yzerman19

I've never been to Mankato, is uscho.com right about the rink being olympic size? I am 99% positive the Alltel Center is Olympic. That is a huge element, as the Kohl Center is Olympic sized ice. If Mankato can light them up for 6 on olympic ice, you'd think that our boys could do some serious damage with that extra room to maneuver.

According to USCHO.com's home page for Manakat, the Alltell Center is listed at 200 x 100.

The mustache commands respect. I should expect that the Tigers will refer to our boys as "Sir" or "Mister".

Wasn't Ned Braden as All-American at Princeton?

I'm with you, DAR. 100%

So, I am looking at Princeton. We had one common opponent, Mankato. The landcows beat them 6-1 on the olympic rink in Mankato. Mankato outshot them 34-19 in that game as well. That was their only game on full olympic ice. They were outshot by both Colgate and Harvard in their wins in the ECAC tourney. All the props going to their goalie is warranted, as he only gave up 1 goal vs 94 shots in his last 3 games. The four games prior to that, however, he gave up 10 goals vs 118 shots.

I am not worried about Joe, there is a rumor that he is sick. I have also heard that Bina was sick. I think they will be just fine for next weekend. If Lapoint was concussed than my criticism of his play should be more appropriately directed at the coaching staff and trainers. Don't let a kid keep playing if he's taken a head shot. Get him off the ice and get him healthy. As much as I like to treat them like horses in the stable, they are somebody's kids. Joe has played like a stud all year, and for most of the year, I have regarded him as our best defensive defenseman. I will not throw him under the bus for one poor performance. Better last friday than this sat or sun!

Joe did play poorly on Friday. Terrible defensively. For some reason he did not play the body at all and kept backing up. My criticism of Lapoint on Friday had less to do with his defensive play and more to do with his inability to break the puck out. I noticed a lot of errant break out passes.

Gregoire is going to be good. Maybe he plays with Trupp next season.

Hey Chuck, I'll gladly take constructive criticism but the "don't know how anyone can take you seriously" shot isn't very constructive. If Lapoint was concussed, then that would be a good excuse for his awful play on friday. You could've left it at that. In all seriousness, I agree with DAR, and this team is currently better when Marto is back there with Jones. I think Lapoint will develop into a fine hockey player, and I am not trying to pile on the kid. I just think he is currently not one of our six best defensemen. Whatever the reason for it. I am not calling for him to be cut or lose his scholarship. I want him there next season. How anyone can argue that the team has not played better with Marto in, Radke in, and Kozek on the first line is lost on me. I've watched every Sioux game but three this year, and I just call it like I see it. Hakstol was quoted a few weeks ago as saying that Lapoint needed to "work through some things" as the reason for his absence in the lineup. I think it is clear that he is seeing what I am seeing, and what many others are seeing.

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.