mikejm

Jeepers, its getting a little close for comfort. What happened overnight to cause the Sioux to drop? I am not versed enough in the nuances of PWR to figure this one out. The result appears to make this weekend's series a "must-win" for the home team. http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pwr.php Come on guys, win!

WAY!

They'd better play their hearts out tonight. Looking at the PWR, the Sioux need to win and hope like heck their aren't any suprises in conference tourneys. An upset conference champ could really hurt the Sioux.

Twas a great game. My wife, who loves hockey in person but refuses to watch on the tv, grabbed the remote and wouldn't change channels. She was standing in front of the tv YELLING as those great saves happened back to back on opposite ends of the rink. Fun to watch. Hope Moorhead is smiling after their game tonight.

Well heck...looks like its all over then for the next few years... Anyone interested in buying my season tickets? Two seats, second row from the ice. Jeepers, the WCHA will probably cancel the season next year and just give the Cup to the Goofies.

I understand he is entertaining last minute bids from both JBSU and Merrimack. Seriously, this is worse than American Idol. Make your pick already!

Just win baby!

Yes, and it continues to be the strength of the team. Look at goals-against. Any team giving up 2.5 per game would be happy. How are our returning scorers? Simple to make some comparisons. Assume the team will play 8 more games (4 regular season, 2 in WCHA first round, the play-in and semi-final at the Final Five), and let the spreadsheet do the rest. Here's what you come up with: Stafford will end the year with 34 points (+2 from 03-04) Murray 20 (-26) but he's going to be out of at least 10 games, and playing hurt in several more McMahon 14 (-11) Fylling 11 (-16) Porter 14 (-11) Add in high profile recruits: Spirko 35 (+35) Zajac 34 (+34) Radke 4 (+4) although I don't know if I would've expected him to add significantly to scoring So the team loses Bochenski and his 60 points; Zach (55 points) and Lundbohm (30) for a total of 145 and brings in just 73 from these 3 freshmen. That's a drop of 1.8 goals per game, EVEN IF ALL OTHER RETURNEES SCORE AT THE SAME PACE as they did a year ago! (Sorry for shouting.) This team was going to have trouble matching its 03-04 scoring; Dean knew it, Hakstol knew it; most anyone who's watched the team for the last few years had to have known it. Yes, and look at their troubles of late. Although I would put the loss of Grant Potulny at least as important as either Keith Ballard or Tomas Vanek. GP was the heart of the back-to-back champs and needs to be recognized as such. Yes, and the Sioux will make the NCAAs also if they win one or two more games. One could easily make a case that the 03-04 Sioux WERE a one-line team; but that would be to ignore the fact that eight other players on that team scored more than 20 points. I'd prefer to say that it was a team that relied on Parise, Bochenski and Murray to score, and filled in ably with nearly three other pretty prolific scoring lines. When a team scores with the apparent ease that last year's Sioux did, opposing teams can't afford to concentrate their checkers on just one line. Stop PBM, and Genoway, Lundbohm, Fylling, Stafford, etc. will score. This year's team is very, very different: Genoway and Stafford have held up their ends of the bargain, as have two extremely talented freshmen in Spirko and Zajac. Beyond those four scorers (five when Murray can play), this is a bunch of lunch-pail guys who'll get you some points, but not of the PBM variety. A tight-checking (might read obstructive) team can shut down one, maybe one-and-a-half, lines and game over. As to bad recruiting, I'll posit the team is exactly where it should be, IF one puts Zach and Bochenski back on the roster. Add their points back into the totals. Wow, what a team! Add in next year's scorers and you might have the second coming of the Hrkac Circus! Simply put, this team was not supposed to be lacking those two high scoring players. No one expected them to be gone this year; I think everyone figured Zach would be back for another run at the title, and who'd have ever thought Bochenski would strong-arm himself into a paycheck a year early? There is no one here who could've seen that coming. I'm going to go WAY out on a limb here and say that the Sioux would be no different today if Dean was still coaching them. And, instead of yelling for Hak's head on a stake, the quiet murmur through the crowd and message boards would be, "Do you think Wendy's death took Dean out of the game mentally? Maybe he should've stepped down." That's harsh, but I believe that would be the drumbeat today. I love the Sioux. I am an alum. I support the team with my voice and with my checkbook. I have very, very high expectations every year. Skate for Eight and all that. But anyone who thought this team would be able to carry on last year's high-scoring pace was not looking at things objectively. Sorry for the long-winded response. Also sorry for picking apart your post. I don't mean to be preachy, so forgive me if it sounds that way. All that being said, all the Sioux have to do is turn back on the scoring they found Friday in Anchorage and they could make a pretty fun run into March, and maybe even April.

I ran into a couple of very high-placed NDSU athletic officials tonight at dinner. One of them saw my Fighting Sioux Hockey cap and asked if I had a minute. Never one to turn down the chance to pontificate about our beloved Sioux, I, of course, obliged. "What's the deal with the team?" I was asked. The questioner knows to some extent the travails of the Sioux this year, but asked how the mood of the fans is. I told the questioner that several people on the message boards are demanding Coach Hak's head on a stake. I was told by this questioner that from first-hand conversations with Dean that he knew this would be a tough year...losing too much scoring, and too much heart, evidently convinced that Bochensky would follow Zach to the pros. That, coupled with Wendy's failing health and the better-than-50/50 chance that the NHL would not play, made it a perfect time for Dean to leave. So if Blais was hinting to colleague and/or peers that the Sioux would be down this year, I think we should all take a second look at what's been written and said about Hak. I still consider a year without an NCAA bid a disappointment, and if the puck gods start smiling on the Sioux, this is a team that could do some damage in March. But the coach so many of you are praying to return evidently intimated that this team would have trouble.

It's called tradition, and yes, I'd say most Sioux fans expect excellence all the time. To expect less would be to fall to the level of JBSU or the LandCows. Doesn't that explain all the 7>4 sig lines and the constant bickering between us Sioux fans and the POI crowd? It's not because we hate Gopher fans (well most of them, anyway ). Fans of both programs start every season with a goal of raising another banner. This team has the best facility in the college game; at least a fighting chance of recruiting the best young athletes in North America. Of course we expect the best. A season that stands a chance of ending up on the outside looking into the NCAAs can only be described as a disappointment.

Looks like the Sioux are just hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Got to have some points against BADgers and JBSU. AND hope Maine hangs in at 15 or higher in the RPI so we can pull some bonus points. Go Black Bears!!!!!!!!!!!! Tough test this weekend against Mass-Lowell! Crunch time. But as Al Davis says, "Just win, baby".

This gives me goosebumps.

Decidedly hip http://sites.gizoogle.com/?url=http://www....sgBrd/index.php Hurry up and drop the puck. I've too much time on my hands.

This might help fill in the time before the puck is dropped in Anchorage. the Hockey News says agreement has been reached. http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=115396

I've been a hockey fan for over 30 years and I'm having a heckuva time figuring out the Sioux's style of cycling deep in the corners and behind the net. This past weekend the differences between the Sioux and the Pioneers was glaringly obvious: we're passing the puck along the boards while the Pioneers seemed to be forever crusing straight down the ice toward the net, getting off a shot or leaving the puck for a trailer. Why is it so easy for Denver to carry the puck toward the net while we get tied up down deep or far to wide? (And I feel really stupid having to ask this )

Nasty prediction from INCH: http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/INCH.htm# We're definitely a bubble team; need some goals and some league points. I keep thinking the Sioux are going to break out with an eight or nine goal game; I've never in my life seen a team clang so much iron!

You're dead wrong Super. I won't defend Lammy for his performance tonite, but the first goal he was horribly screened. I don't remember if it was Fylling or Fuher, but Lammy had no chance at that shot. It happened right in front of me. The third DU goal was weak, and Phil knew he'd given up a heartbreaker as it whizzed by him. The fourth Lammy and the whole team gave up because Derek Shepherd missed an OBVIOUS pick that happened right in front of him...I don't think he was 5 feet behind the play when it happened. The team pulled up thinking the whistle was coming; Lammy relaxed, and the next thing you know its 4-2. All in all, I'm ditto-ing Daggies. I really thought the Sioux had a chance to win that game. The shots ended up pretty even after things sort of got away from them in the second. Spirko, Stafford and Zajac were flying. Other than running the DU goalie, I don't think there was a stupid penalty. And even missing the pick, I didn't think Derek Shepherd called that bad of a game. Matt Smaby looked good, no tentativeness; Andy was awesome. Colby Genoway...too bad he's not going to be around for a couple more years...I really like the way he seems to take control when things get a little skitterish out there. I hate to say it, but this club has absolutely no puck luck. I've never seen so many pucks jump over sticks, so many pipes and crossbars. I'm starting to feel really badly for them. It was embarassing to see so many "fans" leaving the game early tonight. Suck it up guys, and keep working like you did tonight...the puck's gotta start hitting the twine!

In addition to finally getting rewarded for their hard work with a win, the Sioux climb to #11 in PairWise! Making the Climb to Columbus maybe?

Forgot all about hearing this, and am sorry for posting someone else's post, but I found this significant: http://siouxsports.com/forums/index.php?sh...indpost&p=85059 (Thanks DMT) That sounds like upperclassman leadership to me. I wonder if the locker room needs new paint today?

kr: You hit it on the head. Thanks for putting things in perspective for me.

I agree that Smaby is talented; he's just become very tentative in his approach to playing defense, both in covering opposing players in our zone and in moving the puck out to center ice and beyond. I know that Matt hangs with Chris Porter a lot; I've run into them several times this year at the Pepper and in the Ralph during the WJC. Chris is always positive and the leader of the two; Matt hangs back and follows Porter's lead, socially at least. With that being said, and watching how Chris has been playing, especially the last four or five series, I would expect that Matt's off-ice influences are nothing but positive and reassuring. I have a feeling that Smaby's tentativeness, particularly with the puck, comes from being burned a couple times. Now he's trying so hard NOT to turn over the puck that he's become an easy read for opposing team's forecheck. I have been critical of Matt's play, but it is because I have such high expectations of him. He's a big, strong, talented kid (2nd round draft choice - Tampa). If he can feed off his pal's energy and assertiveness he'll be a heckuva player. He's got a great sidekick in Porter and can really go nowhere but up from the slump he's fallen into. I remember the night two or three years ago when Nick Fuher "came of age"; several people in my section said they'd seen him "become a man" that game. I'm waiting for Matt's coming out party.

From my seat behind Lammy: Schneider's penalty late in the 3rd was a job! It happened right in front of me and Andy clearly pulled up on the hit. Yes the Beaver hit the boards, but he was there before Andy hit him. Campion (ref) was out of position, and saw the play from behind, not from the boards where he should have been. Schneider was right to complain all the way to the box. Quinn, Colby, Chris Porter all played great games. I don't think Colby is really comfortable on the wing. He is a natural centerman. Fylling was fun to watch, he was in people's face most of the night. Chris Porter worked hard all night; driving to the net, trying to get free in the offensive zone. I am really concerned about the D; Andy just flat out left his man alone in the slot on, I think the second BSU goal. It was ugly. I hate to say it 'cause he's a nice kid, but Matt Smaby is rapidly becoming a liability. He's tentative with the puck leading to LOTS of turnovers in our own zone. I watched him stand...yes stand...all alone for entire shifts in front of Lammy when he should've been planted on some Beav's backside or tying up a stick. Matt Jones is not flashy, but he's the only stablizer on the ice last night. You take Jones, Fuher, Schneider and Greene out of the D rotation and next year could be REALLY ugly. I hope these kids coming in can immediately play with the big boys. Prpich was off his game; lots of trash-talking but not a lot otherwise. Massen needed to come up big and had about 1-1/2 shifts of effectiveness. Zajac and Spirko continue to amaze me and will become real stars. I thought Stafford played well in spots, although not as steadily as he needs to. A big surprise for the night was how well Lee Marvin filled in on D; I thought he played very well. Nothing spectacular, but he didn't scare me the way Smaby has this season. Offensively the Sioux need to focus more on getting the puck into the slot; they cycle behind the net and to the boards, but it just never seems to get into a good scoring position. I know they're trying to work it to the post and find a lurker there to jam the puck in, but aside from Stafford, and maybe Colby when he's centering a line, I don't know who we have to get in front and stay there. One real tell on the team was the power play, what, late in the 2nd? We were still getting outshot pretty horribly, and they just simply took control of the puck, and tempo and the entire ice sheet. I think they threw 6 or 7 shots on goal and eventually scored to get to 2-3. That was a powerful example of the skill present. This is still a pretty talented team; I am not surprised by the dearth in scoring. And, as someone else pointed out, we did move up one slot in PRI in spite of the tie. The intensity the Sioux showed in the 3rd was fun, and that needs to be the rule from here on out. Still have 16 league points available, and 10 or 12 are quite possible. But they'll not be easy or convincing wins. I think this team has a chance to do something if they can get into the NCAAs and if they can carry some energy throughout an entire game.

I've seen Brian and the Spuds play a handful of times this year, and I think Lee's got a target on his back since the WJC. Ever since all the press about he was the only high schooler on the team, etc. teams (or, more accurately opposing players) have had him in their sights. I watched Brian get knocked solidly on his kiester not once but twice during the Warroad game. I don't remember who hit him, and was frankly surprised that at least one of the hits didn't result in a penalty. He was skating in the neutral zone, quite a ways away from the play when he was flattened. Everyone wants to hit the "all star" to pump up his own rep. Brian remains a great high school hockey player who has worked very, very hard to improve his body and his game. The scholarship awaiting him in Grand Forks and being named to the USA team for WJC are proof of his talents.

Seems Wookie and others left a wake of carnage behind them in Grand Forks. http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050128/1009781.asp

I disagree with your comments about Fylling: he's a constant presence on offense, digging for loose pucks, etc. He has not scored what I had hoped he would (but that tag is applied to the whole team). He missed a back check Friday that cost the game-winner, but his effort on offense should not be criticized. As to a D-man to lead a rush, I think Schneider and Fuhrer both are trying to carry that torch. I agree that this team is going to have to find a way to win the 2-1 and 1-0 games. The problem is time is running out.