dagies

I think it was Hakstol who has talked about how Genoway's skills with the puck are very valuable in that he can skate the puck out of trouble in the defensive zone. Against a team with dangerous offensive forwards like MN, if the coaches put Genoway back at D it might be because they want to make sure they do the best possible job of taking care of the puck in the defensive zone, and getting it out of the zone as quickly and safely as possible. Since MN's defense isn't as strong as in the past, getting the puck out of our zone seems to me the best way to win this game. Keep the pressure on the gopher D instead. Don't make bad mistakes and turnovers in your own zone and to use baseball terminology, don't give the Gophers 4 outs. Eventually they will make you pay. Limit the mistakes and turnovers and get the puck out of the zone. Depend on your own offense to pressure the gopher D and hopefully that is the recipe for success. As for which D sits so Genoway can play, my guess is the one who make the poorest decisions, or most prone to turnovers in his own end will be the one to sit. I don't know who that is. Unless his dependability is not as good, I'm guessing Jones physical presence will be welcome on the ice as I wonder if the Sioux will try and beat the Gophers physically, and not get into a run and gun game.

Just caught Woog on KFAN. This is MY INTERPRETATION of what he said: Said the Sioux don't give up too many goals and the Gophs don't score. He thinks it will be tough for them to score more than 2-3 each night. He also said our top 4 D are probably stronger than MN's first one. By "strong" it wasn't clear if he was talking physical strength or just skill/ability. Anderson and Wehrs (3rd D pair) will struggle in a small rink. If they have to kill a lot of penalties it could be tough for MN's depth on D. Woog suggested that Schack might be put on the ice to even up the physicality, and seemed to imply that if the Sioux are having their way with the Gophers Shack might have to go out and try to even things up, and if they lose his availability for later in the game he will still have done his job. UND's played the best goalies in the WCHA. That's one reason for the low scoring offense. MN is not a team blessed with a lot of depth. PP horrible. Goaltending average, Offense only ok. Fairchild isn't the brightest player but great physically. Thinks Don might be accepting that this may not be their year. Thinks Okposo will get better in the 2nd half when Carman takes over center. Not too many guys finish checks throughout the game. Maybe for a period or 2 but not 20 of them for a whole game. Not great on the forecheck.

Very good, Pat. Thanks for the work on the behalf of the nickname.

I thought I heard him comment during the Edina/Rochester Century game that he had coached at Burnsville at one point. Don't quote me on that, but that's what I thought I heard.

Why not?

They know what their problems are, I bet. Sometimes it's painful to be pushed into unfamiliar territory, even if you'd really like the end result. There are lots and lots of people like that. The tribes might just be too short sighted to understand how this could be an opportunity for them. When the Germans started the offensive in the Ardennes called the Battle of the Bulge, most of his high command was panicking. Eisenhower said "The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us and not of disaster. There will be only cheerful faces at this table." I hope the board doesn't give up too quickly.

This is why I am alarmed at the apparent quick hook the State Board might be making with the Sioux name. 3 years to get the Tribal leaders to open an ear and quit repeating NO NO NO NO before hearing the rest just might allow constructive conversations relating to things like the above. But if the State Board is just going through the motions a great opportunity may be lost. On the other hand, the tribes have to be willing to listen, and if they are just not interested at some point you have to cut your losses and move on. Hopefully the State Board really knows when that is.

Sucks to be Parker this year.

Who's reffing? Is it Campion or Shep?

I very much agree on Woog.

Thanks again, PCM. I really appreciate reading the recap.

I prefer the "moron and gold".

Only whitey promotes stereotypes. Everyone else can do or say as they please.

I think this is going to be a nailbiter of a series. As others have said, it will be closer than the stats would indicate. This is MN's last games until the holiday games against the Little Sisters of the Poor. Last games before their four players head off to the WJ tournament. They are going to remember Mariucci last January, and the regional last March, and they are going to want to erase the bad taste of a poor start to this season before the break. They know they have a good record at REA, and they will come to play. I just hope our boys are ready to play 2 big time games at home. There would be no more perfect time to end the home sweep drought.

Not only is this a great idea, they have two great personalities involved. I have $5 on Blais here in my office!

There AIN'T nothin' wrong with THAT!

I bet they get Toews too.

In the "That's why they play the game" topic, here are some relevant stats from College Hockey Stats. These are for the overall games, not just conference. Scoring offense ND 3.00 MN 2.5 Scoring defense ND 1.77 MN 2.75 Penalty Minutes ND 20.5 MN 14.2 Power Play ND 16.9 MN 11.5 Penalty Kill ND 90.9 MN 83.8 Combined Special Teams ND 56.0 MN 45.2 (note, ND is 1st, MN is last) Special Teams Net ND +4 MN -6 (MN is last. ND is 3rd) Goals allowed by period ND 3-10-10 = 23 MN 10-14-18 = 44 Conference stats are relatively similar, though there isn't as big a spread on scoring defense.

That didn't strike me as your kind of question.

I don't know, but you and I can find that out together.

PCM, nice question on the Okposo CSTV chat!! http://www.cstv.com/chat/112907aaa.html

Keep everything to the outside in the defensive zone. Clear the rebounds. No silly cross ice passes or similar miscues in the D zone . Short passes breaking out. Don't take risks high in the offensive zone. Cycle the puck and control it in the offensive zone. As jk says, play defense 200 feet from your own net. Play physical and aggressive. No easy goals/goaltending mistakes.

FHG, only the underage players from each team will be going out drinking after the game. When 2 good teams play, only 1 can win.

Actually, photos might be nice...