CCHA Coaches/Media Difference in Poll Rankings 2012-2013 Season
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:07 PM ^
Seems they both think the top 3 is pretty clear cut, I'd rather be under the radar too until we see how the offense looks and rutledge (is he starting?) is in goal. And the powerplay, god hope that improves too last year got painful to watch at times.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^
can be above average, this defense is going to be scary good. Merrill and Moffie are both named to preseason all conference teams, and Trouba is an absolute monster from what I've seen. If Rutledge can hold his own (and the hype says he should do just fine) goals will not come easy for pretty much anyone.
Edit: Meaning that, hopefully, the offense and power play can be patient if needed.
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
yeah the defense is why I don't think we are overrated, I just hope the offense can click early and at least have diversified scoring. the top line was like the only line that seemed to score at the end of the year, everyone else seemed to drop off completely (at least in a consistent sense).
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^
But I am pretty optimistic on the PP for this season. I know it hasn't been great in a while, but having Merrill for a whole season will help. It seemed like getting him back in the lineup took the PP from "tire fire" to "decent, if unspectacular" in the course of about a week.
I'm hoping the 2-3 lines can start getting some scoring production, but I'm fairly confident in saying we won't be playing too many Pittsburgh/Philadelphia series this season, where we need 6-8-10 points to win.
LSCrepair...what a timley and depressing reply to my post above. I has a sad.
October 3rd, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
Looks as though Rutledge might be out for a little while. Hopefully he recovers quickly
http://www.yostbuilt.com/2012/10/rutledge-out-for-bit-with-eye-injury.html
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
They made the title game sure, but in Plinko Hockey, lots of teams can. Especially coming out of the weak half of the tourney. They only had to top I believe Union, Umass-Lowell, and Cornell which is probably the easiest path to the finals in tournament history. Plus I do believe we smoked them last year when we played.
Ferris is good, like Western good. But we should still be able to out-CCHA them
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^
October 3rd, 2012 at 9:16 PM ^
like ND's Mike Johnson? We're considering him outstanding? That lowers that standards quite a bit, I think... I'll give you the other 4, but goaltending was a big reason ND flopped so bad compared to expectations last year and he was half(ish) of that.
Miami has 2 new goalies, Michigan has all new goalies, Norther's Coreau was pretty good, Alaska will have a new starter, LSSU's Kapalka was very good his freshman year, less so last year but still pretty good, OSU will have a new starter, with probably one of the top freshman goalies in Olson and a senior that was good in limited action in Hjelle.
It's fair to say the CCHA has some pretty great goaltending, but I wouldn't use Johnson as a supporting example...
October 3rd, 2012 at 9:39 PM ^
He did have a bad series against us and his numbers are average, but he won games. Winning 20 games is an accomplished stat, but with the defense ND had last year it was pretty impressive. Only three CCHA goalies won 20 or more games last year; Hunwick, Nelson and Johnson.
October 3rd, 2012 at 9:47 PM ^
that I buy that. It's a fair amount of wins, but ND should have won quite a bit more and ND fans don't really like him either. I might say the team won 20 games in spite of him, rather than because of him.
October 3rd, 2012 at 10:48 PM ^
But let's not pretend that ND was a good team last year. They reminded me of a Run and Gun basketball team. The In-Zone offense was not very good at all, defense was average at best, and everything was transition. Johnson shouldn't take all the blame, and he deserves credit for what he did. It's the same way I feel about Hammond.
October 3rd, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^
Michigan destroyed them last year 5-2 and 4-0. 9 total goals in two games.
ferris came oh so close to choking away the conference title, and they lost to an 11-seeded bowling green AT HOME in the playoffs. That was the first time in the history of the conference an 11 seed advanced to JLA. And of course they got busted open in the NC game.
My expectations for Michigan this season is a CCHA Championship, CCHA Playoff Championship and a run to the Frozen Four. Their defense is loaded. The goaltender situation has a chance to be figured out but needs to happen quick with only 4 non-conference games to start the season off.
October 4th, 2012 at 7:38 AM ^
Can't wait to catch some M wins in the new Yost!