jk

I have a coworker with a son at UMich (just a student) and the son called today with news he had covid. So maybe it's going around campus.

You are correct. I was like bluto, on a roll.

While this royally sucks, here's the deal. You have to win anyway. You take a penalty on a terrible call, you have to overcome it. Sykes gets hurt in the title game, Smail scores four goals. Half the team had the flu for the regional final, they beat Q anyway. You must overcome anything and everything.

AIC is coming in as the most rested and possibly rusty team ever. They didn't play between January 30 and March 19. To their credit, they shook off the rust and won two intense games last weekend. Was that enough to get completely up to speed?

That makes it about 18 hours from the end of the Friday night game. That's brutal for the #1 overall seed. Aside from needing to win Friday, it would be good if that were to happen in a way that allowed the fourth line to get a lot of third period minutes.

If you dont get up on them, the clock starts to go really fast, then it's late in the third and there's a problem. I think of Denver 2004, Michigan 2011 and the upsets of other teams over the years. So I agree. Be better on the ice, but especially on the scoreboard.

I stand corrected on the game time. Would prefer the rest, but just go play I guess.

How do we get the late game? I thought the top seed always played early?

The UND and BC regionals seem tough. If you think Mankato is sliding, as I do, MN has an easy road, as does Wisconsin.

Good luck to Michigan's kiddie corps dangling through UMD.

cberkas, I love that each of your regions include teams from four different conferences, except that Omaha and SC appear together. I wish the committee assembled them like that all the time, to make it a more national tournament. Unfortunately, they actually came out and said they have been instructed to limit flights, so I expect it to end up pretty local.

He's been anointed for 28 reasons.

UND, Mankato, Duluth, Bemidji. Your bus ride Fargo regional. They can easily argue Mankato has slid behind teams like WI, SC, and UMass to justify their 2-seed placement. The only potential issue is that two Bemidji wins could make it tough to call them a 4.

I have to mention Fabian, Canady and Massen. Two seniors whose careers probably didn't follow the paths they expected got together with Fabian and completely changed the complexion of every game in the 2005 NCAA tournament. An incredibly shorthanded team wore out every opponent because these guys, together with the bruisingest defensive core, were so tough.

Yikes. The squad is already looking a bit short at the position.

This has been my concern for a while now. I couldn't agree more.

The PP was much better. At times in December, it looked as good as I've seen at UND. Then, after the holidays, it was botched zone entries, bobbles leading to clears, and general ineffectiveness. In the postseason, it has been much crisper again. Lots of possession and chances.

The only rule they will respect this year is the host plays at their own regional. I have no doubt that to minimize flights they would accept an intraconference matchup.

I think Fargo is going to be: 1. UND 2. 3. UMD 4. BSU Just because of travel, they'll find a way to put either Mankato or SC as #2. Edit: If they're OK with a long bus ride, they could put WI as the 2 in Fargo.

St. Cloud is really good. The way they pushed back after going down 4-2 was impressive.

Can Sanderson play the rest of the game? He's like a big security blanket.

A pity Scheel gave that up, because he kept them in it in the second.

I think UND has actually been better and more creative offensively than last night, but their defensive game has not been good. SC has had way too much time and it has resulted in a bunch of good chances.

I know I just look like a homer, but I thought he kinda kicked it in.

Also, after being noticeable for not being his noticeable self the last few games, Pinto was on a mission last night.