jk

Because of UND's precarious position record-wise, this weekend seems more about getting points out of one of the country's best teams on the road than about Gopher/Sioux week. For me anyway. MN was unbeatable for more than three months this season, and that doesn't happen by accident. They won blowouts and they won close games. They managed to win games where the play seemed reasonably even, and games where they had a poor showing. They also won when some of their best players like Okposo and Hirsch were out of the lineup, and when even more were gone for the WJC. The backbone for this run has been stellar goaltending, helped by an experienced group of defensemen, with three upperclassmen. A couple of changes from the standard Gopher team is that this one is quite a lot bigger and grittier than usual (down the lineup they are much bigger than UND), and the PP is perhaps not as dominant as it was with Pohl and then Potulny putting the hammer down from the backdoor. All that said, they have looked vulnerable at times, and had teams play them straight up. They've also lost a few games in the last few weeks to good teams, as they adjust to Hirsch's departure and get the legs back under their WJC guys. UND has recovered nicely in the last month, but the 6-1-1 record hasn't exactly been put up against a tough schedule. A few things seem clear: UND's goaltending has improved a ton, and Oshie and Toews seem healthier than they've been all year. There's no arguing the fact that UND is a one-line team right now. They've gotten some key even-strength goals recently from the second and third lines (Porter, Miller and Fabian in the last three games), but generally the team goes offensively as the big guns go. The defensive corps, with four sophomores and a freshman, continues to mature but still makes young mistakes. (For more on the shortcomings in this area, see most threads in the last few months.) An odd feature to this series is that this might be the first time in recent memory where it would be to UND's benefit to have the PP decide the games. UND's PP has looked at times as good as I can remember it. I realize this might be one of those: "be careful what you wish for" moments. Another key set of players for UND will be Porter, Fabian, Kaip, Radke and Zajac. More than any time in recent memory, MN will attempt to use its size to impose its physical will on the game. This group of Sioux players have some size and/or chippiness and will need to hold their ground.

Boy is this week ever going to be ugly. When we're done with the defensemen, can we move on and discuss which forward is the worst?

Since we're on the topic of Lee, am I correct that Hakstol sent Bina out in his place on the late 5-on-3? Considering that Bina scored on that PP, I guess you could call that a good move by the coaching staff. I wonder if Bina will be elevated to the top PP unit this weekend.

Just tuning in. Let me get this straight, Beaver hockey is carried on KKBJ?

On the MN/Denver question, Hak said that the MN gap was one that they basically couldn't close. So if MN wins out, that helps to bring the rest of the teams back to UND.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm 2-0 so far this year, after attending the Friday game at Mankato and the Saturday tilt with UAA. With due credit given to the genuine concerns that are often expressed here, the story of this season is that the team's three most important players were hurt in the first half of the season. Before their injuries, the team was coming along fine. But when they got hurt, the rest of the team wasn't yet ready to step up and carry the team. Even when they played, it was pretty clear that Toews and Oshie were hurt and weren't playing at their usual level. Lammy went down before the Mankato weekend, and although the Sioux won, they allowed 9 goals that weekend and won only because Tormey was terrible for Mankato. From that weekend until the Christmas break, the Sioux struggled to win, and every mistake was magnified. The team appears to be rounding into form now, but with the tough schedule ahead, they face an incredible uphill climb to play into the Spring. The WCHA standings look OK right now, but consider that over the next three weeks, UND has the opportunity to claim only 4 points, and those would have to be snuck out of Mariucci arena. When the Sioux are playing BSU, then MN, then have an off week, the rest of the league is going to be winning points. The standings won't look so nice in three weeks, but a rested Sioux team will have its chance for a last run. As for this weekend, my boys and I had a great time. Random impressions: Jon Toews is in the wrong league. He's so smooth out there and just plain makes the right play all the time. In that regard he reminds me of Parise. Most of the time the right play isn't spectacular, it's just moving the puck to the open guy, or getting it deep. He'll go to the boards and hit someone, not a big crushing hit, but the puck's on his stick a half-second later, so he got what he needed. They are totally different players and not meaning to debate their relative strengths, but the last player I felt was this much ready for the next level was Vanek his second year. TJ's explosiveness is back. That backhand off the crossbar was right in front of me, and, besides the crossbar part, it was a thing of beauty to watch. He also had a backcheck in the second period that would make his youth coaches proud. If he's not there, a Seawolf walks right out in front with the puck. I really liked Darcy Zajac's game, as he also seems to have a good head for the game. When the Sioux just needed to play smart in the third to play out the game, he often made the right play: get it deep and bang it around a bit, 200 feet from your goalie. I can understand people wanting him to score more, but I won't be able to understand anyone questioning Chris Porter's work ethic or his suitability for the captaincy. He busted his butt every shift. Two of the more memorable moments in this game were his running over the guy at the blueline on the PK late in the game, and his creative stick placement in the third (not really hooking, more like cupping). UND is really going to miss his and Erik Fabian's complete effort next year when they are gone. Kozek looked like he didn't like wearing a suit on Friday night. He was very active physically. Really, when you think about it, if the puck isn't going in the net for you (which is the case for pretty much everyone except Duncan), why not go out and make it your mission to throw the big hit every shift. From warmups, with the confrontation with Lawson, to the end of the game, when a 4-0 lead meant the primary objective was just to defend yourself and your teammates, this was a game where the toughness and intimidation side of the sport was more prominent than it usually is. Hockey is a game of incredible skill and grace, and the violence and macho stuff is usually an undercurrent. You know it's there, but it's not overt. In this game, you knew from warmups that it would not be a game for the timid. Hak said in the coaches show that Radke was in for his grit, and he was pretty strong in his postgame comments that this team needs to play tough. Anyway, that's the way a home game with UAA is supposed to go. We'll see if they can continue to put it together with the tough upcoming schedule.

Just checking box scores; they're more frustrated in St. Cloud tonight. The Huskies were up 4-1 in the third and MSUM scored the next 5 goals to win 6-4.

Saw the first, missed the second, saw the third. Sioux looked great in the first. Watching the third it felt like either a goal against or a penalty was coming. Finally the goal did. Plenty of chances in tight for JT and TJ; just not going now. As far as I could tell, Phil played a good game in net.

I didn't watch much of the MN/MSUM series, but what I did see looked to be in slow motion after watching the high-octane WJC over the last two weeks. Guys were constantly hanging onto opponents with sticks, both ways. It was kind of sad, really, pondering what could be.

The last I saw it was those four schools plus UNH. His brother Brendan is apparently having a strong season as a freshman defenseman at Cornell.

Kozek scored on a pace with Duncan in the BCHL and I would have expected better numbers from him by now. Watkins was not a big scorer in the BCHL and no one should have expected that. Zajac was undrafted while his brother was a first-rounder; scoring expectations for him should have considered that. No one was in a position to stay in juniors another year because the early departures necessitated that everyone come in for a full roster.

It appears that UND once again has Division 1 goaltending. Next week, add the team's best defenseman and the country's best player, and get a little payback on UAA. Good job by the team holding things together during the WJC.

Without getting into a point-by-point analysis of the last page or two of posts, let me just say that I think most of it is incredibly stupid.

I understand it was live for all of Canada, which was equally excited.

Because the coach can't move road games. Lucia moved the date of their home game.

NHL teams do sometimes release young players to the WJC. Not Crosby types, but lesser players.

The radio said Price top goalie, EJ top D, and Cherepanov top forward. Toews was robbed. I think it's because he's a Sioux player. Also, Price MVP.

I hope it doesn't get too out of hand because the Russians aren't exactly the classiest bunch around. They were terrible when they built big leads the last two years against the US; I'd hate to see how they get when they're on the downside of the score. ... I guess it is the 20-year anniversary of the Piestany brawl.

I had just read the "man among boys" post, then saw JT's PK shift and was trying to think of how to tie them together. You did it perfectly. This is the JT that Brad predicted would win the Hobey this year.

He has appropriately been praised on most every board I've seen.

Since this is of course the Sioux board and we are of course here to note the role played by Sioux players in their teams' victories, let it be noted that Toews also drew the first two Russian penalties. I think he's looked as good as he has all tournament. Toews' goal came after a very nice pass from Downie (I think).

Canada looked very dangerous on their PP, better than they did all day Wednesday.

The US team got awfully good over the two weeks. I'm glad the boys get to bring a medal home. For the people who hate the way Lee plays defense, he was out for the bulk of the 3-on-5 with the game on the line late in the third.

Holy cow, I'm glad Okposo is OK. His head got pounded into the boards.

Especially since everyone in Canada with an interest in hockey (which is to say, everyone in Canada) was watching.