Snake

Funny, Kevin Gorg said he had questions about UND's goaltending in FSN's Final Five preview during the 2nd intermission of the Wild game last night. He and Nanne must be reading the same notes.

I just don't see them winning a championship with Owens, so in my opinion it comes down to whether they're simply content being competitive or willing to take a risk on getting a coach in there that can get them over the hump. CC has had some very good teams, but it just seems like they're perennial playoff busts. I would think it would be a reasonably attractive job for a good enough coach that wouldn't run the program into the ground.

I also think the opponent tried like heck to play up to UND's level with their season in the balance.

We sit behind one of the benches, and teams even change benches mid-tourney so it's a crap shoot.

I don't really think it should have been a CFB. It looked like the Tech player more or less shoved Gregoire with one hand toward the boards - not really a hard check per se.

I'm not complaining about the rule, I'm just stating facts as to where the inconsistencies lie, that's all. The more money the tournament makes, the better as far as I'm concerned. Having it at the X rocks and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm also not saying it's Minnesota's fault the rule exists, so no need to bring in the fact that Lucia doesn't like it.

Yeah, I know how it works (been going since '99), but my point was that under NO circumstance in the future of the Final Five as we now know it will Minnesota EVER have to turn around and play a day game on Friday after a night game on Thursday. This does not apply to the other nine teams in the league, thus the unfairness of the rule. On the flip-side, when UM is the #1 seed they never have the opportunity to benefit from facing the Thursday night winner on Friday afternoon.

For the most part, I don't care about the "Minny Rule," but the reality is that when the Gophs end up as a #2 or #3 the "Minny Rule" screws the play-in winner pretty badly. As long as this rule is enforced, Minnesota is the only team in the league that will NEVER have to turn around on short rest and play Friday afternoon after winning the play-in game. That is where the rule is most unfair in my opinion.

If you really want to keep gophers out of your garden just put up a hockey net with a statue of Kangas in front of it and you won't see a gopher within 100 feet!

I think it's the same number that the exclusively Minnesota born Gopher recruits had in the 26 year period prior to adding out-of-staters to their roster.

So, are the other Frozen Four teams scheduling games for the off weekend? If so, maybe Hak needs to go that route.

Then, a few minutes later while trying to rush it out of his zone, he turned the puck over at the blue line, resulting in a 2-on-1 goal for the opposition. Sounds like he'll fit in nicely at Minnesota!

CC is a perennial playoff choker. DU knows how to win big games. That alone makes DU more dangerous than CC, not to mention their superior depth.

I don't think it's just the D-men on the PP, but the forwards have to get the puck back to them with authority. Case in point was I think the 2nd shortie (the rebound goal by Stepan) where Trupp, near the half-wall, lazily tried to flip the puck back to Genoway and Stepan was right there to pick it off and go in. This goes back to your point about crisp, quick passing without hesitation - especially on the PP.

UND was the beneficiary of this rule in 2001 and 2004 when they were the #1 seed and got the 4/5 play-in winner in a short turnaround on Friday afternoon.

The two guys you mentioned only come around once in a generation. Now, out of curiousity, I don't follow the NHL very closely, but if Kane wasn't the #1 pick on 2007 who do you think should have been now that we've had a season and a half to evaluate the 2007 crop?

Yes, they had Jason Blake, but they also had Matt Henderson. The more important question may be "who is going to be this team's 'Matt Henderson?'" I'm looking for someone to step up from under the radar so to speak for the playoffs. There are plenty of upper-classmen on this team that could fit that bill.

That 8-spot was one of the three times they've given up five or more since the weekend of Jan 9/10 (UND/Gophers series). The gophers have given up five or more seven times since then. What sucks is that two of the three times SCSU has given up five or more in that stretch were against the Gophers! They might be better off agreeing to strap shooter-tudors in the nets.

I hear ya. I don't care for making predictions much, either. That's why I'm not going to be quick to say SCSU is done for even though the smart money is on the Gophers this weekend.

Were you humbled by the result of the Duluth series? Whether or not SCSU takes advantage of their opportunity is up to them. They do tend to play scared against the Gophers, much like the Bulldogs. I just don't think a 2-0 win against the last place team after a 6-5 sieve fest the night before exactly rights the Gopher ship. Of course SCSU didn't do much this past weekend, either, but the Gophers haven't exactly oozed consistency the past few weeks to the point where I'm ready to say they are a lock to sweep. They're capable of losing 2 of 3, but who knows if SCSU is capable of winning 2 of three...sounds confusing. I'm going to say "toss up."

I pretty much agree, but the Hockey Gods seem to be smiling on Lucia in spite of his team's play. This is the playoffs, and they actually have to win this series to advance, not let other teams take care of business for them. SCSU has a real opportunity here.

Splitting @ Tech to finish the regular season isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for Minnesota. The Gophers got an awful lot of help from other teams' losses this weekend. Bottom line is at the time the game was played they needed a win Friday and didn't get it done. It was not until they knew everyone else lost Friday night that they got a second chance at a must-win game. Kudos to them for winning Saturday, but it's not like SCSU won't be capable of giving the Gophers a run for their money.

Wishful thinking for sure. DU is pretty much handling CC right now. Duluth has shown to be overrated.

They would be wrong. 1-0 DU 3:00 left in 2nd.

If I recall correctly, signal QUALITY is the one that matters. I get 70% on the dish channel with my Traxis, but I was not able to scan in the feed yesterday.