cujo2

No,they are really in the proverbial rock and a hard place missing Gordon Friday night. Brian Shack played forward the last couple of weekend's. The Gophers have 7 defensemen. They could play 6 defensmen and move Shack to forward to make 11 but that does not make any sense since they can't go with 4 lines. I guess Saturday night with Gordon back they could move Shack to forward and roll 4 lines that way. I said this will be a split this weekend. Depleted Gophers lineup adds to a UND victory Friday night but Gophers come back to win Saturday.

No, the Blackhawks never offered him a contract. Whether it was a one-way or a two-way. Toews told Chicago that he only wanted to play in the NHL or he would go back to UND. So technically Chicago never offered him said contract.

*awwww group hug*

Yeah I guess they are going with 10. They are missing Hirsch, Tom Pohl, and Evan Kaufmann. They rolled with 8 forwards against MSU and beat them 5-1. I would look for a more conservative play style this weekend with the depleted line-up. They played a lot of dump and chase against MSU. Made for a boring game but hey they won.

After that piece of $h!t Punkovich cheapshotted Bina I have hated DU since then and probably always will. I am all for good clean hard-nosed checking but a hit like that is absolutely uncalled for. I am glad to hear of his comeback to hockey plus he is actually a major force with UND. Congratulations Robbie keep up the good work (except for this weekend)

Well I guess the cat's out of the bag so to speak. I can't believe someone has not informed you guys that the WCHA, CCHA, and Hockey East officials are in cohoots to conspire against the sioux.

I think Mazzocco is the brutally blind homer--even though he is a fine Italian boy. On the other hand I think Woog is very impartial but needs to stop trying to crack his ridicously stupid jokes. Doug comedy is not your thing. Stick with analyzing the game.

I come over to this site to get all of my Gopher hockey news.

Well of course they will because we all know the WCHA officials are on the Gophers payroll--sheeeshh

Puck drops @ 7:07 so I suggest you get there by 6:58. Oh and btw, don't try to sneak down to a seat beacause when you do the pompous arrogant corpie jag-off will show up in the middle of the 2nd period and want his seat. Stay at the SRO

As a gopher fan here is the stat that scares me. "UND has never swept the Gophers in Mariucci" Now sooner or later that will change. Hoping that it doesn't this weekend

Anybody up for actually discussing the upcoming series? I did a little research. The last time the Gophers swept UND in Mariucci was Nov 8 & 9 of 1996. UND has not swept the Gophers in Mariucci but they did get 3 out of 4 points Nov. 11 & 12 of 2000. I would think that if UND was to get 3 points this weekend they would be elated. The last 6 years these teams split in Mariucci. I see the same for this weekend Here is how I see it: UND--Starting to build momentum and gain some confidence after some recent victories. From what I have read the DOT line is absolutely dominate. They are going to have to make things happen, force turnovers for odd-man rushes. UND's PP is pretty damn good. If UND can score on the PP they have a legit chance to take this series. Also, their defensemen need to play a strong physical game. Obviously goaltending is always the key. In said winning streak UND has given up an average of 1.08 goals/game which if that continues UND will take all 4 points this weekend. Minnesota--This team has shown that it can win a high-flying up tempo game as well as a grind-it-out game. Typically both of these teams like to play a very fast, speedy up-tempo game. IMO, this plays right into what the Gophers want to do. The PP has come back to form last weekend after an 0for23 stretch. I think the key is to shut down the vaunted DOT line and limit the shots on goal to around 25-30 range. If the Gophers can do that and stay out of the penalty box 3or 4 points should be attainable. Finally, our goaltending needs to be sharp as a tack this weekend. I do think this is a very vital series for both teams. If the Gophers sweep along with a SCSU/DU split, the Gophers will extend their lead in the WCHA race. For UND, if they sweep it will absolutly 100% springboad them for the remainder of the season. However, if they get swept then the likelyhood of them on the road for the 1st round of WCHA playoffs is a possibility. 2 Points would work but Wisconsin still has 1 more series to play. Anyway good luck to both teams. Play hard play fast play physical play hockey they way it is meant to be. Good luck to fans of both teams. Have fun but behave yourself and I don't want to hear any stories on the a-hole d-bag fans of both team's misbehaving. It is just a game for crying oooooot loud

Ahem, that was me that called the Ralph a morgue. If you are going to rip on someone at least rip on the correct individual. And yes it is my opinion that the Ralph is as quiet as a funeral parlor. I have been to games at the Ralph, Mariucci, National Concrete Center, and Midwest Wireless Center and it is my opinion that the Ralph's atmosphere is abysmal. Alas, it is just my opinion. Agree or disagree I don't really care.

I think the Ralph was just exactly what the city of Grand Forks needed after the flood. Peoples lives were absolutely torn up-side down and thrown into major turmoil. That tragedy is something I can not possibly fathom what it was like to endure. My outlaws from Grand Forks went through it and to hear them talk about it still brings pain. I don't think anybody should have to suffer the loss that the people of Grand Forks did. To see the pride that the Ralph brings to the community is very very special. I would venture to guess the Ralph is a rallying point for the resident of Grand Forks. For that you guys should be commended. As far as the facility itself, visually speaking the Ralph is "a crown jewel" to look at. As PCM indicates all the additional facilities really make it something special. However, i'll probably get ripped for this but, I think the atmosphere there is like a morgue. It really does not seem to have any "personality" to it. I have been to several games and the "You sit" & "Let's go Sioux" chant's are the only thing being heard. Other than that the crowd just sits on their hands the entire game. Like I said the Ralph is AWESOME to look at but I could take a nap during the games. There is not an "electric atmospher" at all. I have been to the National Concrete Center to watch scsu, and while the have a small capacity, the entire crowd seems to be roaring along with the student section. Same thing goes for Mariucci. I know it is very very corporate but there are plenty of varying chants which are screamed. Such as the "Never Were" when the Gophers kill a penalty and go back to full strengh, or the "That's debatle" when the opposition becomes full strength, or "The Rouser" after the Gophers score a goal--you get about 9500 people screaming MINNESOTA. Hell look at the Kohl Center. There are about 10 people in entire state of Wisconsin that know a lick about hockey. But that crowd is absolutely 100% into the game. They scream and they chant the entire game and the atmosphere is 2nd to none.

How abooooot Blake for Dupuis?

OMG, the blaming of the officials is already starting up. C'MON FOLKS YOU GUYS ARE BETTER THAN THAT. It is barely noon on Monday.

Damn right. Bring it on!!!

Redwing, My "sue" comment was in jest. Pure sarcasm along with my predicted scores of 102-0 & 56-1. Don't perceive it any different. The wonderful thing amongst these rivalries are "friendly banter" back and forth. But the key is "friendly" Anyway, I agree with your thoughts. Mid-December it appeared that the Gophers would really pummel UND. Now, I am not too sure. Typically these games are always close contests and damn fun to watch whoever wins. I think if UND comes into Mariucci and sweeps the Gophers it could really springboard them the rest of the season. However, if the Gophers sweep UND then the last 6-8 games by UND could essentially go down the drain.

No need for the sue to even make the trip. Gophers sweep. Friday night 102-0 and Saturday night 56-1. In all seriousness, UND seems to have righted the ship. Granted they have not played the stiffest of competition the last few weeks but the victories will add confidence. As far as the Gophers go, seems to be some kinks in the armor. Really a lack of scoring (except last night), PP can not convert, giving up an un-godly amount of shots, giving up 3 PP goals to DU, passes not connecting. At times the Gophers look dominating and at other times they look like a JV team. Honestly, I think this weekend is a split. I say Gophers win Friday but UND takes it on Saturday.

I think the streak stops this weekend. I think the Gophers win tonight behind Briggs (who has looked awesome the last 2 months). I read somewhere that Wisconsin is 4-0-1 against the #1 ranked team at the Kohl Center. I think UW wins on Saturday though.

I say UND sweeps in a dominating fashion this weekend. I think they come out and make a statement to the rest of the WCHA that UND is back.

My god do I despise NDSU fans. They are the absolute most blind homer fans. Ever since they beat wisconsin in basketball last year they have been running their mouths. SHUT THE F' UP. Your sappy and crappy university has done nothing and I mean nothing except 1 win over a legit basketball power. These bleepin a-holes from NDSU act like the world revolves around their athletic department. I got news for you guys= NOBODY CARES. Correct me if I am wrong but here is my count: NCAA Division 1 National Tiltes: UND = 7 NDSU = ZERO This has nothing to do with the topic at hand but I feel better. I might have to call Sioux-cia (isn't he/she a board licensed psychologist?)

I don't want to add any more fuel to this fire but, will have to agree with Goon. I don't see a lot of "offensive depth" this year for the sioux. Last season you guys had 2 legit scoring lines that would consistenly score. Now with the departure of Zajac & Stafford has really depleted the scoring. The likes of Forney & Vandevelde were supposed to step in and not miss a beat. It is quite apparent that these guys have not filled the role. Both are in-experienced in WCHA play, where Stafford and Zajac had a few years under their belt. Also, with Zajac and Stafford last year it allowed Oshie & Toews to "fly under the radar" so to speak. This year Oshie & Toews are struggling because the opposing coaches have figured out if they stop this line the scoring drops off dramatically. The loss of Smaby also has hurt the sioux. He was an experienced, tough defenseman that brought a "don't even think about coming into my zone becasue I will F you up if you do" type of mentality. To me, the sioux do not have this type of guy. Therefore there is no fear of opposing players standing in front of the net and having their way. To go along with this, the current crop of d-men for the sioux seem to be more offensive minded--which is fine but your main responsibility is to shut down the other teams forwards. I might get ripped or banned for my next statement but, Lamaroux just plain sucks. I'm sorry he does. Seems to me he gets a free pass because he is from Grand Forks. The times I have seen him play he just can not control his emotions. 2 vivid examples come to mind: #1) Last January after the 7-1 defeat at Mariucci he shoots the puck into the crowd. Whether it was intentional or un-intnetional is not the point. The point is having your starting goaltender lose his cool like that has a negative effect. #2) The SCSU series this year. A penalty was called on a SCSU guy and Lamaroux skates to the bench. Subsequent penalty was called so Lamaroux proceeds to return to the net all the while grasping his goalie stick and feigning to masturbate. Now while this is funny to see it tells me that once again he can not control his emotions. The goaltending is the #1 position where you can not absolutely not let one's emotions get the best of them. Anyway, I'll hang up and listen

Of course I have a point. Even when I am wrong I am right---wish I could convince my wife of that fact In all seriousness, look at the track record of both of these squads and it is pretty remarkable. Both teams have about the same number of WCHA titles and WCHA playoff titles, both have an ungodly number of NCAA tourney appearances, a proven track record in post-season play, both are putting players into the NHL on a regular basis, both teams are receiving a good majority of national press. All told there are many many many college programs which would settle for 1/10 of the success of Minnesota and UND

You're not going to get much of an argument from me. IMO, comparing the Gophers hockey program to UND's program is like splitting hairs. They are very similar in many ways and both have a tremendous rich hockey tradition.