farce poobah

Tallackson had zero SOG friday and zero SOG Saturday. He was so invisible it hurt. Vanek was -3 Friday and -2 Saturday. His definition of forechecking is to stand in front of the Sioux net and hope a "D" centers the puck to him. A great backcheck by Zach denied him a goal early on in front of a wide open net. Zach didn't score Saturday but he still ended the night +1. Gophers looked tired late both nights. Maybe not in shape? Sioux got better each night as the game went on .. maybe in shape?

So much for recipes. Geez, I was pretty much wrong about everything. We took some marginal unnecessary penalties early that cost, Let the Varmints score first, Got no goals from Bo or Zach, Gave up a soft goal (MN #3), AND WE STILL WON!!!! Yeeehhaaaawww! More thoughts later after I get "hydrated".

I think Blais will put Murray on a different line. I would not be surprised to see Massen in Bina out, with R Hale moving back to D. I think Canady should play, he played closer to potential last night with outstanding hustle and work effort, and no penalties. Its also a good situation to give JPar a start, but I wouldn't complain if Jake plays.

I agree. Sioux forechecking pressure led directly to goals, especially the important #5 from Brady Murray 1 minute into the 3rd period. I think the Gophers missed Ballard and Harrington more than the Sioux missed Schneider. I'd love to see both teams with healthy rosters.

The Friday recipe for Gopher-beating included: * Have Joey Martin center the puck from behind his own net right to Bochenski's knee (Bo could be a decent goalie, I think). * Have Matt Jones shoot the puck from the point towards the corner and have it bounce off Kennedy and past Briggs. * Have Lee Marvin toss it at Briggs from the goal line extended and off Briggs shoulder. Suffice to say we were the recipients of some gift goals Friday. BUT.... there were a TON of plays that we could have and should have scored on, and didn't: * Zach with 3 clean breakaways and no goals (he did draw a penalty on one that ended a Varmint powerplay). Bochenski - Parise - Murray could just as well had 10 goals last night the way they were playmaking. Their performance was as good as ANY I can recall in the past 25 years (and that includes Panzer getting 4 one night, Joyce-Hrkac-Johnson with a bagfull in 1987 etc etc). WOW! The Gang of Five - Jones Greene Prpich McMahon and Fylling - were simply outstanding. They were physical, they were fast, they HIT VANEK HARD starting on their first shift and ending 60 minutes later. Game Pucks to those guys ... if Vanek doesn't score, our odds of winning go way up. On the other hand, Minnesota's goals were borderline soft too, but Jake too made some great saves when the outcome was still in doubt. Last and NOT least, the Sioux penalty kill was good. ========================================== The recipe for Saturday: * No needless penalties. We took too many away from the play, sticks in places where they shouldn't have been (Lundbohm), and MN's powerplay is too good to give them 7 chances and expect it not to bite. * Take the body. Especially Vanek and Guyer. Vanek is big but if you make it hard to get through, he seems to stop working. (Potulny on the other hand likes the bumping, it seems.) * Come out hard in the first 10 minutes. Set the tempo. * Forecheck - Pressure MN's cruddy defensemen, of which there are several playing a lot. Continue exploiting that weakness ... Normally I hate dump and chase, but if there's ever a time to use it selectively, its this weekend. Guys like Taylor, Vanelli, even Joey Martin, just can't play at the pace our forwards do. ============================================ One last comment on the atmosphere Friday: outstanding. Tip of the Farce Helmet to the creativity and energy from the student section (you know who you are!) and the Jumbotron guys. I wish I were a Sioux fan right now! BOOYA! DROP THE PUCK ALREADY! GO SIOUX!

I think the Gang of Five (including Jones, Greene, Prpich, McMahon, Fylling) should all get Game Pucks for their outstanding work. It took them all of 3 minutes and Vanek's head was distracted. He was yapping, pushing, shoving ... which is exactly the point.

Saturday: 9534 at the Alerus, 9010 at the FargoDome.... Most D-2 teams would give their right arm for that kind of support.

Blais, as usual, seems right on this one. * Minnesota runs goalies. They ran Berkhoel twice this weekend on what can only be described as deliberate, intentional plays. Riddle's included a stick to the head, and Vanek on the other ... * So we need two confident goalies. While it seems likely Jake gets the start, we may need the backup for one or more reasons ... * and getting JP a bit more confidence is more important than getting a shutout in the books.

If Schneider is out for any time at all, we'll need the rookies to step in ...

I predict the Sioux embarrass the Gophers so thoroughly that the Gophers drop men's hockey forever. GO SIOUX!!!

If it weren't for powerplays, we'd have had eleven. Or twelve. I think its fine to pull Brandt with a 9 goal lead ... geez I'm betting Jake starts Friday vs Varmints.

We Want Eleven We Want Eleven We Want Eleven

DU 4, MN 3 0:51 in.... How about a bench clearing braawl...

3-3 end of 2 Denver looks pretty good. Vanek keeping the Gophers in it with acouple great individual efforts.

1981-1982 All 6 recruits went to the NHL...

We Want Ten We Want Ten We Want Ten

DONT. NO WWF tonight!! Pulease!

Even if Brandt hadn't stopped anything, it would still be 4-3 Sioux. Shots 15-3 in the first.

Oh SH#$. Powerplay on.

GREAT! to see Brady get one! 1-0 13 seconds in. 11 and 7 with the assists

I'm getting radio ... from rodentland.

Stafford is really not that good. He's too young to bear the rigors of Finland. There must be SOMEBODY from St Cloud to take instead. Anyone know when the rest of the roster gets picked?

But ... but ... I don't think I can hit the ice with a bulldog from any farther back. My arm isn't what it used to be.

Ticketmaster has them ... or you can call the DECC. Good seats still available, but I bet they start going fast.