Big A HG

Post of the day.

I'm a hater.

I say that the Badgers come out and stun us Friday. Then Saturday, the Badgers get over-confident despite their reason swoon, and get hammered by the woken-up Sioux in front of a tense Sioux fan audience watching across the country. Denver gets an early 2 goal lead to make things really interesting with us in a 3-2 battle against UW late in the game.

-Minnesota -Michigan -Michigan State -Indiana -Ohio State -Penn State -Illinois -Iowa -Purdue -Boston College -University of Denver -Florida -Florida State -LSU -Texas -Kansas -Kentucky -South Dakota -South Dakota State -Duke -Tennessee -Davidson -Georgetown -Pitt -Memphis -Northern Illinois -Miami (FL) -Oregon -Oregon State and most of all, NDSU.

I don't think they'd waste a spot on the plane if he wasn't planning on playing. Good to hear he'll be ready to go.

That must be a this year thing, because I remember him scoring in the Frozen Four last year.

Jordan probably will win ROY. Not a big shocker there. The only person who really has a chance to beat Schroeder is Eids. Brad will likely take second though. EDIT: Didn't realize you thought he should win MVP. Jordan Schroeder will not win MVP, but thanks for the great laugh I just got.

It sucks when Jason is out, so it was nice to see the team get a tough win without him on Sunday.

OD-ing on hockey at the end of the season is best....carries you into summer nicely.

We had a pretty different team all 3 other years against them, and every year everyone thought this one was the year (including me, so not making fun of you). I just don't want to play them anymore. I hope they ban hockey there.

I made hand gestures with a big smile on my face to a Badger fan who was ragging on me the whole game after we scored the OT goal. No such lady in my section.

Who's Zach Parise?

I completely agree with this. However, Joe isn't one of the players that should be criticized right now. I feel the need to defend him. In fact, I can't think of a person who has played poorly on a consistent basis lately. Everyone has done their part and that's why we are playing a high level of hockey. I'm not blaming whomever for being hard on a player. But for someone to say something about someone who hasn't played at a level that deserves criticizing is when I'll say something back.

It's hard to say because no one stood out as being amazing on defense. Marto has been great lately, so I would have to say him, especially as a +2 on the weekend. Besides Joe's turnover behind the net on Saturday, he was sound all weekend I thought. He had a few nice hits and stuffed up the middle, like he should. Joe makes great outlet and two-line passes since he's came back. Chad Rau is a beast with the puck, so it's not surprising he made a play like that on Joe. Chad has put up at least 30 points each season he's been here. That's pretty good in WCHA hockey.

Well, the guys started out flying. They hit a post, got some nice shot opportunities, just didn't connect. Then...the first goal. We are holding the zone nicely, Joe makes a cross-ice pass at the point to Genoway, who decides to one-time it right by the blue line with a guy clearly in front of him. It wasn't a play where he had a clear shot and he knew that. Shot gets blocked and Joe hustles back to save Genoway's mistake. Joe actually makes a really good play to come all the way across the rink against a speedster and played the puck nicely. He just got unlucky and the puck got through to Orpik who one-times it. Most people would blame Joe for this, but if Genoway doesn't force an unncessary shot, this play doesn't happen. Second goal, a mis-played puck by Genoway and Miller leads to a Gerbe breakaway. Joe had no chance trying to catch up to Gerbe. I don't think anyone on the team could have stopped Gerbe. Third goal, neither involved. Back breaker of a goal though. Fourth goal...turnover behind the net by Genoway (by himself) leads to an easy pass up the slot in front of JPL for a one-timer that goes in. These are the kinds of things that have happened this season. Most of the time Genoway gets away with it because of his speed, but against a fast team like CC or BC, he can...and will...get burned. Joe is left hanging. I'll say it again. Genoway is awesome with the puck, and makes awesome plays. He can do things no one else can in the NCAA, in my opinion. He's fast, and skilled, and for the most part he's responsible when in our own zone. But this offense-first mentality has bit him in the butt and Joe takes the blame for it. I'm not trying to bash Genoway, I'm just trying to defend Finley, who takes way too much unnecessary blame.

Back to my original point - More goals given up on that D-line are mistakes because of Chay, not Joe. It's not always because Chay is playing offensive either. There was one CC goal this weekend that Chay was way out of position on D, chasing something he had no business chasing. Re-watch the majority of the games....if you even have that opportunity. Like you said, Joe should be playing some of his best hockey....but I don't think he's too far off from that. Yeah, he made one mistake on Saturday that led to a goal. Look how many other players on every team make a mistake that leads to a goal. Every player on every team has done it. We gave up 7 goals this weekend. Joe was even for Saturday, with that one goal given up. If Brad makes the save, which wasn't a hard save, no one is even talking about it. Sunday he was even as well... and IIRC not on the ice for any CC goals. Joe has been solid and actually has been pretty good with the puck since a couple games after returning from his concussion. I think you're way off-base with this whole Joe needs to pick it up mentality.

Jonny with a quick assist already in the 'Hawks game.

The Cup isn't going anywhere.

Smaby playing and getting some early PK time for TB against Pittsburgh tonight. 2 separate shifts on the first PK alone.

Don't worry, haven't forgot. But, some games we need those comeback goals because of goals given up on odd-man rushes also. The game is 60 minutes, so it'd be nice to not be out of a game after the 1st period (2008 Frozen Four).

Chay can still bring the puck up on the ice. He can still be part of the offense. All he has to do is keep in mind that he's a defenseman. It shouldn't be one of the forwards responsibilities for him being out of position. Our BEST games are when Chay doesn't try to do too much...and Chay actually has seen better point production because of it in those games. I'm not saying Chay should try to be the big lumbering oak defenseman, I'm just saying he shouldn't try to do too much, like he tends to do sometimes.

I don't think anyone understimates what Chay can do with the puck and offensively. But, when he gets TOO offensive, it essentially leaves us with only 1 defensman a lot of times, and it's hurt us on more than one occasion.

So because Genoway doesn't have that mindset that he's a defenseman while in the opposing zone and gets lost in the transition when he coughs it up and Joe has difficulty stopping an odd-man rush, it's Joe's fault? Genoway coughed it up just as much or more than Joe, and was no where near where he needed to be defensively. Joe knows his role, and with a stick longer than a lot of our players are tall, it's not easy to stick handle like Jonny Toews out there. Look at Joe's plus-minus from last year when he played the whole season. Joe isn't our problem. Genoway can perform miracles with the puck, but needs to learn there are 3 forwards on the ice already.

Vote for Toews on the right as well!

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't 100% sure on the rule myself.