jk

So much for my idea. Get the flippin' matches. Somehow the Sioux need to get the momentum back and get the jump back in their skates. When they're moving, I get the impression DU can't quite keep up with them.

Here's the recipe for success tonight. Score the next goal, get the two-goal lead. Get Denver, a team that can be dangerous, to start pushing to score. Although they can be dangerous, pushing on offense isn't their game, and they will make mistakes. Make 'em pay for their mistakes, and put it out of reach.

Agree on Marvin. I didn't think he'd see much ice this year. Penalty on Greene. TH disappointed with the call.

I didn't see it so I can't say for sure, but what happened with Lundbohm's penalty is one of the risks of using a forward on the point on the PP. It sounded like he needed to hook the Pioneer to prevent a chance. He also got beat to start the third period at Mariucci on Saturday by Waibel, who set up the tying goal. Not ragging on Lundbohm, just pointing out the risk of using a forward at a D spot. PP's over, still 1-0 Sioux. Good chances by the Sioux. Sounds like they are really bringing it. They key now is to translate the dominant play onto the scoreboard, because they won't dominate a good team all game long.

I would definitely play Prpich tonight. Fatigue is going to be a big factor tonight, and the only thing Prpich will be tired from is fending off adoring admirers in the stands on Saturday. I would also consider playing Palmiscno for the same reason. I think the most tired groups will be, in order: Denver's top defense pair UND's top line The rest of the defensemen Denver's forwards UND's forwards The Sioux should have an edge in the second, third and fourth line play. Some of those guys haven't scored much. Now would be a nice time for some of them to chip one in. (Legally) throw the body around in the first and wear them down by the end of the game.

Unfortunately so will Berkoel (sp?). Brandt has to go for the Sioux. I was thinking of Denver's fatigue as well, especially since MacKenzie and Caldwell play a ton. It wasn't a shock to me that McMahon scored when MacKenzie was in the box, as he's usually out there killing the penalty otherwise.

I'm not a PWR expert, but I looked into it a bit tonight. I don't think MSUM's win over Wisconsin was posted when I looked so that might skew things a bit. When I looked, this is where some teams were: 8. BC 9. Michigan 10. UND MSUM 12. OSU 13. SCSU Michigan State (MSU) 15. Harvard 16. Providence 17. Denver The NCAA tourney field is fourteen teams deep, after the CHA and MAAC bids. The way I understand the selection process for bubble teams, the NCAA looks at the direct PWR comparisons of the teams on the bubble when they figure out who gets the last few spots. Following are UND's comparisons right now. One absolutely key feature that I don't know is how sensitive RPI is to results this late in the year. If it's no longer very sensitive, then I have a pretty good idea what will happen to certain comparisons. If it is, then a lot of what follows isn't very useful. BC - BC wins 3-0, with no chance of UND flipping it. Mi. - UND wins 2-2 with RPI breaking the tie, but the RPI is very close. If it flips to MI, then MI will win the comparison. MSUM - MSUM wins 3-2. If the Sioux were to meet MSUM and win, that would flip it to the Sioux. OSU - UND wins 2-1, and it's probably not going to change. SCSU - UND wins 4-2, and it's probably not going to change. MSU - UND wins 2-1, and it's probably not going to change. Harv. - UND wins 3-0, and it's probably not going to change. Prov. - Prov. wins 2-1. If UND beats SCSU, they flip this one and win it. Denver - UND wins 4-2, and it's probably not going to change. If the Sioux lose to Denver, they probably lose the Michigan comparison. The key feature that I'm not sure of, as I mentioned, is the RPI. I believe that in all of those close comparisons, UND has a higher RPI. If a Sioux loss really drops their RPI, and good performance by their competitors really strengthens their's, then those "probably not going to change" comparisons might. I am a big Cornell fan. We need to keep the field 14 teams deep. If Cornell loses in the ECAC playoffs, there are only 13 spots. Hockey East is decided, with UNH winning. I am a big fan of Ferris State, then Michigan (even though we are in a tight comparison with them). I really want to see OSU and MSU lose, as they are close pursuers. Obviously most important of all is for the Sioux to win. A win over Denver followed by a win over SCSU locks up a bid, I think. Losing to Denver makes it just a matter of fate and faith.

Save Maroosh's pennant for a Final Four game. That thing's got to have some serious mystical power. This is just a riot, you burning bad luck garments just before they score. Seriously for a moment. I think Blais's tactic of going 6-on-4, and even 6-on-5 in the last minute, is riskier on a big rink than a small one. With six guys out there, chances are someone will get to the puck at about the same time as a defender, disrupting a clearing attempt. On the big rink, though, there's so much more space to cover that if the puck bounces to a defender, he's more likely to have room to chuck it out of the zone. I haven't studied it, and probably won't, but I wonder if pulling the goalie statistically works better on a small rink. Lately, I know it worked for the Sioux against SCSU in the Final Five, against BC in the title game, and tonight. All small rinks. It didn't work at Mariucci's frozen ocean earlier this year.

We know the Sioux are a flawed team this year. They have just seemed to not get over the edge that gets you to greatness. So in noting the following I'm not suggesting it's some sign of greatness. However, in any circumstance, it's pretty darn impressive that they have allowed only 34 shots to Denver in six periods of hockey. The Sioux have had trouble winning, but they don't stink.

Not exactly a sparkling first 7 minutes for the Sioux here in the third. Just get the puck bouncing around in front of the net and get an ugly one.

Let's see a captain put one in. Or Notermann, sort of a captain. I don't like Ryan Hale's chances of scoring this year, but maybe he's due.

I tend to think that everything goes next period, which will work in Denver's favor. I think Shepard's going to put the whistle away unless someone gets a lead, then he'll give the trailing team a shot on the PP. Brandt playing a solid game. He needs to be rewarded.

Even though the 5-on-3's didn't result in goals, they seem to have loosened up the game a bit. It would be contrary to Denver's game plan, but with shots at 17-12 after two, it appears that a hockey game may be breaking out. Sioux need the next goal. Slipping behind, against a good defensive team with a good goalie, would not be good.

I was going to type that the Sioux need to get out of the second with the lead, but I didn't have time before it went away. Rats. Will we get the third period PCM keeps hoping for, or the one he keeps getting?

How big is losing these faceoffs to start the 5-on-3? Down the rink and not much time left. If they can't convert here it's bad bad news.

No worries, OETKB. I'm excited for it too, just a little tired of hearing about it on the intermissions. Let's go Sioux.

dagies, One of their little guys could hit me and my wife would be on the phone with the insurance company giving them instructions on where to send the life insurance proceeds.

Anyone else tired of hearing interviews about the WJC? I know it's kind of a big deal, but I'd rather they talk a little more about the Sioux. UND hockey used to be about offense. Where's the pressure? Let's score some goals!

Even when not killing a penalty, it didn't sound like the Sioux got much going that period. I'd say it was a scoreless period thanks to the Sioux goalie. Haven't heard that too often. The Sioux need to take their frustration with Shepard out on the scoreboard. If they win tonight, they get a new ref tomorrow.

Two shots in one shift for the Sioux. Wow. Wasn't that the first period last night? A few marginal chances for each team so far. It sure would be nice if Massen could get going again. Ryan Hale takes a penalty on a big hit. I hope they kill this one off so the captain doesn't have the stain of a PP goal while in the box.

Sentiment is Sioux-land is pretty down right now, to be sure. One bit of hope here is that Denver has had a season filled with disappointment as well. Losing tonight would fit their season pretty well.

PCM, that's the best post I have seen on the second half of the season.

I watched the game at Sensers in Bloomington. Ended up sitting with Matt Smaby and his dad. Really nice family. Despite the shot totals, I thought the Sioux had pretty good jump in the first, as did Denver. Then the floater from the blue line kind of took the Sioux down a notch. Through the whole game, I couldn't believe how tightly Denver checked the Sioux. You can question the legality of it if you want, but the fact is that it was highly effective. Whenever a Sioux player was near the puck or a passing lane in the offensive zone, there was a Denver player there, checking and holding with liberal stickwork. I'm not complaining about the officiating, just noting how stifling Denver was. For that, I can't blame the Sioux; that is a credit to Denver. I also felt like the Sioux were trying - it didn't seem like a lack of effort. And defensively UND played a very solid game until the couple breakdowns late in the third that ended up in the net. However, for offensive execution and puck movement, UND was terrible. The times a player was able to make a decent pass, the receiver couldn't catch it. The few times UND seemed to have an edge entering the zone, they ended up misfiring on a pass or getting it picked off by Denver. And Denver blocked quite a few shots. As the third period wound down, the Sioux just seemed thoroughly un-dangerous. They just could not get the puck to the net. This was not one of the games like so many in the last month where the opposing goalie stood on his head and stole the game. It was pretty evenly played, in that neither team had many scoring opportunities. Ranfranz let in the softie at the start, and in such a tight-checking game, that was probably the difference.

I love the INCH website. Their "Found on a Cocktail Napkin" is often pretty clever.

Neither could I.