jk

It's doubtful there's a bad guy in this story. Sometimes players don't turn into what the projection was at age 16, and they find a better fit.

Hopefully Blake talks to Oshie, because he's the prime example of staying the extra year. Could it have gone just as well for Oshie had he left a year earlier? Maybe, we'll never know. Hard to imagine his spectacular pro career going any better, though.

Generally, if you're a desirable destination program, the portal gives you an edge and you should use it. Not a ton, but a little every year. It lets you be older and you know what you're getting as the guys are pretty much fully developed. It's admittedly at least a little uncomfortably unfair, but you can do it and better your team or you can adhere to an imaginary standard beyond the actual rules.

We've all seen the flaws, but I think he'll overcome them and have an NHL career, whenever he goes. He's not strong enough, he's not fast enough, but he is **Special** in ways I've just about never seen. Of course it would absolutely be in MY best interest for him to give it another go in GF next year.

With his pro size and game, Berg's going to get a shot at some point. Not sure if that's this year. Hopefully the hometown team thing and the chance to do something special next year is appealing enough.

You know who's feeling it right now is the beavers. Everyone wants to be first or second overall so you get one of the "crappy" autobid teams, but I won't be surprised if Bemidji gives someone a hard time in that first game.

I'm as hopeful as the next guy, but taking off the green glasses, you'd have to think anyone out there is hoping their team ends up in UND's regional. It seems like the easiest path to the frozen four. UND could certainly win those two games, but they hardly seem like a juggernaut.

Goaltending has not been the problem. In fact, goaltending is the biggest reason I think the team could go on a run, as he has the ability to steal a game when they need it.

So Blake and Gaber together on the PK.

I'll bet und had more scoring chances than Omaha when the score was 0-3. You can watch the game or the scoreboard. I'm talking about the game.

Again, not popular, but UND has played fine tonight. Had the better of the chances, but it's hockey and it has not been kind, as it wasn't for WMU last Friday. I was more concerned with last night. But UND is clearly not in the same ballpark as the beanpot schools right now, or MN or MI or a few others.

It seems like UND needs someone like 9 or 26 to make a play.

Are faceoffs like 30-0?

I'm guessing this won't be a popular take here, but that was actually a solid period by UND. Omaha didn't have much for scoring chances, but a couple bounces ended up in the net. I'm still optimistic.

Asking too much of Ludwig at the moment. Only down one, don't need to be so loose all of a sudden.

Now this will be a test. They went down against CC and completely fell apart. We'll see how this goes.

To me, the NCHC has fewer weak teams, but is easier to win because there are fewer top teams as well. You're basically competing with Denver, SC and UMD for the title every year. In the WCHA you had to also gain more points than WI and especially MN.

Discussion is ok. I'm a fan of both guys, but regarding league titles, I'd say Hak coached in a tougher league (WCHA with MN and WI) for most of his years.

Hey I was too. At the end of the first it was 3-0 (after Murray Baron of all people scored) and I'm not sure MSU had three shots. The concourse during the first intermission was spectacularly eerie, as the home faithful waited in line for their lukewarm weiners in stunned silence.

Duncan was obviously not the best player on his line, considering the other two guys are NHL or Olympic legends, and he seemed to have no problem acknowledging that. Without looking at boxscores to fact check this, I believe he did not miss a beat when the future legends were out of the lineup, and just went right on scoring. I think that helped his Hobey case. It may seem easy to put the puck in the net when you have a little room, but surprisingly few guys can do it. And he often didn't have much room from his office. Great player.

Oh my goodness, you've hit upon one of my main Hak observations. He built teams to win playoff series. That physical defense would have been hard to handle for more than a game.

That's a conclusion we can draw!

Thankfully Berry has Ness, Albrecht and Benoit on the PP. And Berg in case a hatty shows up.

Probably can't draw any conclusions about UND based on this game. They look great, yes, but time and space wise it's been like a Bisons game.

Umm, they've been cheap as hell for most of the last 15 years.