farce poobah

Good topic. Datysuk is astoundingly good all over the ice. However, Player X has become one of the NHL's finest along the walls. Watch how many 1 on 1 battles he wins in a game. This is a big part of how his team has the puck most of the game. I would have gone Datysuk, Kesler and X.

Fixed your post.

WHOA! I counted 74 former Sioux making it to the NHL or WHA. Thanks for the link.

Any publicity is good publicity.

"The wait is over in Chicago as Hawks take Cup" http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=525280&...vid=DL|NHL|home "EA's simulation concluded that Blackhawks' captain Jonathan Toews will end the Cup drought by scoring seven minutes into overtime for a 2-1 win in Game 7 against the defending champion Penguins."

Try this: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?c...vid=DL|NHL|home

I agree with the idea of the thread. And I note how much better the CCHA has done since changing formats. One change that might be easier to work is taking a week off after the regular season and before WCHA 1st round.

The University of North Dakota adopted the nickname Roughriders in 2010. The nickname honors the brave men and women who serve in our military forces. They epitomize hard work, a fighting spirit, and winning battles. They defend our freedom and our way of life. Please be loud and proud and exhibit good sportsmanship as you cheer on your team tonight.

OK then, its settled. We'll have to fire Gwozdecky.

The WCHA playoff system needs a revamp. Needs to go the way the CCHA has, with essentially a rest week for the top 4 seeds during the first round of playoffs. Its no coincidence that their NCAA success changed when they gave their teams a little rest. This six games in 9 days crap - THEN try to play the most important games of the season - has to end.

The explanation that makes the most sense is that Gopher Athletic Department told FSN to make the switch. That implies Lucia but couldn't have happened without Maturi going to bat for it. Woog, absolutely love what he brings to the game in terms of knowledge. He has slowed down, but would be a great 3rd man in the booth or with postgame when he's had a chance to gather his thoughts. But his powers of observation are second to none, and I've listened to a lot of hockey color guys to make that assessment. The guy has spent most of his adult life on a sport that I love, so I can't help but respect and admire (and hey maybe I'm a bit envious...). Mazzocco was fine, most of the time. In the last few years he's gotten increasingly opinionated, both positive to the Gophers and negative. He was brutally honest about the Gophers at times this season, and I can see where that drove this decision. I also give him credit for learning the opponent's roster.

If we win this weekend, it will REALLY help our PWR.

Most definitely. This is a coach with a compass.

Your definition of a "tune-up" is a bit more stringent than most people.

Memory is a bit "fuzzy" - my best guess is late in the first period, at about the 5:00 left in the period.

I'm much happier playing Yale in round 1 instead of Michigan. Michigan is playoff tested, Berenson is a jedi master at getting his troops to play their best. Yale has had about zero success in the NCAA's for years and years. As to the second round, will worry about it when we get there. Just admit there's no easy games at that stage. (And we may not even play BC; Alaska is no slouches.)

St Cloud 2, Wisconsin 0. yesterday. Otherwise, I loved the reaction in 2008 when Michigan got excited to find out "we don't have to play effing North Dakota again". Personally, I'd like another shot at New Hampshire.

Yup, we had them right where we wanted them, 55 seconds in.

Excellent call. Deserves a call out. Just got back. That was a heckuva crowd there tonight. Loud, loud, loud. Boys really stepped up and survived the gut check. The first 30 minutes are Sioux hockey at its finest; the last 30 are all heart. Well done. Congratulations. Guys.

I agree about the boring part. But BOTH teams have a lot at stake. For DU, a win gives them Alabama-Huntsville in the first round. Not quite a bye, but in a tournament where the rest of the games are almost a coin flip, that's a significant advantage. For UW, a win gives them a #1 seed and almost certainly a trip back to St Paul. Lose and go somewhere else.

So, "Final Five Thoughts". Kinda hard to trim it to just five. 1. I am REALLY glad we get last change tonight vs UMD. With a short-manned D corps, guys like Davidson and Fienhage will be logging a lot of minutes. Blood/MacWilliam and Marto/Lapointer to draw the assignment vs UMD's top line. 2. Also REALLY hope we get an early lead and can play the whole roster. Come Saturday night (double wink) we'll need fresh legs. 3. Interesting to see how VV and Malone fare with Frattin in the pressbox. Kinda hate to see all the lines get juggled - maybe Knight on that line? 4. Who wants it more: UMD's season is "almost certainly" over with a loss tonight. UND is playing for a #1 seed and a chance to come back to the X next weekend and play in front of several thousand Sioux fans. 5. Style of play. UND likes to play uptempo pressure. UMD's top guys have great wheels. This could be some fun hockey to watch. GO SIOUX!

Fresh legs ... are a reason to put Cichy and Bruno. Of course, that logic would be a reason to put Fienhage in as well, even if Davidson has been good.

Gophers had nothing last night and won't have anything tonight. The Gopher goals were flukes and dives. Sioux carried the play, controlled long stretches of play, were and are the better team, and just need to keep playing strong. That said, "hockey is a strange game" and winning is not assured. Be loud and be proud.

I would enjoy a synchronized skating exhibition between periods. (Not that tDon would.)

NHL center ice with free previews tonight (tomorrow too?) .... getting a look at Oshie tonight.