vs. Minnesota State (2/4-2/5)

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I thought the defense was better last night. Malmstrom is slow on his feet but overall coverage on the weak side and picking up trailers was improved. Not spectacular as there were still too many mistakes, but improved.

We’re playing seven freshmen against an upperclass-heavy team. I’d expect their talent to be better. And I’d be surprised if a team with seven freshmen in the lineup made a deep playoff run. The fact that this team is in the hunt for a home playoff spot is exceeding my expectations.

Carr shared before the game that the league admitted the refs blew the missed face wash/de-helmeting call last week.

[pdt1081]

I didn’t see any issue with the officiating.

Tell me you're not actually watching games, without actually telling me you're not watching games.

Yeah. You’re right, BG would be in 1st place with better officials.

Never said anything close to that. But that comment makes it blatantly obvious you haven't watched a game all season. When players step on the ice at this level, they should know exactly what is and isn't a penalty that will be called. And a penalty in the first period should still be a penalty in the third. But that is far from what is actually taking place on the ice.

[mbenecke]

Game 2:

Great crowd. Tied 0-0 after the first period.

[FlyingFalcon]

Really enjoying this broadcast! Great quality, good broadcast and the Mark Wells interview was a treat! For those at the game, give it a watch. Hoping tonight’s second has the guys coming out strong again. Go Falcons!

[mbenecke]

A BG penalty (Swankler got called for kneeing, but it looked like a regular hip check in real time, from Section E) leads to a Mankato goal within 30 seconds.

Mavs lead 1-0.

[mbenecke]

Another Mav goal within 2 minutes of the last.

We played a really strong first period and now it feels like we’re staring down an avalanche.

[mbenecke]

Our power play unit is just pitiful sometimes. I get that we’re playing against the #1 team in the nation, but man… we can’t even get a shot. Feels like there’s zero creativity or sense of urgency with that unit.

[mbenecke]

And another Mankato goal.

Crowd is officially out of it, with 3:18 to play in the middle frame.

[mbenecke]

End of 2, it’s 3-0.

Not much to be hopeful about. That was a pretty weak 20 minutes of effort right there. I get who we’re playing and that we’re a young team, but it sucks to follow that nice first period with a crappy second.

Here’s hoping we can somehow pick up our play a little bit and get a little momentum going into our series at Tech next weekend.

[mbenecke]

Extremely awful interference call put us a man down halfway through the third.

[TommyG]

Refs ruining our chance to win…just like everytime we lose

[mbenecke]

Little scrap after the whistle and it turns into a clownshow once again. How incompetent can these officials be, really? Why is it so hard to make decisions in a way that doesn’t take 5 minutes and 3 conversations?

I’m not saying the calls are wrong, but it comes across pretty absurd when they don’t even know what they’re trying to call until after they talk to their colleagues.

I think it’s perfectly fair to be objective and say Minnesota State kicked our ass tonight while also pointing out that the officials in this conference are consistently awful.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

On the awful interference call, he wanted to call boarding with a major but realized after he threw his arm up that he blew the call so he made up interference. Then he called a BS penalty on Mankato 40 seconds later to even it out. Just turrible officiating. Didn't matter, it was a bad effort all around tonight.

[mbenecke]

On the awful interference call, he wanted to call boarding with a major but realized after he threw his arm up that he blew the call so he made up interference. Then he called a BS penalty on Mankato 40 seconds later to even it out. Just turrible officiating. Didn't matter, it was a bad effort all around tonight.

Boarding would’ve been awful too. He hit the guy shoulder to shoulder. Looked like a hockey play to me.

I’m tired of refs calling things they assume happened instead of what they actually see. It’s tiresome when they just assume something happened even if they don’t see anything illegal.

[pdt1081]

On the awful interference call, he wanted to call boarding with a major but realized after he threw his arm up that he blew the call so he made up interference. Then he called a BS penalty on Mankato 40 seconds later to even it out. Just turrible officiating. Didn't matter, it was a bad effort all around tonight.

They couldn't even see when the puck hit the netting above the goal.

Eigner about coming off the bench in the first 5 minutes of the game shows they are frustrated with it as well.

And those faceoffs. Holy hell. Drop the puck already.