farce poobah

I still can't believe Tampa Bay got zero goals from Stamkos and still advanced. I predict his O-fer ends tonight.

I need to start by saying I think Babcock is the best proven coach available *. As a Blackhawks fan, I realize I'm obligated to hate everything about the Winged Whell, but have to make an exception today. The guy wins wherever he goes ... and there's a reason Hockey Canada picked him for the last 2 Olympics, where he delivered 2 golds. LOLZ. Yes Harry, there's a chance. But really, he can get more money and fewer rules anywhere but NCAA. It would only be if he loves that phase of player development. Excellent point. Do you think its about more than just money? For example, Babcock wants more control over player selection and development - to be GM? I have no insight into Detroit's motives. Just puzzled about why he hasn't signed. Anaheim ... would they toss out Boudreau, who got them #1 West seed? If not NHL, I think the lure of a senior role at Hockey Canada might be calling, with the opportunity to influence a generation of players, coaches, officials. * I do think there are excellent young less-proven coaches out there. Mike Yeo is one.

And / or ... an indictment of the coaching staff ...

Places Mike Babcock might go: 1. Detroit. With a couple missing pieces and a bounce or two .... 2. Toronto. The biggest pile of money in all of hockey. 3. Edmonton. A chance to build it from scratch. 4. San Jose. Money and perfect weather. 5. through 10. NHL. 11. Hockey Canada. 12. through 40. CHL to GM and coach and perhaps own. 41. through 100. Europe. 101. Michigan.

That was an electric atmosphere at the X this afternoon. My ears are still ringing. (In fact I would recommend bringing earplugs to anyone who's going this spring. Especially for pregame. ) Nothing wrong with St Louis that getting competent goaltending won't fix. Hey it worked for the Wild. I agree with the above comments about Hitchcock ... by game 90 in a season, the coach has to have that figured out. Zach Parise is on a mission. Every shift, every game. If you want to teach the kids how to play the game right, have them watch Zach from warmups through end of game. Give Yeo credit for getting matchups he wanted all afternoon ... and getting those matchups right. It worked well. Chicago looks beatable ...

Tonight - the last 50 minutes - the Blackhawks played with desperation. We finally saw them play toward their potential. I think Minnesota v Chicago would be some really entertaining hockey.

... keep hitting the Canucks and they stop skating ...

Early in the second, Hits: Calgary 16, Vancouver 1.

Dang right. I will go for another real moment in the semi finals 2 days earlier. ESPN was doing a little insert on how "unscoronable" Ryan Miller was, just as Spiewak blasted one by him a minute into the game. Totally ruined their storyline. Totally made my day.

St Louis fans are hostile and abusive. They keep chanting "let's go Sioux".

Wild website now showing 830 CDT.

It's not a "moment" but a collection of moments .... the streak in January-March 2007 where Duncan scored 14 goals on 28 SOG. Yeah that's .500. It was called "The Duncan Spot" for good reason.

A lot of miles in those legs already. Minnesota and St Louis liking this, no doubt.

Chara is DEFINITELY a hockey player. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=764499&navid=nhl:topheads Bruins captain Chara has fracture in fibula He played the last 3 games with a broken leg.

The best advertisement for the NHL ... is the atmosphere in Winnipeg. (Gets me all nostalgic for the old Ralph back in 1978, 79, 80. A continuous cauldron of noise, punctuated by earsplitting roars.)

And just to add one more important factor to the competitive balance of East vs West ... is the emergence of the USHL and NTDP over the last 25 years. Prior to the USHL's stellar growth, a Western hockey coach such as at UND had two primary sources of talent: Minnesota high schools and Canadian Tier 2 juniors. The 18-19 year old Americans faced a gap in their development path, which was closed by the USHL's success. (THANKS GINO!) And it just so happens that more of them stay West than go East. I'm not aware of a similar-quality prep league in New England ...

One other important factor contributing to competitive parity was the reduction in maximum scholarships from 25 to 18. I don't remember (and can't find via google) when that happened, but my recollection is in the early 1980's. That's further spread the talent pool ... while the big name schools still get more of the very elite with full rides, its certainly the case that a full ride at say Mankato is more appealing to many than a half-ride at Minnesota. (Minnesota had an incredible depth of roster in the 1970's ...)

40 teams playing NCAA Division 1 hockey in 1982 seems a bit high ... I would have said about 30 (guess: 10 WCHA + 6 CCHA + 12 ECAC + 2 independents). If you have a source, I'd love to see it. .... as I have been wondering the same thing. Another important factor is the founding of Hockey East in the mid 1980's. Until then, the ECAC was the only D1 hockey conference ... and abided by more restrictive rules than NCAA limits allowed on # games and length of season. This led to recruiting disadvantages ... and a dominant run by Western schools. So until 1985, a Western school had its toughest run just to get to the conference semifinals ... and then got cupcakes from out east in the first round of the Frozen Four. (1982: UND 6 Northeastern 0 in the national semifinals, for example). Once Hockey East was founded, there emerged a strong competitive differential over time compared to the remnants of ECAC ... including a lot of national titles - Maine and BU in the 1990's and BC more recently.

Unusual statistic tonight: After 1 period in Washington, NYI 15 blocked shots. WAS 0 blocks.

Brock Nelson! With the first goal of this years Stanley Cup playoffs.

Kinda makes me wonder how much Robbie Bina practiced that 180 foot 2-bounce shot on the PK.

Expectations for 2015-2016: 1. I expect UND to struggle a bit before New Years. Seven seniors - especially of the quality they carried - simply cannot be replaced without some time to build chemistry on and off the ice. 2. I expect UND players to stay out of the headlines for off ice activities. 3. I expect UND players to stay in class and get respectable grades. (I have no idea how any of these athletes do it ... I would have surely failed.) 4. I expect the rookies - especially up front - to add some immediate impact. 5. I expect the defensive corps - provided the offseason departures aren't too wicked - to be the heart of the team's competitive advantage. 6. If Zane stays, I expect us to hold opponents regularly to 1 or 2 goals. 7. I expect us to sweep Wisconsin. And to build a solid non-conference record which gives a leg up in NCAA Pairwise. 8. I expect the NCHC to be a dogfight every night, with no clearcut favorite yet ... a lot of splits. Maybe 10 losses wins it. 9. I expect UND to make the NCAA tournament as a 1 or 2 seed with Zane (and a 3 or 4 seed without). 10. I expect us to win our regional. (80% winning percentage in the Hakstol era ...) Most likely by beating Mankato in St Paul. 11. After that, I have no idea. I quit making forecasts, and definitely don't wager on the Frozen Four. 12. I would like - but don't expect - a series with Arizona State soon. An exhibition? (I'm happy to hear the rumors of Omaha and St Cloud on their schedule.) 13. I expect UND to lead the nation in attendance again. Home and road. I expect average gameday chat to attract more viewers than the average team draws fans. 14. I expect the NCHC tournament to increase attendance again, and outdraw the Big Mistake in St Paul and the WCHA. 15. I expect rumors of Notre Dame departing Hockey East to heat up, and I expect Bowling Green to continue stirring the pot on realignment until they join their MAC brethren in a conference somehow. I expect one more big announcement in PAC 12 land, most likely U of Arizona. 16. I expect to see TJ Oshie bring the Stanley Cup to Warroad and Grand Forks.

With the importance of special teams, I think he can have a fine career as a top-four penalty killer in just about any team's rotation. His quickness and ability to read plays are top notch. Those attributes also put him onto a checking line. I don't see him cracking the top two lines regularly, however. Not quite the scoring touch. Comparable UND alumni career: Dave Tippett.

Against Minnesota at Mariucci. He gave us a shot to win. Also a good trivia question - even for Sioux hockey fans - who was the goaltender for the last game UND season didn't end in the NCAA tournament.... http://www.uscho.com/box/mens-hockey/2002/03/09/north-dakota-vs-minnesota/

Boston must be pretty damn good to have all that hate art created in their honor.