Oilers Chick
11-01-2003, 01:07 AM
MICHIGAN STATE vs. FERRIS STATE:
This game was, for the most part, a very one-sided affair. MSU thoroughly dominated and outplayed FSU. The only period where FSU look remotely alive was in the 2nd preiod when MSU decided to let their guard down a wee bit.
FSU’s “nightmare” got started almost from the get-go. At the 33 second mark, when Freshman Tommy Goebel would score the first of his 3 goals on the night. He skated in on FSU netminder Junior Mike Brown untouched, then beats Brown on a nice deke to slip the puck past him just inside the right post. Junior Goldie Ash, who had an oustanding night, got the first of his 4 assists in the game on Goebel’s goal. Also assisting was freshman defenceman Chris Snavely (another MSU player who had a very good night). At the 3:21 mark, Goebel would bag his 2nd on a breakaway chance that resulted from a turnover at the blueline by FSU. Goebel skated in on Brown and flipped it over Mike Brown. 19 seconds later at the 3:50 mark, Junior forward Steve Switak would put the Spartans up 3-0 from a great behind the net pass from Goldie Ash. Ash and Snavely assisted on Swistak’s goal. At the 6:08 mark, Sophomore David Booth would make it 4-0 MSU. Senior Dman Joe Markusen took the intial slapshot from the point. Thanks to some hard work and aggresiveness on Booth’s part in addition to some poor man coverage by FSU, Booth’s persistance would payoff in getting the goal. After Brown made the blocker save, he struggled to keep track of the puck in the traffic in front of him and Booth would eventually put it past him. Markusen and Goldie Ash would get the assists on Booth’s goal. When the 1st period ended, FSU was in a 4-0 hole. In addition to some poor defensive play, FSU also got into pemalty trouble. Mike Brown, who’s usually “Mr. Reliable” in the Bulldogs net, had trouble making saves and controlling rebounds for much of the game that he played in as well.
FSU faired a little better in the 2nd period, but still couldn’t get anything past MSU freshman netminder Dominic Vicari, who was sharp when he had to be. MSU got into penalty trouble early. FSU tried desperately to get on the board. They had some very good chances but just couldn’t finish them.
In the 3rd period, MSU went back to what was working early on in the game and generally stuck to the game plan and kept it simple. At the 9:31 mark the floodgates would once again open for the Spartans, as Tommy Goebel would complete the first hat trick of his young collegiate career. A great individual effort by Goebel fighting off both Mike Brown and the FSU defenders in putting the puck in the net. Freshman A. J. Thelan and team captain, Junior Jim Slater (ATL) were credited with the assists. Just 20 seconds later at the 9:51 mark, Brock Raduske (EDM) made a terrific heads up play, intercepting a a pass that FSU Dman Matt York attempted to make up the middle. Raduske skated in to flip a one-timer over Brown for the unassisted goal. After the Raduske goal, FSU head coach Bob Daniels decided that Brown was done for the night and replaced him with Senior Matt Swanson.
Swanson wouldn’t fare much better and neither would his Bulldog teammates. With a 5-on-3 PP, the Spartans would go up 5-0 on Steve Wistak’s 2nd of the night. Goldie Ash fired the puck from the point where Swistak was there at the door step of the FSU net to put the puck in. FSU once again failed to do a better defensive job, despite being 2 men short. Ash and freshman Tyler Howells would get the assists. At the 16:16 mark, MSU would put the final nail in FSU’s coffin with yet another PPG. This time Defenceman Chris Snavely would tally what would be his first collegiate goal. A lowshot from the point that somehow found its way into the net. Freshman defenceman Ethan Graham and Raduske would pick up the assists.
Overall, this was MSU’s night and they deserved to win because they dominated virtually every facet of the game. Everyone contributed. The Spartans top 2 lines (Tommy Goebel- Junior Mike Lalonde-Jim Slater) and (Booth-Goldie-Swistak) were very good. In fact, the David Booth was arguably the most impressive and effective line combo for MSU all evening, accounting for 3 of the Spartans 8 goals. Team captain Jim Slater, may not have shown much on the score sheet (2 assists), he was excellent. His playmaking ability is top notch and showing the great character guy and team leader that he is, he made it a point to immediately ask the refs for and retrieve the puck that became the one that resulted in getting Chris Snavely his very first collegiate goal to give to Snavely.
FSU both netminders had poor outings and the Bulldogs defence look lazy much of the time and really were not prepared to play. The home & home series shifts to Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids. Perhaps the Bulldogs will fare much better on their home ice.
MINNESOTA vs. DENVER:
This game had the all the earmarks of a terrific game. But in the end, it was the home team who would emerge victorious.....and deservedly so. Both DU and Minnesota are excellent skating teams as well as excellent puck-handling teams.
At the get-go the most noticeable change for the Gophers was the absence of Keith Ballard (COL) who is out with a knee injury and Sophomore Andy Sertich (PIT) being shifted to play defence rather than forward as a result. Denver got the first Power Play of the game when Senior Troy Riddle (STL) was called for Interference at the 1:07 mark. If there is one thing that the Pioneers do better than many other teams, it is moving the puck during a power play. The Pioneers also possess an excellent PP unit. However, in the early going, the Gophers would be up to the task of matching it with some terrific penalty killing.
At the 4:29 mark, the Gophers would make Denver pay for a mistake that would plague them throughout the game.......turnovers. A Pioneers player attempted a clearing pass when it was intercepted by sophomore defenceman Peter Kennedy at the blueline. Kennedy would then pass it to an open Danny Irmen (MIN) who fires past Denver netminder Senior Adam Berkhoel (CHI). Kennedy got the lone assist on Irmen’s goal. Just 10 seconds later at the 4:39 mark, the Gophers would go up 2-0, again on a DU turnover. This time, it was terrific heads up play by Sophomore Gino Guyer (DAL) who gets the puck helped by some great Gophers forechecking. Guyer then skates into the Denver zone and finds an open Grant Potulny (OTT) to get a pass to. Potulny showed great patience with the puck as he waited for Berkhoel to commit first. Just as Berkhoel is sprawling across the crease, Potulny slips the puck under Berkhoel’s glove. At first, it looked as though Berkhoel had corraled the puck, but then it just slip out from under his glove and slid into the net. Guyer and freshman defenceman Jake Taylor would assist on Potulny’s goal. One line combo that was very good for Denver much of the evening, accounting for some of Denver’s best scoring chances was the line of Juniors Kevin Ulanski-Jeff Drummond-Jon Foster. Ulamski, who’s great playmaking and hustle resulted in some terrific odd-man rushes for DU. But equal to the task much of the night was Freshman netminder Kellen Briggs, who was stellar in the Minnesota net.
At the 14:24 mark, the Pioneers mistakes would cost them yet again. Pioneers Senior Forward Max Bull, made a drop pass that was intercepted by an alert Tyler Hirsch, who banked it off the boards to a trailing Tomas Vanek (BUF) who then skates in, waits and finds Senior Matt Koalska (NSH) coming in to set up a 2-on-1. Berkhoel who played against Vanek left the left side of the net wide open where Koalska shoots it in. In addition to Berkhoel, the Pioneers defenders also decided to take Vanek, leaving Koalska in the clear for the goal. Vanek and Hirsch would pick up the assists on Koalska’s goal.
The two glaring mistakes (in addition to bad passes/clearing attempts) that the Pioneers made was the drop passes with no support and Berkhoel’s failure to stop the Gophers intial shots. Far too often throughout the game (when he was in), Berkhoel would either leave very big rebounds or simply fail to control the smaller ones.
The 2nd period saw the Gophers get into penalty trouble early. This time, Denver would make the Gophers pay. At the 5:19 mark while on the PP (Gophers freshman Ryan Potulny [PHI] was off for a high-sticking call), junior forward Jeff Drummond would get Denver on the board. A shot fired by Junior Kevin Ulanski ended up hitting then rebounding off the skate of Junior Jake Fleming. Drummond would then corral the puck, move in on the around a sprawling Kellen Briggs to put the puck by him in the net. Briggs not only committed early, but overcommitted himself on the play. At the 7:08 mark on the PP (Senior Greg Keith was off for elbowing), the Gophers would respond. Andy Sertich (PIT) skates in then banks a shot off of the half-boards that would sail deep into the Denver zone. On a great individual effort by Koalska to take two Denver defenders with him, Vanek (who was trailing the play) skates in the opposite to gain possession of the puck. On a very pretty wraparound, Vanek slips it pass a slow reacting Berkhoel just inside the short side post for the goal. Koalska and Sertich would get the assists on Vanek’s goal.
Things got a little chippy after the goal when Gophers freshman Ryan Potulny and Pioneers Junior Jon Foster decided to get into each other’s face and chirp away at one another. Foster managed to get in a little poke to Potulny’s chops, but the confrontation was eventually broken up by the refs.
When play was about to resume, Denver head coach George Gwozdecky decided that Berkhoel was done for the night and replaced him with freshman Glenn Fisher (EDM). Fisher actually played quite well in his outing. He follows play very well, was good on low and angle shots. However, he did give up a couple of goals as well. The first would come on a Gophers PP (Ulanski was off for a slash) at the 8:30 mark. Once again, the Pioneers failure to clear the puck successfully would end up becoming a turnover. The clearing attempt by junior Dman Matt Laatsch failed because he broke his stick and as a result it ended up hitting Sertich instead, who then corrals it and passes it to Tyler Hirsch in the corner. Hirsch then made a pass to Gino Guyer who was parked behind the Denver net. Again, Guyer would find Grant Potulny open in front of the Denver goal and make the perfect. Potulny then proceeded to fire it over Fisher. Guyer and Hirsch would be credited with the assists on the goal.
The big hit of the night came late in the period as Denver’s Max Bull just levels Gophers Dman Chris Harrington along the boards. A little later, a scary moment for the Gophers as Harrington and Vanek collided near center ice in what looked like an inadvertent knee on knee collision. Both players left the ice, but Harrington would return before the period ended.
The 3rd period began with Tomas Vanek being out the rest of the game. His injury is likely either a knee or thigh injury, judging by the look of the collision (there was no word on what exactly Vanek’s injury was or the extent of it during the game). With Vanek, Gopher head coach Don Lucia was forced to place Andy Sertich back at the forward position. As the pace of the game slowed, so did the Gophers. At the 2:55 mark, the Pioneers would catch the Gophers being lazy on defence. Senior Dman Ryan Caldwell (NYI) took a pass from Ulanski from along the boards. Caldwell walks right in on Briggs untouched due to a defensive breakdown by Tyler Hirsch. Briggs unable to side over in time, ends up giving up the goal when Caldwell flips the puck over him on the stick-side. Denver cut Minnesota’s lead to 5-2 at that point. It would also mark the last time in the game that Denver would score. At the 7:30 mark, Senior Troy Riddle (STL) would score what would be the best goal of the game....and the final one. The play started with some great work by Koalska and Junior Garrett Smaagaard behind the Denver net. Smaagaard drops a pass intended for Koalska. Instead, Riddle alertly picks up the puck, skates by the first Denver defenders and then makes a terrific deke on a 2nd Denver defender before finding himself in front of Fisher who was helpless on the wicked wristshot by Riddle. Koalska and Smaagaard would get the assists.
What won the game for Minnesota was their excellent effort in picking up their offence as well as excellent puck support and capitalising on the Pioneers’ repeated turnovers. Matt Koalska and Gino Guyer both turned in exceptional performances in this game. Both not only made some excellent plays but created situations that helped their fellow players to score or at the very least get a very good scoring chance. Overall the Gophers were prepared and played hard for 60 minutes. This outing was the Gophers best by far thus far in the season.
Denver’s repeated turnovers cost them dearly in this game. However, the Pioneers did have their moments. Aside from the Ulanski-Drummond-Foster line, the other aspect of the Pioneers game that was noteworthy was the play of freshman netminder Glenn Fisher. He was literally peppered in the 3rd period. He faced 14 shots in that period and gave up one goal. The score could’ve been much worse for Denver had it not been for some outstanding saves by Fisher. He never lost his composure and managed to stay focused even after Troy Riddle’s goal. Denver has already shown that they are much better than the way they played tonight. The costly turnovers need to be addressed and corrected if the Pioneers intend to beat the Gophers tomorrow night.
This game was, for the most part, a very one-sided affair. MSU thoroughly dominated and outplayed FSU. The only period where FSU look remotely alive was in the 2nd preiod when MSU decided to let their guard down a wee bit.
FSU’s “nightmare” got started almost from the get-go. At the 33 second mark, when Freshman Tommy Goebel would score the first of his 3 goals on the night. He skated in on FSU netminder Junior Mike Brown untouched, then beats Brown on a nice deke to slip the puck past him just inside the right post. Junior Goldie Ash, who had an oustanding night, got the first of his 4 assists in the game on Goebel’s goal. Also assisting was freshman defenceman Chris Snavely (another MSU player who had a very good night). At the 3:21 mark, Goebel would bag his 2nd on a breakaway chance that resulted from a turnover at the blueline by FSU. Goebel skated in on Brown and flipped it over Mike Brown. 19 seconds later at the 3:50 mark, Junior forward Steve Switak would put the Spartans up 3-0 from a great behind the net pass from Goldie Ash. Ash and Snavely assisted on Swistak’s goal. At the 6:08 mark, Sophomore David Booth would make it 4-0 MSU. Senior Dman Joe Markusen took the intial slapshot from the point. Thanks to some hard work and aggresiveness on Booth’s part in addition to some poor man coverage by FSU, Booth’s persistance would payoff in getting the goal. After Brown made the blocker save, he struggled to keep track of the puck in the traffic in front of him and Booth would eventually put it past him. Markusen and Goldie Ash would get the assists on Booth’s goal. When the 1st period ended, FSU was in a 4-0 hole. In addition to some poor defensive play, FSU also got into pemalty trouble. Mike Brown, who’s usually “Mr. Reliable” in the Bulldogs net, had trouble making saves and controlling rebounds for much of the game that he played in as well.
FSU faired a little better in the 2nd period, but still couldn’t get anything past MSU freshman netminder Dominic Vicari, who was sharp when he had to be. MSU got into penalty trouble early. FSU tried desperately to get on the board. They had some very good chances but just couldn’t finish them.
In the 3rd period, MSU went back to what was working early on in the game and generally stuck to the game plan and kept it simple. At the 9:31 mark the floodgates would once again open for the Spartans, as Tommy Goebel would complete the first hat trick of his young collegiate career. A great individual effort by Goebel fighting off both Mike Brown and the FSU defenders in putting the puck in the net. Freshman A. J. Thelan and team captain, Junior Jim Slater (ATL) were credited with the assists. Just 20 seconds later at the 9:51 mark, Brock Raduske (EDM) made a terrific heads up play, intercepting a a pass that FSU Dman Matt York attempted to make up the middle. Raduske skated in to flip a one-timer over Brown for the unassisted goal. After the Raduske goal, FSU head coach Bob Daniels decided that Brown was done for the night and replaced him with Senior Matt Swanson.
Swanson wouldn’t fare much better and neither would his Bulldog teammates. With a 5-on-3 PP, the Spartans would go up 5-0 on Steve Wistak’s 2nd of the night. Goldie Ash fired the puck from the point where Swistak was there at the door step of the FSU net to put the puck in. FSU once again failed to do a better defensive job, despite being 2 men short. Ash and freshman Tyler Howells would get the assists. At the 16:16 mark, MSU would put the final nail in FSU’s coffin with yet another PPG. This time Defenceman Chris Snavely would tally what would be his first collegiate goal. A lowshot from the point that somehow found its way into the net. Freshman defenceman Ethan Graham and Raduske would pick up the assists.
Overall, this was MSU’s night and they deserved to win because they dominated virtually every facet of the game. Everyone contributed. The Spartans top 2 lines (Tommy Goebel- Junior Mike Lalonde-Jim Slater) and (Booth-Goldie-Swistak) were very good. In fact, the David Booth was arguably the most impressive and effective line combo for MSU all evening, accounting for 3 of the Spartans 8 goals. Team captain Jim Slater, may not have shown much on the score sheet (2 assists), he was excellent. His playmaking ability is top notch and showing the great character guy and team leader that he is, he made it a point to immediately ask the refs for and retrieve the puck that became the one that resulted in getting Chris Snavely his very first collegiate goal to give to Snavely.
FSU both netminders had poor outings and the Bulldogs defence look lazy much of the time and really were not prepared to play. The home & home series shifts to Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids. Perhaps the Bulldogs will fare much better on their home ice.
MINNESOTA vs. DENVER:
This game had the all the earmarks of a terrific game. But in the end, it was the home team who would emerge victorious.....and deservedly so. Both DU and Minnesota are excellent skating teams as well as excellent puck-handling teams.
At the get-go the most noticeable change for the Gophers was the absence of Keith Ballard (COL) who is out with a knee injury and Sophomore Andy Sertich (PIT) being shifted to play defence rather than forward as a result. Denver got the first Power Play of the game when Senior Troy Riddle (STL) was called for Interference at the 1:07 mark. If there is one thing that the Pioneers do better than many other teams, it is moving the puck during a power play. The Pioneers also possess an excellent PP unit. However, in the early going, the Gophers would be up to the task of matching it with some terrific penalty killing.
At the 4:29 mark, the Gophers would make Denver pay for a mistake that would plague them throughout the game.......turnovers. A Pioneers player attempted a clearing pass when it was intercepted by sophomore defenceman Peter Kennedy at the blueline. Kennedy would then pass it to an open Danny Irmen (MIN) who fires past Denver netminder Senior Adam Berkhoel (CHI). Kennedy got the lone assist on Irmen’s goal. Just 10 seconds later at the 4:39 mark, the Gophers would go up 2-0, again on a DU turnover. This time, it was terrific heads up play by Sophomore Gino Guyer (DAL) who gets the puck helped by some great Gophers forechecking. Guyer then skates into the Denver zone and finds an open Grant Potulny (OTT) to get a pass to. Potulny showed great patience with the puck as he waited for Berkhoel to commit first. Just as Berkhoel is sprawling across the crease, Potulny slips the puck under Berkhoel’s glove. At first, it looked as though Berkhoel had corraled the puck, but then it just slip out from under his glove and slid into the net. Guyer and freshman defenceman Jake Taylor would assist on Potulny’s goal. One line combo that was very good for Denver much of the evening, accounting for some of Denver’s best scoring chances was the line of Juniors Kevin Ulanski-Jeff Drummond-Jon Foster. Ulamski, who’s great playmaking and hustle resulted in some terrific odd-man rushes for DU. But equal to the task much of the night was Freshman netminder Kellen Briggs, who was stellar in the Minnesota net.
At the 14:24 mark, the Pioneers mistakes would cost them yet again. Pioneers Senior Forward Max Bull, made a drop pass that was intercepted by an alert Tyler Hirsch, who banked it off the boards to a trailing Tomas Vanek (BUF) who then skates in, waits and finds Senior Matt Koalska (NSH) coming in to set up a 2-on-1. Berkhoel who played against Vanek left the left side of the net wide open where Koalska shoots it in. In addition to Berkhoel, the Pioneers defenders also decided to take Vanek, leaving Koalska in the clear for the goal. Vanek and Hirsch would pick up the assists on Koalska’s goal.
The two glaring mistakes (in addition to bad passes/clearing attempts) that the Pioneers made was the drop passes with no support and Berkhoel’s failure to stop the Gophers intial shots. Far too often throughout the game (when he was in), Berkhoel would either leave very big rebounds or simply fail to control the smaller ones.
The 2nd period saw the Gophers get into penalty trouble early. This time, Denver would make the Gophers pay. At the 5:19 mark while on the PP (Gophers freshman Ryan Potulny [PHI] was off for a high-sticking call), junior forward Jeff Drummond would get Denver on the board. A shot fired by Junior Kevin Ulanski ended up hitting then rebounding off the skate of Junior Jake Fleming. Drummond would then corral the puck, move in on the around a sprawling Kellen Briggs to put the puck by him in the net. Briggs not only committed early, but overcommitted himself on the play. At the 7:08 mark on the PP (Senior Greg Keith was off for elbowing), the Gophers would respond. Andy Sertich (PIT) skates in then banks a shot off of the half-boards that would sail deep into the Denver zone. On a great individual effort by Koalska to take two Denver defenders with him, Vanek (who was trailing the play) skates in the opposite to gain possession of the puck. On a very pretty wraparound, Vanek slips it pass a slow reacting Berkhoel just inside the short side post for the goal. Koalska and Sertich would get the assists on Vanek’s goal.
Things got a little chippy after the goal when Gophers freshman Ryan Potulny and Pioneers Junior Jon Foster decided to get into each other’s face and chirp away at one another. Foster managed to get in a little poke to Potulny’s chops, but the confrontation was eventually broken up by the refs.
When play was about to resume, Denver head coach George Gwozdecky decided that Berkhoel was done for the night and replaced him with freshman Glenn Fisher (EDM). Fisher actually played quite well in his outing. He follows play very well, was good on low and angle shots. However, he did give up a couple of goals as well. The first would come on a Gophers PP (Ulanski was off for a slash) at the 8:30 mark. Once again, the Pioneers failure to clear the puck successfully would end up becoming a turnover. The clearing attempt by junior Dman Matt Laatsch failed because he broke his stick and as a result it ended up hitting Sertich instead, who then corrals it and passes it to Tyler Hirsch in the corner. Hirsch then made a pass to Gino Guyer who was parked behind the Denver net. Again, Guyer would find Grant Potulny open in front of the Denver goal and make the perfect. Potulny then proceeded to fire it over Fisher. Guyer and Hirsch would be credited with the assists on the goal.
The big hit of the night came late in the period as Denver’s Max Bull just levels Gophers Dman Chris Harrington along the boards. A little later, a scary moment for the Gophers as Harrington and Vanek collided near center ice in what looked like an inadvertent knee on knee collision. Both players left the ice, but Harrington would return before the period ended.
The 3rd period began with Tomas Vanek being out the rest of the game. His injury is likely either a knee or thigh injury, judging by the look of the collision (there was no word on what exactly Vanek’s injury was or the extent of it during the game). With Vanek, Gopher head coach Don Lucia was forced to place Andy Sertich back at the forward position. As the pace of the game slowed, so did the Gophers. At the 2:55 mark, the Pioneers would catch the Gophers being lazy on defence. Senior Dman Ryan Caldwell (NYI) took a pass from Ulanski from along the boards. Caldwell walks right in on Briggs untouched due to a defensive breakdown by Tyler Hirsch. Briggs unable to side over in time, ends up giving up the goal when Caldwell flips the puck over him on the stick-side. Denver cut Minnesota’s lead to 5-2 at that point. It would also mark the last time in the game that Denver would score. At the 7:30 mark, Senior Troy Riddle (STL) would score what would be the best goal of the game....and the final one. The play started with some great work by Koalska and Junior Garrett Smaagaard behind the Denver net. Smaagaard drops a pass intended for Koalska. Instead, Riddle alertly picks up the puck, skates by the first Denver defenders and then makes a terrific deke on a 2nd Denver defender before finding himself in front of Fisher who was helpless on the wicked wristshot by Riddle. Koalska and Smaagaard would get the assists.
What won the game for Minnesota was their excellent effort in picking up their offence as well as excellent puck support and capitalising on the Pioneers’ repeated turnovers. Matt Koalska and Gino Guyer both turned in exceptional performances in this game. Both not only made some excellent plays but created situations that helped their fellow players to score or at the very least get a very good scoring chance. Overall the Gophers were prepared and played hard for 60 minutes. This outing was the Gophers best by far thus far in the season.
Denver’s repeated turnovers cost them dearly in this game. However, the Pioneers did have their moments. Aside from the Ulanski-Drummond-Foster line, the other aspect of the Pioneers game that was noteworthy was the play of freshman netminder Glenn Fisher. He was literally peppered in the 3rd period. He faced 14 shots in that period and gave up one goal. The score could’ve been much worse for Denver had it not been for some outstanding saves by Fisher. He never lost his composure and managed to stay focused even after Troy Riddle’s goal. Denver has already shown that they are much better than the way they played tonight. The costly turnovers need to be addressed and corrected if the Pioneers intend to beat the Gophers tomorrow night.