Snake

The difference here, though, is a non-conference regular season "tourney" vs. an actual conference championship with a NCAA auto-bid at stake. Correct me if I'm wrong, but shootouts won't be used to decide auto-bid games (at least I hope not for the sake of all things pure in the world).

Didn't we start using an "interlocking" ND logo to help distinguish ourselves from Notre Dame? Well, it appears that they like the idea, too, based on the jerseys they will wear tonight. Granted, it's a different font, but I've never seen them "interlock" the N & D like this before. Anyone else?

Basically, rinks like Northeastern, QU, and perhaps Michigan Tech are on the list for the very same reasons we would hope the Old Ralph would've made it if we were still playing there???

I agree. Most All the gopher fans I've talked with lately really miss the old WCHA.

For the NHL it makes sense due to the skill level of the players; but IMO the college game is sloppier on Olympic ice vs. NHL-sized sheets. There are too many missed passes and a lot of chasing the puck into the corners on the bigger sheet.

To be fair, Century Link Center made it as the home of Creighton Basketball, not Omaha Hockey.

He may not have exhibited selfishness in the past, but the irony is his prospective professional employers now have a data point to work with.

You have to download the iphone App to the ipad. There's a (2X) button to stretch the screen size to fill.

Can't blame officiating when you've pissed your own PP chances away.

The fact this game is tied rests on the PP. It's been a momentum killer/liability.

No, he's not.

Looking back, Tambo's ice-wiping celebration after his first goal makes sense now!

I'm simply looking for a positive in all this, and based on the tone of these quotes the term "addition by subtraction" comes to mind.

On the flip-side, if Kunitz is on the team solely due to his chemistry with Crosby and they start struggling, what latitude will the coach have to break up the duo? I suppose one could find plenty of guys to play with Crosby, but would Hockey Canada take a chance on having Kunitz be a liability if he suddenly was on a line with other players? It seems to me that would be somewhat reckess and there's no doubt heads would roll if this were the case. I'll go with the assumption that Kunitz made the team based on his merits and not as a package with Crosby. Uggh...I feel dirty giving credence to a Penguin!

All too often he's the only option for such award.

Well, this team *only* beat Manitoba 3-0 to start the season in what normally is a game they put up 5+. Offensively challenged is a good way to describe this team.

Didn't hear Chorske, but I'd say the only MN "snub" may have been Okposo...other than that the only chatter I've heard is about Bobby Ryan and Yandle who aren't from MN. Maybe Erik Johnson? He may have been at the expense of Martin if selected. I suppose keeping Orpik and Martin together was the strategy.

I think even more importantly - no guys like Trouba or Jones...

The greatest late 3rd period 2-goal lead Jerry York ever blew (at least for him)! That ended quite a streak of "bridesmaid" finishes. They really should've canned him after the 2000 debacle.

Plus, that was the first year of the new REA; and he had just come off the '01 season where he nearly won another NC with a team that wasn't even "supposed to be" in the championship game.

I wonder...if the RESULTS of the two plays from that BOS/PITT game had been different, how would the suspensions have played out? If Orpik had been able to skate off, would Thornton have been suspended 15 games? If Marchand had been carted off on a stretcher, would Neal have been given only 5? I'll guarantee Neal would've had an in-person hearing and probably a 10 game suspension if Marchand had been concussed - especially considering Neal's history. They say they focus on whether or not there is an "intent to injure" on these types of plays, but all too often the RESULT of the play factors in more. I think that's BS. Sure, seeing someone concussed is more tangible than judging intent, but in my opinion it breeds a "roll the dice" mentality with risky hits. I wish they would start hammering players with longer suspensions regardless of whether or not guys are hauled off on stretchers. Maybe they would start getting the message.

I blame James Neal. Everyone knows Marchand already had some loose screws, but Neal's knee to the head probably knocked them all the way out!

Exactly. At least they're beating the teams they're "supposed to beat." Plus, they got wins on the road which isn't easy.

The Dec. 20 game at the Ralph and the Dec. 28 game at the X will be aired on NBC Sports Network: http://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/318683?referrer_id=752796

But, do you think the NCAA would've chosen UND's bid over the other applicants if all West Region bids were submitted with only on-campus arenas? If you believe the NCAA hates us you would have to believe they would've given the bid to someone else if we had only submitted REA.