farce poobah

While I like the scenarios from Goon and NorthStar where the Sioux basically win out the season and cruise to a 9 point margin I looked at it from the other perspective - what's the minimum that we have to do in key series to win the title. First, the Sioux need to win the games we should win - Tech and Mankato in particular (12 points up for grabs). Second, get 3 points each from home series with CC and DU. My hypothetical total so far is 38 points. Third, get 1 point each from road series at MN, WI and UMD. 41 points would put the title out of reach. Even if UMD or if WI were to run the table, it would not be enough for them. (As to the Rodents, MN can only get to 41 if they win all their remaining games. Looks like their run for home ice may boil down to a series at DU on 2/27&28.) =================== UND 41 UMD 39 UW 36 SCSU 36 DU 32 MN 32 CC 22 UAA 18 MSU 13 Tech 11

Great recap. Thanks again. Your quickies are better than most guys' longies. Or so I hear.

End of 1. 1-0 UAA Sioux PP starts the second.

Sioux take 2 penalties - Smaby / Greene, kill the 5x3, but UAA scores 1-0 (Kronschnabel) Sounds like UAA is running a short bench.... I think that will cost them later. If we don't get too far behind that is.

Underway In Goal, King for UAA, Parise for UND. Bit of a surprise, the latter. UND lines sound like: Bochenski, Porter, Genoway Parise Murray Stafford Canady McMahon Fylling Marvin Hale Palmo

If Zach were taking shifts off, he would be on the ice for opponent goals. He's only been on the ice for 4 (even strength) opponent goals this year, and 3 of those were somebody else's fault (I didn't see the 4th, it was at DU). Since so many experts give him credit for two-way effort and hustle, I don't think there's a problem here.

Other than the naturally rare natural hat trick last night, my favorite stat was that in the 3rd period UAA had 1 SOG even-strength. (5 total, 4 of those on the powerplays) That's air-tight.

So does the Friday UAA game count for 6? Bo and Brady bagged six. Or is it zero since Blaiser shuffled the lines?

I love the ending quote, noting unenthusiastically that St Cloud State also plays hockey. The JBSU legend grows....

OK.

I think its great creative fund raising. I would like to see UND AD raffle a couple jerseys ... lot of people would go in for a buck who otherwise can't drop the $200-$500 for a game-worn jersey.

Spreaking of the Golden Boys, Stuart and Sterling skated around the rink at CC tonight with the Golden Cup, the team trophy. After a lap, they presented it to Doug Palazzari of USA Hockey. Way cool.

Second period underway. UAA penalty. Stafford "drew" it. Sometimes I just crack myself up. GOAL UND!!! 2-1

Dang! You have humility - I'm jealous. Once I get humility, I'll be perfect.

Count me crazy, but I think the Sioux will be better in the second half. That's because we haven't "really" played up to full potential yet. For example: 1) Andy Schneider is scoreless in 9 WCHA games, after being point-a-game last season. 2) James Massen hasn't produced yet, and I think he'll step up. (But I expect him to be sitting this weekend.) 3) The powerplay has been ... well, let's just say "often discussed". With the talent on this team, the PP should be around 20% (where other good PP's are). That's a goal a game from what we've gotten to date. 4) Instead of playing most games against the PWR top 10, there's a few games against the middle of the collegiate pack (UAA first). I don't mean to say they will be easy, but they are no BC. 5) Even Zach, as good as he has been, has not put as many points on the board as his potential shows. 6) Depth is better this year... meaning that as the grind of 10 straight weeks of WCHA play wears on, coaches have the option of not dressing some guys, or deciding to play the stars less, so they have legs come March. 7) The team is as young a Sioux team as I've seen in a long time ... these young men are still growing. 8) Conditioning, by all signs, is outstanding. I think we'll get better. The open question is still will we win. Soft goaltending, bad bounces, more-than-one injury, could all work to undo the magic. Swoon? No. Hardware? Too soon to tell.

My favorite statistic: * in 6 games against the world's best, * Zach Parise was not on the ice for an even-strength goal against, * Neither was Brady Murray, * Nor was Drew Stafford. As close to perfect hockey as it gets, eh?

"Got Gold!" [picture below]

It would be really cool to show USA highlights on the big screen... if REA could get permission, that is. (HINT HINT: It will help sell tickets!!!)

Box Score Speaking of Jason Blake, he had a 4-point game to end 2003 with a bang.

I think it will be situational; we'll see bigger guys against physical opponents and faster guys on the big ice. We'll see the vets against top teams like DU; we'll see the younger guys play vs. Tech.

The Badgers are very young. Question is which direction from here: ** do all the rookies get tired and fade down the stretch like some teams' rookies did last year? ** do they keep getting better? Personally, I'd much rather play them in November than in March.

Jeff Glas? I hear he can hit the 3-pointer!

We are dang lucky to be down just 3. Time to turn it up a notch. I expect to see a bit more play action on offense, plus counters, traps and other plays against a GVSU defense that pursues the ball hard (maybe overpursues).

Anyone sense that we might see Parise-Murray-Stafford this weekend?