SiouxScore

I'm not sure if Eades will be able to play at this level has good size but his footwork needs some improvement. I think Bowen will have a shot to play at the college level as well as maybe Tye Ausmus who is another sophomore at EGF and the brother of Gage Ausmus who is headed to Denver. The kid that I have my eye on at EGF with maybe the most potential is Tanner Tweten who has played very well and is a 6-2 freshman. The kid from Grand Rapids that visited UND recently was Avery Peterson who is kind of long and lanky, I watched him play against Benilde on hockey day and he was pretty impressive and had 2 of his teams goals, may need to work on the skating a little bit but he has great hands and that finishing ability. He reminded me a little bit of Brock Nelson and had some similarities but he's not quite at that level yet. I haven't seen him play but have heard a lot about him is Jacob Benson of Red River good enough to play at UND?

I think a sweep of both SCSU and Wisconsin these next 2 weekends are the goal and I think there is a pretty realistic chance of that happening.

I like the idea of keeping the RPM line together and this is what I would like to see Friday night. The only thing I can see with Hak not putting Grimaldi with Kristo and Knight may be because you would have 3 right handed shots together and someone playing on their off wing although I don't think that is a huge deal but maybe it is to him. Grimaldi-Knight-Kristo Mark Mac-Rowney-Parks Caggiula-Rodwell-St.Clair Mitch Mac-Pattyn-Senkbeil Mac-Mattson Simpson-Gleason Forbort-Schmaltz Gothberg Saunders Maris

I know its not saying much but positionally we seem to be in the right places although really not executing much better more in our zone and running around a little less. I also think we have been a little better in the last 3 games (although there was really no way to get any worse than the Friday CC game) with tying guys up in front but it still needs to much better. I think some of the d-men need to just make the simple play more and get rid of the puck at times rather than making that extra stickhandle and then getting the puck tipped and the puck never ends up leaving the zone.

He isn't the normal commentator though is he? I think it is Gorg but he was doing the high school games in Grand Rapids this weekend instead.

~When is the D going to catch up? Seems to me that they have improved in some areas but still need to improve in other areas. I think they will continue to get better but I agree that is the biggest question mark right now. ~Who is our goalie now? I would say Zane should get the start Friday night and if he plays well Friday throw him back in on Saturday.

I think O'Donnell is gonna have a tough time getting back in the lineup without some sort of injury. He really hasn't shown anything in his numerous opportunities in the lineup and now it seems like he isn't even the 1st guy in when we do make a change in the lineup. I like the way the RPM line played together this weekend and also agree with others that it might be time to take a look at what Grimaldi-Knight-Kristo line could be capable of. I thought Rodwell had some jump this weekend and had a few opportunities and maybe Caggiula-Rodwell-St.Clair would be good togethr and then maybe Mitch Mac-Pattyn-Senkbeil/Gaarder or Gleason if Panzerella is at D as the other line.

The funny thing is since losing to Minnesota both BC and Notre Dame have struggled a little bit. BC is just 2-2-1 since the loss and Notre Dame was swept at home by Alaska this weekend.

Good chance to gain some ground in the standings this weekend and get on a roll for a couple weekends at home before heading back on the road for a couple tough matchups.

I agree with you coaches can't really worry about that type of thing and have to put the team out there that they feel gives them the best chance to win. I think the thing with Schmaltz is you see flashes of what he can do and good plays but then you see flashes of bad decisons and bad plays and he just needs to be more consistent in the good play and decisons. IMO he needs to play with a little more sense of urgency as I think he almost looks to nonchalant when handling the puck and making passes at times and maybe even keep things a little more simple.

I thought part of the problem on the faceoffs was the linesman, a lot of the time guys weren't in and ready and the puck got dropped and also a lot more guys got kicked out of the faceoffs than normal. Yes and I believe it lasted all of about 1 minute.

I really thought the linseman in this series did a horrible job. A lot of guys kicked out of faceoffs and pucks dropped when guys weren't in which usually doesn't happen. I thought they should have dropped the puck over on what eventually was Minnesota's tying goal as Knight wasn't even down and in at the dot yet. Overall I thought we played pretty well throughout the lineup. We still need to clean up some things in our own zone and do a better job tying guys up in front of the net but it is improving. I think the performance tonight is the type of performance that will get the guys going a little bit and roll off a nice win streak. I thought Zane played pretty well and probably deserves to start next Friday night. Probably should have won this game and had to settle the for the tie but some very encouraging things and I would bet this won't be the last game against them this season.

I thought Mitch was decent on that line last weekend but looked out of place last night and who knows maybe it was just a bad game for him. I would be okay with putting Rocco on that line but it seems like they are trying to keep guys on their natural wing for now. IMO Parks didn't click very good on that line and didn't seem to be a good fit. Mark looked really good on that line and to me has been the most dangerous on that line. Rowney is a center and really struggled when they tried to play him on the wing. I wouldn't mind taking another look at Drake on the top line also but for now I'm just gonna trust in the coaching staff as they see these guys a lot more than we do.

Peterson has looked pretty good playing in some tough conditions against a vey good team and I like the way he plays. I also like the talent of Spencer Naas and TJ Moore for Benilde although it is a little tough to judge these guys just off of today with the conditions they are playing but I have seen them play a few times and they have all been pretty impressive. EDIT: Peterson just scored again on a nice play, the way he plays reminds me a little of the way Brock Nelson plays.

Via @UNDMHockey Tonights lines Mitch Mac.-Knight-Kristo Mark Mac.-Rowney-Parks Caggiula-Pattyn-Grimaldi Senkbeil-St.Clair-Rodwell Mac-Mattson Simpson-Gleason Forbort-Schmaltz Gothberg Saunders Thought we may see some different line combinations but I am still confident in this group and expect a win tonight.

I saw that right away too and was screaming for a call there, I believe Mitch MacMillan was headed to the boards to catch the wraparound and got picked off in the faceoff circle by a Gopher and never got to the puck.

Sounding like Gothberg will get the start for tonights game.

That would be my guess as well, if anyone wants to watch him today his team plays on FSN against Benilde at 1:30 as part of Hockey Day Minnesota. Anyone watching the hockey day coverage they got Brendan Burke doing the high school game right now with Gorg and he would be a huge improvement over Hammer the horrible.

I think we will see a few lineup changes tonight and would guess the lineup will look something like this. I thought Schmaltz showed some good glimpses last night but also had a few bad lapses and wonder if Hak won't try to send him a message tonight. Grimaldi-Knight-Kristo Mark Mac.-Rowney-Parks Caggiula-Gaarder-St.Clair Mitch Mac.-Pattyn-Rodwell Mac-Mattson Simpson-Gleason Forbort-Panzerella Gothberg Saunders

Try again

I thought we played decently and they took advantage of every one of our miscues. Saunders was very shaky tonight and I wouldn't be suprised to see Zane tomorrow. We need to do a better job of taking advantage of our opportunities and I thought Wilcox was really the difference tonight. I thought the reffing was very inconsistent but I probably should of expected that. Gophers really got away with a lot of stickwork and holding all over the ice and on Minnesota's 3rd goal there was a huge missed interference call where we would have had the puck and been going out of the zone but instead our guy gets hit to the ice and the puck gets to the Gopher d-man and ends up in the back of the net. We still need to do a better job in front of the net and in our zone. I trust in Hak and believe he will get the boys ready to go and get a win tomorrow night.

I thought they would maybe go Rocco at center and Rodwell on the wing on that line but I wonder if they wanted Pattyn to center that line to have more defensive responsibility on that line.

Sioux Lineup via @UNDMHockey Mitch Mac. Knight Kristo Mark Mac Rowney Parks Caggiula Pattyn Grimaldi Senkbeil Gaarder Rodwell Mac Mattson Simpson Gleason Forbort Schmaltz Saunders Gothberg

Got a feeling the Sioux come out and make a statement tonight! Sioux 5 Gophers 2

I remember this one well as I was in high school at the time and the whole team was watching the game in the lockerroom after we got done with our game when this happened. Only about 6 or 7 on our team were Sioux fans but we went crazy when we saw that play.