farce poobah

Johannes should get an assist for a perfect screen.

From last night, there are ingredients for tonight to get really fiery. The "sticks up" aspect of yesterday, couple body checks and scrums late in the game, and the early, early bragging rights for NCHC #1. Would love tonight's penalty mix to favor us again. Giving DU only two PP is part of the recipe for winning. If it were me, I'd be tempted to do a "stick drop" (mic drop) after scoring a goal, but will happily see what our guys come up with tonight.

A remarkable demonstration of skill on that goal. Not sure which was better: Blake's pass threading the needle between traffic in front of net, or McLaughlin's shot.

Early on, I think we were surprised by DU's speed in attack, and how many guys they were bringing deep into the zone. Credit that for their early goals. Later, we started moving our feet and skating like we've seen all season. Also I suspect some coaching adjustments to our play in neutral ice and our forecheck, but that's hard to tell on TV. DU didn't quit by any means, IMHO, but we started playing with real gusto. (They hit a pipe late, and Berg saved a goal by pulling it off the line into Persson, or it could have been 7-7.) And yeah conditioning seemed to play a role late on.

Stats tonight that make me smile (other than the obvious 7>5): Hunter Johannes led the plus minus with +3 on the night. Dependable. Other end of the spectrum is the national co-player of the month, DU Zeev Buium who got torched for -3.

Denver needs to be training at altitude. We looked fresh in the third, and they looked gassed.

Notre Dame 4-1 lead vs Michigan early 3rd not quite upset alert.

We get the edge in goaltending, on paper, since Halyk allowed 18 goals in 4 games vs ASU and Omaha (before double shutouts vs Yale). If we can keep sharp eyes on Rizzo and clear our own zone effectively, I like our chances, a lot. prediction 3-1 UND.

Pleasant surprise to see Army beat Lowell. Nice little bump to our Strength of Schedule.

Very ill advised. IMO, it followed a flurry in front of BU's net that should have given at least one penalty as they tried to defend a Q attack. Par for the course, and not unexpected for HEA refs to selectively favor the guys who pay their salaries.

Our strength of schedule (component of RPI) rises every time a team we've played wins. It falls when those teams lose. So, yes, a win helps our RPI.

One game on the calendar today: Quinnipiac vs BU. 4pm central. ESPN plus has it, for those who subscribe. Important implications for both ECAC and Hockey East PWR.

Alex the correct question is "which NCHC team is most likely to get swept and screw up the league's RPI?"

Very rare in college hockey today to see such a large difference in skating ability between two teams. Yes we have some superb guys, and Miami could really a better skating coach. it’s early, but this group of forwards has the potential to better than some great past teams. Three scoring lines is key to winning games vs top squads.

The common denominator of all four Miami goals last night was traffic in front providing a good screen. We need to pressure the shooter better in those cases, and if possible move screening forwards or at least tie up their stick.

I see CC sits at #16 in the (very early) Pairwise ratings today; nice to see continuing progress at CC.

Served on a footlong bun in the shape of a goalie stick. There's gotta be an NIL idea here somewhere too...

Ludvig's Revenge! The new sandwich at Red Pepper: double taco meat, double hot sauce.

I would be in favor of adding Michigan hockey to the NCHC.

Final box score credits him with 0 shots on goal. It's been a while since that happened.

Which reminds me …. I’m relieved to have NCHC officials behind the whistles this weekend. Hockey East refs can kiss my rock hard bubble of an a$&.

That’s right up there with the opening game at Amsoil , where they didn’t get to blast their goal horn until way after the game. https://www.collegehockeynews.com/box/final/20101230/ndk/mnd/

I have Phil Kessel on line 1. He says he was minus 165 in the NHL, and still got to play.

Don’t tell the Gophers, but Augustana is ahead of them in the PWR so far .

The icing on the cake was the ridiculous icing call with 19 seconds left.