stickboy1956

Could come down to a huge play-in game with CC. CC already owns the comp with Minn but CC could flip a couple more if the RPI bumps a little more.

Can't wait for the Pairwise Predictor to come out on USCHO/CHN - Sunday perhaps?

yeah - your probably right - we would get to 20 not 21.

Wouldn't the sioux flip some more comps if the above happens and UNH beats VT BC beats NE I think we could get to 21 and the rest would drop below that -we would be tied w/Mich at 21.

Keep the pedal to the metal. What if Sat ... Und over Wisco CC over Den NH over VT BC over NE Do I see #4 in the PWR ?

Have you seen him play this year, besides against the Sioux?

I just liked the picture. McBain is probably the best D in the league this year, even if you agree with the above comments. The reason he is a candidate is because no forward has had a Vanek/Parise type of year either. It's definately not obvious. I'd go with either Duncs or Salock. You could make a good case our MVP is the freshman goalie. He stole some points for us last week.

Wisco website 705 both nights http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mhky/s...le/?sportid=119

Wisco website has a nice splash page for Jamie McBain. http://www.uwbadgers.com/congrats.aspx?url...amp;sportID=119

This isn't personal - I haven't called him names. We have injuries on the blueline and all need to step it up. We got 3 points last weekend but were dangerously close to getting 0, not for some outstanding goaltending. That is what concerns me going forward, when we get into a loser - out situation, we cannot afford an off night. This is why we need our best players to actually be our best players. I just thnk Joe can play better. We can't win it all if he doesn't.

Do you think he was our best D vs. CC?

Back to my original point - the Sr. 1st round draft pick needs to be our best D if we want to play games in April. That hasn't been the case lately. In fact, I think his best weekend was v. UMTC in Jan. He needs to be more physical, take care of the puck and make better decisions, especially when he knows his partner's role is to push the puck and take some chances on offense. He needs to play his best hockey as a Sioux starting now.

I think the only teams you can count on knowing where they will play would be Yale and NH, if they both make the tournament. BU likely is in Manchester, unless UNH falls to a 4 seed and the committe wants to avoid a 1st round conf matchup. Then they could go to Bridgeport - if Yale is #4 seed then BU would then have to face the host team in the 1st round. I don't think the NCAA wants to send BU to Grand Rapids or Mlps. It would be a real head scratcher for the committe if this scenario plays out.

I too like our balance on offense. With Lapoint gone, it is even more important that Joe Finley play like a Sr. 1st. round draft pick. He should be our best defenseman every night. Lately he hasn't. Especially with Genoway taking chances on offense, Joe needs to be a force in our zone and not give up the puck so often like he did this weekend vs. CC. If Finley becomes our best player down the stretch, I like our chances.

I'll say it again - Knight will not come before Mattson. It's not the only barometer but Mattson was ranked 55 midterm by NHL CSS - Knight is not ranked at all (Dylan Olsen was the only AJHL player ranked). If Knight's stock rises/Mattson's falls and they get drafted in a similar spot, things could change. Last year, when we had 3 D available to come, Feinhage was drafted 3+ rounds higher than McWilliam or Gleason. Fienhage came - Gleason and McWilliam played jr's. NHLCSS is not perfect - far from it - but it does give you a sense of where the "hockey world" is thinking about a players value. I would hope Vandy stays for his Sr. year and both play Jr. next year - that would be ideal.

Jim - Re the WCHA what if calculator - what is the tiebreaker formula if CC, Wisco, UMTC, UMD and SCSU all end up with 31 points? When I use the calculator it ranks them in that order 3-7.

FSSN should just take the Wisco video feed and have Sweeney and Scanny do the play by play from Grand Forks. Something like that has been done before. They could ask Frank and Wooger for tips

If Forbort and Mattson come in 2010 we will have 8 D. Thats's too many and I'm sure both Mattson and Forbort will expect to play regularly.

Sounds like we need to hold Wodon's feet to the fire when he posts his upcoming Bracket Analysis - let's check to see if he breaks PWR ties by RPI, even if the CHN rankings do not.

They will not carry 8 D on the roster. They don't need any more D in the short term. As mentioned previously, unless Marto or Lapoint go pro, in 2010 they will have Nick Mattson come in to replace Genoway. They will also have Forbert, who could get drafted as high as Mattson ready to come. They will not bring in an 8th D for 2009.

I know that UMTC holds the tie breaker over UMD and SCSU if the 3 teams are tied when the dust settles next week (SCSU beats UMD as well). It is not out of the question for 4 way or even a 5 way tie (CC tie/Wisco split/UMTC, UMD, SCSU sweep = 31 pts). Then what happens?? Do they just add up the head to head tiebreakers and who has the most is ranked on top?

They didn't play very motivated in Mankato. The Badgers could be one team where the draft picks spend this week talking to the advisiors making plans post-F5/1st round playoff loss.

Forbort is a Jr. in HS. He would not come. I don't think Genoway will go early - he is an exciting college player but he is not NHL or AHL ready.

DU is seeded 3 not 4. Both CHN and USCHO break PWR ties using the head to head PWR comparison, not RPI.

I don't think UMD is going to lose to AA this weekend so the Gophers need 2 wins at 'Tech - when is the last time they had a road sweep? The last team to sweep Tech at home was Denver the begining of Dec. It won't be easy to get 4 points at Tech - one 3rd period rally doesn't turn your season around.