Chuck Schwartz

Plus/minus is the worst stat in hockey today. You can have zero effect on a play and get a +, or a -. The plus/minus stat is mostly a virtue of playing time and luck. Do you think that Matt Watkins is a better forward that TJ Oshie because Watkins is a +9 and Oshie is only +1? Do you think Finley (+18) is a better defenseman than Taylor Chorney (Even)? The answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT. Hockey isn't baseball. You can't put a stat on everything that comes up with a total output like you can with OPS in baseball. Just because Joe Finley is leading the team in +/- does not mean hes the best hockey player on the team, in fact, I'm not even sure he should be in the lineup every night over chorney, bina, genoway, lapoint, jones and marto. (In that order) He's slow, doesn't hit very much for his size, and brings nothing offensively (which is another point why is he on the power play at times, or on the ice in the closing minutes when the team is down). I'm convinced the only reason that he plays so much is that Hak thinks that he'll have another Okposo leaving since he is allegedly a first round pick, even though he hasn't come even close to fulfilling that role.

What a joke.

I'm not complaining, I think hes a great guy and a great poster. I just don't think its necessary to keep posting the same thing over and over.

The only thing that bothers me is the constant bumping like Jim said when the previous post was the exact same thing.

To be fair AZ, Zajac has played 8 more games and is 2 years older than Lee.

Not many people know how many conference titles you have. EVERYONE knows how many national championships you have. While a conference title is a nice bonus it is not the ultimate goal. The goal is to be playing for the national championship year in and year out, and since he's been here there isn't a coach in the entire nation that has done this as well as Dave Hakstol. Quit whining.

This may have been covered already sorry but I didn't feel like reading 15 pages. Will FSN be covering both games this weekend or whats the TV situation like?

So I've gone back and forth with myself on getting a Sioux jersey and have finally decided to take the plunge. But I'm having issues deciding what jersey I want to go with. I will probably go with a replica right now. The swifts are definitely my favorite and if they offered an authentic, that would be my choice. So I guess I'm looking for a little feedback from others who have seen the current products out there. How does the Nike Green/White replica compare to the K1 Green/White. How does the Nike Swift black replica compare to the K1 Swift black replica? I've seen these Nike replica swifts in person before LINK. Would this be the same as the Sioux replica?

I watched the game tonight, I think you guys are over-reacting quite a bit. Denver is a really good college hockey team.

Where is Finley going? The American Hockey League?

Goon, there is a difference between clutch and grab, and the trap.

Haha I'm gonna try my best this weekend. How about a couple of 5-5 ties!?!? Regardless I'm JACKED for this weekend.

My male parts will be pretty sore straddling the fence this weekend. You can still get tickets on the UW site, just go to uwbadgers.com Otherwise there will be scalpers outside of the Kohl Center.

I will be there, along with about 150-200 people from Eau Claire to see LaPoint.

I don't think you'll see a trap fest this weekend as Wisconsin has a lot more skilled players then in years past . Good puck moving defensemen are really what helps both Wisconsin and North Dakota on the offensive end. On the other side, those d-men need to be a lot more responsible for both teams. Both teams have been giving up too many odd man rushes. I think North Dakota definitely has the edge experience wise which should help them. It should be interesting to see who Wisconsin has in the lineup this weekend. Saturday Eaves benched Davies who had been playing on the first line for most of the year and Turnbull who Davies had replaced on the first line. All in all I think a split is in the works but at the time North Dakota is the better team so I wouldn't be shocked to see a North Dakota sweep.

I'm not saying they shouldn't get 3 points, I was just saying transition game definitely isn't a factor.

UW's trasition game is leaps and bounds over what it was in years past. With the 3 young free wheeling freshman D back there they have really helped out the transition game.

I didn't get to see the Northeastern game but was currious who was on the second PP defense with Genoway? Although biased I thought LaPoint looked good against BC controlling the flow of that second unit but he didn't play against NE.

Yeah pretty much. But regardless GO SIOUX!

Interesting I guess. Thanks AZ, I'll save my $4.99 on the webcast.

Anyone have the line chart for tonight?

I thought you could bring 1 extra defenseman and 1 extra forward?

he sounds a lot more BAMF with Jean-Phillipe

Thanks guys, I may have to buy it one of these days. Any thoughts on the first period on how things looked. (other then goaltending)

Ok this may sound like a stupid question but up until this year I've really had no reason to follow the Sioux. Now that I have something invested in the team, what is the best way to follow them for games? I remember last year since I'm a Wisconsin fan watching a game from the Ralph on web cast. Do they do that every game? I believe it was free when I did it last year is that always the case? Any help would be appreciated.