shep

First, with the schizophrenic way this team has played (some good moments followed by many bad) I'm not predicting anything for them. Second, I know the second goal was a bad one, but it got deflected and the reason for the loss last night was not goaltending it was the other 20 guys in front of the goalie getting less than great scoring chances all night. A lady down my row was sleeping during the second period and I felt jealous of her.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down there Red. Chorney, freshman Sioux defensemen, being compared to All Star NHL defenseman Lidstrom. Uh...not yet. Chorney has improved a bunch this season, but he's still a freshman and has work to do especially with his strength and he does not control the puck offensively like Lidstrom or Lee for that matter. He's good, but there's room for improvement and he is getting better and we will have him here for at least a couple more years.

Yup, co-defensive player of the week and he's rolling pretty well now, so I'm hoping Hak stays with the hot hand.

NO KIDDING! I saw the Harvard SHUTOUT!! Nothing is a given. In fact, I haven't seen them win at home since the first game of the DU series. YIKES!!! Maybe I shouldn't go this weekend.

EXACTLY!! Some have used the rationale for playing Parise instead of Phil is that the "team" plays better in front of him. I don't understand that, and in some ways it turns the issue on its head as ostensibly a team may let down or relax in front of what they perceive to be the better goalie. Redwing makes a good point about Goering/Kollar and how injury can make the coach's decision, and I agree with riding the hot hand. That said, if Parise doesn't play this weekend, and Phil plays like he did last weekend what happens?

I could be wrong about this, but usually a coach likes to ride one goalie into the post season. I attended UND during the Casey-Jensen years, and I can't recall how Gino did it, but I don't remember them taking turns in the playoffs. Am I wrong?

So with his first career shutout, followed by a game in which he saw more rubber than a tire company and prevented it from being a double-digit score, followed by a game in which he was clearly the player who made the difference, is Phil the #1 goalie?? I hope so. I was there last year when Parise almost single handedly won the Wisconsin game that really turned the season around and I loved what he did during that stretch. I see great similarities to what Phil is doing NOW. That was then; this is now. Let's move on with Phil!!!!

WOW!! They win ONE game against the Gophs and they get the #2 seed in the regional?? WOW!!!

He shouldn't have done it. It was not a criminal act, but it was clearly negligent to do so. I bet he wishes he hadn't. I bet he was sick and tired of pucks after seeing 50 shot by or at him that night. But there's no defense for this-it shouldn't have happened.

Naw, none of them would have known what to do with it. Now can I complain about this team's effort?

As a season ticket holder and a former student who attended the games at the old Ralph, I agree with those who say it's not worse than it was in the past. It is however about MONEY. I have good seats behind the net so I'm not near the student section so I have no idea what type of vulgarity the letter is suggesting nor do I think that standing has been a problem this year. I wish the students were more involved. A lot of us old farts do just sit there waiting for something to happen though I despise that stupid noise meter thing they put up on the big screen to get us to "make noise" as compared to having the team cause us to do so. Bring these messages to the meeting to show to Dr Buning that many of us have no problem with student behavior. (Though I suppose those in charge may tell you they don't give a crap what some idiot named Shep has to say about the subject.)

I got two words for the Goofer newbie: Spell check Dude, I will take you up on the comment about Irmen and Potulny going to Rodentville because they want to win a National Championship. I bet they don't win one while they are there. Put your allowance where your mouth is.

Do they vote befoe the Regionals?? I ask b/c a great tourny may help. I'd go with Weisgarber too.

Like the Goofs did a month ago in GF.

If memory serves me correctly, they had a 6-4 for the last minute plus of the last game against the goofs and didn't score. It's not a gimme by any means.

First in Parise's defense (which I'm not accustomed to doing) Stoa is a monster. He's very hard to ignore. He gave up two five hole goals in game 2 and one in game 1 along with another that he was lying on and slid into the net himself. He was NOT up to the Gophers that weekend. I do NOT believe he's in the Karl class of goalies. He played VERY well last year from the Wisconsin series through the Championship, but before and since, in my view he's been good, at times great, and in the Minnesota series, mediocre at best. (I'm still peed off about the Gophs series.)

You note that "Phil's had one REALLY good game" and I can not overestimate the significance that such game ended less than 24 hours ago. The HOT HAND perhaps?? Also, I go back to the Minny series. They seem to have Parise's number this year. He just was NOT sharp. Phil came in (and I'd suggest this should count as one of his really good games) and shut them down and though their was no offense to speak of, gave the team a chance to win. Which was more than what we got with Parise. I'm not saying forever, but for this series, I'd be comfortable with Phil both nights.

A "sweep if Jordan can play"??? Did you see him play against them a few weeks ago. He let in at least 2 soft goals per game. Maybe the Parise of last February/March, but the current version aint getting it done. I'm comfortable with Phil. He played VERY WELL in the 3rd period of the second game and maybe he's the factor against them this year. I hate the GOPHS!!!! GO SIOUX!!!!!!!

Where's the love for Wayne Stephenson?? Doug Favell anyone?

I'm with you. (That's probably not comforting is it?)

I hope they play and play well, but this shouldn't be a weekend about the four Freshmen. This should be the weekend that the older, so-called leaders of the team carry them. If Stafford, Zajac, Porter, Spirko and the Captain do not have great weekends this team is IN BIG TROUBLE.

Well at least now I know WHY they've been playing like that.

Are we seriously saying that our words can effect their play?? SERIOUSLY??? So if we say something negative and they read it they may not play well because during the game they'll be thinking "Geez. Shep really laid into this team-I don't feel like scoing on this powerplay." C'MON!!!!!!!!! They should be reading (and listening to) the words their coach says in the paper and in the lockeroom. Beyond that, if ANY of them think they can advance to the pro level, what's it going to be like to be ripped in the big city papers?? I understand there's a certain "say no evil" element here lest ye be not a true fan, but this notion that we shouldn't say anything negative because it could be bad for the team is just strange.

I agree that sometimes this team comes out and just expects that talent will win. There is a ton of hype involved with their recruitment and some act as though winning a game will just happen because they put on the skates and the other "lesser talented" team will shrink or something. The new coach of the Colorado football team, Dan Hanskins, had a quote that I think fits this team: "You lose with potential; you win with achievers." Sounds applicable to this team??

Good post. I gave up a while ago on seeing them in their own regional. That's not pessimism, that's reality. Can't wait for the "they will come together in February" replies.