burd

I'd like to express my gratitude to this team, including the coaches, for giving such pleasure as fans this year. It is a special bunch, and whether they win No. 8 or not, they have delivered on the ice all year long and have shown the kind of character we fans hope to see from UND athletes. It's a long season. These guys deal with school, the uncertainties that come with being young and, in my case at least, stupid about many things in life. Regardless of their level of skill, they each have their own expectations that are either not met or must take a back seat at times. They have never embarrassed us or made us feel anything but pride about the team and the school. So hats off to you.

Why Ladue and not Stecher?

I did not think you were ragging on him. In fact, I said he would probably have to play a little tighter in Tampa, and I did not mean that as criticism either--just that the games were likely to be more defense oriented, though Parise knows if that will be true. I don't think Michigan's goals were soft.

I will happily volunteer to talk to them about the many benefits of staying around for 5 or 6 years.

I guess I should have said 20 goals instead of just 9 to make sure people understood I was referring to DBtM.

Odd response to what I intended, which was that the games will probably be different because of the defenses we will face. But you have to understand that so many of us think any Blais team would have hung at least 9 on both those teams.

In fairness, watching the replays of Michigan's second goal, the guy was close in with time to load. I don't know how many goalies would have snatched that one.

Ours was a tough region, but neither NU nor UM had defenses like we will see in Tampa. This team can do it, but I think Cam will have to be a little better. We are certainly capable of scoring 5 or 6 against anyone, but chances are we will have to be able to win with 3 at least once.

I realize it was a different era, but I recall WCHA commentators saying before the tournament in 1987 that they just couldn't see anyone beating the circus when everything was on the line.

Do you remember the last time we had this combination of talent on the blue line and both grit and top-end skill up front?

That's a heck of a staff. They should recruit well. I don't see Wisconsin's turnaround taking very long.

That's different, and you are probably right. I think hockey fans see a lack of preparation in general, with both play-by-play and color guys. Tim H is not perfect, but we and visiting teams' fans are spoiled by his knowledge and preparation.

I've heard Melrose rave about UND years ago, but you can see why they would be cautious, with all the times we've failed to deliver, compared to BC. At this point, BC deserves the respect their program gets. We can change that storyline in Tampa, but up to now there is no dispute about who has the cred.

Hey. We've been getting credit for Carson Wentz, so fair is fair.

I do. Give us BC. It's time we settled this score.

Where can I follow the UMD game?

As much as he has meant to this team, I'd be delighted if he decided there were things he still needs to work on before taking the next step.

So, does the higher ranked team get home team designation? Choice of bench and last change? Anything else? If so, we will have that benefit for the semi, at least.

Was this Red's last game? If so, it's a bit of an honor to be the last adversary. And to kick their arse--there's that.

It's probably part of the strategy, frankly.

Hawks don't eat their own shat

And unlike many elite offensive players on other teams, our guys backcheck like maniacs. Evan Trupp belonged on this team.

Has goon posted highlights from yesterday?

Keep your fingers crossed that LJ stays out of the box. Though he's been great down the stretch

Stay. Out. Of. The. Box. Feet, not sticks.