burd

A little off topic, but would some kind soul please explain to this bonehead how the final 6 will play it out in Mpls?

I'll take what we've had the last 8 years over 5 or 6 mediocre years and a banner without hesitation. The titles are just about bragging rights, while strong teams year in and year out bring us lot of enjoyment many weekends thoughout the year watching high end talent playing as a team, which we have had. Now, I can see why a player might prefer a title, because the player can take personal pride in the accomplishment and is only there for 3 or 4 of those years. I'd love to see the team get #8, but what we've been getting has been a pleasure.

When we're talking about chances of significant success in the NHL I'd say Bjugstad is a safer bet than Kristo. Still, we will be fortunate if he stays. But if he does, that will be an exciting team. (They will be anyway, but more so)

Don Cherry has made himself into a joke.

Good points. And it's not as if a bunch of NHL ready players on the team will agree together to return, as they did several years ago. Forbort performed a lot better in the last month and a half, but I don't see him as being ready either.

We got some serious bounces this weekend.

Problem is he could also take inspiration from what Frattin has done with the Leafs. He definitely has not spent the year sleeping in buses.

If Kristo stays the team could be not only wicked good but real fun to watch. It will look like a Blais team

Sioux just chipping and standing.

Wow. Entertaining hockey.

That's interesting. The Mavs are dangerous, and Dell made some da** nice saves last night.

Really like this bunch of guys. The first pass turnovers still create suspense, but things are starting to work. Gaarder doesn't score much, but it's fun to watch him work in the O zone. Several more wins might put them in a position to scare some folks this year.

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all get a goal last night.

Lack of finishers tonight on both sides. Lots of wide open nets.

What being short does to our line flow and late game energy is just as important, even if they don't score.

It's truly a shame that the head-down hit is becoming a penalty and possible major every time it happens. That being said, all teams have to play with these rules, and the test is which ones adjust effectively.

It's always hard to understand why players don't play smart, knowing what the stakes are. Last year, it made no sense to take penalties because they had so much talent at forward that their advantage was in being able to run 4 very good lines and wear the opponent down. This year, they can't afford not to go 5x5 for very long for the opposite reason. Either way, they will not win if they are in the box, and the leaders don't seem to be doing a very good job making that point. It's harder to be critical of Blood--playing D puts you in a position for a lot of calls in today's game, and he's on the ice all the time and expected to do so much. Lammy is also a trooper, but more of his contribution has to come from leadership. BUT still a good road trip. DU has a lot of talent, and practically never gets swept in their own barn. The altitude/fatique factor is real. The boys also proved how good they can be--not just a team that tries to keep it close and get a break or two. Not a good chance of winning the Final Five, and sweeping Mankato is far from an easy thing to do, so the chances are getting slimmer, but they still can take care of things and get in, IMO. If they get in, nobody will want to play them.

Brought this back to the top not because I think Hak should get the award (yet), but to recognize again what a job he's done with this team--especially with guys like Patyn, Gaarder, and Senkbeil, all while keeping Kristo and some of the other vets 100% into the scheme. Remarkable, really.

Dam, Hak has done a job getting this team ready to play this year.

The late goals are OK. Gets them to refocus for tomorrow and get the bad taste out of their mouths.

Gotta love his spirit, but I agree. He's in the box waaaaay too much for a captain.

Dont forget about the subsequent recruiting value of having him play for the Sioux, if even for one year. How much value do you think Toews brought us in our efforts to market the program after he left?

Strangely, this law may have been just what many of us needed to move on. Now, instead of fighting against the loss of a name, people are fighting for the University. We have known for some time that the name was going to go, but now more of us are truly ready to move on for something good and worth preserving.

Sometimes I see that and want to yell at the computer screen in frustration, but I'm convinced it's coached--not that style of play, but the strategy with a team this inexperienced at forward. Hak has always been pretty conservative, but his approach with this group this year has been superb. There are very few tic tac passes out of the zone and a lot of chipping along the boards, but also few uncontested turnovers. Blood has been irreplacable to this team this year, but you're right, his first passes last night were not very good.

A lot of messy passing last night, especially the first pass out. Our D hold onto the puck forever, but it looks like that is coached. The passing lanes fill up, but there aren't as many uncontested giveaways. Sure frustrating to watch, though, with so many passes going to players who are instantly tied up.