Oxbow6

After last weekend thought tonight might have been a good time for Schmaltz to wear a suit.

Leaving Fargo in an hour. 4-3 UND with SCSU scoring late to make it interesting. Parks, Knight, Gleason and Rocco.

Bingo! Any time Rocco isn't on the ice is only favorable to one team and it isn't his! So being on a line that doesn't allow him to be on the ice the maximum amount of time possible during a game doesn't benefit UND in any way.

Keeping with the thought that Hak is hoping the RMP line starts to click again at some point, a top line with Mitch and a 3rd line w Rocco IMO is easier to contain than loading the top line w Rocco and having an energy 3rd line. Glad to see Panz is in lineup tonight.

I would take 3 points, but 4 would be better.

You are spot on here. IMO you limit Kristo to some extent with Mitch. Teams can "gang up" on and take away Kristo and have Mitch try to beat them. Same thing with Rocco...but Pattyn isn't going to beat anyone offensively.

St. Clair could center line with Rocco and Drake if Rocco doesn't. I know Hak is hoping for magic to return for the RPM line, but at the expense of keeping Rocco bottled up on the 3rd line I don't get it...especially if Pattyn centers that line. At least St. Clair can skate with Drake and Rocco.

I thought the thing I liked about that game was when Rocco was on the wing with Kristo.

I'll take these lines if Mitch stays on top line. I don't get it but I'm not Hak. No brainer Rocco should be up there. Connor for Jim I would take as well. As far as Bryn, rumor in Fagro from some Force "insiders" it's an off ice issue. From what I heard don't buy it as it was explained to me. Nonetheless he looked good IMO when he played early so something is up. Would like to see Zane after Saturdays performance.

Using the term marketing and Faison in the same sentence while trying to make a point is an oxymoron!

UND is what??? 20+ and 4 in at home in their last 20+ home games? I'm just saying I don't need $10, but if someone is willing give it away, I'll take it.

I would say SCSU's chances of a sweep are very, very slim...less than 10%.

Bjugstad is probably the best talent in college hockey, but he is not the best player in college hockey to date this season...way too inconsistent. Not overrated IMO but he should be much more dominant on a nightly basis than what he is. He should never go a game without being noticed in a huge way but it happens...often. His goal Saturday was more on Forbort for his total unwillingness to lay a finger on Bjugstad moreso than his talent on that play.

Totally agree. Many over there need heavy loads of medication. Truly pathetic IMO.

But those "folks" like PCM have no problem swimming in that cesspool of filth and garbage over in the USCHO threads?? Don't feel you should have been labeled/attacked in the manor it was done but over at USCHO that exchange would have been considered a compliment!

After that defensive performance this past weekend you think he would voluntarily bring it up and discuss it?

If that is the case and he made the trip and ODonnell didn't, that says a lot about ODonnell at this point in the season.

My guess-amation is UND gets another 15-16 WCHA points from here on out. 16 would get UND 36 points to end the regular season. In the last 5 years, 36 points got you a minimum of a 3rd place finish with the exception of last year I beleive.

That's at a minimum.

Agree...a 3 point weekend would leave us just tied with SCSU. Sweep and we are up 2 points on them in the race for a top 2 spot.

I coach 7-8 year old girl's soccer and I know as much about soccer as I do hockey...not very much at all, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express a couple years back so I guess I'll keep throwing my 2 cents out there!

I totally agree with this. Our 3 best centers are Knight, Mark Mac and Rocco, but you only need two of those to center the top two lines. Rowney is a 3rd line center on this squad. As someone mention earlier somewhere, this line combo jumbling is all an affect of not having a solidified top line. IMO Rocco needs to be there and if not him then Parks. If Hak can settle on either one of those 2 then I think things fall into place. If it's Rocco, then your 2nd line is Mark, Parks and either Mitch or Drake, 3rd line is then Rowney, St. Clair and Mitch or Drake. If it's Parks on the top line, then I think it's straight forward with Mark, Rocco and Drake, then Rowney Mitch and St. Clair. I really like Drake and Rocco together if Rocco isn't on top line. Mitch isn't a top line guy and IMO Drake is a better offensive talent at this stage. Bottom line Mitch isn't the answer going forward on the top line. He needs to be in the lineup somewhere though. I'm a big fan of St. Clair and Drake. But at some point Rocco needs to be with players that can skate with him and make plays based off his creativity. Rowney isn't one of those guys and Pattyn definately isn't. Will be intersting to see what Hak does this coming weekend. If he feels the RPM line needs to stay intact then Rocco should on top line. From what I've seen offensively, defensively and goaltending wise, I feel this teams biggest upside and are where they can really seperate themselves is offensively. I think defensively, we are who we are and in net the same thing. IF the forward lines can be ironed out and we don't have any major injuries to shake them up this team has the forward skill to put a alot of puck in the net as they move forward.

Regardless of 3 righties, all I know is what I've seen and those 3 have easily been of most dynamic offensive combo in the limited time they have played together. No team has had an answer for them when they have been on the ice together. Bottom line, until Hak is steadfast in a linemate for Kristo and Knight all other combos are in limbo. Rocco IMO needs to center or play wing on a line with Mark Mac if he isn't going to be on the top line.

To your 2 questions...Rocco and St Clair. Kristo Knight Rocco RPM Mitch Colton Drake. Kristo can play off wing...he did during the failed Rowney at wing experiment earlier this year. IMO solidifying line spots for Rocco and Mark Mac is the key to get this team humming offensively. Or the above post is an option too

Been wondering the same thing. Bryn looked decent when he saw the ice early on. Heard a rumor here in Fargo from some Force " in the know" fans. His not playing isn't hockey related I heard but rumor why sounded little strange.