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That was the most competitive Frozen Four I've seen in many years. That DU-ND title game was a great game of hockey. What the NCAA really should try to avoid is putting two top teams in the same regional (like last year's Gopher-Sioux matchup). If the FF deserves to be all WCHA then it should shake out that way...and the same goes for HE, CCHA, and ECAC. May the four best teams make the Frozen Four and then sit back and enjoy some amazing hockey.

T.J. Oshie

Dang! Fact checkers day off. Mea culpa.

FWIW - The team scored three goals in two games against the Gophers. A defenseman named Marto is the fellow who dished the puck to Trupp for the game winner Friday night, and a defenseman named Marto is the fellow who centered the puck that VandeVelde spanked home to tie the game in the third on Saturday. Both HUGE goals and in one of the highest pressure games of the year (at The John against the hated rodents). And THIS coming from a freshman. I like where this young man is going...and I'll have him in my D-Corps any day..

The bigger factor than "not going to a goalie" may be "not going to the same school two years straight"...but I would love to see J-P keep up these numbers and make them deny the obvious choice...ok...well...I'd like to see him MAKE THEM AWARD IT TO HIM. The Hobey is Porter's to lose, at this point...but if he slips and J-P stays rock solid and perhaps notches another shut out or two (BSU, UMD anyone?) he's got a pretty good chance. Especially if the team clears his rebounds.

Agreed. Last season we had "The Line". This year we have "The Team". #8 in '08!!!

It does, and this would be an excellent weekend to play the body, hard. Show the Pioneers their faces in the glass behind Manino, just before they sink to their knees.

Excellent! Nice job. I'd sure love to see him make the short list!

I know this is a little off topic, but with Miami's goalie letting in 10 last weekend, and Bachman letting in a few, our man Jean-Philippe is now sitting atop the NCAA Goalie stats. Combine that with the Fighting Sioux Strength of Schedule ranking of #1 (hardest schedule) and I think we have a serious Hobey candidate between the pipes. I'm just sayin'....

My bad...Zajac it is. Thanks for the correction!

This will be anything but an easy matchup for the Sioux. Denver may be missing Trotter, but the Sioux will be missing Finley for the first game, and their Coach for both (though I don't think the latter will do anything but entice them to play with more heart). Mr. Eades is comfortable at the helm, and the team is comfortable with J-P between the pipes. The points at stake for the weekend are HUGE for both teams and the intensity will be high. This could be the best series of the year at the REA...those of you with tickets are in for a real treat. Look for Kaip and Duncan to set the standard for working hard each shift...the rest of the team will follow. I look for the team to raise their sticks and salute Coach Hakstol and the rest of the fans on Saturday night! GO SIOUX!!!!

Yet another impressive 1 point weekend for the Golden goofs.

There was an article on USCHO last week that spoke of the last time the Gophers finished an under-achieving season was "Woogs last year"...but it stopped short of calling for Lucia's head. The season isn't over yet, but if the goofers keep this trend going, AND turn in another year like this next season, I would think that Lucia may be best served to look at other career options. Not predicting...just sayin'...

Amen.

Now that the Coach's part in this "incident" has been dealt with, I am hoping some of you will join me in writing to the WCHA and asking that they "deal with" the other side of this "incident". That being the sort of officiating that might make a WCHA Coach lose composure to the degree of forgetting the presence of cameras and make such a gesture to the AR. I am not excusing Coach Hakstol at all here, just saying that there is another side to this that really should be addressed by the WCHA. If the WCHA can look at tape and hand out penalties after the game, they should also be taking a better look at the work of their own officials. It seemed to me that a degree of control was missing from Saturday's game...and it wasn't all Coach Hakstol's.

Mr. Duncan.

All excellent points, sir, and well argued. It is the "W" that counts. Like I said, I'll watch the Sioux take three points out of the John and be happy every time...there is no shame in that at all. I think it's just my personal "comfort level" that wants to see more lopsided scoring...especially against the brown and yellow. So, let us turn our attention to DU, who will be hungry for points after this past weekend. The Drive continues! And yes, the Final Five should be very interesting and competitive hockey this year.

I am with you both, concerned that the Sioux lowered their play to Gopher level rather than make the Gophers play Sioux hockey. The lack of offensive production is a concern...I had expected a seven to nine goal weekend from the Sioux...not three. To score three goals and come out of the John with three points is truly amazing...and fortunate. Lamoureaux's ability to hold teams to 1 goal per game SHOULD have the Sioux winning handily...not tying or winning in OT. Sure, I'm glad to leave the John with three WCHA points, and always will be...however it sure seems to me that it should have been four points, and much more handily than it was. Having Duncan may have changed things some, but tell me, where is the Sioux team that lost Oshie to Michigan State and won 6-0? THAT is the Sioux team that needs to make a showing from here on out.

I was wonderin' that myself...interesting to see that on FSN. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...there are no easy games in the WCHA. Gophers played "up" to the Sioux...who played just well enough to not get beat. It was nice to see them step up and move right past Duncan's penalty, but hard to watch them not finish their checks and move the puck up ice. So close to four points...I could smell it at times. And yet...3 from the John isn't a wasted trip down to MSP...we'll take 'em and get ready for DU.

So bad that they have no idea which goalie to start next weekend!

Absolutely! Pucks on net! Ugly goals count too...so get 'em in front and knock 'em in! Pretty passes are nice, but I'll take two ugly goals for five pretty passes any day. GO SIOUX!!!!!!

Sioux keys to the game: 1. Strong forecheck. Show 'em their face in the glass! 2. Pucks on net. Good things happen when you TAKE THE SHOT!! 3. Win the faceoffs, control the game. 4. Jean Phillipe GO SIOUX!!!

Two things are certain. 1. There are no easy wins in the WCHA. 2. Gophers suck! GO SIOUX!!!!!

No question that J-P is the top netminder in the nation. His stats back that up, especially when you consider the division he plays in every weekend. By giving up just a single goal in games against WCHA opponents, he really gives his team great chances to pick up wins. It takes a whole team to get the "W", but Phil really holds up his end well. I've seen a lot of goalies play, and seen many with slower gloves...and very few with quicker ones. He stacks the pads well too and shuts the five hole down tight. I'd love to see him get another couple of shutouts this year.

That puts the Brown and yellow on track to take home the Moral McNaughton and perhaps even the Moral Broadmore!