farce poobah

... I'm just really happy they aren't playing the Gophers today.

Its code for "our nickname used to be Chiefs".

If I were coach (and its good I'm not), I would have had talks with Jost about Captaining the 2017-2018 UND team.

So it's 5 am and I can't quite get to sleep. Keep replaying the game, the key moments. Torn between a strong admiration for the effort from UND boys vs BU and the what ifs.... just one post, one bounce, what if Hoff had just held his leg back instead of taking a stride, what is the definition of indisputable evidence, and so on. Seems like this happens about every 5 years. Last time was 2011 v Michigan. Before that 2006 vs BC in Milwaukee. The games where the boys left it all on the ice, outperformed the opponent but the scoreboard contradicts what reality should be. Thanks boys for a great ride. Sleep will come. Eventually.

So we are 1 game in and my bracket is no longer perfect. Someone else will win the billion dollars.

Zero shots on goal for BU in OT1. Wow.

Seems to me that Panzarella showed up big time in this same building, just two years ago. Next. Man. Up.

Going for the unconventional pick. Team that's never won it, that's not a #1 seed, but plays sturdy disciplined hockey, has a couple great scorers, and very solid goaltending: Western Michigan.

I'd rather donate the tickets myself to a good cause and there's lots of them. I'm fond of big brothers, who've received their share of tickets over the years.

#betterdeadthanred

I view the fundamental "must have" is a playing surface that is standard or better. On this, Target Center still fails. The ice is substandard, resulting in poor quality of play and random puck bounces then start to dictate games. Or worse yet, dictate how teams play because the ice is so bad. Boards and glass are 1980's quality, not modern at all. Get some seamless glass and modern boards. I worry about injuries at an obsolete arena like that. Also, the Excel is hosting NCAA Frozen Fours. And regionals. Familiarity with that arena becomes a competitive advantage. This is a no brainer. Move it 15 miles east.

I thought Michigan played like they were loaded. IYKWIM. nudge nudge wink wink

Yeah, I am in wonderment too. The play was just like the one in a Wild-Blackhawks game where Parise appeared offside but was called onside. I think the refs are Overthinking It. The rulebook doesn't allow an exception to offside for this situation. To the contrary the rulebook seems to me to clearly define it as solely based on where the player is when the puck completely crosses the line. (From the 2015-2016 NHL rule book. Couldn't find the 2016-2017.) Rule 83 – Off-side 83.1 Off-side - Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone. The position of the player’s skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play. A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line regardless of the position of his stick. However, a player actually controlling the puck who shall cross the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered “off-side,” provided he had possession and control of the puck prior to his skates crossing the blue line. It should be noted that while the position of the player’s skates is what determines whether a player is “off-side,” nevertheless the question of an “off-side” never arises until the puck has completely crossed the leading edge of the blue line at which time the decision is to be made. If a player legally carries or passes the puck back into his own defending zone while a player of the opposing team is in such defending zone, the off-side shall be ignored and play permitted to continue.

I see the game is on ESPN2, so I'm guessing ESPN requested.

I want to hear the roar when we end UMD's season on Saturday evening.

Thanks for taking one for the team!

I like that the Committee protected the #1 seed (Denver) by giving them true matchups. Even if attendance in Cinci is not great, I like the fairness.

I like it. All their one and done's are going to not risk an injury before moving on, so a little UND hitting will be all it takes.

I would rather have a cooling off period too, but the natural bracket fits well this way. (Works for the other regions too.) Of course, I wouldn't complain if they sent us Minnesota. #freshmeat

Looks like West Regional will be #2 UMD vs #15 Ohio State #7 BU vs #10 UND

I want UMD to have to play in Fargo.

If the next game wasn't NCAA, yeah. But Hak kept his team cool after Paulovich broke Bina's neck... so I am gonna disagree.

BRad Berry very level headed in the CBS interview. Great character guy.

UND power play just needs to get Jost out of the box

Nice hustle and pressure drawing penalties from UMD. Small sign but a good early one.