burd

I don't know, but that looks a lot like mating behavior, and I don't want to think about it. Adjusting to the new name is difficult enough.

In some respects the Vikings and the . . Hawks? are in similar situations. They both have had a fairly weak schedule up to now (Denver aside) but have done what they had to. The next 4 or 5 weekends, though, will tell us a lot about what they have. .

I realize it's a joke, yzer, but it brings to mind a question I have often asked myself which some of you guys closer to the game itself might comment on. I don't know when goalies began using the butterfly style--a long time ago, I'm sure But shooters go either 5-hole or high now because that is where the biggest holes are. I've noticed how often our guys miss high or off the shoulder going for water-bottle shots and not only do we not get a rebound, the puck often rings around off the glass and either out of the zone or high on the sidewalls. A low shot can do that too if it's wide, but on net it has a much better chance of a rebound, it seems like. I know goalies can kick low shots out too, which helps defense, but what exactly is the thinking on that? Is it such a non-issue that coaches do not even bother with it, or do some stress more low shots (when it's not a prime scoring opportunity) to raise the chance of rebounds and greasy goals? Where there is any traffic, goalies don't see a low shot as well either. I started thinking of this when one of my kids started playing and seeing how so many young kids seem enthralled with water bottle shots when they should be going low. I'm sure there are a lot of coaches and/or knowledgeable fans in this site who can respond to this.

Remember, we always have Wilbur as a hole card. That's why he isn't posting here anymore. He's taking pucks from his wife and kids in the basement.

I would guess the entire team is playing defense at a high level. Goalie is obviously hot, but you don't get that many shutouts without forwards and dmen both doing their jobs.

I don't think that will happen if they keep Kunin. And I wouldn't lay it on us being number one. Wisconsin typically plays us well, and they have some very talented freshmen that apparently have been getting better with each series. Of course, badger fans are conflicted about whether a severe suckfest is about the only way to get Alvarez off the dime on Eaves.

And this team can skate with us. A shatpile of freshmen on the ice, counting both teams.

I think a lot of us knew this team has not faced a talented team yet.

You can tell Badgers have some speed. We haven't dealt with much of that this year.

Back "in the day" a buddy of mine would find a dead badger (road kill), freeze it in a cross position. He would then duct tape it to his back under his coat and smuggle them in. He got caught once. The students were down low up against the glass in the old Ralph and getting it out and in the air when the students were all standing for cover was a little easier. The dead gophers were actually more fun because they would slide further on the ice, and of course they would usually throw them after a goal and try to get them to slide up to the goalie.

I hope we can keep Bucky off the board for at least a period. Despite their recent woes, this is Wisconsin, and this game will have a higher tension level than they have had so far this year. Rather not see H get rattled early. Once he settles into the game, I think he'll be solid.

I think most of us agree this was an unjustified suspension. And most of us probably also agree that it is too bad some of the clean, heavy hitting in the game is being outlawed. And that is interesting discussion for winter meetings and whatever seasonal meetings the heads of officials have. But the real issue on the ground for our guys is how you play smart so those officiating decisions do not increase the chance that they will lose. As fast as this game is played, and with the current enforcement goals of protecting players, that hit will get you the box every single time. Wrong call upon slow motion review? Probably. But the penalty will be called and everybody knows it. And nobody can act surprised that Cags got the dressing room for it either, right or wrong. What counts is not whether the call was justified but how the players adjust to an environment they all know exists. This team is good. They have speed and skill up and down the lineup, great defense, and some snipers. They need to play physical but smart, and that hit, while legit, was not particularly smart IMO.

Doesn't hurt that he played in the NCAA Championship game in which the Sioux beat his team.

The point is if you hit someone like that, you stand a very good chance of getting the result he got. It's a fast moving game, but players (and us fans) just have to keep that in mind.

Brock and Travis score 2 of 3 goals scored in Devs/Islanders game. Second and third stars

Wilbur?

Is there a college or pro rink this side of the pond that sells lefse? No doubt the moms in a town rink like Melita or Deloraine probably do from time to time.

What goes around comes around..

Dam, that's interesting. Good bloodlines. Watched that game in a nearly empty bar in Onalaska, WI. The water bottle incident was still pretty fresh in Wiscovites' minds then, but it was surprising how many had enough respect for the Sioux to root for them.

I don't recall them ever starting the season with this weak a schedule, either. They have basically been playing cellar-dwellers, and it will continue this weekend. But you did point that out. But as they say, any team can win on any given night, and they have been taking care of business. But we won't really know what we have until we start playing some top teams.

Well now, dagies, that explains a few things.

No kidding--I would never touch the stuff, and I'm all norsky. But hey, the name Ludvig Hoff sounds like at least one german jumped the fence and swam to Norway at some point.

My god, sprig, you misspelled lutefisk. Uff-da. I hope this doesn't mean you're a swede

Here's a thought. I recall Herb Brooks saying in Miracle that did not pick Craig because he was the most consistent goalie; he picked him because he had the top end potential to be the lights-out goalie they needed to beat the Soviets. That may have been nothing more than Hollywood screenwriting, but that's what I recall. Zane was much more solid in his positioning than either H or Cam, and he was one of the best UND has ever had, but he did have a tendency to get beat for a goal or two. Maybe H, with some game-speed experience and development, can use his quickness and his glove to offer something like Craig. We know he has toughness and a strong will. A girl can dream anyway . . .

I'm as pumped up as anybody about these guys, but I hope people don't start voicing frustration if they are less successful against better opponents. The teams they've faced so far have been plain bad.