OETKB

In a USHL article from March, Poganski talked about wanting to come in and crack the lineup "next season", as a "true freshman". Sounds like that was always his plan, but it kind of flew under the radar here.

Well, I feel like a schmuck, as I wrote this team off 4 games back, saying they "ain't going to make no frozen four run". Well, I'm happy to eat crow. Congrats, boys.

Wish I could be really optimistic about all three things falling into place today, but at least UND can go out with a win, if that is what it comes down to. I was admittedly "venting" quite a bit last night, but ultimately my unwavering support is for the health and direction of the program. Start today by racking up at least one more "W".

Maybe we can start hanging "NCHC Runner-Up" banners, or perhaps "NCAA Tournament Participation" banners. That is the only thing this program is producing lately. Make all the damn excuses you want, the program is not performing.

Looks like this t Yes, exactly. Looks like this Yes, exactly. Looks like this team peaked right around the "Suddenly, this team can score" article, after which they have not been able to score to save their lives. What a pathetic night.

Another game where they pissed away the first period before they started playing. What the )#$(%&* is up with that?

UND has been hot and cold the last three weeks, IMO. If the boys come with high-energy and jump - enough to support their forecheck mentality - then they should win this game. If they are sluggish out of the gate, like two of the games last weekend, look for Miami to upset. Can't just play "prevent" against these guys.

I agree Hak is not going anywhere, but where is the team going? If they don't win tonight, that would make two straight years of "new lows" under his watch. Now THAT should be motivating to everyone involved.

Not that the boys should feel any pressure, but... If they lose tonight, it would be a new low for UND under Hakstol. 21 wins with no hardware and no tournament. How's that for some motivation?

Got out-goaltended and out-wanted tonight. CC scored early and often (yet again), and this time ND could not come back. For God's sake boys, play like you mean it in the first period tomorrow!

ND has to stop looking like @#$@#% in the first period. Period.

All I can say is this was a huge opportunity lost. And, that I hope the young guys remember it, and take it out on WMU later. But, they probably won't, because the coaches don't like stressing that kind of thing today. In fact, the coaches seem to want to make every game just another game, which I think is a mistake. Sure, you may take the pressure off a bit, but it can backfire, like it did tonight. Let the players get UP for a game. Why not?

He was a whining brat on the bench, but I saw him shake hands with Hak, so I know that happened. But, yes, I also lost some respect for him, especially when he was complaining about the shoulder-to-the-head call where Drake almost got injured.

They have no choice but to put this one behind them, and get ready for the playoffs. However, in my personal notes where I track each game, I had to say... "PISSED AWAY a golden opportunity to win the NCHC, on Senior Night, at home, against a team with nothing to play for but pride". I'll most certainly get bashed for this, but that's how I feel, so I guess I don't care.

Exactly my point. UND hockey has the perception today of being in decline, and I can't stand it.

Need a place to vent, man. Need that cathartic release. That's what game-day threads are for.

I think the thing that is bothering me so much the last few years is that UND is looking like a team that, for the second straight season, will get no hardware. And, nationally, this program is starting to be what others think of as "that team that gets 20 wins and finishes about 10th each year". Sorry, just venting on a game-day thread. Maybe they can go on some miracle run, but I'm not sensing it with what has happened in the last two weeks.

Can't argue against anything you say. It's just that lots of solid teams exist out there. Not many of them had a chance to win their conference at home on Senior Night. Big F-up tonight, IMO. They never looked in synch for more than a minute or two. Just not ready for greatness, frankly.

I think the low tonight comes from the fact that UND just got manhandled by an extremely mediocre team, on a night when they had a chance to make history and earn some hardware. I saw no sense of urgency until they were down in the 3rd period. Poor energy and poor motivation tonight, when they had everything to play for.

Too bad they couldn't beat a team with virtually nothing to play for. That was pretty much their only chance for any hardware this season, folks. Let's be realistic. This team ain't going on any frozen four run, although I would love to be proven wrong. Just not feeling it, after the last two weeks.

Totally predicted a letdown tonight. Hard to watch, though. No momentum tonight after the first period at all. Oh, well. We can still hope that this team will re-discover the teamwork thing again soon.

Amazing second periods lately. Have to give kudos to the coaches. After thinking this team might be watching the NCAA's this year, now they look like a team to contend with. Of course, they have to keep it up. Here's to them doing so tomorrow.

Please predict the same thing next week.

"cruise on Saturday" might be even more bold. Since when has UND done that?

In the interest of evening out my posts (posting after losses is a cathartic experience), I'm cautiously optimistic about this weekend. Unlike UNO, Miami has not seen much of the Ralph, and that could be a good thing. However, after going on a nice streak, UND hit a big snag last Saturday, in a game where they gave up 5 straight at home. So, what to expect this weekend? More inconsistency? Let's hope Saunders is getting his game face on again.