Siouxdonyms

Looks like the refs evened things up.

LaPoint and Chorney going off for this one. May end up shorthanded.

Chorney and Fisher battling off the refs.

2nd period underway. Let's go Sioux!!!!

Gwozdecky said it best last week in it's very hard to close out a sweep in this league, and the way we're playing right now, we definitely don't deserve it.

I'd be mad about our goal too, however, at least the refs looked at that goal, and used the existing rule book to make their decision.

Two refs and two linesmen, you'd think they could figure out offsides.

Wheeler scores, 2-1, Gophers. C'mon boys.

Woog and Mazacco discussing Phil's kick, and saying that the rule book says it's a 5 minute penalty. Woog say a kick and punch are the worst things you can do. Well, punches only count if the gloves are off, at least for 5 minutes, so Phil would have to take off his pads and skate, right? They're reeling for anything for their Gophers.

Let's go Fighting Sioux PP!!!

Phil better watch out or he'll negate the penalty again.

That's a tough call for the refs. I know I'd be mad if it happened to us. The problem with that goal is that Oshie's body was turning on that, so his skate did look to be doing somewhat of a kicking motion. I'll take the goal, but I understand the Gopher fans being mad about it.

Refs expressions look to be inconclusive, which would mean the goal would count. Goal counts.

Goal shouldn't count as Oshie directed it in off skate. EDIT: What is the rule? Does it have to be kicking motion?

OSHIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jean-Phillipe gave up a few big rebounds there, but the Sioux are able to recover.

Frattin's speed creates a scoring opportunity.

Shots on Goal: MN 2 ND 1

9:58 left in the first. Not too many shots again, tonight by the Sioux, and we seem to be out of sync again since the Gopher's goal.

Sioux need to start moving their feet more!

Sioux appear to be somewhat lost now, since allowing that goal.

Gophers score, 1-0. Marto got beat on that one.

UNDERWAY!!! LET'S GO SIOUX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucia comments: Last night kind of typified our season. We can come out and play very well, but we have a hard time scoring goals. There goaltender played very well and gave them a chance to win. He did that last night. We let up a goal at a critical time, but overall, I was happy with our performance last night. You can play well in hockey and win, but you can't win if you don't play well. North Dakota's a very good defensive team. I thought they did well on rebounds. We had our chances to jump on them last night but couldn't do it. I doubt we'll get 40 shots again tonight, so we have to take advantage of the opportunities that we do have. At the end of the first last night, it couldn't have been any better for us. The only problem was we didn't have any goals to show for it. A lot of pressure on our forwards. The big difference from last year is we don't have the guys on defense who can generate offense. We have to play as well as we did last night. They're going to come out tougher tonight, and if we don't play at the same level we did last night, we're going to have a very difficult night trying to get a win. You want to go out on Xmas break with a win. We have some guys going off to WJC tournament. Hopefully, when they get back, we can start solidifying some of the line combinations and hopefully we can get on a run for the 2nd half of the season.

Hak pre-game comments: We need to carry the 3rd period through and have a good start. Obviously, our 1st period was sluggish and we were fortunate to work our way out of it. Phil gave us a chance to win, and the 1st goal in the 3rd period really energized us and the building. The Gophers are a big team. Size wise, probably the biggest team in the league. They proved last night that they're a good hockey team. They skate, shoot, and transition well. Last night, they were playing with speed and we weren't. Sometimes, you go out there and there's no energy. Guys were trying last night, but it just wasn't there. It seems like there have been some games where we've played well and couldn't win them. Last night, it was kind of the opposite in the first 2 periods. We don't want to over think things. We just need to go out there and play our game. Our game in the neutral zone last night wasn't there at all. We weren't attacking with numbers, we weren't supporting the puck at all. We have to click a little better tonight. Obviously, that's the goal, but whatever the game goes. It's a strange game. It's a game of bounces. We want to use our home ice advantage. Last night, especially in the 3rd period was wonderful. The Gophers first goal last night, I think Phil wanted that one back. The 2nd goal was a good goal. Okposo did a good job. We have to limit their chances and then when we do have to kill penalties, we have to do a good job. We're moving Chay up to forward because we feel like we need more offensive punch. That's simply the reason for that. We're bringing Jake Marto back in, so hopefully he'll pick up where he left off.