mikejm

I hereby nominate these two posts for inclusion in the SiouxSports Hall of Fame.

^That'd be a criminal offense in, I think, 17 states!

I told a guy before the game that I expected a blow-up tonight: either Lammy finally lays an egg and gives up a five-spot or UND's offense finally gets on the roll everyone expected. Who'da thought I'd be (darn near) right in both regards. (GAWD I love it when I appear so smart.) The only d-man I'll give any kind of props to for an overall performance tonight is Genoway. Everyone else stunk up the joint most of the time. Chay seemed to be the only blueliner who dared skate the puck out of the zone and through neutral ice. The Pios weren't allowing the easy outlet pass, obvious from the score after 39 minutes of play. Lammy sucked for at least half the game. Sorry, but you can't be giving away weak goals at this time of the season, to a team you're fighting with for position. That 5-hole was inexcusable; as were the big (to the circle!) rebounds he gave up several times. He wasn't in the game and, frankly, the Sioux were lucky the Pios missed a couple or it would've been out of hand. He did make a couple big saves in the third that were ultimately quite important. After the first period I thought Denver was a severely over-rated team; they couldn't skate with the Sioux and their lack of talent was pretty evident. Nineteen minutes of the second changed my attitude however. And then I had to change my mind again! Two goals in 33 seconds can change even the most cynical old fart's mind! Kozek might be finally (FINALLY!!!!!) finding himself. Helluva an effort by Oshie on the game-winner; all Andrew had to do was tap in the rebound just lying there. But his wristers on the first two were world-class. Mannino didn't have a chance. Even though they show up Minus-1 on the score sheet I think Trupp and Frattin played well. Poor Trupp gets mauled out there. He's going to be fun to watch over the next couple of seasons. He and Frattin look like natural linemates, but I don't get Malone with them at all. I think Denver thought they had the game in the bag in the second, and the Sioux just wanted it more. UND, I thought, clearly "won" the first, but Pios kicked the home team's azz until about a minute before Genoway's goal at the 19 minute mark of the second. Prior to that I felt Denver's cruise control click on. By the time Duncan got his goal, regardless of the scoreboard, I thought "Game Over". The shift in emotion was palpable. This is one of those wins that a team can really build on. Friday's win in Minneapolis was great, but this game was lost and the Sioux somehow found the character to claw their way back into the game and ultimately win it. Denver has to be reeling after this game; it was in the bag and the Sioux simply took it away. Someone said it in an earlier post, but it bears repeating: this was a true "character" win for the team. I'm still not sure of what kind of team this is: it surely isn't a big-hitting, intimidating power ala Greene, Jones, et al; nor is it a high-flying scoring machine like I thought it could be this season. But with a win like this one lodged in their short-term memory banks (and a little sharper JPL in the nets) this team looks like they are really close to be able to put on a big run through April. I ain't ready to let them re-assume their pre-season No. 1 label yet, but that could be right around the corner.

Um, with all due respect, Trupp's goal was from an assist by Ryan Martens, as was Vande's goal. (But thank you for playing. Bob, tell 808287 what prize he's won...)

I admit I didn't have a high expectation of Marto when the season started. I presumed all the high praise before play started was because he was a hometown kid. I agree with Whistler that Marto's exceeded my expectations. I, too, think he's a keeper and will become a force on the blueline.

Man, is that Albany region a cupcake! (Um, in the USCHO scenario posted above. Too lazy to look at INCH.)

Waaaaaaaaayyyy too obscure a reference for an old hippie like me. Is there a way I can be pm'd when somethng like this takes place in the future? It would greatly enhance my whole SiouxSports experience.

Now that's old-fashioned hockey!!!!!!!!!!! You gotta love when the ice looks like a yard sale.

You are a kind, generous person. I'll bet the glass is never half-empty in your world. I can think a several adjectives to describe the Sioux power play, and disorganized isn't in the top fifteen or twenty.

On the other hand, you will be "blessed" with Mike Eaves' presence in your barn from time to time, something I can't imagine too many people would be happy with.

You have just attained hero status in my pantheon.

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Somebody's got to help me with these posts.

IIRC every player entering the NHL after (date?) must wear a half-shield. It is the same way helmets were made mandatory; they grand-fathered in old geezers. Back to the OT: I'm sort of surprised this kind of thing doesn't happen more often; I've watched hockey since the early 70s and seen only the Trotter tendon and this. Thank God for little miracles.

Getting?? They were already limited. Now it is worse. I'll be pilloried for this, but I'm starting to feel sorry for the Gophers. They were thin with early departures, their incoming freshmen haven't panned out as well as they were predicted to (but man, you cna't expect too much from most freshmen in the WCHA), and now the injury bug has set in big time.

That is mean. Funny. But mean.

No, that honor is awarded in perpetuity to the University of Michigan. UND will have to settle for second.

There are in all likelihood a number of Purpurs reading this message board!!!!

TMI Oxbow.

Who are three people who've never been in my kitchen?

I need you to swing by my office and clean my computer screen. We need to develop an acronym for posts which "May Cause Soda Spewing" but MCSS doesn't really cut it.

So this is like Jeopardy? Um, who are two Gopher hockey players and my eighth-grade math teacher's daughter?

^To be fair, one should point out there are eleven other 2004 first round picks who've yet to score a point in the NHL. And, again in fairness, it should be noted that three of those scoreless picks are goaltenders. Finally

1. You're welcome; and 2. I'm only in charge of the "traitor/trader" misuse; everybody around here has been assigned different tasks.

Traitors The word is "traitors". Traders are people who are involved in the exchange of something for something else; usually of value. [/rant]