burd

Maybe UMD is finally getting a little puck luck. Good timing if so.

We've not burying chances that were going in earlier in the year, but I'm OK if we're building up some credit.

Luke takes bad penalties, and I'm always quick to crawl on guys for taking dumb penalties, but he gives everything he has out there and has been strong on faceoffs when we badly needed some improvement there. Hard to get too down on him.

We are so fortunate to see talent like this (I know--he's not here yet) play in our rink, even for those of us who have to watch most of the games on TV. We did not win a banner with the DOT bunch, but it was a special privilege to be able watch them in action on a weekly basis. And add to that the other high end college talent we get to see from other schools. Great day to be a hockey fan and an even better one to be a S . . . .Hawks fan.

That is not at all blasphemous. It is completely appropriate.

Pretty amazing that our last opponent, UMD, and our next opponent, UNO, have both been swept 4 times by conference opponents so far this year. 4 times. If that happened in GF, lots of fans would be demanding we fire ___________ and try to get Sandy or Deano back. OK, OK. Just having fun . . . Hopefully we can make that 5 for Dean.

But don't check from behind.

That's funny. And true.

A little of both, I guess, but I think he himself stated later (after being "born again") that he had anger issues. Ben and Brett were not angry guys. Brett had fun with it.

Any of you guys ancient enough to remember Bill Butters? Now there was a gopher to hate.

He was despised by Sioux fans, but I would have loved to have Rau on our side.

I liked his work ethic, and he was fun to watch, but he was taken off the puck a little too easily to stick in the NHL, IMO. You can be small in the modern game, but you better be a wizard in the offensive zone, including crowded areas, to make up for the size disadvantage in the defensive game.

gf knows because he delivers pizza to that inner circle.

I feel the same about both of them. It was not a penalty shot situation, but it was close enough the guy brought it on himself and has no reason to biotch. Same with Stecher"s CFB. You do something that is likely to be called, don't complain when it is.

I totally understand that, and almost added a comment about it. They are big and play physical.

Id rather draw western mich, actually.

I saw that same team get swept in Madison 3 weeks earlier. They could score against UW but didn't have tight enough defense. UW had some horses (Heatley Reinprecht), but the Sioux showed a better defense when March/April came along. And a little puck luck, frankly.

I found myself thinking of Travis Roche recently, watching the PP struggle. We have some great defense men, but when we do gain possession in the zone, opponents seem to have success by applying pressure on the point. I was remembering how Roche was so good at handling PK pressure on the blue line, often by faking the shot and holding the puck while the defender went down or committed. We have better defenders than Roche was, but we could use a few of his moves to get them to back off the pressure at the blue line.

Agree

Right now, I'd favor SCSU in a best of three. Not sure quite to take away from this weekend. The coaches may have planned a tight-checking game, knowing how many shots UMD has been taking in recent months. That may have changed the dynamics on offense a little. But it seemed like the boys were really forechecking aggressively last night, at least in the first 30 - 40 minutes. Only two goals against, one a kick-in and the other a good tip. That's pretty tight. A lot of people are very frustrated how inconsistent our offense has been, and it's hard not to feel that way, but it's usually great defense that gets you deep into the tournament, and they may be focusing on that, particularly with the forwards. Not a coach, though, so I don't know.

Do Minn and Nodak have reciprocity like Minn and Wisc do?

Do we know the story? Student? edit: never mind. East Grand UMD student, looks like. That will pay some tuition.

Great question rednek. That was becoming as big a story as the game.

Offense has struggled, but other than the kicked in goal, the D has been very solid. Only 12 SOG for the dogs. Caggiula and Boeser just haven't been capitalizing on their chances.

Worst offensive team UND has ever had.