manchild1

A few things from last nights game that need to change: 1. This is a big one. Duncan needs to start doing more out there. Last night many passes went to him on odd man rushes and it seemed like he got the puck taken away every time. He needs to show why he won the Hobey last year if this team wants to win #8. 2. The ref(I think it was Anderson) needs to do a better job of calling stuff that NEEDS to be called. Obviously that one in overtime, but there were a few times Oshie got tripped up with no calls among other things. We also did a bunch of stuff that didn't get called. I would like to be able to watch Oshie go around players without being tackled. 3. Need to bury the chances. Had many chances yesterday that should have been buried and put away the Huskies. Need to put away the easy ones to help ourselves out. 4. Chorney and Bina-What happened from last year to this year? I just haven't seen it from either of these two this year. We need them to step up right now and show why they should be 2 of the best defensemen in the country. They can't be giving the puck away in our own zone like they did yesterday. None of our players should be doing that. On another note* I liked the play of the freshmen defensemen. I thought both LaPoint and Marto played well. We need to have that if Genoway will be out for a long period of time. Lamoureux is playing ridiculously well right now. The 2nd line dominated St. Cloud's first line all over the ice last night. It seemed like every shift the Kaip, VandeVelde, Watkins line was creating chances. That will really help wear down their first line.

Don't get me wrong. I think he has easily been one of the top 3 sioux defensemen this year. I just think today he really stood out.

Thoughts on the game: I want to start off by saying that Joe Finley had his best game in a Sioux uniform this afternoon. Had numerous hits, did not get beat at all, did well on the PK, and even put up an assist. Awesome game by him. I feel completely comfortable with Lamoureux in net. He showed this weekend why he should be in consideration for the Hobey. I hope we don't lose Genoway for any significant time. He has been the best defenseman on the team this year, and losing him would hurt both our PP and our defensive coverage. Vande Velde is strong in front of the net. Most of his goals this year have been within 10 feet of the net I think. He is very strong in there and is a great asset to the team. Oshie is the best player in college hockey. I don't care if he doesn't have the most points. There isn't a person stronger on the puck in college hockey. There might not be anyone who works harder in college hockey. He is maybe the smartest player in college hockey. He is excellent on faceoffs. He can score, and he is a wonderful playmaker. How he doesn't have more points than he does astonishes me, but anyone who watches him can clearly see that he is far and away the best player on the ice every game. Zach Jones deserves more credit. He is absolutely tenacious in his own zone. He just flat out doesn't get beat in the defensive zone out there. Watkins also deserves more credit. He is one of the most consistent players on the team. I don't remember the last time he had a bad game. Kozek has the hardest wrist shot I have ever seen from someone in a Sioux uniform. It is unbelievable how hard his shot is. I'm glad to see he has turned that shot into the team lead in goals this year so far. Zajac also has been playing very well. He knows his role, and does his job perfectly. He is good in his own zone. Very good on the PK. Martens has really stepped his game up. He is showing to be a better playmaker than I ever thought he could be. Just a solid player out there. Not great speed, or a great shot, but just doesn't screw up. Those are my thoughts right now heading into the end of the season. Thoughts/Comments?

Well, I just have to disagree on a few things. I know this is my first post, but I watch a lot of hockey and know what's going on out there. 1. With his lack of footspeed, I would rather have him backing off then pinching. I don't know why you need a D pinching all the time. 2. Ever heard of Ryan Martens. That's slow. But Finley moves pretty well for a big man if you ask me. His footspeed is pretty slow, but I think his strides are so long that he actually moves pretty well. 3. Apparently you haven't watched any games this year. Finley has got opposing forwards pretty good quite a few times. He's so big, if he kills kids he will get a penalty(happened against BC last year) 4. I actually think he's pretty good breaking the puck out? I have seen him get at least 2 assists this year by launching passes down the ice and hitting a guy breaking in and sending him on a breakaway. I actually don't worry about him in our own zone. 5. I guess I don't really notice him shooting much so I can't comment on this. 6. 11 points in 27 games for a defensive D-man is pretty damn good if you ask me? Almost .5 points per game for a defensive defenseman in my book is pretty significant. I don't expect him to score, that's not his job. We have other defensemen to do that. 7. Chay has probably been the best defenseman on this team this year. He is very solid and fast. He is dependable on getting back. I love him and Finley as a pairing because if one gets beat we can count on the other to be there. I'm not quite sure how many points you expect Finley to put up, or what, but you seem to love your offensive defensemen. That list you put up of how you would rank them made me laugh out loud. Lapoint ahead of Marto? You must not watch too much. What if I told you that in my opinion, if Lapoint wasn't a draft pick, Marto would be playing every night over him at this point. Marto is the better right now. I know Lapoint has more potential, but you have to play who is dependable right now. Marto is faster and stronger in his own zone. Lapoint is just really soft out there at this point. He is an offensive defenseman, and he only has 5 points in 20 games, so Finley averages more than him as a defensive d-man. So I don't know what your problem is with Finley's point totals. Ranking Zach Jones and Joe Finley as our 2 weakest defensemen made me really question your credibility. I know you have connections to Lapoint, those show pretty well in your posts. Jones has no points this year, but I would rank him as one of the top defensive d-men in the country. The kid just does not get beat. It's amazing. But yes I will be going to the game tonight, and I will be watching Finley like you said. And I'm pretty sure I will come away feeling like I already felt about him. He has made huge strides and is becoming a terrific defenseman for UND.