I Ranger

One more observation from last night, the Schmaltz-Thompson pairing scares the crap out of me almost every time they're on the ice. I don't like that pairing. Way to many breakdowns.

Agreed. Especially with the bolded ones. I just had a bad feeling last night after UNO tied it that all we will be saying after not getting a win was Massa>Zane this weekend. This was true but we managed to pot one in OT and get a split. Stecher impresses me more and more every time I see him. 8 weeks off and comes in and is our most reliable d-man. You can just see the passion and determination he plays with. Mac and Parks need someone different on their line. I mentioned it last night that I like Poolman a lot on the backend but he is not a forward and that experiment needs to end. Lastly, our PP is very difficult to watch.

Those were the same forward moves I was thinking. I agree with you that 24 wasn't very good last night but there is no way he sits. He wasn't a healthy scratch once as a freshman when I thought he was a liability on the ice for 3/4 of that season. I am not sure who you sit to insert Poolman but I guarantee it won't be Schmaltz.

No offense to Tucker but I think the forward experiment is time to be over. He's just not nearly as effective upfront as he is on the back end.

I thought he looked like his old self other than on that play. Seems to have played quite a bit as well. Definitely noticeable out there.

Saturday's game is on FCS. Both games on TV this weekend. Actually Saturday night's game at Western Michigan is the only non-televised game remaining.

I like the forward lines as well. Caggiula with Mac and Parks was just too good early in the year and had Caggs as a hobey candidate. He hasn't been the same since being moved off that line although he is close to breaking out. Just needs one to go. Maybe the empty netter will be the one. As far as D-pairs, I like Stecher-Ausmus, Mattson-LaDue, Schmaltz-Poolman. I think Mattson-LaDue pair works and brings out the best in each rather than forcing the Schmaltz-LaDue pair. I thought the Thompson-Panzarella pair had a tough weekend and especially Panzarella Friday night. I thought if they were going to make any changes sitting Panzarella Saturday would be one.

That is the only thing that may save that idea. Knowing that the regional will be sold out (assuming the Sioux make the NCAA's) no matter who gets sent to Fargo with the Sioux.

Exactly what I keep envisioning myself. The NCAA finding a way to put the Sioux and Minnesota in Fargo quite possibly with UMD as well or Mankato.

I know that Stampohar has been here on a visit (official or unofficial) already. I haven't seen Adams play but have heard good things and for all the attention Mattson and Bischoff get it seems as though Adams keeps showing up on the boxscores more often.

Yes he is a big physical d-man but don't believe he has the talent to play here. Tweten will be interesting to follow though. Not sure on how high or if there is any interest at this point.

Lee Marvin?

I think this could very easily happen. Seems like this was a case of a young kid having a great start to his USHL career (2-3 weeks) and therefore being a hot recruiting commodity and then falling back to earth. I think coaches need to be very careful about offering young kids after early success. Cakebread seems like those first couple of weeks were just a flash in the pan and over the long haul you see the true player.

With Sweden blowing the bronze medal game to Slovakia, next year looks like a bracket of death as #1 Canada, #4 Sweden and #5 USA will all be in the same bracket. Don't recall a time when those three where all on the same side.

I heard the same thing this weekend. He is looking to accelerate and go to college early but Notre Dame wouldn't allow it. I had also heard a while back that he is playing out the year on the U18 and then will sign with London of the OHL.

So you're telling me there's a chance! I hope so since everything I see and read says it's basically just a matter of time before he commits to Minny.

Do you know something we don't? Who else you thinking?

Russia just made the USA's path to gold much more difficult. We are going to have to beat Russian and Sweden just to get to Canada who has a cakewalk to the gold medal game with Denmark and then either the Czechs or Slovaks.

Sounds like it's just a matter of time before Boeser commits to Minny. I think playing with Novak and Sheehy moving forward is going to be too much for him to pass up. Sounds like they had a nice tourney this past week.

I hope you're correct but I would say there is a much better chance we get neither. I've been saying all along Boeser is Minny bound. I will be surprised if he ends up here but I would love to be wrong.

My biggest worry on the PP is zone entry. I really like the PP with everything running through #8. He is the quarterback no matter where he is on the ice and I think everyone realizes that and tries to get him the puck. I also like Poolman and his shooting ability out there. He just needs to pick his spots a little better. There are times when I think he shoots it too quickly with no traffic in front rather than getting it set up and moving the puck around

Simonson I can agree but Johnson loses more face-offs clean in the D-zone than anyone I can remember. He is the one that stands out most to me as one who needs to improve. He might not take nearly as many now if he remains on wing with Schmaltz centering that line.

100% agree with this. We lose way to many face-offs in our own end that lead to scoring chances and running around. We need to find more than one decent draw man (Mac can't take every draw). Face-offs are key to puck possession and we need much improvement.

I disagree. Stupid play by OD.

If he's not the one in the box! I prefer Mattson.