sagard

I don't know which is more funny a "Gophers" section here, or the Twin Cities basketball heads criticizing the Gophers hockey team and it's fans. Since the Gopher's last NCAA Hockey Title (oh my god it's been four years!) they have had two WCHA League and two WCHA Tourney titles, one Frozen Four, one Holy Cross and one near Holy Cross. The bouncy ball teams are each on their 3rd coach in that time frame. I'll usually listen the criticism (both real and rediculous) from you guys because the UND program knows what it's talking about, but to anything Chad/Dan/Sid/Pat have to say is strictly a ploy on their part to get people to listen to them.

I don't think BC matches up with UND. I didn't think they did last year either and I'd guess UND would have won three of four vs. them last season. I think there will be a big edge in play to UND favor. If UND can force them to take penalties, the UND PP will put the game away. Maine is always the eastern team I fear the most. If their game is in order and Bishop fully healthy they will play very tough and will likely be in the final. It was a LONG time ago, but they looked great at the X and I assume they must have been pretty tough at REA. Maine has been the bridesmaid in the most painful fasion recently, so I hope this year isn't the year it evens out. Especially with the draw they had. It just wouldn't be right for the Sioux to go through UM/UM/BC and Maine going SCSU/UMASS/MSU for them to come out on top.

Anderson was savaged on air by the radio crew doing the UNH/Miami game. Imagine him letting infractions go and being inconsistant.

I avoided those threads due to the whining and sniping from both sides.

I'm not going to lie, this one hurts. Good luck to you all in St. Louis.

Michigan even more so than the team I cheer for doesn't acknowledge there are other decent programs in the country. Red has nobody but himself to blame from what I saw. If Michigan played with any trace of discipline last night that game goes down to the wire.

The Gopher boys need to be at full strength to have their best chance tonight. Goligoski needs to be able to play 25+ minutes and run the breakout as well as last weekend. I'm sure both teams will play their tails off tonight.

Third period vs. Air Force I had to go get the jerseys my wife, son and I wore to the Final Five Championship. Needless to say we will be wearing them tonight as well. Taping the game is a must. The real question is whether or not to try to avoid score updates?

GOPHERS STILL OWE YOU ALL! No Final Five trophy makes up for '05.

Nah. I have to sign off and watch the Sioux replay without knowledge of the game. Air Force played great and couldn't buy a break late in the third. The Gophers will be better tomorrow and hopefully Goligoski heals up quick.

The gap has been close for several years now. Mercyhurst, Bemidji, and Wayne St. pushed teams to the brink. AF/Huntsville showed Holy Cross was no fluke. I'm sure there will be some blowouts again at some point, but the CHA/AHA league champion knows they can compete without a doubt.

The boys got lucky. Hopefully like last weekend when they survived the UW game they will come back tomorrow night with their best effort.

I'll be shocked if you all don't see Frazee tomorrow. WHEW!

I can only assume it is the WCHA's Anderson being ripped for being inconsistant? Maybe he will go whine to the NCAA and get the UNH announcers booted.

We'd be nuts to "want" to face UND. They have been the best in the country for around two months. However, I've never seen the Gophers been Michigan in a regional so I'm not exactly enthused about that matchup either. So I guess I just have to take it one game at a time. Beat Air Force. Let UND and Michigan settle their differences. Take that winner down. Those Thanksgiving matchups with Michigan have never really been much of an indicator of Gophers tourney matchups with Michigan. Why the Sioux will win vs. Michigan...better goaltending. I'm hoping it takes about six periods of hockey to get the job done.

Does that mean the Gophers get Elliott? Even though their season didn't end immediately, it was over.

I'm a little surprised Michigan got no love at all out west. Five picking Sioux, four Gophers.

I couldn't find the room where they said they were distributing them.

To get a second year from Toews was a real gift. To ask for a third year is folly. If the Sioux don't win the regional I wouldn't be shocked to see him in the NHL this year. Of course your dealing with the Blackhawks so I guess anything is possible.

I'm guessing either Air Force or Alabama is going to give either the Gophers or Notre Dame fits. I'm hoping its Notre Dame this year.

That or a basic grasp of probability and a spreadsheet program.

Krach has AF as a 1:20 chance. Last year Holy Cross was a 1:6 chance. The Gophers better not let this one slip.

Lucia is a genius because the players played great. Nevermind Okposo and Stoa got lit up like a Christmas tree the Mariucci series when facing the DOT line.

I'm a big fan of Lucia, but the credit really goes to the players. Okposo and Stoa were match up vs. Duncan's line at Mariucci as well. The Gophers played virtually flawlessly and still barely won. UND is still the same team that has been steamrolling for three months and that is why I'm bummed about the draw. This game could easily have been a Frozen Four game instead of a regional with better seeding guidelines in place for the NCAA tourney.

I just got done watching the CCHA championship and I don't think Michigan has what it takes. They were able to generate some offense, but not able to finish vs. a very stingy Notre Dame team. Sauer was pretty sharp up until midway through the 3rd when he literally gave away the game. Notre Dame had tons of chances but doesn't have the high end finishers that UND sports. The "X" factor will be the officiating. The CCHA final was called a LOT more closely than the WCHA final. If UND takes their typical array of penalties and doesn't adjust to the tourney rules they will be facing a lot of PP time vs. JJ, Cogliano, and Hensick. That could be trouble if Michigan heats up. If I were picking my NCAA champ with my head instead of my heart, I'd go with Notre Dame. No other reason than they are the most likely to play in the big game in my opinion. Only one of UM, UND, UMich, BC, UNH survive to play in the championship.