yzerman19

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.

I must be on dope. I don't see it anywhere on Brad's Blog. Which date? Sorry to be so obtuse.

Is the game on the internet? I seem to remember that Alaska does an internet broadcast. I'm in Minny and don't get FSN

I too have high hopes for Cichy. I like the idea of a 3rd scoring line consisting of Nelson, Cichy and Kristo...that could be a sick line... Malone with Frattin and Trupp Knight with Gregoire and Hextall Nelson with Cichy and Kristo Lammy and a couple energy boys to keep up the tempo You can't match up with all three lines...other team's 5th and 6th defensemen will have to go head to head with one of these lines on a regular basis, I like our odds in that scenario

Forbert looked great against Manitoba. He needs to keep it up, but he earned a start with me based on performance. Interesting how Cichy got so many pp reps vs the Bisens What do you think the special teams units will look like? We're so deep we could essentially run all 3 scoring lines on the powerplay...

I put Simpson out there to get some reps in a non-conference, conference game. Simpson is going to get playing time, and the UAA game carries far less PWR ramifications than the UA game.

The Alaska game has CCHA pwr implications; for that reason I tried to load up night 2. I did really like what i saw with Knight, Gregoire and Hextall as a line combo. Imagine a scoring line 3 with Nelson and Kristo on it. That is serious talent deep into the lineup. Frattin, Gregoire and Kristo on 3 different lines...that could spell 20 goal men on each scoring line.

My lines for Game 1: Malone with Frattin and Trupp Knight with Gregoire and Hextall Lammy with Bruno and Rowney Nelson with Cichy and Kristo Forbert and Genoway Blood and MacWilliam Marto and Simpson Dell My lines for Game 2: Malone with Frattin and Trupp Knight with Gregoire and Kristo Lammy with Davidson and Hextall Nelson with Cichy and Rodwell Forbert and Genoway Blood and MacWilliam Marto and Lapoint Eidsness

It is now up to the official's discretion (linesman) to waive off icing. This is sort of a highbred to touch up icing, in that they are able to waive it off if there is a good chance that the icing team has a chance at playing the puck.