RedFrog

CC has a really funky comparison grid. They are winning their comparison with us (4 H2H wins will do that), but they are losing comparisons to 3 teams below them in Omaha, Arizona State and Augustana. They had a chance to flip the Augustana with a good showing against UNO (common opponent). Now they have DU left as common opponents to all 3, and I'm not sure a clean sweep of DU will flip those. I'm not sure how they factor the winning percentage in those. ASU has a COp record of 3-3-1 with a .5625 rating where CC is 4-4-1 and at .3125.

Need 1 point from WMU next weekend to lock up home ice ... and check a box!

Need to mention that I thought the pre- and early game atmosphere last night was one of the better fan efforts of the year. I did miss the Denver series, so I can't compare to that weekend.

Nice to be able to update this and reduce the magic numbers. 3 for home ice. We also eliminated Duluth from Penrose contention tonight.

1) Persson played well tonight ... a couple of great saves in the third period, but not much challenge otherwise. 2) Giveaways in the D zone were there for the taking tonight, Duluth just wasn't pressuring. It seemed to clean up the second half of the game, but it was still a problem. 3) Scorers scored, Gaber, Blake, Berg (x2), Perron, and McLaughlin. Now it's time to get Schmaltzy his first of the year. 4) Jamernick's penalty was of the stupid variety, otherwise I thought the boys played pretty disciplined. I am getting tired of seeing Ludvig get bumped constantly and wouldn't mind someone taking a roughing to send a message. Was good to see some of that when the boys took exception to the scrum with Blake in the third.

Schmaltz .... yup, I am sure.

Blake

If only winning National Championships was easy. Think of the team Michigan had a couple of years ago with all the first round talent, hell, look at them this year with the talent they have and they are currently on the wrong side of the bubble. The last championship Michigan won was in 1998. They must be an also-ran. The parity in college hockey has and continues to increase making it significantly more difficult to make that final 4 game run. There is no reason to not have expectations that this years' team has the ability to compete for a national championship. Those who think two bad weekends against CC during the regular season, or the season ending results of the last 7 years somehow make that impossible are just fear mongering.

Starting to think you are right ...

Was just thinking the same thing. Will this team learn that they will run into this style of play numerous times leading into and throughout the playoffs and make the necessary adjustments both strategically (coaching) and in level of effort/quality of play (players), or will they be satisfied and chalk it up to CC just having our number this year? Put the black jerseys away for tonight, bring out the greens and play the Sioux Hockey you are capable of.

Berg

Any viewing options for the EDC games today? Edit: Found it

Gotta give a stick tap to @The Sicatoka for some really good recommendations and insight.

What is up with the CCHA this year? Mankato is their highest Pairwise team at 29 and the AHA has two teams higher (RIT 22 and Holy Cross 27). I don't have the inter-conference records but the CCHA must have been blasted this year. Another note is on CC. They have a couple of comparisons they are losing to Augustana and Arizona State that will take a sweep of DU at the end of the year to flip. Those two comparisons could prove very costly to their NCAA aspirations.

Thinking of the upcoming series at CC and think we are going to need to bring our best. CC is playing well and is on the wrong side of the bubble. This weekend should be a playoff style of game and I'm eager to see how the boys come out of the bye week. Have to admit I miss Johannes in the lineup, even though everyone who has stepped in has played well. I feel he is a heart-and-soul type of player for this team.

The final weekend without until the end of March ... use it to rest up for the stretch run and post-season!

Thank you!

Spot on! I couldn't quite figure out how to easily put that and you nailed it. I continue to update the spreadsheet recently adding the upcoming opponents. If there is anything that you would like me to add or have a suggestion, please fire away! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Cqw98NtmwDaV1JzRNUu1eyiGTtDZXmN4hjt3Mk0TIfA/edit?usp=sharing

Has each Penrose cup champ been a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament?

Butterfly effect.

A comment in another thread got me thinking about when is the right time for this team to have another regulation loss? It has to happen, right?

I'm just as superstitious, but I have found that this year's team is occupying more of my thoughts than normal and need a way to productively use that energy.

Box #1 checked - Can not finish last in the conference. Home ice magic # is now 6.

Made a Google Sheet. Very basic and will expand upon it as things narrow down. Still too many variables right now. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Cqw98NtmwDaV1JzRNUu1eyiGTtDZXmN4hjt3Mk0TIfA/edit?usp=sharing

First box to check is home ice for the conference tournament. Did the math. Magic number to clinch home ice is currently 7. Combination of UND regulation wins and WMU regulation losses. Breakdown: WMU is currently in 5th place (first road position) has 22 points with a maximum of 30 points left to earn, bringing their max possible total to 52. UND sitting at 32 points would need 21 points to get to 53. *Remember, regulation wins are worth 3 points. Second box to check is the Penrose. Magic number to clinch the Penrose is 9. Combination of UND regulation wins and SCSU regulation losses. Breakdown: SCSU is currently in 2nd place and has 28 points bringing their max possible to 58. UND sitting at 32 would need 27 points (9 regulation wins) to get to 59 points. There is obviously more that can play into and reduce these numbers and the numbers may change significantly each game day, but this is a very high level maximum need look. I went outright clinch scenarios and no tie breaker/tie scenarios for simplicity. I will work to update this weekly as things play out. I want to get that first box checked! We are at least 3 weeks away from being able to hit a clinching scenario, but more likely 4 or more.