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For sure. I think they are set up to be similar to past UND teams where they roll 4 lines and wear down the other team. Because of some very poor penalties, we weren’t able to do that the second night against Minnesota, which meant less time for Littler, Croal and Zakreski. We were taking it to Minnesota before the penalty leading to their goal, taking the pressure off of them and letting them settle in. This team needs to play to their depth strength and improve their power play, and they have a team that can be a force the second half.

The fact that people thought a team with 15 new guys would just roll through their schedule shows just how disconnected some people are. I think 5x5 UND played better, which is why the dumb penalties were so disappointing. Also, if I recall, people were upset with Berry because he kept changing the units around not allowing any chemistry to grow. I like that Jackson had 3 freshmen forwards killing penalties, instead of bringing in the graduate transfer because of experience. It’s amazing how a loss to a desperate rival, who didn’t manage a lot of offense, changed the overly optimistic view of the team after 3 wins to start the season. David Carle isn’t quite so concerned about an early season loss or two, as long as they are moving forward. Anyone remember how many goals Denver gave up early in the year when they won their last title, and how many total goals they gave up in the tourney? This team will need to be that kind of team, where they can build into a quality team by the second half. Hopefully they can do enough to be in the picture, as we saw how close some of Hakstol’s teams were to the bubble before making late season runs.

Cooper Simpson with 2 goals and an assist to become the leading scorer in the USHL.

What disappoints me most so far is that a lot of the egregious mistakes and penalties are coming from upperclassmen, not freshmen. Strinden’s giving up breakaway goal to St. Thomas when we had a lead, then penalties by upperclassmen in this series. Expected much more from Strinden and Menghini, but hopefully they’ll come around when it gets into the heat of it. Josephson seems like he deserves power play time with his zone entry and puck skills, along with Strathmann. To be sure I expected growing pains, but when a lot of those pains aren’t part of a youth learning curve, it leaves you a bit disappointed. Oh well, on to a critical Clarkson series.

We know St. Cloud fans don’t have a lot of hockey knowledge. You’re not fooling anyone.

Showed up, but when one of your leaders puts you behind the eight ball early, then continues to take selfish penalties, you can’t hope to gain momentum.

Especially when they haven’t been able to put up much offense.

Maybe he has some under the table money coming to him. Just dumb, every penalty he has taken.

…and I’ll say it again, NHL scouts think you’re wrong. So did guys like Wiebe, Emery etc. not have talent last year, or is it that it is tough for young guys in college hockey and some very talented players take a while to make an impact, especially on defense.

Not saying we can’t get there, but remember when we used to mock the gophers about not winning a title in October and November? If the gophers are just average as some have suggested, we have yet to show against a top 10 team.

I think with all they lost on defense I think bubble team was always going to be in the equation, and frankly that may still be the case for us as well. Remember how like 9-16 fluctuated substantially last year from week to week? It could be even more so this year with all the new talent infused in most teams. We’ve already seen a ton of upsets that seemed improbable. Going to be even more bubble teams this year. As bad as we were at times last year, there were games that would have boosted us into the equation if we would have just taken advantage of them.

I agree regarding penalties, but that wasn’t the case, most of those were really soft calls both ways. I know it is the new focus in some cases, but I always like letting the players play in a rivalry game unless it is getting out of control. That check from behind called on Minnesota was horrible. Hopefully they let them play tonight, but no doubt they will try even out the marbles instead.

Probably won’t pick Emery now!

It looked like Swanson felt bad about not getting it to James for the open net hat trick. Not sure if he didn’t see him originally, or if he thought the Minnesota defense would block it. Don’t feel bad about putting the final stake in a victory!

I get that they want to stop slashing on the hands, but I didn’t think any of those calls limited the offensive player. Relatively speaking this was a pretty clean game and maybe there should have been 3-4 calls.

All the tents will make the gophers feel like they are playing at home!

Bad choices certainly do have consequences, which is why the state of Minnesota is a joke throughout the country.

What’s the story on Brock England?

How much you want to bet they get him back just in time for UND’s visit in early January?

Not only that, it makes it that much easier on the diehard fans who don’t want to have to deal with the possibility of our bitter rival having a chance to sweep at the Ralph. The nerves seem to get worse with age, not better.

Kawaguchi was much older though when he first came in, so he had even more time to be physically ready for the college game.

Like UND did the Hall of Fame year. Would love them to remain unenthused and uninspired, but sometimes the rivalry brings out the best in both teams.

I really like Josephson, and once he and his linemates start to gain some chemistry, we will have even more scoring depth. Hopefully he and Kernan get their first goals against Minnesota. I’m sure being a Maple Grove kid, Kernan would love that.

No comparison in talent level? Take your green glasses off. Yes we have a couple guys who have a bigger upside in Reschny and Verhoeff, but it may take a while for them to be dominant. Minnesota has 8 top four round draft picks, while UND has 6, actually 7 when you consider Verhoeff. Acting like Minnesota has no talent is just not the case.

Early results aren’t a great barometer. Remember UND fans weren’t feeling great about the Hall of Fame game against Minnesota in Vegas because UND had beaten Manitoba in OT while losing and tying Bemidji State, and splitting with Minnesota State while Minnesota beat and tied Duluth. Young teams can change a bit from week to week, and desperation can always play a part. Hopefully UND looks at this as a huge opportunity to get ahead of the game in the national picture while giving their rival a big hole to climb out of going forward.