OETKB

What is up with the Sioux making non-goal-scorers look good lately? Today, the Duluth goals are scored by guys getting their 5th & 4th goals, respectively.

Some interesting comments by Tim & Craig during the game: Duluth is only 14.3% on the PP Sioux are at 25.4% entering the game Craig likes Hale & Connelly as two of the best checkers on the team. Notices that Blais is sending these guys out immediately following a Sioux goal to "bang around" and keep the opposition reeling. Reminded everyone that MSU-M is done in the WCHA after this weekend, so if the Sioux run the table, they will finish high in the league.

I'm obviously getting way ahead of myself here, but I have an idea for the next time the Sioux win a Championship, and I'd like to recruit someone. I'd like to sponsor a video of the next Championship season, approximately 15 minutes long, with lots of footage and a particular song at the end. I don't know how I got it into my head to have a video with this particular song in it - I guess I was inspired by the 2000 Championship video. Anyway, the song is called "Raise Your Glasses" and it has great "we are the champions" kind of lirics: "Everyone around the nation... Raise your glasses! Raise your glasses! Standing tall 'cause we're the Champions... Raise your glasses! Raise your glasses!" You know, that kind of thing. I'm starting now because I want someone who has access to more games than me and someone who will likely tape and keep a lot of footage that we can sort through to pick out highlights. I'm not sure what the University requires as far as permission to do this sort of thing, but my intention is not to make money. Rather, I just want to be part of the inspiration to see that a private video is made and distributed in a non-profit manner. If anyone is interested, please let me know and we can discuss how much you think it might cost, etc. Go Sioux.

Connelly has played in 28 games this season. In that span, he is 0+5=5. He may be one of the players Blais is trying to "motivate." People are saying he plays hard, but the points just aren't coming yet.

"We've got some forwards who haven't scored a goal and have played almost every game this year. We have to make a few hard-line decisions at the end of the year." This was the last quote from Blais in the article. Hmmm...I wonder if he is thinking about dropping a few kids from the roster. If so, I wonder if he has others in mind to replace them.

I would expect both games to be exciting, uptempo events. Sandy's team won't do the clutch & grab, I hope. If they do, the crowd at the Ralph better give it to the refs! That's one of the biggest areas the crowd can help this weekend, beyond cheering the team on.

Sioux dominate in terms of shots on goal, but again are swept. Losing is becoming all too familiar for this team. What a horrible tailspin they are in.

Sockeye: I know who you are and my comments weren't meant as a personal knock on Brian. My "clean up the act" comment was merely meant as a notion that, if he doesn't play extra carefully in that regard, refs may start pigeonholing him like they are doing to Greene. As for his reputation with the stick, there HAVE been numerous discussions on this and other boards about it. I don't think I was being overly-critical, so please don't attack me personally in the future. And, yes, it is easy to play the game from my easychair!

P.S. Canady gets a D.Q. I don't know whether Canady has a bad rep or what with the refs, but it is beginning to be a pattern that he gets stick infractions. Tonight, he gets ejected for a spearing penalty, leaving the road team shorthanded. Mr. Canady, if you want to be a factor with the Fighting Sioux, you've got to clean up the act.

Coming into tonight, the Sioux still averaged close to 4 goals a game in WCHA games. They've scored 2 goals in the last 2 games. 1 goal per game is not good enough for a team that has aspirations to be a contender. Not nearly.

UND is not going anywhere this season if they can't solve their offensive doldrums. I don't want to hear about how many pipes they've hit. It's too painful.

J.P. Parise was on during the 1st Intermission. He had a few interesting comments. He commented that he'd like to see Zach graduate from UND. Whether he does so now or later. If he is going to leave early, it would hinge on what coach Blais tells Zach about his readiness. Also important, of course, is the money involved and whether Zach could play directly in the NHL vs the minors. J.P. also complained a bit about the conditional officiating he has seen. Conditional meaning the talent level of the victim, I think. Overall, the whole family seems like they have great heads on their shoulders. Go Sioux! Canady just got ejected for Spearing.

I never considered D. Hale to be great at moving the puck up ice, but we have to face facts, the Sioux simply aren't as good without him. In fact, Blais has said that, using their unpublished player scoring system, Hale is right up there with Parise. Some of the offensive drought is probably due to the lack of a top calibur player keeping the puck moving in the right direction. I mean, our defense now consists of 1 senior, no juniors, three soph's, and 2 freshmen. You wouldn't expect a lineup that young to be able to hold the blue line, and lately they haven't been. Having said all that, it is time for the forwards to play up to their potential. Several players have been on cold streaks lately. I don't believe we need Canady or Genoway to score goals. It seems more like we need Massen and Notermann, among others, to get back on track.

Youch. Without him, UND is looking way too much like last season's team.

We need D. Hale back fast, or UND might just fulfill the preseason predictions of 5th place! This sucks. 1-4-1 in the last 6 games = lousy.

Rats. I don't believe UND is the same team without him in there.

Hmmm. I must have blocked out the fact that the 2000 team had the same record after the break. That's encouraging. That was my favorite season since '87. A real blue-collar group. So, who thinks this team is capable of pulling it together for a serious run?

UND has plenty of talent this season, but they are still a young team. I'm wondering, given the events since the holiday break, what people think this team can do this year? Personally, I can't remember a team that has many "L's" after Christmas going very far. UND still has an impressive record, but now more than ever the spector of an easy schedule prior to the break looms. David Hale will be back, hopefully at full strength. That will be a huge help to the team. The question is...are the Sioux really good enough to make some noise in the playoffs?

Well, this was the first game of the year that UND lost when they should have won (on paper). Before Christmas, there was none of that. Right now, it is still possible for the Sioux to turn things around and make a run in the playoffs, but it looks like the WCHA is slipping away. In fact, if the last few weeks are any indication, I'd have trouble expecting more than 4 points out of the next two weeks. Anyway, at least David Hale is expected to return. He was missed in a big way. UND can't win consistently without him. Hope he returns next season. If he does, I think the Sioux steamroll their way to the Frozen Four. As for this season, it will be interesting to see how this team reacts to their 4-4-2 record since the break. Frankly, I think they have underperformed lately. But, heck, it always seems easier when you're not on the ice!

UND really ought to hire C. Perry on as a part-time assistant coach for goaltenders. He has helped Josh to stay on his feet more and "Play bigger" than 5' 10". He must have some good teaching skills. Also, he really has some good analytical skills. He was interesting to listen to with Tim, tonight.

P.S. What exactly were the lineups tonight? I was listening to the game, but had a hard time figuring out what forwards were supposed to be toghether!

Well, UND proved tonight that they could rebound decently from a rather embarrasing weekend vs. CC. One of the most pleasant surprises Friday was that UND got (gasp) great goaltending out of Josh Siembida. Blais is saying in the postgame show he is still not satisfied with his line combinations or the puck movement out of the defensive zone. This weekend means 4 important points for UND, who are again struggling for credibility and a high spot in the standings.

Yes, it is. Not an NCAA playoff type performance this weekend. Really, just not up to the standards we had all expected. CC looks like a lock for the MacNaughton, at this point. Perhaps the Sioux can recover to do well in the playoffs.

Swept! Youch. Major damage to "The dream." Oh well, in any case, no matter what the finish to this season, it has been a great turnaround from last season. Not that this team can't use this as a catalyst to grow, but CC pretty much dominated 5 out of 6 periods this weekend.

P.S. Sioux with 22 shots on goal tonight. Allowed 31 to CC. Youch.