yzerman19

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.

TJ can dangle with the best of them. Sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes it really doesn't work when he goes one on two or one on three, but his stick skills are up there with the best of them. There are many great clips posted of him dangling and beating guys. The kid is known for his ridiculous hand eye coordination and stick skills.

I think playing 5 forwards on the PP is stupid too. I'll take Duncs and Osh on a two on two shorthanded rush with two BC wingers trying to play D. With time and space going full speed, I don't care how much you've played and how much you know what you're supposed to do. A forward backpedaling and TJ dangling...good night.

So what were the short bench lines last night in the third and OT? Oshie centering Duncs and Kozek Kaip centering Watkins and Frattin? Vande centering Martens and Miller? Zajac, Radke and Malone on the pine?

LaPoint's a d-man, he will not take Radke's spot.

I think Hak new that putting Kozek on that top line would energize the team. I think he was saving it for the right moment, when we needed a jump. Sort of like Rocky fighting right handed for much of the bout. In the third period and OT, the bench is going to get a lot shorter too.

I also couldn't believe all the centermen tossed. Kind of ridiculous. It happened vs Princeton too. It was funny, my comment right at the start of the game was meant to be sarcastic (saying we had a poor start and we are dead), and then as I am about to chime back in, ss.com went down due to overrun server. What a game. Time to get ready for next weekend. If we play like we played this weekend, BC will eat our lunch for us. We have to get better. Talk about character guys and leaders that wear the C for the Sioux. Captain Porter scores the winner last year to send us to the F4, and Captain Kaiper starts the rally to send us to the F4 this year. That's leadership.