yzerman19

This is the series that we've been waiting for. I predicted that we'd be the two teams to beat in the league, and here we are; identical records, tied for fewest losses (all in league games). Both have played well against the top tier non-conference. Biggest surprise to me is that minny mouse's d is stingier than ours. I think the Sioux are deeper at forward. I think the Goofs have a better goalie. Kristo and Knight have been very special together. I think we see at least one game where they show how special they really are. Ideally, Rocco will also decide to show how special his skill is during the same game. Speed kills on the big ice. Danny, Rocco, Mark Mac all have an extra gear. Lets see them use it. Speed, tape to tape passes. We need to attack the offensive blue line with speed and numbers.

We're worried about penalties. The league has changed. Mac gets called all the time for plays that used to be considered clean, but are now considered too rough. He also gets called for being near players who trip over their own feet, and for being bigger and stronger than the opposition. Gleason and Mattson are not physical players. Schmaltz isn't either, but he's a freshman, so I cut him slack. Simpson is okay in our end. Forbert is generally solid, and Mac is a beast. Our centers also have to help out down low...its not all on the D to play D.

Olympic ice at the John is good for Rocco and for Mark Mac. I do not put Rocco on that top line. I think Hak is onto something... Knight with kristo and Mitch Mac Rowney with Caggiula and Rocco Mark Mac with Parks and St Clair Pattyn with Gaarder and Gleason I think St Clair can skate with Mac and Parks and create a very nice third line Knight, Mark Mac, Rowney, Pattyn- that's some strength up the middle

It was Rowney, not Kristo

Mitch laid a big time hit on a guy and also made a nice play to steal the puck and get a real quality scoring chance. I thought he put on a good effort. Especially for not being in game shape. You rarely notice O'Donnell stand out. What u see when u take notice to watch him specifically is a guy who is always positionally sound. Guys who do that, well, the puck eventually finds them. Remember, he was leading his class in goals before he got hurt last year. Gaarder is a gamer. He's got great compete, and he isn't afraid to get dirty. I just don't think he is fast enough or skilled enough to crack the top 9. Although, I'm sure he has heard that every place he's played, and he continues to play. My guess is O'Donnell looks great in practice, but just hasn't been able to put it together on fri/sat night. Practices will be intense.

Rocco with Caggiula and Rowney is a big time scoring line. Heavy horsepower second line for sure. You don't break that up. I think Hak is banking on the BC line being able to be a consistent threat as well, with the big bet being that Mark Mac is a strong enough offensive player to build a scoring line around him. I think he is, and I think we saw some pretty good chemistry on that line last weekend. We have four lines that can play- that means that opponents can't take a single shift off.

O'Donnell has more skill and speed. He is consistently in position and seems to be close to breaking out. I liked the chances the BC line had. They will score some goals. Gaarder had a ridiculous game against BU and a good game against Holy Cross. Other than that, he has been a grinder. I do like him though. Remember hockey is a collision sport, and it is likely that we will get banged up. It is nice to have this problem.

That was incredible-he seemed magnanimous

Gwoz's decision to get up on the dasher was a good one...

Knight with Kristo and Parks Rowney with Rocco and Caggiula Mac with Mac and O'Donnell Pattyn with St Clair and Gaarder That is a heck of a forward line-up

I believe it should be an auto-goal. I don't think you call a penalty shot when the net is empty.

USA players that i think will make the all-tourney team: Johnny Geaudreau Jacob Trouba John Gibson tough to not put RNH on that team and call him the most outstanding forward I think Trouba has been incredibly impressive- Jets got themselves a stud there

99 to 17 about 1000 miles northwest of us worked that combo from behind the net pretty well too

Just shows again that in a one and done scenario, talent is secondary. That Canadian team beats the USA 7 outta 10. Just like the Red Army team beats the Miracle on Ice team 99 out of 100. Just like the 2010-2011 Fighting Sioux team beats Michigan 7 outta 10 or the 97 Michigan team win 7 outta 10.

You can't make a hard and fast rule about shooting versus delaying and trying to create a better look. Generally, if you have a clean look from a decent scoring location on the ice, you take the shot every single time. 1. If a clean look, shoot. 2. If leading an odd man, pass- unless d plays it perfectly, in which case shoot 3. if leading an even rush, shoot for a rebound for you or your teammate to knock in 4. If outnumbered or even numbered but not rushing, improvise and create- in other words pass once something opens up, skate to open up passing lanes, use your points 5. If absolutely nothing, no help, no passing lanes, no look at the net- dump it or chip it

Travis Zajac's numbers translated pretty well

A lot depends on system and role. Mitch might not have fit in the system and his role might not have been to score. Most energy line guys in the NHL were 30+ goal men in junior or college- they can score, it's just not their job.

Judging by the comments, I'm guessing he misses no games.

Do a best of three weekend to knock it down from 16 to 8 at the higher seeds home barn...then transition to a WJC format at the top 2 remaining seeds' home barns. 1. Split the 8 into two pools of 4 2. Each pool plays a round robin over a 3 day weekend 3. Top 2 teams from each pool move on to the Frozen Four 4. Frozen Four is a neutral site with same format as current This would add games at sites with likely attendance, lead to the better teams advancing, and really jazz up the atmosphere. It would extend the season by a weekend, but I think they are talking about that anyway with this first round idea.

I am not a fan of the club level. I prefer higher seats in the lower bowl.

A little chemistry on that second line...great stuff! If we can roll our top 2 lines to the tune of 3 goals per night, we should win a lot of hockey games... When we get Parks back, he can give us a third scoring line...

sometimes you are USHL material, but the club that owns your rights is stacked with 19 year olds...the truth will come out in terms of talent, ability, and development when the Force issue their restricted list in the spring/summer

and i really thought that O'Donnell would be a machine this year and skating on the top line...

everyone up there is related

I like those guys together too- I think that Parks could be the key player that could get Rowney going too...you need to have 3 scoring lines and an energy line...one would think that O'Donnell would be more of that third line scoring threat and Gaarder would move to the energy line with the General and Rodwell, but right now Gaarder is playing better than Brendan.