Snake

Gotcha - thanks!

Obviously expecting a team to win every game is unrealistic. A more realistic goal would be to expect the team to compete hard in every game. I'm not necessarily seeing that. On the other hand, winning at least ONE game against MTU in your own building is absolutely realistic; unfortunately this team is underachieving as measured by their 0-2 record this weekend.

Goon, I'm having trouble understanding where you stand. Do you think they should recruit another goalie for the merry-go-round and give Grieco thoughts about leaving the program or should they stand pat with Grieco's potential?

Yeah, because we intentionally recruit non bad ass goalies on purpose? The coaching staff must have missed the "ass" part when evaluating Grieco and got a guy that was just "bad." It's easier said than done; and who's to say the same people who made the decision to bring Grieco in won't mis-evaluate someone else (not implying Grieco was mis-evaluated). I seem to remember people clamoring for Grieco early in the season, and now that we've got a little taste - not even a significant sampling - of what he can do AS A FRESHMAN we want another guy. Let the kid play with a team in front of him that gives a damn and the goaltending situation may not look as bad as it seems right now.

Here's something positive: I'm looking forward to watching this team pull the 10 vs. 1 uppie at Mariucci in March!!

He sure doesn't have a problem "reffing the scoreboard" on most nights during the first 58 minutes of a game!

No disputing the effect on momentum here. I just wish the team would help the goalies out a little more. They've got a tough enough job as it is, and when the goalie's the only defender down low it gets that much more difficult. Maybe Grieco should have "controlled" his rebound out to the circles...that's where is defenders were

I'd like to think it's not the latter. I'd sure hope these guys don't enjoy losing and that would be motivation enough to play well. Guys that we counted on to take scoring roles aren't doing it this year. Last year they played in the shadows of Zajac, Stafford, Spirko, Oshie, Toews, etc. so it was maybe easier to see their "potential" on the 3rd and 4th lines. Now that they're the focus of the team it's a different story. This lends me to believe they either haven't made the progression from year 1 to year 2, or they aren't as good as we think they are. Maybe they've just been put into this role too quickly? We also have an issue with sub-par veteran leadership. When I say sub-par I'm not talking about hard-working, inspirational types, but more to the effect of 20+ goal-scoring, 1.0 PPG type. This team has relied on underclassmen for too much of the scoring burden over the past few years. That's what is making the early departures so difficult to overcome. It's great to get the blue-chip guys, but we need to have some players that will develop into scoring threats as seniors and not just muckers and grinders.

Grieco made the first save. The goal was a direct result of nobody clearing the guy standing all-alone in front of the net.

Yeah, it's getting pretty old listening to these guys say "we just can't get a break." Isn't it written on a plaque in the Ralph somewhere - "The harder I work, the luckier I get?" You make your own luck...

It's "Shake up night" at the Ralph.

It was awful on the part of our D.

Lee was on the ice.

I disagree. I believe the point was made in an earlier post that if a forward or D recruit doesn't pan out it's not as magnified as if you "miss" on a goalie recruit. Finding a guy that's 6-foot plus and takes up a bunch of the net is one thing, but finding a guy that knows how to stop the puck is another. Everyone's after stud goaltending - it's rare. Sure, as one of the elite programs in the country we should be able to land a stud now and then, but perhaps it comes down to those who are evaluating potential goaltenders. Maybe we're just not that good at picking the "right" ones. UND has certainly done a better job picking up blue-chip skaters than blue-chip goaltenders. The Sioux I'm used to watching win games and championships by playing a style with a balance of speed, finesse, grit, and power. They win by scoring goals, cycling the puck, carrying the play in the opponent's end of the ice, and punishing the opponent while in their own zone. They also do it with TIMELY goaltending. Right now it seems like we're missing all of these elements. If we fix the timely goaltending does that mean we're going to score more? Will that take the pressure off the rest of the team so they can let loose and start scoring? Maybe the goaltending sees every shot as critical because they're not getting any offensive (or defensive) support? Chicken or egg?

Exactly. I find it kind of funny most of the talk revolves around goaltending when it's pretty obvious the other 5 guys on the ice at any given time are making way too many mistakes. Obviously goaltending mistakes are easier to notice and are much more magnified, but it wouldn't be so bad if we could actually build a 2-goal lead again sometime this season.

If Kaip can get PP time, anything's possible. It's not like we're super deep right now...

Didn't he have an offer to sign after his junior season? I could be mistaken, but that's what the jokers on ESPN used as their story line during the 2000 NC game.... he wanted "one more kick at the can." He played as long as he could. I remember Adam Calder being a nice 4-year player. Didn't Jason Blake stay through his senior year? Matt Henderson?

I didn't see it until just now, and all I've got to say is WOW. This one could possibly end up in next year's rules enforcement (or lack thereof) video.

Forgive me for not paying much attention, but is Kaip still getting PP time on the second unit? Two goals in last year's Final Five does not a sniper make!

5-2 AA

We can talk all we want and I think we should. The sad thing is that we'll probably lose our voices!

I'm in the camp that believes the officials as a whole are incompetent, not biased. I watched both UM/SCSU games this weekend and even the Wooger was taking shots at them by predicting who the next penalty would be called on based on the situation. He was right more often than not! It's really a shame we even have to discuss this.

Harry Doyle: "Dynamite drop-in Monte. That broadcast school has really paid off."

How long before AZSIOUX mentions this is in another thread?

Bishop and Zajac were the two best freshmen IMO as well. Aside from the poor play on QU's first goal last night, I thought Genoway had a solid weekend, and he'll battle hard for a top-six spot on D. He's a slick player, but a little raw. I'm a bit nervous after this weekend if I'm Kyle Radke. Radke had a so-so weekend and a lot of penalties. It seemed to me that the Sioux shot a lot more on odd-man rushes this weekend instead of trying to make the extra pass for the "perfect play" like they have in the past. I don't know if they're emphasizing that more this year or if it was a case of trying to catch the G-tender cheating. Regardless, I like seeing shots on net when presented with the opportunity.