jk

My prowess in projecting NHL futures is known by none, but I think James is nearly a lock to have a bottom six career. I don't know if he will be skilled enough to crack a top six regularly, but he has everything you want below that. Very fast, not small, not scared to be physical, can PK, and with enough skill to convert when an opportunity arises. I think he's actually getting terrific career training with his current usage.

Also, any Sandelin appreciation has been well earned because, wow, did they have a decade. Funny thing, after 2011 I sat behind some Bulldog fans who were slightly perturbed they were stuck with Sandelin after that title, because they wanted to be done with him. His tenure up to then was not great. Guess they were wrong. While recognizing their fantastic run, done while not actually being much better than their opponents game after game but somehow getting to and winning in overtime, my personal objection was to how cheap they were, targeting the best opposing players. When they put Tucker Poolman out for the season, then ran Cam Johnson, they basically effectively ended UND's season. They gave Borgstrom the same treatment in the national title game, he disappeared, and they won. So I guess it worked, but I'm still a bit peeved at it.

Unfortunately they don't care much about that one, since their season ended spectacularly.

There were times this weekend when I thought, how is this the same team as last year? I guess the answer is, at least on the back end, it isn't.

If ever there was a face-off to win, it was to start OT. Was nice to see Hutson and Celibrini on the ice when Blake scored, but it would not have been fun to see them with the puck.

Not doubting Hutson's brilliance, but is he that much more dynamic than Perunovich was at Duluth? Injuries have been an issue, but he's 25 and has played 21 career NHL games. P is listed at 5'10" 175. H at 5'10" 161. He is a fantastic player to have on your college team, but you eventually have to defend.

A couple random observations. I like that Johannes, Berg and James don't mind heading to the net and shooting. Fancy is nice and we have a good dose of that this year, but there's a place for power moves and ripping a shot. I also like that Livanavage doesn't like to sit back and get things set before heading up ice. He gets the puck and goes. Hard to believe he's just a month into his college career.

That post pk shift was the first time this year's team looked like last year's.

I don't know which is more frustrating, last year when the good opponents were clearly way better, or this year when UND looks like the better team but can't get the scoreboard to reflect it. I guess I'll take my chances with the better team this year.

Woulda been nice if Perron coulda shoveled that one in with three seconds left.

I think O Mac has taken a big step this year. Last year you could see the talent, but a stiff breeze could knock him off the puck. This year he's protecting the puck better, and the points will come soon.

Definitely the better team tonight. The downside is they're not guaranteed to be the better team tomorrow, which is why you've gotta win when you're better. UND can be really good this year.

Geez UND is bringing it.

No goal, but it was a good PP.

How is that even a penalty?

UND had a nice middle ten minutes. BU pushed back pretty hard in the last five.

I always appreciated that Hrkac's freshman points of 18-36-54 in 36 games made for easy calculating.

Going back a bit, none other than Dean Blais was my PE teacher at Minot High. Because it was lunch hour and the gym was therefore unavailable, we usually spent the hour playing bloodball in the wrestling gym. Good times.

Key takeaway for me is that the two teams are pretty even, which is a big step up from last year, when they decidedly weren't. Last year's split was a gift from the hockey gods, as MN had the puck much of the weekend, but this year UND matched them in possession and chances.

Evolution of our opinions: Off-season: The returning players had great moments last year, and this year they'll play like that every shift. The new guys are the exceptional players their junior coaches describe to Schlossman. Destined to compete with each other for the Calder trophy in a few years. Manitoba and Army: Peak optimism. And a little worry that everyone is so good they're all one-and-done. We're back, baby! The rest of the first half: Uh oh. The other guys want to win too. And holy crap they're pretty good. We're in trouble. Second half: (Hopefully). Made sense the new guys needed time to gel. We're gonna be hard to handle the rest of the way.

On the Herald podcast, they referenced that as a good penalty because it was payback for WI taking liberties with Perron. Early season team building by sticking up for your teammates.

With how full UND's pipeline is now, commitments may be scarce for a while, while other teams pile them up. Works for me.

I couldn't watch, but I'm curious on people's opinions. If say three or four of those posts went in, how does the defense and goaltending feel? Does the defense look like it has a chance to be better than last year? Thanks.

That was no hot goalie, either. They just got worked all game long.

I can't be there, but if there was one "one more shift" I'd want to see, it would be Hrkac. For the youngsters, all I can say is you had to be there. Think of Blake's pass to Schmaltz in the exhibition, then think of it happening all game long, every game, against the best teams in the country.