.357

If BB is still in charge, expecting any players on this team to improve in 25-26 when almost no one did this year is nothing but 'hopium' (otherwise known as 'false hope' or 'irrational optimism'). If the last 10 months have been any indication, the team will still be inconsistent, basic skills will be absent, there'll still be questionable line-ups, 1 or both special teams will be struggling & there still won't be a clear-cut identity to this team. There may be big victories here & there, but the overall state of the program in the larger picture will be one of stagnation. Once the downward pull of fate starts tugging on a coach, it's all but over, as Gino, Sertich, Eaves, Lucia, Owens & many others can attest. The UND students, who are probably knowledgeable hockey fans when they're not drunk, were signaling to Chaves more than anyone with their chants that it's time for a change.

TJ will be gone in a couple of months & HH will likely be the starter next season, so HH needs some quality minutes now to refine his game. But if TJ is chosen, it would send the message to HH that the coaching staff doesn't trust him even though he has a better gaa & save % than TJ this year, in a season that is basically over; which would hinder his development & make him less prepared for next season.

So between @scpa0305, @Irish & myself, we counted 10 observed issues with the team, but I'll also add an 11th: a certain player who can be productive at times, but more often than not has the effect of dead weight on the team. Yet despite all these glaring issues, the HC focuses on the goalies of all things. This just goes to show how totally divorced from reality he is. Either that or he's being disingenuous because he doesn't want to address the real issues. These 10+ issues on this team will not be resolved over the next 2 months, because to do so would require the skills & insight of another coach. The most productive thing that can be done isn't on the ice at REA right now, but in the AD's office by assembling a list of 5 viable candidates to be the next one in charge.

May as well include...unable to play a complete game, questionable line-ups, the defense regressing, no identity, undisciplined play. The team had a closed-door meeting late last year to address the problems they were having. Supposedly tough questions were asked, but it was never mentioned if any answers were found. Obviously, there weren't. Makes one wonder what was discussed.

Sitting a speedy, high-energy guy like Croal who could have played 10 minutes & shadowed the 1 player who beat UND last night, Alex Bump, in favor of Montgomery who played less than a minute, tells you everything you need to know about the mental state of the head coach... the team coming out soft & uninspired to start the 2nd after a great 1st; the team is simply incapable of being consistent going back to last year...the D playing no better now in mid-January than in early Oct...Welcome to UND hockey. And if Kunz plays tonight, with no consequences for his causing the loss, that'll just be icing on the proverbial cake. Who recruits the players who can't score, who commit bad penalties & who have too many flaws? Everything is downstream from the HC.

Montgomery is the sentimental favorite, the team's Rudy, but should only be playing when injuries necessitate it. Playing him instead of Croal is leaving talent off the ice because you want to be seen as the good coach playing the local boy. As they say, "Make it make sense".

The only corrective actions that I know of in the corporate world are verbal warnings, written warnings, suspensions, demotions & terminations. And because the first four are not applicable to a head coach in this situation (that I know of), I would guess termination.

Based on Coach Larson's behavior last weekend, it's safe to say that the ss.com search committee in charge of finding a new coach can rule him out as a possibility. Finalists are now Raboin, Smaby & a couple others.

I don't understand that line of thinking: even if it's short term, you're still extending the mediocrity. If UND misses the playoffs this year, it can be attributed in large part to laying an egg against a team (Cornell) who was playing its first series of the year, and not showing up & struggling against BSU of all teams. This is just as damning to the coaching staff as getting bounced in the first round of the regionals. The only difference is that this time the coaching deficiencies manifested early in the year instead of the usual late March.

Moderators: Please add ASU to the NCHC standings on the front page.

Cornell's too talented & experienced to continue being mediocre. Anticipating that they'll put together some key wins in the second half to bolster our PWR if even just a little. Bemidji, on the other hand, pfft...

Wasn't a fan of splitting up Croal-Littler-Andrew..when a line is clicking, let them be. Boisvert is quietly establishing himself as a force in D1 hockey. And he's only 18. Safe to say he's adjusted well to the college level.

Does the OT win tonight count like a regulation win when it comes to PWR, or .67?

That's why I question sometimes if Berry plays guys guys due to merit or personality. Because if he were being completely objective over the last few games, Andrew plays over Montgomery. No need to throw a wrench into the 4th line when it was doing so well.

Unfortunate that Andrew has to possibly be the odd man out tonight after his strong play lately on that 4th line.

So why aren't these bad losses affecting teams like MI & BC very much, if at all? Compared to UND's drop.

That doesn't answer my question, which was why MI wasn't penalized more for losing at home to a #32 team, whereas UND was affected quite a bit after their L & tie with BSU.

Before yesterday's MI & WI game, MI's PWR was 8 & WI's was 32. After WI's win they jumped up to 27, while MI fell only 1 spot to 9. Can anyone explain how MI got shutout on home ice to the #32 team & only fell 1 spot? I thought bad losses hurt a team's PWR. Whereas UND loses to BSU & had a major drop as a result; not so with MI.

If they don't, UND will have 7 D for the second half, & if one of the 6 primary D gets injured, that means Komzak or Montgomery plays. Not sure that’s a good idea for a team on the outside looking in trying to make the playoffs. Cross your fingers & hope no one gets injured on the backend.

It took a miracle comeback in the final minutes against one of the worst teams in D1 to eke out a win. All concerns with the ability of the HC & the cohesiveness of the team are temporarily forgotten in the afterglow of the victory. Anything's possible with this squad, they could go on an impressive run & finish very strongly; or they could continue to play inconsistently & hope for an autobid. The odds favor the latter scenario, because the team still struggles at the midpoint of the season with fundamentals, consistency & discipline; facets which should have been corrected a few weeks into the season. This team lacks an identity; many times they seem like a ship without a rudder. This is the job of the HC to instill one in them. The sooner Berg gets back, the better, it's asking a lot to have Boisvert carry the team. Will be interesting to see if UND brings in Laurila at the break. If Zmolek doesn't return for a couple or more months, it leaves the D in a precarious situation during the meat of the season (Jan & Feb) when wins are crucial.

A coach's allegiance to either of the two names has nothing to do with his aptitude as a coach. I agree with not calling the coach "Bubs", that's something teammates or friends call each other.

Nice to know that the success of the program is being held financially hostage by a wealthy woman who likes the HC's personality. And if that relationship is as tight as you suggest, then that is how you drive a program into the ground for the next 5-10 years. She in no way should have that much control over a position that has that much impact on the team; especially if she has a close connection to that person, because that renders her incapable of making a rational, impartial decision. Btw, how do you know that she & Berry are buddy-buddy? I'm far removed from GF & I don't know the intricacies of UND athletics.

High aspiration for a team that plays with no urgency, no passion, no consistency, cannot complete a basic pass & has a hard time, get this, shooting the puck on net.. all these flaws still uncorrected with the midpoint of the season soon approaching no less. A hockey version of the '70's Stepford Wives.

Berry's current contract is through the 25-26 season, I think, with it being inked in 03/2022. So if we don't hear any news of a new extension for him by next spring or so, it could mean that his days at UND are numbered.

I often wonder how his teams can just mentally check-out for significant chunks of the game, or even more strange, how they'll play solid 1 night & disappear the next. Putting 2 solid games together is an alien concept for these guys. This team can play pretty darn good when they're locked in (Providence, 1st BU, 2nd DU games), but then throw up a total stinker like on Friday vs RMU. Really curious what's going through their heads when it's one of those nights where they appear to not even be trying.