burd

Front-to-back, top-to-bottom this team has a lot of talent and, it seems, ability to work together. Hopefully, they will continue to improve.

That's right. If it's 10-1, we'll all be pissed.

Over time, the top line will score. I’d be more worried if they accounted for nearly all the scoring. Other teams will juggle their lines to keep those guys off the board, and this team has a lot of skill up and down the lineup, unlike some recent years when the top end skills just weren’t there.

Could have used another year.

Duluth players were all raised by wolves.

Ciske 125 Sioux -10 Claims it would have been worse if the refs had been calling what they saw.

Bingo. And one good way to do that is to beat the other guy to the puck

We all have our crosses to bear, I guess.

Why is it that when someone is out there stirring up trouble, it's usually you?

As well as this team has played against teams like BU, it's pretty amazing that no player on D had played a minute of hockey in a UND jersey or with any other player on the team. I think I've got that right. It's even more surprising that they seem so steady under forecheck pressure, something that requires a lot of communication and coordination. They screw up at times, but a lot less frequently than could be expected under their circumstances.

Good. I was hoping they would do something to honor his memory. I know their gesture honoring Coach Walsh was greatly appreciated by Mainers.

I'm pretty ignorant, but I'd call last weekend's performance good. They more than matched a loaded team on their ice.

These pics really bring home how these are just kids.

I have wondered what effect Simpson has had on this team. That would be difficult to sort out, but this D seems more . . . efficient? Poised? It's not like they are loaded with high draft picks.

No wonder you are so bent on that issue. It's personal. And who could blame you?

And the smaller skill guys can do it. Witness Zach Parise.

Will gfhockey be suiting up for the dogs?

And Michigan athletics has been getting a lot of bad press lately. Doubt hockey commits care much what is happening with other sports, though.

Absolutely. Forwards play a big part in defense, including breakout. And it looks like the coaches are positioning the winger a little ways off the wall more this year, with success. Pretty easy for opponents to jam that breakout if the winger is always on the wall. But this young D group has really shown poise under pressure, IMO. But as I've said before, I have not seen any games in person, and you miss a lot watching the game televised.

A little ironic in that I'd say this year's defensemen are more poised under pressure in the D end than last year's.

And yet, you all overlook the factor of which team has the better jerseys. On the road. Against NC opponents.

It'll be interesting to see how UMich does at home against the gophs next weekend after being swept this weekend. All those chippahs . , , ,

All told, a very encouraging series for this young (to each other) team. And at this early point of the season as well, after doing well against the most talented teams in the country. I don't think many fans expected these results back in May. Certainly things to fix, but a lot to build on.

DU can expose deficiencies of very good teams.

You’re certainly right about how desirable a win is here, but using the term “must win” seems to diminish the meaning of truly “must” win games. But that’s picking nits, I guess, because your point is a good one. i think the boys either win or lose decisively.