farce poobah

This is the first time I can remember that the Saturday lineup is the same as Friday. Interesting message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uZBMaaAzhE

For 40 minutes, the problem was that we DIDN'T behave.

I hope Nick got to see it. Anyone see them?

We're gonna need help ... New Hampshire is going to have to lose a couple in there.

Looks awful. Any chance the Badger fans would go bonkers for Northeastern? Ugh. Send us east.

Yeah. Finish second and we get to play Minnesota; that would be loads better.

... The argument now will be that this proves the rest of the CCHA doesn't suck.

I thought we got better as the game went on. I don't know why, but the first period Friday at Mariucci is always a problem. Might be because its not just Olympic (which we can practice on) but the corners are square, the nets are deep, and the walls are dead. Maybe its because our guys aren't used to starting games in a half-full arena. The second PP unit really got away from what they did the last month. The FIRST PP unit needs to stop being so right-handed. Gophers had all four guys on that side of the ice at times and we didn't go back across to the left. We need to have Oshie let loose from left dot...

Gotta give TJ Oshie props for setting the tone in OT with a great, GREAT shift to start the OT. Martens with great creativity and a beautifully executed pass.

Finley great play to stop a 2x1 brreak. 10: left still 1-1.

End 1. 1-1. 17 minutes to get our &&&& together.

Good! A bit of feistiness from Genoway! Coincidentals. :30 left 1-1.

Sioux not winning very battles along the boards. 4: left 1-1.

1:20 into the 3rd Sioux PP. and its the 3rd awful Sioux PP.

OSHIE - draws his 3rd penalty in the first 12 minutes. I love the guy.

MN with a chance. 8: left period 1, 1-1. We look a little puzzled by the ice size and what it does to the tempo (slows it down). Common for a Friday at Mariucci.

I know its Friday night and we're on the road, but I have a feeling we're going to play well tonight. Keys: 1) PATIENCE with the puck. Plays develop slowly on the big rink. 2) USE the whole surface. Killing penalties especially, we're used to a possess-clear it approach. MN often makes a pass, and that's often better. Angles exist all over; use them. 3) DEFENSE: Hold your ground and make them come to you. Don't get caught out in nowhere land when the play moves behind you. 4) MOVE feet and DRAW penalties.

GO SIOUX!

Hear hear. Thanks for saying what I was thinking. Only you did it better than I would'va.

Sioux-Gopher games always provide the unexpected. My least-expected outcomes: Friday, Minnesota's power play is good and UND's PK is bad, Kangas is a wall and the Gophers win 5-1. Saturday, Lamoureux has 14 saves and the Sioux win 4-0.

Star Tribune, Saturday Feb 2, 2008 (Sports, page 13, bottom corner.) Headline: Frazee Stones Bina "Jeff Frazee earned a bit of revenge by stopping Robbie Bina on a penalty shot in last night's hockey game at Mariucci. Bina's unconventional shot, a two-hop flip from center ice, hit the shaft of Frazee's stick and dropped on the goal line. Referee Randy Schmidt ruled that Frazee then kicked the puck in after he blew the whistle. North Dakota got six goals on the night from Minnesotans, and their goaltender grew up only a couple miles from Minnesota. Minnesota got its goal from a Minnesotan."

In a related story, Lucia bought stock in YouTube. I guess that means we'll see Frazee in net.

Along with faceoffs and "the battles along the boards", hitting is a good indicator of whether we're in the game. Mankato tried hitting the Sioux, which only got the Sioux to hit back. Along with that, we played some of the better hockey of the season. Friday vs UAA, we did some hitting. Saturday we didn't.

Maybe Puffy only watches the Sioux when they are in GF on Saturdays ...