yzerman19

To me, work on the ice is about finishing checks, stops and starts, winning races and loose puck battles... Being physically spent on each shift. Here's an example of what vexes me: The perfect lane doesn't open up, so the D chip it off the glass or the forwards dump it in- yes, it prevents you from being scored on, but it also causes a loss of possession. Now with guys named Zajac, Stafford, Oshie, Toews, Frattin, Kristo, Knight, Grimaldi...there was enough God given talent to score goals in that system...not sure how that translates this year. I am supporting the team and enjoying the ride- no big expectations- would love to see us come out gunning to blow QU out the Zamboni doors!

I think the boys were stressed out and holding their sticks too tight. Winning means "playing" and playing means that you are having fun. Fast and loose is how hockey needs to be played...not worrying about making mistakes...and obsessing over details. I hate the approach of winning that is based on "making fewer mistakes than your opponent." How about "making more awesome plays than your opponent." I think this might be exactly why we win a ton of games, but not the big one under Hak...the recipe of detail and not making mistakes vs flow and making plays. Top Gun analogy: Hak is Iceman and trains the team to be like Iceman...Dean Blais is Maverick (ironic given the mascot in Omaha) Disclaimer: I am in no way calling for Hak's head or a coaching change with this statement

I live in Minneapolis, but happened to have a trip planned that overlapped with Friday. Still, I almost went down and scalped tickets for Saturday for my kids and I- so glad that I did not. This is the first time that I haven't been to the Final Five or Final Faceoff in over a decade- I'm pleased that I saved my money!

I have a feeling that Jewels is more banged up than anyone is letting on...

I was thinking of Murphy playing over Simonson

Powerplay will be the decider...need to really work on finding the open man- I'd really rather see us play an overload rather than an umbrella.

Murphy did play well enough IMO as well...he also brings an offensive upside (although we have yet to see it at the NCAA level)...it might be worth it for that upside to play him on the 4th line...

I love that look

I am freaking out a bit...same station, 2.5 hours between start of Gophers and start of Sioux...that leaves no room for error and no room for OT... We might get stuck watching the end of a Gopher-Bulldog tilt and missing the first period of UND...

They had me believing that we could win any and every game we played in, even the ones that we did not. I've been enjoying this team's ride, but I have never felt that we were dominant and marching to the title...our record didn't align with the product I was watching...but it worked out and was fun...Zane gives us a chance. This team lacks skill, we saw what happens when a team with less than average skill among playoff teams shows up with less than average playoff intensity and a less than average playoff power play...you lose two games and score a whopping goal per game.

remember when our teams had "big lines"?

eating oreos is more entertaining and satisfying than watching our favorite hockey team

in my grocery store I saw #15 on a milk carton too

He did leave, that was Larry Ferguson playing D in a #24 uniform

getting schooled by a DU team missing their all-world dman

this is disgraceful

now this i can agree with- no flow, no offensive creativity happening

cant agree with that- on tv that looked like a pretty nice one-timer

Only the 87 Hrkac circus and the 97 team won all three titles- regular season, conference tourney, NCAA. MacNaughton Anchor they used to call the conference championship

We are not world beaters this year- I've watched the Sioux religiously for 35 years- I never had Natty expectations for this team. Could they get hot and win it all? sure, but c'mon we just don't have the horses in this year's stable. Point being, I'm enjoying the ride and not jumping off a cliff when we get beaten by a solid SCSU team in Mpls. Johnny Brodzinski is offensively more gifted than anyone on this year's UND squad.

We lost our first line center for the year...a senior...a top scorer...a pivot who plays in all situations...a great face-off guy... I don't think we're the best team in the country...imagine any of the great Sioux championship teams without their top center...they don't win a natty. Its that simple to me, and the reason I am not too upset. 15 years sucks, but it speaks to parity, and this year, it speaks to injury.

Score?

All I know is that Toews might be the best two-way player to ever play at UND.... In his draft year, he was ranked third by central scouting and ended up drafted there. His hype was less coming in, because he came in as the youngest player in the NCAA.

The only option that will satisfy me is if we can sweep them in one game...

In physical development at that age it sure does...I graduated high school at 17...played against guys my senior year who were a year older...10 pounds of muscle makes a big difference Toews went #1 overrall in the bantam draft...rather than arguing, can we agree that they are both Blue Chippers... A comparison to Toews is very, very dangerous for a kid that hasn't set foot on a campus yet