yzerman19

As University of MN alum x2, I've heard it far too many times...

When you're up 2-0 in the playoffs, you keep doing what you're doing, knowing as the game wears on that they are going to have to press. I say you play your style of hockey with the lead, no matter what that style is and no matter who your opponent is.

I just hate the venue when playing the Gophs...stupid rouser...I hated the walk down West 7th after the Wheeler goal, and I hated the walk down West 7th after losing in 2004...My value add from a victory is proportionately smaller than my sadness from losing to the Gophers.

If we play and beat Denver we will flip them. It's 2-2, although we're separated in TUC by one tie.

To tell you the truth, I don't want to be anywhere near the Gophers at the X. They have our number there. I don't want to play them again in the post season, not when we've already beaten them twice this year and ended their seasons the last couple years...ANYTHING can happen when the Sioux and Gophers play. I was switching between Sioux and Gopher games last night. I disagree with the statement that SCSU sucks. It was 2-1 Gophers with SCSU dominating the play in the third period. Little Balls then scored a nice goal using the dman as a screen...Weslowski had no chance. Then Roe poked one in to make it 3-2. SCSU had the goalie pulled and had a couple decent looks before the empty netter iced it for the Gophers. It will be interesting to see how SCSU responds tonight...they will either come out flying or else throw in the towel. Interesting to hear Mansucko refer to the Gophers first line as the best in college hockey...homer...good talent, but not the best line in college hockey. It was also interesting to hear Wooger talk play calling with the empty net talking positioning and how to load the corners and deep, work the puck on the strong side and look for the open dman on the weak side. Mansucko asked which side was the "weak" side...the man doesn't know hockey. Wooger certainly does. Too bad they can't get another guy to do the play by play with Wooger...it might be tolerable then.

Tech clearly came to play. They looked good. We looked surprised. THe aggressive forecheck will put pressure on our dcorps. We wer having trouble with the outlet passes. Calm down, play our game. We might've just withstood the best they have. First couple shifts in the second will be telling...

Martens tonight

Last line change is huge for us on forward as well as d pairings. It allows us to best use our forward depth. Last line change is a significant reason our home record is as good as it is.

Any pregame plans for Friday? Knock on wood...Tom Reid's is fun, Wild Times is a good venue...Allery's is always great...I always take Friday off for fun. Any party plans for firday day?

I didn't know that...thanks for the update. The host team still has to abide by seeding rules for the last line change, etc. do they not?

I predict we blow tech out the zamboni doors in the first period on friday. If for some reason they can hang with us that first period we are in for a serious dogfight. I believe we will shell shock them with an offensive display like we put on MN and DU and we won't look back. First period friday will define the entire series. Counter punch teams can win games with opportunistic play and solid goaltending. Our depth and skill up front should keep tech so far back on their heels that what limited offensive punch they have will be stuck somewhere in a snow drift.

Back on topic. I am extremely glad the season isn't ending today, because it would have us playing Yale on their home rink with BU playing Bemidji in the other game...not an idyllic regional.

WHile our style can often be frustrating, I do not believe that it is incongruous with a national championship. We play race horse hockey when other teams do too. We do very well when we carry the puck into the offensive zone with numbers and speed. THe key to the teams you are describing is not the overall philosophy, but the ability to put passes cleanly on the tape. This affects the PP, the ability to transition, the breakout...passes have got to be short, fast and on the tape. THis time of year it is huge. The key to those teams you are taling about is a defenseman or two who could really move the puck...Chay and Marto can skate, but Carle, Ballard, Martin, Leopold...those guys could really move that puck. Dump and chase to cycle is stupid unless you are working on grinding down some dmen. The idea is that your forwards forecheck the defensemen religiously, 3 d pairs, 4 forward lines, forwards wear 'em down and win the third period. I don't agree with it, but it has worked. I have stated that our chink in the armor is at the blueline; bad passes and hesitation leads to shorties. I attribute the abundance of shorties against us to poor play on the offensive blue line. As stated by me a million times, you live by the Chay, you die by the Chay...Genoway is gifted and I am glad he is on our team, that being said he will cough up the puck on occassion looking to make something happen, and that will result in odd mans and breakaways the other direction.

Andrew Kozek put us in the F4 last year. I am looking at him to produce some big goals playing far down on the depth chart. Everyone knows he can shoot. Andrew is the difference maker IMO. He steps up, we will win some games that will surprise people. The chink in our armor is not upfront or in net, it is on the blue line.

Agree that BU is not a one trick pony, they are not MN. All lines can produce. That being said, I hold to the statement that their first line is sick.

BU is fast and skilled. Their top line is absolutely loaded; it is DOTesque skill wise. I've only seen two games, but they impressed. I don't know a thing about Michigan this year with the exception of they don't have the same scoring punch as last year.

if we Sioux fans have learned anything over the last several years it should be that team trumps talent. UND has had some of the most talented players ever to play NCAA hockey over the last six years, and we have not won. Meanwhile DU, Wisconsin, Michigan State all won with Teams that on paper couldn't carry Jonathan Toews' sticks. Team trumps talent.

I thought he looked great at the wjc, and I've seen him do things away from the puck that only the very special do. I was trying to think of a smallerish player with big time playmaking ability. He is different than Parise, Toews, Vanek, Oshie, Stafford, Wheeler, Kessel, Zajac or any of the other Nhlers by way of WCHA that I've seen of late. Kane was the best comparison I could cone up with. If Schroeder played with a true sniper, his assist numbers would be sick. IMO Schroeder has made Stoa this year.

didn't the 97 team have an all American by the name Jason Blake on it?

by no means was my statement meant to knock those teams or the teams that have beaten them. Simply saying they are human and can be beaten and have been beaten.

maybe cc just matches up with us well and plays a similar style. It was the best hockey I've seem played all year when cc was in nodak. Old time hockey, Eddie Shore. It actually reminded me of the 2004 Final 5 championship featuring Parise and Vanek and the boys. About seven or eight players from that game went onto the Nhl. MN's top line can play with anyone, and their second line can hold their own. Heck even the Toni Lucia Patrick White line does some good things. Minnesota has horrible defensive defensemen. You can't have nothing but offensive dmen and one defensive dman who is a pylon and expect to win. The goalie problems have made that problem at the blueline more obvious Still, I am respectful of the rodents. Schroeder is in that special class of player. He actually reminds me a bit of Patrick Kane. He is going to have a very short NCAA career, and a very nice NHL career.

I think that #1 seed and last line change is huge. It allows Hak to match up and play to our strengths: depth among other things. That has to be a big reason why we haven't lost at home since November. I think it is even more critical down a regular defenseman. All the teams being mentioned are great, but they're all human and have been beaten by the likes of Providence, Ohio State, Miami...

What a rollercoaster ride this year. Our finish was even more dramatic due to the (even by Hak team standard) slow start. This begs the question to all ss.com fans, can we win it all? We've been to the F4 four straight, but haven't won the MacNaughton since #11 was our all-world pivot. What makes this team different? Obviously the depth, but what else are you seeing? Is it team instead of one NHL line? CLearly, but is that enough? We've got three rookies who certainly aren't playing that way anymore (Eidsness, Hexy and JG). We've got Marto coming into his own. We've got four lines who can score. We also are really lacking a second pk unit without Pointer. We live by the CHay and die by the Chay on the offensive blue line. We have a skilled puck moving forward doing his damndest on the point, but is he physical enough in our own end? Can we play d against a team like BU with the Miller/Blood combo on the ice? Will Watty, Dunc, Big Joe, Jonesy, Miller and Kozek lead the way? Pundits don't like our chances...I like being the underdog. I think this team will respond. What do you think? I'm looking for very little homerism and very much a no B.S. assessment.

SIoux have shown real home ice advantage this year; even when we were struggling early on. Last time we lost a game at home it was November and we got beat 2-1 on Saturday in a nailbiter vs what was (at the time) the best defensive team in college hockey (Cornell). Sioux sweep. 7-1 and 3-1 ENG

Who's that CC player with the neck tats? I believe the Gophers are one trick pony. They have one exceptional, one very good, and one slightly above average player on their top line. After that they drop off significantly. That being said, I do not care to face them; especially on their home ice. It's a rivalry series and anyone can win anytime. I bet we win 7 outta 10 this year, but I don't like those odds with all the marbles on the table. We've ended their season way too many times of late...I am fearing that the favor will be returned before too long. Such is the rivalry between two exceptional programs. Next point: It would be a travesty in my opinion if UMN or UMD get into the tournament ahead of CC. CC is a much better squad and is a dangerous team in one and done.