Snake

Of course, I forgot to mention it won't matter because SCSU isn't going to sweep next weekend...

I think 1 point to clinch a tie. IIRC they are only 3 points ahead of SCSU, but SCSU would have the #1 seed in the Final Five by virtue of head-to-head record.

A faceoff win???

Internet feed is choppy at times.

We need to weather the "make-up call storm."

If "Ifs and Buts" were candy and nuts... Looking forward to a better effort from the other skaters not initaled D.O.T.

I disagree. You actually contradict yourself by saying they played well enough, but "let" DU score on a couple breakdowns in our own zone. In fact, there were more than a couple breakdowns and from what I saw it could have been uglier. Most of these breakdowns were because the team wasn't moving it's feet and was standing around watching most of the game. At least they had a good view - the camera guys for FSN were making me sick with all the zoom-in shots . I also don't think getting outshot 40-something to 20-something is a good indicator of playing well enough to win. Not to get critical of a single play, but in a game like this it's easy to do. On the GWG it looked like Fabian was in position to block the shot, but he instead elected to cheat toward the D-2-D pass, allowing the shot to get on net. It's a little thing, but it was a pretty aggressive, low-percentage play in a tight OT game.

UND's shot total has become a pretty telling statistic in their past four games - starting with the third period of the Saturday Mankato game. If we could get our shot totals up we just might play with the puck in the opposition's end for a little longer and consequently lower our shots against. The best defense is sustained offensive pressure, and we've had trouble generating and sustaining offensive pressure with 3 out of 4 of our forward lines. It also seems like we're flubbing up plays in our own zone way too often, giving the opposition second opportunities to sustain pressure in our zone and generate scoring chances.

I wish I could have heard the postgame. I think most of us are in the same boat in that we believe this team can play better - we've seen it. Unfortunately the margin for error is slim right now. I'm glad to hear Hak was unhappy, because in the couple years he's been here he hasn't let his emotions get to him too often. I think back to Oshie's post-game comments after sweeping the gophers. He said the team was stung by getting swept by Tech at home, and that they never wanted to forget that feeling. It provided them with motivation. It sees to me that this team has maybe forgotten what that felt like.

Last weekend: Three goals in two games last weekend against Duluth with a combined 40-something shots. Prior weekend: 3-shot 3rd period OT tie against Mankato. The phone's been ringing for a while - we better pick it up before it goes to voicemail...

SCSU played OK tonight, but the Gophers looked equally awful.

Couple things about tonight... The team didn't move their feet other than the DOT line. Lots of gliding around and watching. I think the replay of Paukovitch's goal exemplified it best when Pauk skated by Kaip and then Kaip just pointed his stick at the D-man who was trying to defend a rapidly developing 2-on-1. Maybe Kaip should have thought about moving his feet and back-checking instead of trying to direct traffic. I'm starting to think Miller (and others) have never met a drop-pass they didn't love to make. For whatever reason they're getting too cute when they should probably be putting the puck on net. Shot total in the low 20s once again - bogus. The D looked flat overall. I liked Genoway's energy and his assertiveness with the puck, but it was his own worst enemy at times. Many of the odd-man rushes seemed to be attributed to a D-man getting trapped deep without a forward rolling back to cover for him. What can I say about the DOT line other than these guys came to play. Sure, they were on the ice for a couple of the goals, but when you're team's only offense you've got to take some chances of your own. Lammy was pretty good. If they want to win tomorrow they're definitely going to need to move their feet better and stop dinking around when they get the puck into some prime scoring areas. The D needs to make better decisions with the puck coming out of our zone. We're going to learn a lot about this team tomorrow.

Well said.

He's got an amazing shot - when he gets it off. He takes forever to get his shot off.

Actually, I think there was some good analysis in there if you don't have your green glasses on. Glad I made my post after you made that comment... By the way, your sig line is outdated.

I think both of these posts touch on what I feel is a glaring weakness - that is the lack of a seasoned veteran WHO CAN SCORE AND NOT JUST BE A ROLE PLAYER. Guys like Kaip and Fabian are nice, and it's cute when they actually find the back of the net, but can we get a Senior forward to average a point per game for once in the foreseeable future? Those types of players should be the ones that are developed by the coaching staff. All of the guys that jump after their sophomore season already have it in them - that's why they're NHL draft picks.

tDon called Jutting this summer and asked if they could move the game. Since it's UM's home game they have such options. Jutting decided to go with it since he figured it was the right thing to do. PA and Dubay interviewed Jutts yesterday and asked if he would have made the same decision a month ago he said NOPE! The Sioux have no significant depth at forward, so I guess it's no surprise to me they'd go 0-5 on the PP without Toews and Lee. Last night was a pretty good indicator of how far away this team is from being a serious contender. We lose 1-0 on the road to CC with only one forward gone and the Gophers handle 'Kato on the road 5-1 with three lines. There's not enough time to make baby-steps, either. It could get ugly at Mariucci...

More like a nightmare!

Are we sure the "real" season doesn't start until next weekend?

What team have you been watching this year?

I understand that college teams are more likely to release their players for the WJC, but making the jump to the NHL doesn't totally wipe out his chances of playing in a 3rd WJC - especially if he doesn't crack the Blackhawks' lineup like some people think will be difficult for him. I think Toews would have an excellent shot at cracking the Blackhawks' lineup next year. Comparing his situation to Bochenski is a little apples to oranges. Bo's a good player, but I think Toews has a better all-around game and he comes in with a higher draft status so I'd bet Chicago would be more apt to get him out there to see what he can do. Now, would there be room for both Skille AND Toews? Maybe Skille jumps early and Toews stays? That sure would be nice.

It's apparent by what he's doing in the WJC.

I think you're thinking of HKNTSMN...hockey nut in southern minnesota.

I think this is a good summary. I'd also like to add that I think this is the year where we're really feeling the impact of Brady Murray leaving early. Man, would he look good in Green right now. Couple that with Spirko leaving early and there are two players most everyone on this board thought would be playing all 4 years. We just don't have an upper classman that can make a significant impact on the scoreboard. Spirko and Murray would have been those guys this year. Instead, we're stuck relying on Frosh and Sophomores to carry the load offensively.