tnt

Can’t tell if they lost some of their swagger from last year, or if they think things are going to come easy. When things didn’t go their way last year, Cole Smith would step up physically or with a big play. Need someone to take over in those situations, that’s what leaders do. Hopefully Kawaguchi starts to bury his chances. Shouldn’t have to wait for a couple of freshmen to come back to get to the next level, no matter how talented they are.

It seems like every championship team goes through some adversity that hardens them, and allows them to recall lessons from it. Let’s hope they show some resolve and come out on the other side as a better team as a result. The 2016 team got swept by Denver late in the year and then didn’t do much at the Frozen Faceoff before running the table.

But I don't think a tie against Duluth is going to create a lot of doubt in the people picking the field.

That's my point. Duluth has shown you can barely make it into the tournament, so why do people go nuts when it is basically meaningless unless you are on the bubble of not getting into the tournament.

So let me get this straight, two years ago people thought we were terrible and didn't have any talent, and even with two talented freshmen gone to the World Juniors, now people think that games against top 5 teams in the country shouldn't come down to the wire and a bounce here or there?

Are you really surprised people are so down on UND. It happens every year. If Duluth fans went by the regular season, don't know if Sandelin would still be there. What's it been, 30 years since Duluth won a league title? This could be their year since if they get out of the POD even or better, they won't have to worry about Denver and UND anymore.

That’s the saving grace from this game is that it wasn’t a loss. Thought for sure Koepke was going to bury one late in the penalty. I’m thinking Koepke turns out a better pro than Kawaguchi, as he has the size and speed for the next level. Hope I am wrong.

Don’t forget giving up a late goal to Denver in the first game, which lost a point as well.

Both teams have players at the World Juniors, so it is hard to get a good read on how it will play out down the road in the Big Ten. Minnesota is taking a big step forward because their young defense from last year are very talented and confident this year. So, being that Minnesota didn't play the non-conference games here this year, do they owe us games here next year, or do we have to go to Mariucci again?

I know none of us were relishing the prospects of Western getting in and UND potentially having to play them in the NCAA tourney. Of course in retrospect having a post season would have been great for any team.

Even so, I would feel a whole lot better if they had to play Western and Miami in an environment with fans, but it is what it is. UND just needs to take care of business against Duluth and St. Cloud.

Definitely need this one, which will make Denver even more desperate when they play Duluth and St. Cloud again.

So, I guess it will come down to whether he enjoys playing the "Covid" hockey without fans, or if he wants to play in front of a full house!

Exactly, when they still play Denver 4 times after the Pod, they can’t afford to lose to teams they are done with after the Pod. Don’t see Duluth or St.Cloud losing to Western or Miami much, so their only losses outside the Pod could come against each other. The Penrose would be pretty hard to attain under those circumstances.

We still play them five times, including their next game, so let’s hope they dig out against other teams.

Exactly, especially so early in the year. This came to mind. https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS758US759&hl=en-US&sxsrf=ALeKk01aRHYo_TfjNBZB4Hv5CoBuTYBjFQ%3A1607229828613&ei=hGHMX6_3JMfRtQbm672wBg&q=i+forgot+you+never+make+a+mistake+gif&oq=dumb+and+dumber+i+forgot+you+never+made+a+mistake&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAEYATIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQRzIECAAQR1AAWABg82RoAHABeACAAQCIAQCSAQCYAQDIAQjAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#imgrc=mS8J04gfz4TWZM

The 4 goals last night is more than our average last year, and against a very good team. Omaha, after scoring 10 against Western, only put up 2 on Miami, who apparently knows they have to play good defensively if they want to win games.

Agree, if UND labels one it is a great shot, like the Sanderson, Frisch and Kawaguchi goals. Denver goalie could have come out or hugged the pipe a little better. Sometimes you just have to say, “what a shot”.

Because of all of this, Dom Izzo has changed his tune and now thinks the Bison should move to FBS, especially seeing what Coastal Carolina has done.

It will be interesting to see if they stay with a philosophy that normally works in rolling with a hot guy, or if they already have a plan to get each guy the maximum amount of rest to keep the team fresh through the whole POD. Guess time will tell.

Think you will see Thome, as I think they set it up this way because Thome has played well against Denver in the past.

That's so true, I remember being so pumped about Wes Dorey coming in years ago, and it was under the radar Jeff Panzer that was the diamond in the rough. I really thought Portz would start off better this year in the USHL, but who knows about nagging injuries and such.

I think you have to hope Denver wins in that game. If we get out of this POD and Duluth is ahead of us, we no longer control our destiny as far as the Penrose. Don't understand why we have to play Denver so much when we play them a lot outside the POD. We really need to care of business when we play Duluth.

You would be hard pressed to believe guys like Kawaguchi, Kiersted and JBD would stay another year, but slight greater chance of Adams and Mismash, although I'm sure their teams would like to get them in their system, unless Covid has created a glut of some sort. I know Jamernik and Portz can't be pushed back another year, but not sure about Schmaltz. You know there will be some nice options in the transfer portal, so maybe Berry just pushes back Kuntz a year. Maybe that was the plan anyway.

We definitely need to make the most of this season, so hopefully we don't run into issues that could shut it down. That would really be disappointing to lose guys like Pinto, Adams, Mismash, Kawaguchi, JBD and Kiersted and not have a lot to show for it. I know it would be incumbent upon guys like Hain, Blaisdell and Weatherby to step up next year to fill in for those guys, but the number of grinders coming in makes me wonder if we will be back to a mix we had a couple years ago when we had problems scoring goals. Schmaltz, Jamernik, Portz will be good role players, but I wouldn't expect a lot of offense from them, and you never know how a true freshman like Kuntz would do. Really have hope for Constantini, but again, you never know. Would be nice to have one top end draft pick to pair with Gaber to pick up some of the scoring we will be losing. Might have to generate a ton of offense from the defense. Who knows, a guy like Adams could stick around, or they could get a top guy from the transfer portal. Look at me worrying about next year. Fingers crossed we can make the most of this year, and finishing off the POD without any hiccups will go a long way toward that.