dagies

I saw the last 1/2 of the game on TV. I haven't seen a Sioux team look this good for a long time. O wait, I just read that we're not that good... Someone taped a picture of Bochenski on Fabian's mirror. When he gets up in the morning, suddenly he thinks he's a goal scorer. I only read about his nifty goal last week, but his first goal tonite was a goal scorer's goal. Fabian has the puck behind the net and has a Dman draped on him. He gives the guy a little "how's she goin'" and flies out the other side free as a bird. He turns out about the faceoff dots to cross the goal, he picks up a nice pick from a linemate, and scoots across the front of the goal all alone. Right before he gets picked up he rifles a poor angle shot high blocker over Johnson's shoulder. Picked a small piece of net and ripped it home. Beautiful. His next goal came on hard work by his linemates, and Zajac tried to put the puck past the goalie at the side of the goal. The puck was sitting in the crease and Fabian just picked it and slid it over past the goalie into the open corner of the net. Sioux dominated. They seemed to lay back a little in the 3rd so the play was a bit more even at times. Either that or the Dogs turned up the heat. But when I got there, for the last half of the second period the puck barely left the Dog zone. Massen, Fabian and whoever was out there with them were a force to be reckonned with. It got to the point that on the 8th goal scored by Genoway I think the Duluth goalies were just shell shocked. Genoway was fed a pass off a turnover at the Duluth blue line (Fabian?) and broke in alone. Deked a couple directions and the goalie went flat on his face, as if he could watch no more. Genoway just chipped a backhander up over him for an easy goal. Massen had a beautiful feed on the 7th goal. He broke in from the half-boards in front of the goal, occupying 2 Dogs. As he reached the faceoff dot he dropped a nifty pass to the side and behind him to a wide open McMahon. McMahon caught the pass at the goal line on his back hand, drew it out front of the sprawling goalie and snuck it past near the far post. These guys all looked like goal scorers tonite. I will agree with Runnin' that the Dogs must not have played very well. When you have teams that appear to be fairly even throughout the year, and suddenly it looks SO easy for one team, it must be more than that one team playing out of their minds. WOW. I was actually kind of happy Duluth scored again late in the game. As easy as it was coming there for a while, I think it was a good wakeup that it won't just come to them. After Duluth scored their second goal they dang near got another within seconds. Duluth also worked the PP to perfection on their last goal. That was a sweet play. Basically looked like Zoro drew a Z down the Sioux zone and suddenly the puck was behind Parise. Did someone mention that Canady was hurt? That would not be good right now. The 3 horsemen accounted for 1/4 of the Sioux scoring tonite. The Sioux scored 8 goals and were awarded a total of 22 points. Fabian/Canady/Massen accounted for 4 goals and 6 total points. Fabian had a 2-1-3 line, Massen a 0-2-2, and Canady a 0-1-1. BDB, Massen looked good to me last Friday against SCSU, and I can only assume that line continued to play very well on Saturday as they contributed to the win that night. On Friday he did have one mistake in the Sioux zone that cost a goal, if I remember correctly, but otherwise he played well, and was very physical. So IMO his strong play has now carried over for at least a few games straight. Go James!

You were the fairly short woman? You walked right by me and started talking to another Sioux fan.

Saw a couple of ya'lls down there. Nice crowd of Sioux fans at Senser's. What a great game.

AWESOME!

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Good. I doubt I'll be able to get down to Senser's tonite, though I might be able to for the last period or something like that. I may wear my jersey if I make it. Green Sioux road jersey with the geo logo. #87 on the back. Say hi if you see me.

WPoS might be exactly that but of the gophers who come over here to post it would seem he generally, at least, contributes to the deposit of conversation unlike some other "outsiders".

Here's my buddy's home recipe

Massen has underproduced only the last 2 years. I find it hard to believe you'd rip him for his sophomore season. Canady is the same player he was when he got here, I agree with you there. Prpich's got 7 goals so far this year. For a checking line forward, that doesn't seem so bad to me. I'll take it.

Massen/Canady/Fabian

last weekend on the radio the SCSU announcers were going nuts at one point because Parise was laying face down on the ice and had done the splits with each skate against a post. That won't leave very much room to sneak the puck in

Thanks, Diggy!

I think it will be very very very helpful to the Sioux's chances if they win on Friday night. If Duluth has to look at winning both Saturday and Sunday the mountain might begin to look just a little too steep. Maybe not. But maybe just enough doubt will creep in to keep them from playing their very best the rest of the way. If Duluth wins on Friday, they will smell blood. All they need is 1 of the following 2 games. They'll have the desperation and the confidence to hammer the door shut on the Sioux. While I won't say Friday night makes the weekend for either team, I think it is darn near critical.

maroon isn't a color choice. sorry. take it up with the admin.

Thought I'd do a little comparison of these 2 teams down the stretch FWIW. Hak kind of covered it during his Fargo Booster talk. Duluth knows they need to win this weekend, and probably win the Final Five to have a shot at the NCAA's. So they will likely be desperate. While those chances are very very slim, the Bulldogs still probably want to feel very good about their finish, which would mean a run in "the 5" and knocking off some teams, maybe even ending their season(s). First, they can finish the Sioux. Revenge for having the Sioux rip away the McNaughton cup at the DECC. Eliminate the Sioux from this year's 5 and maybe end their season. Go to the 5, and maybe knock Bucky out of the tourney, and maybe someone else. A good way to end what has been a very frustrating season for the 'Dogs. Sioux, on the other hand, know they need wins to make the NCAA's. Losing this weekend may end the whole thing. Too much uncertainty to accept losing in the first round. So the Sioux will not be looking past Duluth. So how have these teams been doing down the stretch? I've compiled some numbers from each team's last 3 WCHA series. We can see how they compare, and see if there is any meaning to be had from them. I could have chosen to pick and choose some of the last few series in order to compare performance against more common opponents, but that required a bit more picking and choosing than just selecting the last 3 conference opponents. I was looking for recent performance trends in-conference, so that settled it. Duluth's last 3 series: Tech, Denver, Wisconsin Sioux last 3 series: AA, Wisconsin, SCSU Let's start in: GOAL Reichmuth - last 6 games - .904 saves %. (150 of 166 shots) Range from .807 to .947 Parise - last 5 games - .939 saves %. (123 of 131 shots) Range from .833 to .963. (Parise has been named WCHA defensive player of the week the last 2 series. 1 shutout) TEAM SCORING Bulldogs = 209 shots for (average 30-35 per game) Sioux = 185 shots for (average 28-31 per game) Bulldogs = 20 goals for = 3.33 goals/game (10.45 shots/goal scored) Sioux = 17 goals for = 2.83 goals/game (10.88 shots/goal scored) Bulldogs = 20 goals 30 assists for 50 total points Sioux = 17 goals 28 assists for 45 total points TEAM DEFENSE Bulldogs = 172 shots against (average 28.7 per game) Sioux = 161 shots against (average 26.8 per game) Bulldogs = 19 goals against = 3.16 goals/game (9.05 shots/goal allowed) Sioux = 13 goals against = 2.16 goals/game (12.38 shots/goal allowed) POWER PLAY Bulldogs = 20% (6 for 30) Sioux = 17% (5 for 29) PENALTY KILL Bulldogs = 62% (18 of 29 killed) Sioux = 96% (27 of 28 killed) WHO'S HOT? Stapleton = 5-3-8 Hammond = 2-4-6 Peluso = 5-1-6 Schwabe = 1-4-5 Fuher = 1-5-6 Zajac = 2-3-5 WHO'S NOT? Caig = 0-1-1 Brosz = 0-1-1 McMahon = 1-1-2 (no points last 5 games) NOTES The Sioux average about the same number of shots per game as Duluth gives up. So I say the Sioux will get at least 2 if not 3 goals per game. (28 shots x .904 saves% = 25.3 saves = 2.7 goals scored by the Sioux) Bulldogs will need to put up 35 or more if Parise is on his game to win. (Using conservative numbers of shots and a conservative saves % below his recent average = 35 shots x .91 saves% = 31.85 saves = 3.15 goals scored by Duluth). Remember that Parise is on a .955 saves% over his last 4 games..... Hakstol talked about the Massen-Canady-Fabian line being one of the best lines for the Sioux recently. In the last 4 games they have combined for a 2-4-6 line which doubled their combined point production for the whole year. Bina has contributed 4 assists on his own in the last 6 games. KEYS FOR THE BULLDOGS Move the puck, and throw rubber at the net. Clean up rebounds. Don't give up odd man chances. Answer Sioux goals quickly to keep the crowd out of the game KEYS FOR THE SIOUX Parise must continue his hot play Offense must put up 30+ shots and create good chances (MCF line and Bina must continue effective play) Maintain strong penalty killing Sioux win in 3, every game 1 goal differential.

Yeah, ya can't make that stuff up!

While I don't know a recipe and wouldn't want to get in the middle of a proprietary situation, a reasonable facsimile could be deduced by ordering one on-line and having it shipped: Red Pepper Grinders On-Line

Even better!

Congratulations, Jordan. Way to go!

What a great, great idea!

I highly doubt anyone will be comparing Lee with Kessell. For one thing it's awfully difficult to compare a defenseman to a forward. Secondly, Kessell should be beyond the normal top end recruit, like Parise was. Kessell has been tested against a much different and higher level of competition than Spehar was and has been consistently successful. Any hope that he will "tank" in D1 play seems absurd to me.

Of the brackets I like where the Sioux are, all things given. Speaking of revenge, I'm hoping the Bulldogs don't serve some up this weekend....

I think there can be some difference between a "physical" league and a well played defensive league. I would suggest, based on what I read, that the BCHL is a very very physical league, unmatched by the USHL. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the overall level of play in the USHL is of a more rounded quality. Maybe a few less power plays too!

Spiewak is one of my all time favorites too. Super hard working, fast, and went about playing with little fanfare. Have had a chance to meet him and he's the kind of guy you want to root for.

in fact all we needed were 2...