yzerman19

I think that Hak is playing head games with some of the boys. He knows that it takes a special run to win it all, and after falling short each of the past three seasons, I think he is trying his hand at being a psychologist. I think that without a doubt you see Andrew on that first line this weekend. Hak wants the guys to be edgy and hungry right up until puck drop. I think that after a tough week of practice (although probably without much contact) he is going to set it up so that the Andrew, TJ and Duncs are all busting at the seems when they see the DOK line posted to the locker room door. They will all be excited to play together, and the energy will carry over onto the ice. Without a doubt, Hak is very aware of what line up brings the best chance to win. Next point: Radke. Although he doesn't exactly bring the offensive firepower, he finishes his checks, and ups our physical presence. The guys feed off it too. I also would venture that he is highly respected in the locker room, and the guys get pumped up to see him dress. We will see: The OSH with Duncs and Kozek Vande with Kaip and Watkins Martens with Miller and Malone Zajac with Radke and Frattin Chorney and Bina Finley and Genoway Jones and Marto Mark my words. Thats the lineup for the next four games barring injury or the return of Trupper

While Kozek has an NHL shot, he has not had the type of season that would warrant a big buck offer. Why spend the money on a project if you are the Thrashers? Why take small coin if you're Andrew? So, I'd guess that Andrew comes back with the knowledge that he is a free agent next year, and if he puts up big numbers, the Thrashers will need to pay top dollar to sign him, and obviously someone there is high on him to draft him with a 2nd round pick.

You're the one, I was sharing a similar tale with Siouxmama at the game and she mentioned that story. It is unbelievable that people don't understand it. I guess not as many fan bases are as educated and devoted (read: obsessive) about college hockey as we Sioux Fans.

The thing that gets me, is that it seems that so many Gopher fans do not know that the Final 5 isn't the last weekend of hockey. My sign idea: on one side- Picture of Matt Watkins with full mustache, underneath it simply: MAN next to it- Picture of an opponent player without mustache, underneath it simply: boy Or a spoof of a "Got Milk" add that says: Got Sioux? with a number of players with their mustaches.

Thanks for the props Siouxmama, I also very much enjoyed sitting with you and your contingent. I also appreciate the credit for my silly sign idea. I still think my best line was when the Gophs pulled the goalie and I yelled "look, they put in Frazee". I met great and bad Gopher fans all weekend. It isn't the team they support, but the individuals. My favorite is the moron who was ridiculing the Sioux for third place, who, when I stated that the scenario played out the best way possible for UND as far as NCAA seeding, told me I was stupid for not knowing that the winner of the FInal 5 was the automatic #1 seed in the NCAAs. I just walked away. The other idiot was a nice guy, but sat behind us and said to me when the game ended on Saturday night. I bet you wished your Sioux would've played them that tough. I said, I think they did. It was 1-1 late into the third, when DU scored a magnificent goal to pull ahead and got an empty netter to win. He also had no idea that UND had a winning record against DU this year and that we were going into the NCAAs as a #1 seed. Oh well. I had a blast and didn't mind the fun razzing.

I was at Billy's in St Paul when the screen went blank there too. That was a very good team that lost. We will not overlook Princeton. I guarantee it. We are familiar with Denver and Wisconsin's styles, so we don't really have to prepare for them as a new opponent. We will prepare for Princeton on the big rink all week. We will probably look for anything that all three teams do the same and practice those elements especially well. FSN, that is great news!

Wow...who to route for? a team I hate or a team I hate...I guess I'll have to be a RedHawks fan this weekend!

by Marto out on D, i mean playing (out on the ice)

OTH, 100% on board with both comments about Radke and Miller. Also, I really like Marto out on D. His skating is necessary this time of year.

I presume Joe Senser's can pull in Altitude 2?

While I don't think that we have an easy path to the FF, I do think that we have a strong chance at coming out of that regional. No surprises with Denver or Wisconsin. I like our chances against either team, although both are definitely capable of knocking us off. The key is to not overlook Princeton. It is a cinderella story with them. I don't like fairy tales. I strongly believe that Ryan Duncan will be back next year. If anything, I think his stock fell this year, so if he didn't leave early last year, why would he leave early this year? We'll be fine next year too. I am excited to have another Toews in green, and Cichy and Gregoire. We'll be just fine.

As I've been saying on this board all year, MN is not a bad team. They play their system very well. Right now, however, they are riding Kangas (who has been a stud, but how long can it last?). You have to be able to score in the NCAAs as well as play tough team defense and get stellar play from your goalie. The MN game vs Denver was very similar to the UND game vs Denver. Only difference in score was the ENG. One thing that we (UND) did not do as well this weekend is keep the opponent off the shot board. Evidently Big Joe is sick, and that was the excuse for his poor play. I am hopeful that he will be abck to 100% for this weekend. I am also hoping that TJ gets close to 100%. Me so Chorney (loved the sign) played like the player we all know he is. Especially when he crashed the net for the goal vs Denver. First time this year I've seen that leadership out of him. He did it a number of times last year. What it will take for us to win: 1. Physical Play. I did not like our lack of initiating contact with DU. We got Radke in finishing checks and the rest of the boys started to finish theirs on Saturday. We need to finish checks to go deep into the NCAAs let alone win #8. 2. Defensemen need to hold the Blue Line. Joe especially seemed to be backing up rather than stepping up. Once an opponent sets foot into our defensive zone, he should have a body into him, not a poke check or an angle play on position. 3. Breakout and transition. We are a force when our forwards come through the neutral zone with speed. Stop with the long passes, no homeruns, just short crisp passes and up through the neutral zone. Arrive at the offensive blue line en masse with speed. 4. Prevent the homerun. Both CC and DU had great chances and scored goals by hitting a lone streaking forward who managed to slip behind the D. This is the responsibility of both the forwards and defensemen. Forwards need to not get caught up too deep to get back to their defensive responsibility. Michigan killed us on this in the Regional last year. 5. Shoot. Patience is a virtue, and I understand the need to try and set up (especially on the power play), but shoot the darn puck, and don't try the behind the back passes and drop passes, etc. 6. Play Hockey. Don't get frustrated with a trap or a slow down style. Just play hockey.

Trupp gets in over Malone, but I put Trupper on that 3rd line.

Here is my only concern coming into the NCAAs. Hak never got the lines set up this year. Switiching Kozek and Miller on and off that first line in the Final 5??? Its a little late for juggling, isn't it? I think that our best product is: Oshie, Duncan, and Kozek Vande, Kaip, and Watkins Martens, Frattin, and Miller Zajac, Radke, and Malone Chorney and Bina Finley and Genoway Jones and Marto Obviously a healthy Trupp earns a spot...over Malone if I'm coach

Looks like Princeton's only COP with us was Mankato, who shelled them 6-1. On paper, we should throttle them, but the games aren't played on paper. Princeton believes, which is how they've made it this far. Time for The Osh to turn them into non-believers. Let's go beat up some smart kids! They've got 4 guys with over 20 points Goaltender has a 2.356 GAA and .918 save percentage They're going to be crazy and come at us blazing. The longer we let them stay in the game, the more likely they win. We need to hang three or four on the tender in the first period and the game will be over.

Hey Siouxmama, You all made it back safe I'd guess. Enjoyed meeting you and your family and Sioux-CIA. Fun tournament! I'll shoot for the same seats for next year. Are you guys going to Madison? I am considering it pretty strongly now that there isn't going to be TV coverage of the Princeton game. Thanks for tolerating our alcohol induced fun and our new fangled love of the Dynamo!

He was at the Final 5 with street shoes. Having him in the lineup would be huge.

Certainly looks like ESPN360 is the only live production. Unfortuantely for me, Charter high speed doesn't have a deal with ESPN360. Is there the possibility of FSSN paying for it and broadcasting in GF as well as making it available on fightingscioux.com? Historically, it seems that they do a bunch of posturing, so they can make as much money as possible. I don't want to have to drive to Madison, but I will if the games aren't available live on TV.

Best Decisions of the year: Lapoint out, Marto back to D Radke in on the fourth line Sorry, Redwing and others, but Lapoint was awful vs DU, and the team is much better with him out right now. How about Big Tommy May, THE DYNAMO!

I like putting more weight on the conference playoffs. The at large bids are there for the couple teams that might lay an egg at the conference tourney who had great regular seasons. I am not a big router for the WCHA over the others, I could care less. I am always for the Sioux. More dumb for having read it? Well, that is your opinion, but I, for one, look at the F5 as a pointless tourney. Every team at the F5 was already in the NCAAs. I am trying to be creative. You don't need to ridicule my attempt at thinking outside the box. What is your suggestion at improving the selection process? WI getting in with a record under .500 and not even making the conference playoffs is more stupid, than any comment i made. Notre Dame being in position where it benefits them to score on themselves instead of tying... Anyway, the NCAA will look at this wholistically, so I can't suggest that the WCHA and Hockey East get all of the spots, even though they are by far the strongest leagues, with the WCHA the strongest of all. Anyway, I'm all ears for a better idea.

What about this change: NCAA tourney bids determined by conference playoffs. WCHA, CCHA, Hockey East and ECAC all get in if you finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the conference tournament. Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America each get the conference winner, then there are two at large bids determined by the selection committee. The tourney is then set up with 1 west vs 8 east and 1 East vs 8 west. so, you then break it down into East and West In this year's tourney it would be: WCHA: Denver, MN, UND HE: BC, Vermont, CCHA: MI, Miami, Northern MI ECAC: Princeton, Harvard, Cornell Atlantic Hockey: Air Force College Hockey America: Niagara At Large: Well, using either PWR or KRACH, it seems pretty obvious that CC belongs in and so does New Hampshire

By the numbers... MI vs Air Force MI State vs SCSU Miami va Niagara Clarkson vs Denver (the Dynamo) UND vs Princeton MN vs BC UNH vs Notre Dame WI vs CC Of course WI and CC will be in different regionals, so what does the NCAA do? I think they do one switch and that is Wisconsin and MI State In Madison: MI vs Air Force WI vs SCSU In Albany: Miami vs Niagara Clarkson vs Denver (Dynamo) In Worcester: UND vs Princeton BC vs MN In Colorado Springs UNH vs Notre Dame Michigan State vs CC

Lapoint not in uniform, Radke and Davidson dressed. Live from warm ups at the X.

A win today makes us a one seed. There is a lot to play for

Sioux did not deserve to win today. THey are not the championship caliber team we've seen. Bottom line is they lack leadership. Chorne did his part to take control, no one else did. WCHA doesn't mean much, but it would've been nice to win. wake up calls for all. I don't envy any team facing UND or CC in the NCAAs after this weekend. Gophers are not great, wheeler sucks and is a punk. Redwing, you are going to flame me, but Lapoint was God Awful today. Finley also sucked a big one today.