PCM

I might have an easier time believing the accusations being leveled against Blais if the people making them weren't hiding behind the cloak of anonymity. There's no way to judge the accuracy of their information or the credibility of their words.

I've used that link in the past and it's worked well for me.

http://www.umdbulldogs.com/on_air/

Basil provides yet another example of ignorance in action. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how stupid this comment makes him sound.

I can almost hear her now.

This is the first time I've ever heard anyone question Panzer's speed. I believe that every year he wore a Sioux uniform, he was the fastest player on teams that were known for their speed.

Today's Grand Forks Herald has an article about the search for Dru Sojdin being renewed.

Fixed your post.

What impressed me the most about Brady Murray was that he got better as the season went on. He also scored 19 goals on 80 shots to lead the team with a .237 shooting percentage. The coaches encouraged him to shoot more. Next season, I think he will. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't put up better numbers.

When USCHO wants my opinion, they'll give it to me.

I can speculate, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Blais said having four goalies was too many because they all couldn't get enough shots in practice. Three this season did seem to work better than four last season. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Shep, only time will tell who's right or wrong. Next season, if a goalie clearly establishes himself as being better and more consistent than the others, I'm confident that Blais will have no problem with making him as the number-one goalie. I won't go out on a limb and say who it will be. I could see either Parise or Brandt stepping into that role. And maybe Phil Lamoureux will come in and blow them both out of the water. For that matter, Blais, Brandt and Parise were all saying that Nate Ziegelmann could have stepped in and played well. Looking ahead, I think it's safe to say that goaltending should not be an issue going into next season.

The assumption many make is that Brandt and Parise have fragile psyches that can't handle Blais' decision on who sits and who plays. But that's not the way it is. They both realize that the goalie who's playing best and practicing best will get the start. They have no problem with that. It creates a healthy competition that drives each of them to stay on top of their game. It's an advantage that teams with one primary goalie don't have. When I asked Parise if people read too much into who's playing in goal and who's not, his response was, "People are reading way too much into that."

I recall only one time during the season that Blais was down on goaltending and that was after the first game at Wisconsin when he had some harsh comments about Brandt. As I'm sure everyone recalls, the very next night, Parise let in 3 goals on 13 shots and was pulled. That was the only weekend out of the entire season when neither goalie played well. After that, Brandt came back with five straight wins (four on the road) and played a large role in the Sioux winning the WCHA title. He deserves credit for his performance down the stretch. He also deserves credit for two wins against SCSU and a road win against Minnesota. Parise also deserves credit. He had two big nonconference wins over UMD and BC to start the season. He also had some good conference wins and played well enough in other games to earn wins, but came away with a tie (DU at home) or a loss (Minnesota on the road). People are making too much over Brandt and Parise splitting time in the nets. It worked out very well for the team. Blais says that. Both Brandt and Parise say that. It was a strength, not a weakness.

No, it wasn't. My intent within the context of the post was to cite six specific instances during which the Blais' formula for success failed because the Sioux scored two or fewer goals. In other words, the goalies did their jobs in those six games, but the offense didn't. If the Sioux had met just 75 percent of the expectation, four "L"s and two "T"s become six "W"s.

When you insert the word "only" into the text I wrote, it certainly does give a different and never-intended spin. Perhaps that's why I didn't use that word.

The day Parise left, Blais pointed out that scouts sign prospects, not coaches. If the coach doesn't want Parise to play, he won't. Burns was quoted as saying that he didn't want to mess with the team's chemistry at this point of the season. That doesn't bode well for Parise's playing chances this season.

Not me.

If Parise doesn't play during the regular season, what are the chances that he'll play during the playoffs? I'm thinking it will only happen if someone gets injured or the Devils are having trouble generating offense.

10/18/2003 - Boston College 2, UND 1 11/14/2003 - SCSU 2, UND 1 1/10/2004 - UAA 2, UND 2 1/24/2004 - Minnesota 2, UND 1 1/31/2004 - Denver 1, UND 1 3/27/2004 - Denver 1, UND 0 The point is that there were six games during the season that the Sioux lost or tied not because of poor goaltending, but because their scoring was significantly below average.

I find myself wondering if it wasn't some sort of "get rich quick" scheme. Maybe she thought that she'd become famous and could sell her life story. I wonder if we'll ever find out what was going on in her head.

Dean Blais said the words I quoted. Learn to read.

Brandt was in goal for two big games at Duluth. The Sioux won the WCHA as a result. But heck, don't take my word for it, ask Dean Blais.

I agree that the puck could have been stopped had Brandt used his stick to wall off the five hole, which he should have done. But I think Jake thought that he had more help in front of the net than he did. Unfortunately, Bina took himself out of position and I don't think Jake knew it.

It's interesting that you're willing to credit good team defense when the goalies play well, but when the Sioux lose, it's the goalie's fault. Case in point: Watch the tape of Potulny's game-winning goal in the Final Five championship. Keep an eye on the mistake Bina makes that gives Potulny more time and space in front of the net. And how about Matt Greene turning the puck over to Vanek? And how about McMahon losing the faceoff in the Sioux zone and the D-men allowing Riddle to get behind them? Are those mistakes Jake's fault, too? Blais' formula for success is quite simple: 1. Limit the opposing team to 25 shots on goal. 2. Have a goalie who stops at least 90 percent of those shots. 3. Have an offense that averages at least 4 goals per game. There were six games during the season in which the Sioux held opponents to two or fewer goals, and yet they were 0-4-2. The most important loss of the season was a game in which the Sioux didn't score a single goal! And yet we still blame the goalies.