burd

So good to hear from you, Swami. (Raises glass): To a weekend of exciting hockey between two worthy adversaries.

No, unless he did so recently. He just stopped posting over on uscho hockey threads after some people were apparently getting personal. Wonderful fund of hockey knowledge, and he stayed away from the political threads, as I recall. He would post here now and then when UND and DU played each other.

Man, those first two lines have some puck skill.

About this time I miss Puck Swami’s contributions to college hockey discussions generally and DU specifically. I don’t recall whether he posted on this board, but he added a great deal to any discussion he joined.

Every year Sioux fans agonize over Michigan getting so many chippahs, worrying over their advantage with the development program and NIL money. Yet there they sit in 5th place in their own conference (which is admittedly very good this year). They might put it all together for the Tournament, but the grass is not looking greener there.

They're just jockeying for position on that coveted Domination Banner.

One habit I think Sioux players have shown is a tendency to coast to the puck and try to win the battle by poke-check. Part of what I loved about Matt Jones is that he ALWAYS skated hard to the puck.

I was afraid to say it, but I thought they’d lose last night by 10-15 goals. I feel the same way about tonight. Their announcers are right: SCSU is by far the best team in the NCHC, probably the country. Bunch of their guys must have been dealing with the flu or something last night.

Yeah, I really like him and think he will be a very important part of their future success. Has to adjust a little to the physical side of the game at this level, but he sees the ice well, has huge stick skills, a quick release, and works hard.

Rocco often dished to guys who were not ready for it. He could see open guys before they saw themselves. Wasted talent sometimes in that others were just not playing at his quickness level.

Having Perron on your line is a little like having R Grimaldi on it.

I don't see it as too simplistic if your position is hased on some hockey facts or factors, which I think yours is.

Nice to see some real, honest-to-god hockey talk, whether one agrees with it or not, instead of simplistic declarations of staff or player incompetence or generalized opinion that the program fails to meet expectations. There are a lot of very knowledgeable hockey fans here, and it would be nice to hear more specifics. Won't come from me, though--I'm not one of them. Love the game, which is enough to be a fan but not enough to be an informed critic.

Amazing that this team has not lost in regulation since the first weekend in Nov

That's the thing. It's too simplistic just to say he's got to change his game and stop taking those chances. Work on situational awareness. With his whole line, so they're still in sync. I think James is a factor in Blake's improvement, with his vertical game and hard working style. They're different but can learn from each other.

Situational awareness, I guess.

True enough, and I remember having similar thoughts about Greg Johnson and his habit of dangling too much during his freshman an soph years. He was a very smart person and figured it out

Very true, and yet part of his exceptional value in the O zone is that he forces things (and opponents alter their game to deal with it). It's a situational and zone specific discussion, IMO.

And nobody said it was determinative.

Hrkac was a ridiculously prolific scorer, averaging about 2.5 pts per game in 86-87. Anyone know where his plus/minus numbers might be?

Thanks. Are all the plus/minus numbers on the team website?

What's Blake's +-

Agree.

Blake unquestionably is a defensive liability, but they have to be careful not to neutralize what he brings to the offense, which is critical to their ultimate success.

Too simplistic a question, IMO. The decision who to start next Friday will be based on a host of factors, of which last night's performance will be one. I have no problem with Hobie taking the net, but I'm sure the staff will see how the week's practice and Ludvig's recovery goes before making that decision. Ludvig has proven himself with more performances (including 3+ months of practice) than Hobie has. And just because I'm full of shyte doesn't mean I'm not right on this.