yzerman19

If I'm not mistaken, Faulk also made a save himself, preventing the Sioux from taking the lead late in the third. Does anyone have video of that? I think that in the scrum the SIoux player got the shot away and Faulk got down and saved the goal. A little more on Faulk for our friend in Afghanistan, and I want to see how close we were to putting that in. As for the "finesse" game, the finesse looks prettier when players check. That was what was awesome about Oshie, one on one he could dangle or he could destroy. I do think the boys need a skating lesson...Frattin, Marto and Genoway can skate very well, and Gregoire did vs DU...the dcorps especially needs to work on the poise and control. The best way to keep poised is to outskate your opponent.

How do you take a man off the puck or win a loose puck battle if you can't hit??? I really don't understand... The refs missed calls everywhere, then tried to do makeup calls. There was no consistency, and that is how guys get hurt. Sioux have to adapt and stay out of the box. We are a great team when we can roll four lines. We are not going to win #8 if we are battiling ourselves, the refs, and our opponent.

Before anyone declares UMD worldbeaters, they should remember that the Dogs have already gone to OT 5 times this season. They have won 3 of those games and lost 0. They easily could've lost all 5 or more realistically gone 1-1-3 instead of 3-0-2 Before anyone declares UMD's topline the greatest ever, they should remember that the dogs have scored 24 of their goals in 4 games against Providence(2), LSSU, and UAA...not exactly the perrenial powers. The only one of those teams we played (UAA) we hung 5 on. They have a nice team, but listening to the postgame too, they are acting like the behind the back pass on a 2-1 with a trailer is the greatest thing ever...please...you should be able to execute a 2-1 with no pressure and the one dman stuck out of position. The powerplay goal on Friday night took better skill, precision, and execution. Back to the penalties...what is with this league? I don't blame officials for losses, but the interference call on Blood?? Was it borderline? Maybe based on reach to the puck, but you can play the body as you approach the puck, and Blood is a long guy. The non-call on Malone was blatent. Video shows the guy wrapping him up and pulling his jersey. The Lammy CFB...I dunno, again maybe...it wasn't like he crushed the guy. I don't know how you're supposed to play physical anymore. I just don't understand why they are pulling the contact out of the game. Makes me more sad than anything else.

UMD is a solid, not great team. Their stats are misleading, as they they haven't exactly been playing the top tier teams prior to this weekend. Their first line is good, but it isn't th eDOT line or Money line. UND did not come out to play tonight and didn't deserve to win. I thought we were going to steal a game (for once) when UMD took it to us for the first 20 and we went into the locker room with a lead. The best was the exchange between Scanlon and Sweeney on the Blood interference penalty. Scanlon "That's too bad pat, I hate to say it, but they're almost taking checking out of the game." Sweeney "Like women's hockey then." We fans should really do something, like make a statement at the Final FIve...maybe all stand up at the same time and turn our backs to the rink for a minute in a show of frustration.

Faulk played a solid game. He made one really nice play where he jumped up and gave the Dogs a chance. He also played with a little bit of a mean streak taking down Malone. He looks like a legit defenseman, but he is a long way from the NHL... My take on the game was that Duluth came out with a compete level of 9 and we had a 6. They out hustled and wreaked havoc all over the rink. They appeared to have the extra step tonight and it put us on our heels especially in our own zone. We scrambled a bunch, rarely attacked the neutral zone in a coordinated fashion. All defensemen with the exception of Blood looked like they were not ready to play tonight. This was a street fight, not a heavy weight bout...unfortunately Hockey East is better than anything in the WCHA I've seen so far this year. It is early in the year...we have a lot of work to do, and I am optimistic that the team that takes the ice in March and April will be much better than this one.

Bulldogs with a lot of jump this first period. They have to be disappointed to come out of that period down a goal. They carried much of the play. They are clearly focused on pressuring our D in our own zone with a strong forecheck. It worked...as it generally does against our dcorps (we struggle when pressured). However, we come out up a goal. I didn't notice Faulk...seems like a real steady two way dman.

I like the fact that both Kristo and Frattin have excellent speed. So many weapons and so many different skills...

What time is it in Afghanistan? Like 0400?

I'm with you, man. I think he has the skills, but he's more worried about leading and winning than racking up the points. I love the analogies to Trottier. I think he truly plays like that.

Least I can do for you. Thanks for your service. The game starts in half an hour. Go Sioux!

I didn't notice him last night, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for a defenseman. I'll pay attention to him tonight and let you know what I think (for what that's worth)

Toewser has sick skill, but his package is so much bigger than points. He is a full, two-way player with a compete level off the chart. Judging him by point production is nuts. He is never going to be a 50 goal man. It isn't his game. 40 might even be a stretch, but he will lead teams into and in the playoffs.

I've always respected the Bulldog program. If that shot by Fontaine was intentional, I think Sandy is the type of coach to let him know that he cost his team a chance to tie by being stupid and selfish. In watching the game again, there was some extracurricular activity going on earlier...Knight was getting chippy with some Dogs and so were Hexy and Lammy...you don't call that a penalty and all hell breaks loose. Kristo and Nelson both did a lot of things right last night...all but put the puck in the net...when it starts coming with those guys (and it will) there will be goals.

If only there was not a DQ fighting rule... Imagine how clean the game would be if you had to own up to your actions?? no facemasks and five for fighting...you would see the junk play all but vanish.

The shooting after the whistle call is tough...on one hand, you hate to see an penalty at 18:30 of the third in a one goal game, on the other hand you can't have players taking liberties on another team's goalie by shooting the puck. I contend that if it happened on a Saturday night game it wouldn't be called, but because the teams play again tonight, the refs had to call it to avoid the law of the jungle tonight. Nice win by the Sioux, nice gutty work by guys not normally in the lineup. Davidson's work on the forecheck reminded me to wonder why he doesn't skate a regular shift on the energy line? He is big and strong and aggressive out there. Our depth is remarkable. If you look at the stats, UMD's top line forwards are their 1,2, and 3 leading scorers. Our top 3 scorers are the center on the first line, a winger on the 2nd line and a winger on the first line. Big production out of two lines. I also think it is deceiving, as our two highest drafted forwards (Nelson and Kristo) have gotten off to slow starts in terms of point production and skate on the third scoring line.

I agree that Blood got flat beat on the second goal. That first goal, however, the assignment was the center's to take that third DU player driving the net. Nelson was a step slow in his defensive assignment. The game is fluid and the center position is the hardest to play. These things happen, and it isn't a knock. I'm sure Hak will point it out in film, and I am sure that Nelson already knows it. You could see it on his face last night. That doesn't mean that the dmen played perfectly...they have some work to do.

There was no left wing lock, no neutral zone trap...it was up and down hockey. Eddie went 29-4 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.4 GAA on the way to All-American, All WCHA, and a NCAA title. Eddie was sick. We need to finish the sweep this weekend. UMD has pulled two out in OT so far this year and are tied with us...

I liked that the refs let the boys play. They started off only calling penalties if it prevented a legitimate scoring chance (I think Gregoire drew both). They then called a heavy, slightly high hit establishing the boundary that the boys can hit each other, just keep the elbows down and watch the head. The hook called against the Sioux was too obvious not to call, and considering Gwoz, I am sure the officials were hearing it. All in all good officiating. The blown call on offsides is tough...it is hard to tell when a player carries the puck in and makes himself offsides in the process. It is really hard when that player is turning and you can't tell where the puck is in relation to the blue line. My takeaways: Gregoire was a force. His balance and strength on his skates is remarkable. He generated a ton of opportunities for himself and his teammates. Knight also played a great game. He is becoming one of those guys who isn't flashy, but he ends up on the score sheet a couple times each night...not saying he's Toewser, but that was how I used think about him...you'd barely notice him out there half the time, but when you'd read the box he'd have 3 points, be a +4 and have gone 6 for 7 at the draw. Hextall completes that line. It is a workman line with lots of talent. I like how they play. Good hard, fast, both ends of the ice, physical, and skilled. It is our most complete line. Frattin needs to shoot. He tried being unselfish and playing good heads up hockey, but with his rocket, he just needs to fire away. Kristo needs to get space before he shoots, he continues to get his shot blocked way too much. He did play hard and more physical than I have seen him play in a while. It is just a matter of time before he and Nelson take off. I see them really blossoming in the second half. Defensively we have issues. It has been present for a while now (years) that we struggle transitioning the puck and breaking out. We also struggle once the opponent establishes the forecheck and sets up. There needs to be some work done. Goaltending is a big question too. Dell let in two he'd probably like to have back. The first goal was a defensive breakdown by Brock Nelson. Not Dell's fault.

Good Luck and God Bless!

The Sioux weathered the storm tonight. We won a game that we really only played about 5 minutes well. Bemidji outworked and outhustled us most of the night. In the end our skill won out, but this was really a learning night. I think the coaching staff will use it as something to build upon. 1. you have to play 120 minutes of hockey each weekend to win in this league. 2. you need to work hard, not everything is about "pretty" we beat a highly motivated BSU team. We're going to need to keep improving. BSU will be even better come March...so will the rest of the league. Take the win, take the learnings and get ready for next weekend.

Win this, little man. There is nothing that compares to having your child seriously ill in the hospital (I speak from experience). Here's a big fat donation of karma coming your way little guy. May you live a long and happy life surrounded with love and joy.

got it, thanks!

I can't get into the webcast, I find audio, but no video. Anyone having any luck?

I think that Kristo might work best with Nelson and Cichy. Line placement is not a demotion. Any of the 3 scoring lines could be the #1 line on a given night. The forward lines are almost exactly what I predicted out of the Manitoba game. The 3rd scoring line actually has the 2 highest drafted forwards on the Sioux roster in Kristo and Nelson. Its about line chemistry, not who's out there first. Seriously! We have ridiculous talent on 3 scoring lines and all 3 d pairings, and we have an energy line with a ton of heart. This is a good TEAM.