ScottM

I agree with Ghost. That was probably the worst Wisco team I've seen, ever. No chemistry, no spirit ... sad, really. If that's how Eaves is running the show, fine, but I have doubts about bringing in all new NDT players to replace experienced players, and there's still alot of bad blood in the Wisco camp over Badger Bob's kid not getting the job. I think Eaves has a very short window to turn things around in Madtown.

I agree that the guys have to take it to the net early and often. Certain fans whine about goaltending, or missing one player, but UND has traditionally done better when it plays a strong offensive game. Strong forechecking, solid physical defense and a stay-at-home goaltender should help. IMO Mankato has a nice record, and run, going but I don't see them as particularly deep or overly talented. They play hard, and they do what it takes to win. However, I think we can play with them and beat them accordingly.

I think Bertibm should be banned.

I hope David gets back on the ice soon, but I'd rather he be 100% healthy before doing so. If he's lost 15-20 lbs, I can't imagine he's in the best game shape right now.

I *believe* POI was hacked, and taken over. I've tried to visit the site numerous times today for hockey content ... without success, over and over again. Hopefully, Sal and UPB get it squared away soon.

Start Ranfranz, what the hell at least he seems to want the job. Otherwise start without a goalie and play 6 men up the entire game, at least we might be able to put a few more shots on goal.

IMO, the TEAM hasn't played a strong game since their first game at Mariucci in January. Since then, they seem to have been phoning it in. Quite frankly, the TEAM just doesn't seem to grasp the fact that this part of the season determines a great deal of who/where we'll be playing after the regular season ends. It's time to step it up and play like they've shown they can as a TEAM.

I think your comment about Sioux fans' whines about backup goalies is dead-on, jk. And I didn't even have to lip read it. I'm of the opinion that our goalie situation would be more stable if the rest of the team was more consistent and driven to win at crucial times. (Spiewak's efforts last night should be model for the rest of the team, and not just when we're behind.) Not to say our current goalies would be like Casey or Belfour, but those guys had very strong supporting casts to puff their numbers.

Speaking of misspellings, genius, check your own spelling before you pitifully attempt to criticize mine. I am glad that it took you such a short time to reply to my post. I was guessing you'd drag your sorry self here in May or so and put that "high-powered" 'SU education, or whatever it is, to use.

It's easy to place a loss solely on a goaltender. However, if the rest of the team is screwing up, getting out of position, getting lazy or just not into the game, THEY are going to lose. If we give up numerous odd-man rushes, or make stupid clearing passes to the other guy, ANY goalie is going to have problems. I recall Karl, and earlier Aaron Schweitzer, being put in the same position as Jake and Josh. Sometimes they'd make great, highlight reel saves, and other times they'd get their heads handed to them. Until every member of this squad plays 100% every shift, every night, our "weakness" at goalie is only going to be magnified. That said, a goalie has to have their head into their game and not let in fluttering 50 foot shots. A goalie coach will probably only benefit our goalies over time, but no amount of coaching is going to rectify poor mental and physical efforts by the other guys.

Away, troll.

The odds of an NHL strike are probably at least 60-40 right now. Teams are up to their noses in red ink, arenas have empty seats, players have multi-million dollar deals and the league overextended itself with expanding into every two-bit town between NY and LA. Will this affect Parise's decision to stay or leave? Maybe, as teams have the final say on who gets called up. He's still projected as a top-15 pick. However, most scouts/agents I know think he has strong upside, but he's not ready for the big league yet. Another season or two at college is a cheap way for an NHL team to develop its top prospects, before they go to the AHL or NHL. The last thing most teams want to do is sign a top draft pick for mega bucks and then ship him to the AHL on their dime for more than a season or two, and a strike looming could influence their decision over the summer.

Well that game was postively disgraceful. Nobody showed up to play an "A" game, and it sounds like they played as well they did during their worst games last season. Now's the time of the season when better teams separate themselves from the pack ... something we haven't done yet. Maybe it's time to start shortening the bench and leave the slackers in the stands. As for goaltending, we don't have it, from anybody. Good goaltenders are consistent and reliable, and nobody has shown up for more than 2-3 games this season. However, losses can't be laid at Jake or Josh's skates alone. If the rest of the team has the "crap" together, it makes the goaltender's job easier. Like a wiseman once said, "The other team can't score if they don't have the puck."

Right now, I'd give the nod to Owens at CC and Junten(sp?) at Mankato. Both programs are doing well, and much better than most preseason polls predicted. I think for Blais to get it, the Sioux would have to run the table and get to the FF.

Say what you like about Sertich's coaching record, but the guy is a "gem" in the comments department. I loved his comment in the Hurled about if he could take anything away from last night, it would be stealing something from REA.

I've always advocated a uniform rink size. Virutally every other sport has uniform requirements for courts, fields, etc. I know there was some talk about Minnesota reducing its rink size a few years ago. However, the main motivation was to put more seats closer to the ice, rather than having an NHL size sheet.

"Crap!" ... since this is a "family board". I had expected to at least bring back two points, and take a bit of pressure off the team going into the home stretch to stay in the top three of the league. For whatever reason, it just doesn't seem like the team played *its game* this weekend, which is not a good thing on the road. One thing that sets this team apart from previous teams that made a run into the NC$$ tourney is the lack of consistent goaltending. (An issue we've discussed ad nauseum the past two seasons.) Regardless of how well the rest of the team does, without a solid netminder we're not much of a threat to anybody of stature IMO. We absolutely have to sweep Tech, and hope the teams ahead of us falter.

Ouch. I wasn't able to watch/hear the game, only get scoring updates on my cell phone, but I was leery of getting up so early in the game 3-0. Sounds like the team just packed it in after the first. Unfortunately, this stuff happens to every team at some point. Notes said in the Hurled that this is going to hurt all day (today). I hope it does, and I hope the team uses that *pain* to drive them to a better full game effort tonight.

It would be nice if TC would provide a complete transcript of the interview, preferably by a court reporter, rather than recycling recycled postings on a message board, especially as it does not appear TC even heard the show at issue.

I'd *guess* that if Title IX is rolled back in some ways, most schools won't devote more money to already money-losing sports. More likely, like a good business, they'll push more resources to programs, such as football, basketball or maybe hockey, that generate the most revenue. At the very least, schools will face less pressure to bring new women's sports on line, as has been the case the past couple of decades. Some club college programs may move to D1, but I'd bet that it may be a few here and there, rather than some torrent of new hockey programs.

I think anything less than 2 pts from this series should be considered a solid disappointment IMO. Not to take anything away from CC, who seems to be hitting on all cylinders right now, but this is the time of the season when good teams take it to the next level in preparation for the post-season. We have everybody back, the team seems to have strong chemistry and, with the exception of Canady, no major injuries right now. We've had two series on big ice recently, as well as time to practice on the larger sheet, so we should have already adjusted and made that a non-factor. If we play a smart *no stupid penalties*, disciplined series and take the game to the Tigers early and often, we should bring back some points. This is a very important series, not just in the standings, but it's important to take points from a good team on their ice.

I agree that Crosby is the "real deal". Great hands, good vision and pretty strong on his skates for a 15 yo. Great, quick shot. 2G/2A. Stafford did pretty well and was usually in the mix. Really nice stickhandling. Seemed to pick it up in the third. 1G/1A. Smaby was great. Very physical. He can handle the puck and move well for a big guy. I loved it in the third when he was having trouble handling the puck in the Benilde zone and got it taken away from him. The Benilde player, a small forward, heads right at the SSM goalie for a one-on-one. Smaby catches up to the guy, disprupts the play and then manages to clock somebody else behind the net. Final score SSM 7/BSM 2.

4 is the over/under? Probably not for rounds of booze, but probably for penalties I take.