yzerman19

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.

My money would be on Weslowski vs Kangas or Patterson. I also think that SCSU is going to come to play. They will look at it as giant killing. Biggest thing now is not to limp in, but build momentum. CC limped in last year with a poor showing at the F5 and they were one and done.

UMD getting swept really helped the Goofs I would think. Even if they get in, they are not a team that i worry about. Although I don't want to see them again, especially on their home ice. It is tough to beat a rival 3 times in a season. I worry more about CC and Wisconsin that DU or MN.

As for the Greene Commodore deal, it doesn't matter if they'd played together, in the heat of battle you do what you have to do. They are professionals now. It isn't personal, and I am sure they will joke about it if they meet up in the off season. They both have jobs to do that are playing physical and protecting their teammates. It was a clean fight, totally within the code. Greene landed a bunch of decent shots, Commy ended it with a big right. Good fight, clean, fair. No repercusions.

Bucky always gives us fits in their building...We've been swept by Wisconsin many times in the last few years...even our 2004 MacNaughton Cup championship team with Parise and the next year with our NCAA runner up team with Zajac and Stafford were swept by Wisconsin. THe style has always given us trouble. I am not worried about this loss. We did not have out ususal offensive output because of Sconny's style and play. Win two against Tech on our home ice, have a good performance at the X, then its a 4 game tournament for the big hardware.

If he's Yoda, can I be Lando?

I don't think it will turn them much. It won;t flip the individual comparisons in those games, and it won't help us in RPI, teams are all decent...we need to win and CC needs to win,

A Sioux win and a Denver loss tonight will put the Sioux in a 4 way tie for #4 in the PWR With Denver, Vermont and Northeastern. Interesting stat that I hope is telling: UND has the second best TUC record of the top 25 after BU, and only Denver has played more TUCs. Also only BU and (unfortunately) UMD have the H2H vs the Sioux. What does this mean? Not much...its paper, but it gives me confidence come tournament time.

I didn't think this team had it. I am not a bandwagon fan, it hurt to lose...I am happy eating crow out of the MacNaughton Cup!

Correction, a lot of very good MacNaughton Cup Champion players

Nice gritty win. THis game like so many others, was decided by the play of our third and fourth lines. They weren't in the boxscore, but they won the game. Hope Kozek is alright, I didn't see him much after he went into the boards hard. Is Watkins this year's Porter? He is scoring big goals. I'm still not happy with some of the sloppy d play in our own end. Vande...another clutch goal. It was a goal scorer"s goal, nice patience. Big win, let's not let up. No more losses...9 to go...

You can't dominate every game. I think this team has had several dominant performances against pretty good teams: We've POUNDED Minnesota, Denver and Cornell (all well above average squads) and when I say pounded, I mean POUNDED. I think the only games we've mailed in were at the GLI, and that was because the routine was all screwed up. I also was at the SCSU game, and I think Dunc had something like 10 shots in that game with several from his spot. Normally at least 2 or 3 of those go in. The game is dynamic, momentum swings are huge in hockey. Maybe more so than in any other sport. Anyway, the boys will be ready to play.

Why? I don't see anything about a vicious facewash anywhere...

Interesting, 3 teams have won the MacNaughton Cup 3 years in a row: UND, CC, and Bowling Green (when Tech took the cup to the CCHA).