sprig

The good news, Sioux come throught the weekend in the tourney, while Denver is still on the outside looking in (hint: if you're going to have cupcakes at Christmas, better beat them ). Denver does have an advantage finishing with CC while the Sioux's RPI will be hurt playing MTU. Sioux simply cannot afford a loss or tie next weekend. Go CC.

In spite of the loss, a few comparisons tipped in the Sioux's favor, and Mankato apparently became a TUC. A good weekend for the Sioux, in spite of the third period meltdown. CCHA is falling, as the Sioux picked up the Michigan and UNO comparisons. They also now have Cornell, BC, and Maine (any of these may have turned last night, not sure)

Third period turned around with the very bad penalty by Toews. He's got to feel bad about that one.

Very similar check, although not as hard, by Finley on Cook that got him the major. Cook, however, gave a delayed fall to the ice like he'd been shot, and drew the call.

He put a good check from behind on Finley tonight. Fortunately, Finley is big enough he remained upright and didn't do a header into the boards. CFB nevertheless, not called. Punko hasn't learned a thing.

Good night, Carle was back in his own end and the puck never made it across the center ice line before it was turned over to create the 2 on 1.

His numbers would not have been nearly as good as they were if the Wisco team in front of him had played the way they are playing now.

He's played both games this weekend, and looks terrible. I think he's been pulled tonight.

Bad mistake off the opening faceoff, which was won by the Sioux. Team played better as the period went along, and got some chances after the powerplays ended. Far from over, Denver playing a much more defensive game than last night. Wisco looks terrible, hard to believe these are the same players that were so dominant over the first half. Play like this and they'll lose to UAB or Holy Cross in the first NCAA game, or end up with a tougher opponent in the first round.

Amazing that Gwoz ( i like Curious George as a name) can throw a fit and get a penalty call. No doubt Prpich deserved one but it was missed in live action. Shortly after another Denver player wrapped an arm around Prpich's neck and threw him to the ice with no call, a retaliation for the nut job. Maybe Hak should have made a spectacle of himself on the dasher and got that call also.

On directtv, the Wisco/Mankato game is on live on FSN, FSNa, and ESPNU. DU/UND on live on FSRM. Sorry, can't help you with your FSC question.

That was a classic turn your back at the last second to draw the 5. If Gwoz is coaching that crap he ought to be suspended, putting his own players in danger of a bad injury.

Terrible call, but a perfect example of how DU (as well as others) are taking advantage of the Punko rule. Purposely turned his back at the last instant to create a CFB "look". Anderson must have thought he screwed up to give DU 2 penalties during the 5 minute. Had to be a game misconduct, Fabian didn't get a DQ, like someone said earlier, did he?

Although I have the sports pak add-on, a couple years ago when I did not have it, FOXN, FOXNa, and FXRM, were all part of the regional package in ND (without having the add-on). No idea if that is still the case. If it is and you are in this region, FXRM should be on all the time (except when a pro sports "blackout" game is on). Check channel 645 and see if you get it.

This is the siouxsports domain and we reserve the right to be homers here. If you enjoy skippy drivel there are other places to get your fix. If you don't like Sioux homerism, place those of us that are on ignore. You'll spend much less time reading here, in fact, what's left to read isn't worth it, so there is no reason to waste your bandwidth on this site.

8 teams are in, 4 from each pool. Quarterfinals are loser out, the remaining four play for the 3 medals.

Esche is a sieve. Maybe they can fly Karl over quickly to stop the puck. Would guess it will be all DiPietro in the medal round.

A matchup both expected and welcomed. If the Sioux can't beat JBSU this time around in a 2 out of 3 series in either arena, they don't deserve to be in the NCAAs.

It was WPOs chastising the Sioux for checking from behind penalties (two rather weak calls against in the last gopher series, from a Sioux fan perspective), while the Gophers made similar hits that were not called. Total bunk depends on whose team you support. Players are definitely attempting to draw these calls by turning their back and stoppiing a bit farther from the boards. If the checker manages to hold up, a 5 minute PP is likely without any significant harm to the checked player. If the checker goes in hard, the player trying to draw the penalty has put himself in a position for a Bina like injury. Not a good situation. (Edit: not implying that Bina put himself in a bad position for the Punkovich hit, that was an entirely different situation and a major after the whistle cheap shot). All teams are now suffering for the Punkovich cheap shot, and the Don Adam incompetence.

1954-57 retro There was also a green with block "North Dakota" retro sold earlier this season, but looks like they are no longer available.

There were all kinds of empty seats at last weekends series vs. Mankato (on FXRM). Would guess they were reserved no shows. What a dead crowd, you could only hear a bit of noise when Denver scored, otherwise the place might have been empty. I"ve never heard the REA that quiet (on TV), even when the Sioux were losing.

They are the only remaining TUC for the Sioux before the post season begins, and, if either team gets swept in two weeks at Magness, they will likely be left out of the NCAA tourney. Getting beat by non-TUCs is not good for either team, DU getting beat by Mankato would be similar to theSioux getting beat by UMD or MTU.

We want DU to lose (as well as SCSU), they are both bubble teams the Sioux are competing against for a slot in the tourney. Makes little difference for MN, they are in good position for a 1 seed in GF (or somewhere else, if the Sioux get in as a 4 seed).

With remaining schedules it would seem the Sioux and SCSU are on a collision course for the first round of the WCHA tourney. Could well be a loser out series also. I'd welcome that matchup, no matter which team gets home ice. I'll also be pulling for CC to continue winning and secure a 1 seed, along with MN and Wisco.

Things will be different again tomorrow, but there is a reasonably good chance that Wisco, MN, and CC will be 1 seeds, in which case none will be at the REA if the Sioux make it in as a 4 seed. Would guess, however, with the Sioux needing to win to get in over the next 4 weeks, they will more than likely make it as a 3 seed (or miss the tourney entirely), in which case MN will be back in the REA. That would make for a bit better fired up crowd (with bothe MN and ND in the REA). Losses to non TUCs MDU and MTU are unacceptable, while the Denver series could be loser out, if either team gets swept. Hard as it seems to many of us, it will have to be Sioux for MN next weekend vs. Denver. On second thought, it's not that hard for me.