for the upcoming weekend series is so thick I can cut it with a knife.

TalonsUpPuckDown wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 9:48 am The lack of excitement from this group for the upcoming weekend series is so thick I can cut it with a knife.

I think there's a sense of dread. This team beat us by an average of 5.5 to 1.5 a season ago, and it's on the road this weekend, as well. That's a recipe for ugliness.

I'm curious if our 2-4-0 team can come back with anything other than a 2-6-0 record. Maybe the extra week of getting healthy will allow us to go up there and carve out some points, but it's hard to see it happening.

Still, I'll watch the games and hope like always.

Mike McMahon wrote in his CHN blog (paywall) this week that the Falcons are one of the biggest disappointments to start the season. Their goal differential is almost twice as bad as it was at this point last year. Lots of criticism by him towards the senior group that returned for the covid year.

jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:30 am Mike McMahon wrote in his CHN blog (paywall) this week that the Falcons are one of the biggest disappointments to start the season. Their goal differential is almost twice as bad as it was at this point last year. Lots of criticism by him towards the senior group that returned for the covid year.

Schneider, Burke, Barber, etc. have been uncharacteristically quiet so far, through 6 games. If they can turn it on, while the others continue to play supporting roles, we'll be a different team.

mbenecke wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:39 am

jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:30 am Mike McMahon wrote in his CHN blog (paywall) this week that the Falcons are one of the biggest disappointments to start the season. Their goal differential is almost twice as bad as it was at this point last year. Lots of criticism by him towards the senior group that returned for the covid year.

Schneider, Burke, Barber, etc. have been uncharacteristically quiet so far, through 6 games. If they can turn it on, while the others continue to play supporting roles, we'll be a different team.

Agreed on the lack of offensive production from these three. On the other side of the puck and in goal, we are physically hurting. Malmstrom is back this week but no idea if he is at full strength. I hear they may be without a few more Ds as well.

Give the team some time. We have played a tough schedule and the injuries have been terrible. We have a lot of hockey left to play.

TalonsUpPuckDown wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 9:48 am The lack of excitement from this group for the upcoming weekend series is so thick I can cut it with a knife.

This place is usually a little quiet after bye weeks. There wasn't even a presser this week to discuss.

notkithughes wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 2:16 pm

mbenecke wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:39 am

jpfalcon09 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 10:30 am Mike McMahon wrote in his CHN blog (paywall) this week that the Falcons are one of the biggest disappointments to start the season. Their goal differential is almost twice as bad as it was at this point last year. Lots of criticism by him towards the senior group that returned for the covid year.

Schneider, Burke, Barber, etc. have been uncharacteristically quiet so far, through 6 games. If they can turn it on, while the others continue to play supporting roles, we'll be a different team.

Agreed on the lack of offensive production from these three. On the other side of the puck and in goal, we are physically hurting. Malmstrom is back this week but no idea if he is at full strength. I hear they may be without a few more Ds as well.

Give the team some time. We have played a tough schedule and the injuries have been terrible. We have a lot of hockey left to play.

It is still October and we have only played 1 league series getting 4 points out of 6 in a tough place to play. Injuries have been significant. Try to have some patience folks.

pdt1081 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 8:13 pm

TalonsUpPuckDown wrote: ↑Thu Oct 27, 2022 9:48 am The lack of excitement from this group for the upcoming weekend series is so thick I can cut it with a knife.

This place is usually a little quiet after bye weeks. There wasn't even a presser this week to discuss.

I had actually been looking for the presser every day this week to no avail. I think it’s probably some combination of coming off the bye plus hiring a new AD and having HIS presser on Tuesday this week.

Gresock-Swankler-Burke
S. Schneider-T. Schneider-Barber
O’Hara-Grant-Dougherty
Krieger-Pitters-Emerson
Collin

Wozney-Coyle
Malmstrom-Lellig
Vinnell-Norris

Stoever in net, with Evola backing him up.

mbenecke wrote: ↑Fri Oct 28, 2022 7:20 pm Gresock-Swankler-Burke
S. Schneider-T. Schneider-Barber
O’Hara-Grant-Dougherty
Krieger-Pitters-Emerson
Collin

Wozney-Coyle
Malmstrom-Lellig
Vinnell-Norris

Stoever in net, with Evola backing him up.

Rather interesting lineup. Parker and Rose as scratches is huge.

Stoever couldn’t cover, they bang it into an empty net. However, I thought we played well. The forecheck is vastly improved. We’re attacking each pass as they try to break out. We’ve had some extended zone time and a couple of chances. All-in-all it wasn’t a terrible period. Can we keep it up???

I thought it was a solid first 15 minutes. We looked like we were competitive and in the right position out there.

Tough to swallow being down 1-0 after all of that, but it’s hockey. Need to earn ourselves some puck luck and find the back of the net.

TalonsUpPuckDown wrote: ↑Fri Oct 28, 2022 8:42 pm Stoever couldn’t cover, they bang it into an empty net. However, I thought we played well. The forecheck is vastly improved. We’re attacking each pass as they try to break out. We’ve had some extended zone time and a couple of chances. All-in-all it wasn’t a terrible period. Can we keep it up???

First period after a bye week was pretty good overall. Stoever had zero chance on the goal. Getting some good looks at the other end, but nothing is getting to the net. Perimeter, getting some inside, but nothing actually on the net. But, Mankato isn't exactly getting anything through either. So far, this game is 95% between the circles.