tnt

Who knows how that game turns out if Kiersted plays. Need to have some discipline in situations like that, especially when you are shorthanded to begin with.

Trey Ausmus with 2 goals, 4 assists tonight as a 9th grader for EGF. Against Park Rapids, but obviously a lot of skill.

The confidence seems to come and go, depending on whether they take a lead or not, or are not rewarded for constant pressure.

Depending on who we have back this weekend, I would hope the team thinks they can sweep this series, and having to go to Denver the second half, it certainly would help going forward. Denver split with Duluth in Denver, but Duluth outshot them 38-14 in a 2-0 loss, then 45-29 in their comeback win on Saturday. Denver doesn't have Borgstrom, Terry and Gambrell anymore, so it is time to take advantage of a young team, and hopefully their stud goalie has a few nerves playing in the Ralph, although it has been a place for goalies to get back on track lately. A split certainly wouldn't kill us, but even a win and a tie would do wonders for us in the league.

...and we know exactly who they are.

And being from around Toronto, it isn't that far for family and friends to watch him play.

I think Thome has had more issues when the team is playing consistent in front of them. Both goaltenders have been hung out to dry on occasion by the team abandoning their systems because they fell behind. Thome didn't help matters in that regard by helping Duluth with that delay of game penalty. After that it was all down hill.

My contention, that during the review they should have seen the Duluth player chop Kawaguchi on the back of the leg. Why not give him a penalty for intent to injure since he was slashing him where there is no padding?

Will take $25 each.

Wisconsin can keep on beating Big Ten teams!

You would think that someone who played the game at that level, Medak, would have a little objectivity, but some of the whining made it seem like he was a rookie fan of a team that only views things one way. If he was a fan of UND, I would expect him to say that Kawaguchi was only trying to help the guy adjust his cup!

For me, especially against a team like Duluth, Thome plays out of position way too often, which can be deadly with Duluth's cross ice passes.

Now if we can stop scoring on him, we'll be set!

So do they go into the typical lock down defense, and let Duluth take it to them? Recipe for disaster if they do, because it will draw penalties, to say nothing of Duluth having the puck in our zone the whole period.

If Duluth scores on the power play, UND starts running around and forgetting what got them a lead!

This all starts with UND losing all momentum from their power plays. How many think Duluth will lose momentum from their power play? Pretty sad when you are ahead, and feel like you are behind. It almost looks as though the players feel like that as well.

Up front, other than Tufte, who will be an NHL regular?

How about we get a goaltender to steal a game or two. This would be the ideal time. Would feel a lot better about our chances with a full lineup, but other than Perunovich, there isn't a guy you look at on Duluth as a surefire star. They just have a very solid core of players that work hard. That's what we need to do this weekend to come away with points.

Which may be why they got a verbal from Dane Montgomery so early. Unless there isn't a whole lot of scholarship money offered up front, those things can go both ways. Remember he committed to St. Cloud his Junior year in high school which is pretty early when there are plenty of questions yet to be answered. You look at all the people complaining about the locals that haven't worked out that well, and it certainly is a darned if you do, darned if you don't situation.

Hopefully the weekend in Miami isn't going to cost us the NCAA tournament again, but if you can't fight through a few injuries, you might not make a splash in the tourney anyway.

Don't think a lot of people thought he was a good enough skater to be an effective college player. Most thought he would play football in college, but the coaches were told he was interested in hockey. Maybe they thought his skating would hold him back as well, but I think they could have got him on campus without huge scholarship dollars.

Rudolph had a lot of prior coaching, so you never know. For a position coach it certainly helps to know the position inside and out, and having that extra level of competition expands that even further. Just have to make sure he wouldn't teach illegal motion, having played so much in the CFL. As far as personality, there aren't many other guys I would want in a recruits living room, as he is genuine in his North Dakota nice.

Would take that in a heartbeat, and then gain a little confidence from it and build from there.

That's true, but I know there have been some NHL clubs that are less likely to pull the trigger on drafting a guy high when he hasn't proven himself at the Junior level. Yes, they will draft guys with superior talent, but I'm sure it doesn't help your draft status, and say what you want, but NHL teams don't want to look like they missed early in the NHL draft, so you might get a better look early on in your career with the big club the higher you are drafted. Ultimately though, you are right, if you have talent and play the game right you will be in the NHL regardless.

Have 2 tickets for Friday 12/07 in Section 302A Row G right above entryway in upper deck. On the aisle in a 6 seat row on the end where UND shoots twice. $30 each. Will sell a single if needed.