yzerman19

Too bad, I was pulling for Phil. This might be the motivation the boys need to really dominate the F4. I'm sure Duncs will let JPL have his Hobey halftime if he posts 2 shutouts on the way to #8!!!

The televised event is the naming of the award winner, not the hat trick

Nope, He met his girlfriend there. I sat on the couch and watched every single regional game. I had the TV and PC internet feed doing PIP. Due to work and life stuff, I couldn't make the regional, and I can't make it to Denver.

Has a goaltender ever taken his squad to the F4, been named the regions MOP, and led the league in GAA, SV%, Shutouts, 2nd in wins, 3rd in minutes played? I agree that the popular choice will be Porter, but man, Phil's resume is awfully good.

With back to back 30+ goal seasons, ZPAR is really establishing himself as a premier forward in the NHL. All of us who watched him regularly in GF knew he would be, but to be a consistent 30 goal man puts you in pretty elite company. Thomas Vanek has also had an excellent second half and also has 32 goals. He has done a 40 goal season followed by a 30 goal season. This is also very special. Throw what Toews is doing out there as well and Stastny, and man we had some special WCHA forwards the last few years; and those are just the NHL superstars, there are a ton of NHL regulars too.

I've posted many thoughts on line combos. I think that the performance in Madison locks down the first line of Oshie, Duncan and Kozek. The second line for most of the season: Kaip, VV, and Watty have been a very consistent line. They establish the forecheck, are strong on the puck, and chip in some timely goals. However, in Madison perods 1 and 2, we saw a serious lack of face-off depth. We also saw an inability to control any play from basically any line. Hak moved VV off that line and put Frattin on it. It worked. So, if we say let's go with what worked in Madison we have: Oshie with Duncan and Kozek Kaip with Watkins and Frattin Vande with Now we get to the next dilemma. Who can play well with who, who needs to be in the lineup and who should sit? If, in fact, Trupper is back for the F4 as rumor has it; He has to be in the lineup. I put him on the third line with Vande. That is a pretty potent third line no matter who the other winger is. In fact, that is a third line that I have no problem matching up against ANY line from another team. But who is the other winger? Miller? Martens? Zajac? Based on the MN series, I put Martens on that line with Trupp. So Vande with Trupp and Martens Now for the fourth line Regulars not listed so far: Miller, Zajac, Malone, Radke These guys all bring something to the table, but I believe that Hak will make the fourth line the physical presence line. Zajac has been in all year, and he is a true centerman. Darcy's in. The team wins with Kyle Radke in uniform, he will be on strict orders, but he is a senior and a leader, and he is in. So Zajac with Radke and..... Sorry Miller, but I have to go with Malone. Malone brings the physical play. He doesn't have Miller's potential upside skill wise, but he plays physical and fires up the team. I don't believe that either Malone or Miller will score a goal, but I do believe that Malone will hit somebody (hopefully with his shoulder not his knee). In conclusion: Oshie with Duncs and Kozek Kaip with Frattin and Watkins Vande with Trupp and Martens Zajac with Radke and Malone

No way Radke isn't suited up. I don't see him getting much ice time, but I definitely see him in uniform and on the bench. Our record doesn't lie, and we are flat out much better with him in. I predict Radke gets 3 shifts per game from here on out, maybe four if we need his physical presence.

Rumor has it he will be back for the F4

I like Zajac on that fourth line, as he gives that line two things: A true centerman, and an outside shot at scoring a goal ala CC in the F5. I do agree he has played well of late. We'd have our 4 best centermen centering our 4 lines.

Yeah, I'm totally not hating on Vande, he is a horse out there. I was following up on the moves that Hak made in the 3rd period and OT. As stated by others, Frattin, Kaip and Watty were the second line once we started rolling 3. I think part of that move was to start winning a few more draws too. Oshie, Kaip and Vande on the draws. I like that going forward. Oshie with Duncan and Kozek = 18 goals this year x 3. Pick your poison. The best all around player in college hockey centering two certified snipers. Kaip with Frattin and Watty = speed on the wings, heart in the middle, grind and fly. Can establish the forecheck, work down low, maybe chip in a goal, can flat out skate. Vande with Trupp and Martens? This could be an interesting line, what third line can produce like this? Martens and Trupper clearly played well together against MN. Pack a lunch line, hard workers who can score big time goals. Zajac with Malone and Radke = The Physical Presence line, just not PP into opponent PP, please. This puts Miller on the pine. BM has skill, it just isn't clicking.

Notice that TJ is the only one they asked about the other teams in the Frozen Four. Great answers TJ, no bulletin board material!

let's hope that KT talks up the WCHA as much as JT, so we can keep getting that top end talent!!! KO did his best to hurt that, but i remain hopeful that he only hurt the MN rep with the top dogs, not the rest of the league.

I am waiting to hear Van Riemsdyke go too. For a long time, the WJC has been the stage that the pro scouts look to as far as readiness to play at the NHL level. J VR lead the 2008 tourney in scoring Turris, led Canada in scoring on the way to gold. The big names the last few years: Kessel, Johnson, Johnson, Toews, Malkin, Ovechkin, Crosby, Bergeron, Parise, Kane, Phaneuf, Carter, Getlaf go back a ways: Bure, Gretzky, Lindros, Forsberg. Turris, based on WJC performance alone was heading to the show.

I like having Watty and Fratty on the same line. It really brings some speed. DIdn't Frattin pick up some assists over the playoffs? I feel like he has been playing better. I thought about putting Trupper up on that line, but I really like having Trupp and Vande on the same line. It seems like it might bring some serious tenacity and scoring threat on the third line.

I noticed vs Princeton that theOsh got his jersey hung up high, and he had a bunch of extra badding stuffed into his breezers and up his back. Duncs quickly pushed it down. Love the idea of rolling: Osh centering Duncs and Kozek Kaip centering Watkins and Frattin Vande centering Trupp and Miller Zajac centering Martens and Radke As much as I love the Kaip, Vande, Watty line, I think that we do need to split them up now.

We've got to get through BC first, but with all the hype on Porter and Kolarick, I;d like to see Duncs and Osh on the same stage.

If Trupp is good to go in the F4, that is huge for us. He definitely brings scoring depth to this team. He also brings crazy energy. He is one of those guys you can count on to go get a big goal.

THis goes back to my argument against the full mask. Do you think he'd dare do that without a facemask? Only if he really digs scars and busted teeth.

Its my understanding that Oshie sherpas in the Himalayas all summer to prepare for each season, and Duncs free dives to 200 feet in the South pacific to build his lung capacity. Fighting Sioux teams are always well-conditioned. Look at how we looked in the 3rd and OT last night. We'll be just fine.

Forgot BC Eagles 97-01

94-98 Michigan Wolverines 85-89 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Woog's first 4 years) 92-97 BU Terriors (5 in a row)

Be careful what you wish for, I think Doug Woog took the Gophers there his first four years

April 2nd

I would guess that only the head coach can bench someone. Regardless, Kyle was in the lineup and on the bench in yet another game we won. IF I'm coach, who's dressed remains the same, unless Trupp comes back. I would shorten the bench vs BC though, and try and stack three lines

Does the bench get shorter, period, from here on in? We will be the home team vs BC, correct, as we were a higher seed coming in? Assuming for a second that we get Trupper back, I almost want to roll a different 3rd line look of: Oshie centering Duncan and Kozek Vande centering Kaip and Watkins Zajac centering Trupp and Frattin Martens, Miller and Radke dressed, but see almost no action. If no Trupper, sub Martens for Trupp.