dagies

No team has won.

That quite possibly was me, considering where I was sitting. I was pretty much right in his line of sight, and not far away. A couple of times we glanced each other's way at the same time. And ALL night long my foot was tapping and flapping. I was pounding the table, and I'm sure my body language was belying my emotions at the time. He basically described me, whether or not it really was me. That's the way it is when I watch a game. Does that count for 15 minutes of fame. Because it isn't what I thought it would be.

Boy am I an idiot. I thought they sounded quite similar. I figured you attended the same interviews, etc.

You need some new friends. That sucks.

No on both counts. Whew! Thanks for the heads up.

Here's my take on the Final Five from the Sioux perspective Astonishing - Winning Championship Game Hey, it's near impossible to even make this game, much less win it Excellent - Beat UMD, lose CC, Beat MSU-M/UM Excellent - Beat UMD, Beat CC, Lose Championship game Taking 3rd place in this tournament, the way the last part of the season has gone would be a very good accomplishment. Remember, if they do this, they would have won 4 of 6 games in 9 days. Some of them OT games. Taking Second Place would be an even higher accomplishment Good - Beat UMD, show CC, show MSU-M/UM Not great, but you can't complain. Remember that 3rd place game the Sioux will be playing their 3rd game and the opponent just their second. Therefore it is a significant hurdle. Combine that with the fact that either opponent finished much higher in the league.... Disappointing - Lose UMD One game and out. Now that would suck.

I was sitting by myself. But for the 3rd period, a guy and his blond babe did come and sit just to my left. I probably shouldn't have said I was directly across as the blond WAS directly across. I was a couple chairs to Woogs left, across the bar.

Mujack, where were you sitting? I heard Frank say that same thing. I think it had to do with Sweeney complaining about a non-call on a Denver player who was laying on Parise away from the play, and just wouldn't leave him go... I almost yelled across the bar to Mazzoco that he would have complained the exact same way if this was a gopher player. I was sitting alone, straight across from Woog and Mazzacco (how do you spell that?) in a green sioux sweatshirt.

There's another take on the 3:16 thing in the Sunday night game thread. Cudo's to Murph and the others. "Blais 3:16" is pretty humorous when you read how it came about

I would be surprised, even without hearing this, if anyone other than Jake would start a game the remainder of the postseason. Jake put together consecutive strong efforts. From 3 hours away it seems he deserves to run the table, and gives the team the best chance to win.

I have been critical this season of the goaltending. So much so that I felt it was fair to have one thread for Jake after this weekend. What can you ask of a goalie? Give your team a chance to win. All Jake did this weekend was play 9+ periods of hockey and give up 2 goals each game. What more can you ask for? I'll be honest. In OT I was dying because I had more confidence in Berkhoel than I did in Jake. I felt like it would take a heck of an opportunity for the Sioux to score, but every shot on Jake had me sucking in my breath. But I have to offer up this apology to Jake. You got the job done, and you did it very well. You put the team on your back this weekend and gave them a chance to win. And they needed everything you could give them to get it done. This isn' t the national championship, but similar to Hauser, Jake can ask us "What do you think of me now?". Well, we couldn't have asked for anything better than what you gave this weekend. Jake is the player of the series IMO. The story of the weekend. Heck of a job, Jake. Heck of a job.

I don't think Wooger was rooting for the Sioux was he. To me I thought he was pulling for Denver. That may have been because I thought I saw a graphic on last night's gopher game where he said the Sioux were out of the Final Five.......

Just got back from watching the game at Senser's. This was was of the top 5 most exciting games I have watched. Intense emotional swings for me. Whoooo. This was a game that either team could have won. Certainly if the Sioux lost they would have to feel they let one get away. They worked hard enough to win. I had the feel at certain times, and for too long of stretches, that Denver was going to get one of their fewer opportunities and bury it and the Sioux. But fortunately the guys gutted it out. Notermann's breakaway in OT was a great great move but he just couldn't reach the puck to put in in the opening. He came straight in on B and dangled a bit, trying to get him to commit which he did very very late. Notermann had to push the puck to his backand, hoping to slide it to the open spot of net, and push it in, now the B was down. B dove backward and the puck was just out of Notermann's reach and slid wide of the net. Speaking of open nets, there is one Denver player who will NEVER forget the open net tip in that he sent 4 inches wide. Oh my gosh, that thing was so well set up and so wide open it is astonishing. But tonite we got the puck luck. Senser's was packed with gopher VIP's. Woog and Mazocco sat across the bar island from me. It was pretty funny hearing Woog yell out "THERE IT IS", or "LOOK OUT" like his does on TV when he can sense a goal will be scored. Would have been fun to sit and yak with him during the game, as he seemed to be sharing with his neighbors some good insight and stories. Dubay was there, and several gopher players I think. Anyway, half way through OT suddenly there is a burst of flame and smoke in the bar. The sprinklers come on and people are running for the door. Then I see a pile of Sioux fans huddling around ground zero and I knew where "Belfour" was tonite. Whoever mentioned Marvin, I agree. I will be honest in saying I thought he was kind of a "legacy" recruit. But the guy looked like he belongs and has done a good job this year. Tonite he looked very confident and even led a couple of rushes. Someone mentioned being patient with the puck. I thought the same thing. Another second hesitation and maybe that puck would have gone to the net instead of getting blocked. And Schneider pulled a Roche style misdirection play and guess what.....goal. So there you go. I thought that Denver had the better legs at times in the 3rd. I was very concerned. The Sioux couldn't clear the puck the last minute of regulation, and I was feeling horrible. But the Sioux owned Denver in OT. It was domination. But still I had this nagging feeling that all it was going to take to win was one team to miss on a pass or something and give up a scoring chance and lose. And that did happen enough times that the Sioux were lucky to escape with the win. On the other hand, they so dominated at times in the offensive zone that winning was almost destined. I'll probably remember more later. I had to burn off the adrenaline and the caffeine.

There were a lot of gopher fans at Senser's tonite. Actually it was like gopher hockey VIP night. Woog, Mazocco, Dubay, several gopher players........... Man, it was nice to walk out with a win instead of feel like you had to walk the gauntlet.

Really have to give out props to Jake Brandt. Jake gave the team a chance to win. In baseball, that's what Tom Kelly always used to ask of his starting pitchers. Just give us a chance to win. If Jake can do the same tonite (I predict he starts) then I think the Sioux WILL win. The rest of the team will carry through. As stated, you have to really give the Sioux, especially Parise and McMahon credit for winning face-offs. Until this year I really didn't grasp the importance. I do remember losing them all last year. What a difference a year makes. We win faceoffs AND we have a transition game.

Seemed like I only saw Spiewak a few times the last half of the game. Did I just miss him or did he not get a lot of ice then...?

Someone told me Denver has been pretty much running 3 lines and 5 D this weekend. Could fatigue be a factor tomorrow? Prpich will be well rested.

Sprig, yes, I got there on time for the goals. I was standing around looking for a place to sit when McMahon got his goal. But had a good spot by one of the big screens so had a good look at it.

Just back from Senser's. Man does it feel great to win this game. I get in the car and what is on the radio? FREEBIRD! Yeah, Baby. And it was just starting. And to follow it up? "Another One Bites the Dust" My thoughts: The penalty on Greene near the end of the second period looked bogus to me. The guy fell over on his own. That sucked. But I must be honest that from what I could see on TV, the officiating did not look as bad as I thought from listening earlier. On the other hand, I think the Sioux only suffered one penalty while I watched on TV, so the tide may have turned by then. Sioux played alright but could have lost the game. Sioux played VERY hard, but so did Denver. Denver did a great job of clogging the neutral zone, and the Sioux had difficulty getting anything going in transition. Whoever was earlier calling for 2 line passes, well, they were trying that and it was failing regularly. They needed to quickly move the puck a short distance to the open guy and just try to keep things moving down the ice. Brandt seemed to play well. The first goal I think he was screened on. If not, he would have extended his right leg and butterflied it out and blocked the opening. The second goal was just a great move, and Jake dang near got that one too. But what really bummed me out was Bochenski gets stoned on an awesome chance by Dubbie, and the Pios come right back down the ice and put one in on their own great chance. That seemed to be the story of the team the last month +. However, the team didn't cave. They did keep working but couldn't generate too many good chances. Then the penalty on the pioneers gave us a chance and the rest is history. From what I could see on the TV, R Hale was definitely leading by example. He was really working hard and fast on the ice tonite. The line of Genoway, Connelly and Canady were also creating some chances, in fact Connelly got off a real nice shot that Dubbie got. That line could do some damage if they keep playing. Canady looks quicker than I remember out there. Good to see him on the ice. Brandt came FLYING out of the locker room to start the OT period. The starting line also came out fast. They looked like they were wanting to go and it showed. A stupid clearing attempt right away nearly gave the Pios the chance they needed to end the game, but Brandt made the stop. The Sioux came right down the ice and Denver really never had a chance. This is one of those situations where, if you were a fan of the losing team, I think you can see the goal coming about 30 seconds ahead of time. The Sioux were peppering Dubbie, he was twisting around trying to find the puck, the Sioux were getting to the loose pucks and putting good shots on goal. It would really have sucked if that shot didn't go in. But it did. Dubbie is a great goalie. Snags everying, almost no rebounds. The fans stayed and cheered for quite a while after the game. Hopefully the guys can pull it out tomorrow. From a graphic on one of the tv's, it looked like Woog had already put Denver in the Final Five. Let's show him up. Go SIOUX!!!!

agreed. It was packed tonite. When I showed up for 2nd period I had to sit all by myself at the bar. No room in the "Sioux Section" which is about half the bar.

Can't take it. I'm going to Senser's See ya

We're getting all down here but the score is still 0-0. Sioux win this one.

jk, Sprig, what do you say we strap it on. Dean can put us out there first shift 2nd period. Denver won't know what hit 'em.

Good point jk. The boys gotta go out and reward the good performance in goal tonite with some offense. Shake off the crap, rally around Jake, and get it done.

Here's an emotional response that all the gopher lurkers can take back to POI and have fun with. Sounds like Shepards got it out for the Sioux tonite.