siouxforcefans

what a lousy couple of games.... WTH was that in the 9th yesterday???? It may actually be good for them to get on the road for a couple.

Remember 4 months ago when half this board wanted Trevor Olson on the bench? Not saying you were one of them siouxfan512, but it strikes me as odd how he's not been mentioned as the designated player riding the pine in this thread. Did he improve that much at the end of the season? Or did people just get to like him and his perceived leadership capabilities?

I don't mind the stripes on the sweater by itself, it's when they add the socks....

AND, neither of my D are sniffing the ice unless there's an injury... So then there's that

Damn - last place and still losing points!

I was shocked by the Blackhawks not winning at least 1 game. I still kinda can't believe it. If you told me that series was going to be a sweep, I've have replied that Nashville would steal one at home, so it would be a 5.

crossed into double-digit territory! Whoo-hooo!

That kind of approach, I could get on board with. I'd be interested in what would happen for backup sites. Think if Denver and Duluth would have worked together on a site this year (maybe agreed to pick Sioux Falls, or whatever). Who is the host, and which other site becomes the 4th regional? You could use pairwise for hosting, but that doesn't make a correction for tickets sold to the other fan base (yes, I know it's a dream that those two buy tickets) and you have #1 and #2 in one regional, or you move #2 and now fans have to make travel arrangements and that backup regional arena has to get ready to host, on very short notice. That could possibly be overcome, just with some backlash, but it could go bigger - throw UND, the Clowns, and UNO into a collaboration, and somehow they finish 1, 2, 3 in the standings. Or BC, BU, and Harvard for you east coast bias folks

That's the killer^^^. Concept sort of makes sense, except for 2 issues: 1) See above. There really isn't enough time to plan and execute. Anyone at Scheels this spring probably noticed all the banners in the arena were covered. The ice was repainted with new logos. The boards had a new face on them. etc. etc. That gets pretty crazy if your arena is one waiting on the 4 - 6 seeds to be settled. 2) For teams needing an off-site arena (due to size, or whatever it may be) these arenas do more than just college hockey. You can't hold every arena schedule empty until the middle of January or later "just in case." Plus, most of the staff is part-time. Can you imagine having to run a regional if you're missing 1/3 of your staff? Obviously, some arenas would have a bigger issue than others: AZ's arena probably books everything as normal, at least at this point in the program's development. But think about the Harvard, Western Michigan, and even (groan) UMN arenas this spring - all 3 waiting for that last weekend before to find out if they're going to have to race the clock, or just be done for the season.

I might be done early... Really going to need big stuff from Drake and Jordan Schmaltz if the Caps can't get through and CHI/MN get swept! Toews - down 0-3 Oshie - down 1-2 Schmaltz - down 0-3 Caggiula - tied 2-2 Parise - down 0-3 Stafford - down 1-2 Chorney - down 1-2 Schmaltz - up 3-0, but not playing every game Keith (fill) - down 0-3

Interesting perspective. For me, it doesn't change a whole lot. We go to Frozen Fours, regardless of location. Not likely to go to the Frozen Faceoff again anytime soon, unless regionals get too far in an undesirable place (so not for the next two years). Attended the last regional at the X, even though UND wasn't there, and having the next two in SF and Fargo all but guarantees we'll go. Chance of attendance: Frozen Faceoff: 10% Regional: 95% (100% once confirmed UND is in) Frozen Four: 100%

Agreed. That was BS for Ryan to get away with what he did. Should've been offsetting.

Harsh! But I accept my punishment for not paying closer attention to the thread's existence.

would look like this: Toews Oshie Schmaltz Caggiula Parise Stafford Chorney Schmaltz Shattenkirk (fill) Keith (fill)

Can I be a late entry if I just take all the Sioux players, and then pencil in around them from teams that didn't play last night?

We were on an adventure! Yeah, so we were being cheap. At least we still went

We just got back early Monday morning after the FF (took the Amtrak). Chicago was fun, probably about as fun as Boston, but nowhere near as fun as Tampa. St. Paul is always fun, since it's a lot more familiar, so I'm already looking forward to next year! My take: The UC took down all the Bulls stuff from inside, but was left up the Blackhawks banners. Found this odd, but the trophies and statues for Mike and boys were still in the hallways and outside. The UC is a decent building, but definitely showing its age. I think it would be a lot more fun for a pro event, as there were a ton of neat little bar areas around the arena. The $4.75 bottles of Culligan water were a bit much, but it's an arena... Games were good and competitive, outside of Denver v Notre Dame, so that was a plus. The "near west" neighborhood just east of the arena had some fun bars before and after the games. The "west loop" neighborhood where we stayed had great restaurants, but very little hockey feel. Met a number of new people and saw a bunch of the usual suspects. A Boston guy wanted to give us some ribbing about the offsides, and I just told him "It's as simple as this; indisputable evidence does not take 8 minutes to find." He kind of scrunched up his face in thought, nodded, and said "Yep. I wouldn't have been mad if they counted it." We got along fine after that Best Denver turnout we've seen for any game. This was the only Notre Dame game all season where they took the bus. If they'd have beat Denver (wasn't happening), Saturday would've been a lot more full of a house. Heard some good rumors about players leaving early, so I'll be interested to see if they're true (cough*Miska*cough).

Awesome collections!

The MN Twins are in first place for a second consecutive day, and can't be more than 1/2 a game out on day 3! (We Twins fans enjoy small victories where we can get them)

Thought Oxbow6 was Lambda Lambda Lambda?

Just saw that, too. RIP.

Jost will play the Wild twice in the next week (I'm assuming he's in the lineup the rest of the year). Anyone going to the game Sunday at the X?

Point taken. Though it's not the same game anymore. The closest active play to Gretzky is still 130 behind, and Jagr took 27 years to get that close... Cindy Crosby is still over 500 goals behind, and has been playing since 2005. Something drastic, or magical, would have to happen for Gretzky's record to be challenged. It's kind of like Cal Ripken's consecutive games played, in that the game has changed and the changes will preserve the record. IMHO, the record isn't in the kind of danger it would have been if today's scorers played in the era Gretzky did. I would have loved to see Gretzky in his prime with today's stick technology, but he also wasn't facing the insane goalies of today's game. Not too many of his opponents had goalies who stood 6'5", played a modified butterfly, and could do the splits, while wearing considerably larger equipment.

At least we don't have to worry about that happening!

Great comeback win for Tampa Bay last night over the Blackhawks - down 1-3, only to win 4-3 in OT. I have to admit it; the 3v3 OT is a lot of fun to watch when you have two talented teams like last night. I previously was against it, preferring a 5v5, full periods as necessary, type of OT, but this one was awesome...