The Sicatoka

I predict Wilber is right on this point.

Does this season count for a true freshman?

Allow me this: If an FCS is near a significant airport with direct flights to MPS you might get a sniff.

Literally nine seconds from search to find: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Pollard_Jr.

Good.

MSU19 had a path to the free, visible puck laying just off the goal line. ASU17 rode MSU19 into his own goalie. He's the only MSU player that made contact (not even the shooter did). Ugly, but I think it's a goal because of the ASU17 contact.

DU had two shots in the third. http://www.collegehockeystats.net/2021/textbox/mdenndk1.f13 Side note: I think I now realize why I didn't notice the "no pull" until it was pointed out. The box score says it was 26 and 15 in the bin for the DU 5x3. I was cramping up watching the PK without those two.

My good and true hockey companions (who at times are still learning the game) pointed it out to me in real time and I was stumped for two reasons: - How'd they notice before me? - Why no pull?

Is it just me or is seeing team records like ... 15-4-1-0-2-0 3-13-2-2-0-2 just plain annoying and distracting. I feel like I'm reading the lyrics to a Tommy Tutone or Wilson Pickett* song. *Bonus points to me for using the version with North Dakotan Jonny Lang on the guitar.

Get them on ESPN 8 -- "The Ocho!"

Mentioning ASU/MSU, they are playing at this very instant, but you can't see it. Wouldn't it be cool if the B1G had a TV network so they could broadcast live events during normally dead time slots like a Monday afternoon?

< sigh > The basic VGK jerseys (basics: white and dark) and the grey helmets were understatedly awesome. The gold sweater was acceptable. Then they roll out that red (alternate logo front) jersey and the abomination of a gold chrome bucket and shed all credibility.

What I notice is the near referee is right there and his orange arm band is ... down.

Is THAT why they make collegians wear the full bubble?

"Tell me about your offensive line and I'll tell you about your season." -- Me, every pre-season.

The "no Savoie" came to mind as I was writing my 6x3 thoughts. The rest? I didn't realize the scale of the problem. That said, DU does have a second and third power play unit. Even if the "six" stands in front and screens ...

6x3: Why not go with a modified "plus" (aka bumper) config. In bumper, your low guy overloads to one side (normally goalie glove). See the Adams goal Saturday. In 6x3 I'd say to go "double low". If one low man has the puck the other pops up to be a second bumper on the far post (as the normal bumper is aligned to the near post to the low man with the puck). The alternative is he stays on the far pipe to act as the backboard of a whip-jam shot from the low man with the puck, leaving open the pass to the "Ovechkin Office" guy.

It opens up drive lanes. (It's like a run game opens up the pass game in football.)

One more question for DU: Down 4-2, up on a 5x3 power play ... and you don't pull Chrona for the 6x3 given all the time left? You lost 5-2 anyway because you pulled after the penalties expired. Down two you pull for the 6x3.

Observations: DURflinger needs to be smarter: (on Friday) Tyler Kleven (6'4") is not the "dance partner" he should be choosing. (Yo, DURf, getting punched 'downhill' hurts. I have learnt this. No further comment.) Berry said it best postgame Saturday: The (Saturday first period) might have been UND's worst all season. My only comment: Might? UND's fourth goal was courtesy DU: UND 28 enters the zone in possession and ... turns from the high slot to attack ... the half wall looking to maintain possession until help arrives, and not one, not two, but three DU skaters drag with him. The fourth DU defender was in the zone before the UND F2 (14). Yet somehow 28 gets the textbook shot off from the wall (1x3) to the far goalie pad and all Kodachrome* can do is kick it up the slot where his fourth defender has been beat down the slot by F2 (14). Goal. Thank you DU for playing mite level, watch the puck, defense. (And LetsGoDU.com may quote me on that prior statement. No rights reserved.) You could hear the air come out of DU's tires when it went 4-2. The late UND penalties were not good but DU honestly looked tired from the 4-2 goal on. They had no pushback. The ENG? Why didn't 29 take it? Why'd he let 28 take it? Simple. First, he's the captain. Reward the guys who earned it that night. Next, 28 looked like he was shot out of cannon. Finally, watch 29 on that play. A DU defender has a slim but real chance of catching 28 ... until 29 'adjusts' his skating path trailing 28. Illegal? Nope. Subtle and smart? Oh yeah ... Next, to UND 15: Ethan, dude, be done taking penalties in the last minutes of the game (unless it is to save a clear open chance), please. It's rough on the old ticker. Thank you. Frankly, UND's defense on the 1-2-3 (A-B-C) scale I'm not sure anyone got an A on Saturday. Maybe 15 until the late penalty. Maybe 2 but he wasn't high minutes. Both 3 and 24 had rookie mistakes. If anyone did, it was the ... freshmen. And to Thome: Dude. You were hung out on the first. Savoie scores on eight of ten NCHC goalies (and quite a few pros) from there so no dishonor. But after those two you locked down and made all the saves you should (and a couple I have no idea how you saw). < virtual fist bump > *Chrona gets the name Kodachrome on that one because he was picturized on it. Note: For you youngin's, a company named Kodak use to make photographic film called Kodachrome before digital camer... oh, nevermind.

OK, the sweep was impressive.

That being ... Frankly I’m waiting for BS’s* take. *BusinessSiouxt that is.

Nothing. Now if you flipped second assistants also ...

I take back my earlier remarks about Miami ... unless that’s what inspired them.