farce poobah

"I'll just make it up as I go."

High Performance Center starting to pay dividends.

Watching the GLI on FSN Alt. Western Michigan up 2-0 late in the first over Michigan State. Earlier, Michigan Tech beat Michigan 2-0. Woot! Thank you Huskies.

I heard a rumor the Russians tried to hack into the scoreboard and change the numbers.

Back to Back Shutouts. Even with Slovakia's defense in front of him.

Just noticed that as of New Years, we will have played the #1 team in ECAC (Union) #1 team in Hockey East (BC) #1 team in Big Ten (MN) #1 team in WCHA (Bemidji State) #1 & 2 teams in NCHC (UMD and Denver) BATTLE TESTED.

Nice try at talking down the team leading the ECAC at this very minute, after a road sweep at Vermont who was in the top 10 of the KRACH before this weekend. Oh, and thanks for beating Minnesota. I'm looking forward to this one also.

Everytime I think I understand what a "catch" is, I get proved wrong. Wow.

NDSU's math department added their totals....

I see that BC team we beat last weekend is on track to stay unbeaten in Hockey East play ... leading Notre Dame 2-1 midway through. Game on NBC Sports for those who multitask.

So they can tell their basketball recruits their games will be on 6 channels?

Why would anyone want to watch hockey when there's basketball on?

Shuffle the lines a bit and we could have 2 Captains on the ice at all times.

Given: flights to Vegas are cheaper, hotels are cheaper, and there's a fair number of midwestern transplants living in the Southwest, I can see 15,000 readily. (Unless ticket prices are ridiculous!) If Minnesota has a good season that revives interest in their fan base, I can see 18,000.

Dear Las Vegas, You're going to need a bigger building.

Congrats guys on a solid win. That stretch of 12+ minutes in the 3rd period where BC had no shots on goal was a thing of beauty. For that period, we started to play up to our potential. Now if this team can find a way to sustain it at that level ...

Re game time ... the cynic in me says that ESPN knows that UND hockey is on the CBSSN, and are trying to cut viewership of the rival network.

Well, how good are you at building walls?

OK, a Nickel Trophy story that's also about my Dad. He was a graduate of NDSU, and a coin collector. He educated me about the Buffalo Nickel, which has a Sioux on the front and a Bison on the back. It was after I went to UND that I started calling them Sioux Nickels. Something he never really appreciated. Even so, he was happy when UND won (unless against NDSU), because its such a small state and anyone from North Dakota starts out in life or in sports as the underdog in just about anything. Especially compared to places with more money and more people. I'm old fashioned enough to share that view.

Great topic for a Sunday morning. I think ...: First, we need guys to play with their head on straight. This starts with reducing penalties. There's been too many NEEDLESS penalties, and by several different players. Hardly any were "good" penalties, such as to stop a scoring chance. Hand in hand with penalties is moving feet and working the systems. A fair number of coverage misses were because one player was out of position, drawing others out "to help out", leaving yet another Spartan open. Disciplined play. Trust your teammate does his job, so you can do yours. Roster wise, its time to consider moving a forward back to defense. We need more speed and puck moving skill back there. And as we saw last year (and so far this year) the team's foundation starts with good defenseman play. I can't say goaltending needs to change, but it could be better. Time to steal some extra hours from our volunteer coach and I'll trust what judgments Mr Goehring says. All these guys were selected to play here for a reason. They just need to remember how good they are when they play the game right.

I Like the message-sending from Berry. And if you've been watching a lot and you're in the lineup tonight, show everyone you want to stay. I agree with the idea that last night was different from the other losses, in that we just didn't give it 100% effort. Tonight should be different.

Re Vancouver vs Chicago last night: Was cool to see Stecher out in 3x3 overtime with the Sedins. He is a great fit for 3x3. And Schmaltz looks at home with Toews and Kane. His puck pursuit and fast stick fit right in with those two.

I'm hoping it lasts through the next shot on goal. Repeat.

Don't look now, but Cam is up to 157 minutes ...

If St Cloud had scored to make it 2-1, its game on. At 3-0, we are way on top of them.