burd

And I think even Berry and our boys acknowledged that Friday's effort could have been better. I'm just saying that what looks like lack of effort can be a matter of being out of rhythm, poor positioning, and just being outplayed. Once you lose the position battles (not always due to lack of effort), then just skating harder does not fix things-it can even further complicate things from WORSE positioning. Last year's D men knew exactly what they were doing and usually did not seem to be racing to positions. A team that is outmatched by a team with a lot of skill and more experience will often be chasing, and you always get beat to pucks when that happens till you tire and really get in trouble. Fans tend to see them getting to pucks late and automatically think its lack of effort. I'm not saying you are doing this, Oxbow--you probably know the game and this team a lot better than I do. But a lot of fans make that mistake, imo. But I ain't no expert, as they say. I AM confident out staff knows lack of effort whe it sees it and will handle it. Position play is a longer learning curve, since it requires some on-ice adjustment to the other team

This might sound disloyal, but I have no problem with the boys getting spanked this weekend in Duluth. Unlike many others, I don't think it's lack of effort. I think this is a difficult league, and they have a lot to learn. The woodshed can be a classroom. I like what the coaches have proven they can do, and I like the kind of boys they bring in. They are not what they were last year (you could argue no other Und team has been), and they are not currently as good as Duluth. Big deal. Last night was not the last game of the year.

I just look for these guys to get better each weekend--not necessarily get better results. We improve our positioning and timing each weekend it will be a fun team to watch and we will be right there in the mix in Mar/Apr. Just the same, if we get swept by lameazz Sandelin, someone better get the ax.

One of the youngest teams in college hockey which had lost most of what might fairly be considered the best D corp in program history, in addition to its senior leader. Playing a talented, experienced #2-ranked team in their own barn. You didn't expect hard lessons? There will be more. This team is a work in progress--we knew that. We aren't a work in progress, thank Parise. We know even more than we did last year.

It's the same dynamic you see on the Blackhawk game threads on HFBoards. Those fans are pretty good entertainment when they are losing. They just lose it.

I can't believe I used to cheer for this team.

A split would probably be a satisfactory result this weekend. I wouldn't be surprised to see us lose one by 2 or more, but it wouldn't be such a bad thing for this young team to get spanked once by a highly rated team. Such lessons can be very valuable down the road, and they need to know how to carry a chip on their shoulder. Two shutout wins would be better, of course.

He looks 16 there.

Some NFL, NBA, and MLB stars make as much from endorsements as the do in salary. I'd guess Brady makes three times what Toews does in endorsements

:You seem to need it.

I'd hoped to see Tomek a little by now. We will lose some hockey games in the next month or so, and we will probably look inept in some. Some fans will be looking for goats. But the right culture is there and I have faith that the staff will get the best out of them.

My NCHC feed was great this weekend.

I really liked their game. Well coached, hard working and there is some nice skill there. Their fans are in for a fun season.

With the gophs' in-state record last year and the way they are starting this year, they will have to change their name from Minnesota gophers to o-fer Minnesotas yeah . . . that's bad

See, that's the thing. The hookers were last night. Always plan ahead.

Better than a goal, though

Fun period of hockey.

That PP goal doesn't happen without a great play on the blueline by Poolman

A lot of "just about" chances

This is a young team with some significant adjustments to make on the blue line. This is good medicine for them early on.

I think you can be quite sure these guys don't think they can "glide through."

I have some friends high up in the Gopher organization. It is a poorly kept secret there that Lou began to decline rapidly after ZPar chose UND over UM, despite Lou running down to Fairbault and getting down on his knees before God and his roommate. Some said he began to wear panties around that time, but all the gopher players wear them, so that's probably just coincidence. .

We had much better goaltending last year.

Never heard of acid and speed being considered the same or similar drug. Not that it matters--the LSD line would be all over the place at the same time.

You are absolutely right. Bemidji usually plays us tough in any year.