(11-09-2014 12:39 AM)Lunatic Wrote: Wow we're lucky to have Andy Murray. We have enough talent to do really well this year. Playing at high altitude vs. a #10 Denver team, we were able to dictate much of the game to them, and could've taken both games. Gladly, the refs let the boys play, and despite the usual zebra flubs (Dries "crosscheck" comes to mind), they were pretty fair overall. There's a lot to learn from these two games if you look at the tape: I think the team took more risks (long stretch passes for example), we got rewarded with goals, and we got burned a bit and saw more volatility.
We're lucky to have two starting-caliber goalies on the roster. I had to fast-forward through a lot of last night's game prior to this one, but Hafner really is a nutcase with his style, and it's awesome to watch when he skates out! His stickhandling in traffic is ******* world-class, and Murray probably lays awake at night worrying about Hafner's shenanigans. Of the three or four goals I watched that he allowed, he was screened on two or three, but the last one he let in was about as soft of a goal as we'll see from him, so he sits. As he should when we have two great goalies.
Morrison is sick, just sick. Watch and see what it looks like to have an NHL player playing in the NCHC. It looks like Morrison. Several offensive players also stood out in individual situations (Muir, Kovacs, Novak, others), but admittedly, a lot of times it's the little-noticed things that make a great forward great: How well is the forward playing when he doesn't have the puck? I can't answer this question without watching the game in slow motion, but Fever might be able to.
Coach Murray will watch the game in slow- or regular-mo tomorrow. He'll see what worked and what didn't. Life is good. Glad to take one on the road vs a top-10 team, and damn it feels good to be a Bronco!
I think we are very talented and not even clicking on all 8 cylinders yet. We still have some bugs that need to be worked out and I'm telling you we will see some more line combinations in the next couple of weeks. I know every one misses Bailisy and Berchbeck, but this group of forwards is very deep and collectively we are more talented up front than last year.
I was pleased with the overall officiating. Didn't see what happened with the Dienes call, but it was great to see the refs figure out the DU player took Dienes stick to the bench and later, they tried to pretend that they didn't have it. Who was holding who???
Lunitic, your on to something here and picked up on what I thought were some of keys on the weekend:
1) Novak in the line up now gives this team another dimension this team was missing earlier this year and Murray has even more options now. He's our Birchbeck
2) The stretch pass was a great strategy, they started doing a little of this in the Alaska series and they are having some success, though it comes with it's share of icing calls
3) Also WMU forecheck and neutral zone trap. How many time did you see a DU player make that first pass from their DZ only to watch them cough it up at the blue line, resulting in quick transition attacks, often odd man advantages resulting in scoring chances and 10 goals this weekend!!!!!! This is the "structure" that Murray teaches/preaches. Let the other teams try to dangle and make cute plays as more times then not, will result in a turn over. This is why we "match up" so well with teams like Miami and SCSU. UMD and ND play a little more structured game. This was the difference in the series this weekend.
4) I don't think Hafner had a good weekend, and I would agree that 2-3 of those goals you can't fault him for. But Frank played a very solid game, consistently making the first save and limiting DU's rebound/second chance opportunities.
5) Out playing a top ranked team on the road in "high altitude" is very impressive. Broncos are even a better team at sea level. If anyone doubts the effects of high altitude on athletes, just drive you car from Michigan to Colorado and you will see the difference in your car's performance. It has the same effect on athletes. There was a close up of our bench early on in the first period of the first game were you could see several of the Broncos gasping for air. They were not tired or out of shape, as the Broncos are always a well conditioned team.