jk

Something is different in Beantown ... Agganis Arena.

I'm less optimistic. The team loses two of the best D we've had in a long time in LaDue and Stecher, and two of the best forwards we've had in Caggiula and Schmaltz, plus other important players. Replacing them requires everyone down the line to step up a notch, and we won't know if they are capable of it until it happens. I think some will, and some won't, just because that's usually how it works. Can they be there at the end? No doubt, although you can say that about perhaps 25 teams each year. I'll enjoy "good" or "very good" anyway, and I'll be thrilled to be wrong if "great" shows up again.

Agree with everything here. Honest question: If Denver finishes the comeback on its late PP, does this thread even exist?

I don't know if some of you have ever actually watched the NCAA hockey tournament, but it's hard to win. Strange things happen to good teams. Not only that, but it might be hard to even get into it. There's a lot of potential on next year's team, but it will be missing half the regular defensemen from last year's team, including arguably the top two. Also subtract five forwards from last year. There's no way to know if they'll be able to generate the kind of chemistry this group had. I shudder to think what this forum might look like if they struggle.

Veering off topic here, you've hit on one of the keys to the effectiveness of this outstanding defensive corps: their age. Give me a well-seasoned Ladue or Poolman over a green Thompson, Forbort, Lee or Chorney any day. Those guys eventually developed into fine players (some are works in progress), but they were not as ready to play college hockey at an elite level. And I mean that more mentally than physically.

The bolded part above is very true, thanks for noting it. Credit for #8 needs to be spread far and wide, including all the way out to Philadelphia. Congrats to everyone who had a hand in it.

KT has some dynamic athleticism that none of the other defensemen on last year's team had. For that reason, and his age, he's got a shot at eventually being the best NHLer of the group. Which is not to say he was the best defenseman on the team last year, but people develop at different rates. Thanks for bringing home the title, and good luck!

Not that everyone is right all the time, but you do learn over time who to pay attention to. I'm listening here.

To be fair, his situation is just one more example of addiction being something you can't control, or he wouldn't have blown his life up over and over. As for his message, well, good job living in the past.

While there were some beautiful plays to set up Caggiula's goals against Q, finishing them, in the moment, is not a sure thing. The first pass was coming in hot, and guys miss that all the time. On the second, Boeser set it up for him on a tee, but how many times does that shot go high, or wide, or into the chest protector? Finishing is a special skill.

I just couldn't disagree with you more. Was I hating life in third period Thursday night? Yes, without a doubt. Did I even once consider it bad coaching, or laziness, or a lack of caring? Not once. The fact is hockey is a momentum sport, and Denver got on a roll, and perhaps due to recent history, UND didn't handle it very well. Part of the reason Denver got on a roll is because they were really good, one of the top three teams in the country, along with St. Cloud. And I recognized that the other team has a say in what goes on during a game, and it doesn't mean the UND players don't care or are choking. I'll grant you this. Emotional comments posted in the heat of the moment are likely to be honest, and reflect your true feelings. So if it reveals, for all to see, a lack of respect for players or coaches, do you really want to post it? And it's safe to say that speez has never, ever posted comments disrespectful of any of the players or coaches, in haste or after lengthy consideration. Ever.

2011 especially, they just couldn't seem to let it all hang out against Michigan. To be fair in the comparison, though, the twenty minute stretch against Denver three days ago was worse than anything we've seen in the Frozen Four except the last debacle against BC (2008?). It was getting through that meltdown against Denver that seemed to have freed them to let loose the hounds against Q. They looked just like they did against Northeastern -- way too hot to handle.

I haven't re watched it since that night. My recollection is that Panzer was everywhere, setting up chances left and right. It'll be interesting to see if that holds up to a new viewing.

Let's say LJ is out. Not that you want to be making a ton of changes right now, but is it possible they consider sitting Olson after the third period gaffe? That would potentially mean two new faces, out of St. Clair, Wolanin and Wilkie. Each has their virtues. Wolanin might be the least effective of the three as a forward, but would give you insurance in the lineup in the event of an injury or DQ to a defenseman. I think St. Clair might be most likely to bring a big energy boost, which last night's team seemed to need. And Wilkie, as a shooter, brings the best chance of converting a Bobcat mistake into a goal.

I have to pretty much agree. After the Q/BC game, I liked whichever NCHC team advanced to win it all. But that was with the "regional" UND team in my head. With last night's team fresh in my mind, I have to think Pecknold is liking his chances. UND's just going to have to play a lot better tomorrow.

First, this thread is a reminder of how many total losers post here. second, players of the game for me Ladue and Poolman. Just amazing defensive performances.

UND is going to play really well and carry the play, but at some point Denver is going to push back. Keeping the puck out of the net when they do is going to be the key to this game.

The point isn't that they should talk about UND, it's that they should have talked about college hockey and especially how the regional teams did, with an emphasis on the MN teams. It's a two-hour show about hockey, and it usually covers high school, college and the NHL. The high school season is over. That's a lot of time, with a short list of topics. I'm just glad this came up here, because I was going to track down the podcast to hear what they had to say about the NCAA tournament. Now I don't have to bother. Thanks!

Because it was away from the pl ... Uh, because it wasn't on a scoring chan ... If that non-call had gone against UND, there would be a 200-post thread here on it.

Not a big fan of the revenge tour concept, or playing for the guys who've come through the program, or any other storylines. Just go out and play with and for your teammates. There has never been a better storyline than the 2005 final. It was set up perfectly. The crappy 2004 Pioneer team lucked into beating the Parise/Bucks group -- total domination, goalposts, tackling, and a lucky bounce. Then you had the Bina injury, and the Sioux physically dominating the Beanpot then the Gophers to reach the final. It would have avenged 2004 and seemed like small payback for the Bina injury. And they played well enough to win, but the bounces weren't meant to be. If ever there was a time for a storybook ending, that was it. So I really don't need to invoke the past. Win your next game.

I'm shortening the defensive rotation here. By 33%.

Two goals will not be enough. They somehow need to get it in the net. The point of lopsided possession and shot attempts is that sometimes not-dangerous plays turn into goals due to deflections and rebounds. In 2011, it never happened. Last night it did. Today, not yet. Michigan is dangerous because they won't see the offensive zone for three minutes, then get a rush that turns into a great chance. And they have the skill to finish.

Just an incredibly entertaining third period between SCSU and FSU. After SC tied it, FSU woke up and it was chance city for both teams.

Not only that, but they killed most of those bad teams. That says a lot. There's hardly a close game in there. Looking at it in that detail, I'm a bit more concerned than I was.

To be fair, the East has won seven of the last eight titles. Really, until a Western team goes out and actually wins, it's not unreasonable to conclude Eastern hockey is best right now. Given recent results, perhaps the ECAC has the best argument against Hockey East.