stoneySIOUX

Which is exactly what the article says. Article also says it's unlikely UND falls past No. 2. What's your point?

DDC's final Roses and Thorns column of the 2015-16 regular season! bit.ly/1pd8THN

I think Stecher has an advantage that he can literally pick whomever he wants. He's not getting pressured from any particular team. I won't be surprised if he decides to stay. I think LaDue is gone, for sure. KT, Stecher, Ausmus and Poolman stay. And with those four plus Wolanin and Shaw, we have the best blue line in the country, again.

This was my point the whole time!! Everyone just took longer to catch on haha. Minny won't win it, either. Unless the tourney is played on paper

So can talented players (Lynch, Gibson), playing on a full team. Ie. Union and The Ghost. I'm beating my head against a wall just to slight the Gophers. I thought more would be on board with me Wrapping all this up. simply put, I am not afraid of either and there is no reason we shouldn't handle either.

Btw, I never actually said RMU is better. I just don't think Minny is much better, if at all. Bristedt? Meh... the other two would definitely light it up, but again, not much is separating AHC and the Big 10 this year. Maybe Minny can take their paper talent all the way into the paper tournament and win a paper natty? I find it comical that Minny is getting this much respect from this board lol.

They do? Where? What talent? Of course I'm playing devil's advocate. I know Minnesota has the paper talent, but why must we poo poo RMU based on this paper talent? RMU has been proving they are talented this season. Call me whatever you want, but if your paper talent doesn't show up, you won't win games. I think it's incredibly delusional to think a team like Minnesota is better based on paper talent. Right. Can't be an at-large. The Wisconsin rule This whole thread is an assumption. RMU could lose the autobid just like HE, NCHC, Big 10, ECAC could end up stealing spots in the tourney.

Worked out well for me last time

Where are you guys seeing this talent?? I haven't seen much outside of Fasching or Kloos this season. On paper.... ugh. Makes no sense to give them this kind of credit. Whether if they should be good or not is so irrelevant because they aren't. Last year, they shoulda won a title, right? Just because we have heard more about these kids before they played for Minnesota, doesn't mean they are better. Numbers are real. We're giving Minny credit for what they "should" be and not what they are. All this being said, it's easy to say we'd rather play RMU because we know Minny very well and we know what the rivalry does to these games. But, simply put, Minnesota isn't very good. Oh, and btw, Minny isn't going to make the tournament.... making the call

I'm not saying this for of a lack of liking them, obviously there's no shortage of that, but, I don't see a lot of standout talent on Minny. Of course their schedule is terrible, but outside of Michigan, who has Minny beaten that's any good? Notre Dame? Minny's is pretty awful, too. Depth? Minnesota has an average-to-above average top 6 and their bottom is bad. Zac Lynch and Greg Gibson for RMU have 49 and 47 points respectively with Gibson second in the country in goals with 28. Before you say "but schedule" .... remember.... Big 10 is really bad, too. Possibly the second worst conference in the country. Take away the program name and you'd have a tough time saying RMU isn't the better team. What makes Minny better? Their RPI, record, stats reflect much differently. Why are we giving Minny so much respect? I get the fact they are a huge rival and are a traditional power, but has anyone watch this team this year? They are not very good. They deserve nothing but scorn and mocking, this year.

Schlossman said something happened in the Friday night game. Not sure about Gage. I did notice him for the salute, but not for the end of the game. My guess... both will play on Friday.

The the bolded part is a very fair point. However, in a one game scenario, Michigan is just better. Both of Minny's wins came in the second game of the series after Michigan blew them out the night before. You don't get to make a night-to-night adjustment in the playoffs. Both of Minny's wins were 1 goal wins and one was in overtime. To me, it's obvious Michigan is better.

He warmed up, right? I think that's an indicator of the severity.

Really? Based on what? Their, at best, below average defense? Not quite sure where I see where you're coming from, man. Could it happen? Absolutely. Michigan's D is bad, too. But their really, really good offense reigns over anything Minny has.

OSU is absolutely not better then Penn State, but whatever. What are we arguing about here? I agreed with you that all the teams can win the Big 10, I just don't think anyone other than those three will. Michigan is undoubtedly the best team in the Big 10. I've watched them all several times and it's not even close. Regardless of who has the "best" defense (all are poor, frankly), Michigan's offense runs the show on a nearly nightly basis. I'm not even going to waste my time talking about Wisco or OSU's D because they won't go anywhere haha. If you're a betting man, I'd be willing to take Michigan over Minny in a final. Name the stakes (besides my first born child or my wife. she wouldn't be happy )

Anyone can beat anyone in the NCHC, too. Too easy of a cliche. Michigan is the best team in the conference and PSU/Minny are 2 and 2a. I still think Michigan rips Minny if that's the final. Yup. If they play Wisconsin, I think Sconnie could very well knock them off. Minnesota is AWFUL defensively and Wisconsin has a lot of team speed.

It is when two of those teams are better than you lol. Minnesota was a much better team last year. Michigan will paste them when it counts and it wouldn't surprise me even a little bit to see the Gophers lose in the first round or against a team like PSU.

I'd assume it'll be a partisan Blue crowd, but I doubt it'll be a "big" one.

All of this is speculation, obviously. Frankly, I think Michigan pounds Minny in the Big 10 tourney and Minny is watching the NCAA tournament. We'll see.

Michigan is also Minny's best win. So, not sure who you're slighting here.

Sure, but they also beat Michigan, Penn State and UMass-Lowell. Minny's best win is Michigan. So, toss out Mich and PSU, they both split against each. Could Minny beat UM-L? I'm not so sure.

Other than Minny? Why? RMU is very good this year. Minny is very, very average.

I'd much rather come to St. Paul and play the No. 15 then go to Cincy and play No. 16. Not much difference, IMO. RMU is just as good as Minny (or PSU, Mankato) this year.

I feel like him skating in pregame is an indication that it's not a terribly serious injury. If he needs to take CC off, so be it. No reason we can't get it done against the Tigers regardless who we put on the ice.

That was fun, eh? Good to see the team put the hammer down when something was incredibly important and right in front of their faces. That type of performance is what we need in the tourney. All four lines, three d-pairings and our goalie played well. Excellent.