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I agree. Because MN's recent defensive weakness has been so widely viewed (what with the TV contract), it's easy to see the Sioux forwards getting their chances to score. Most distant observers don't realize how many chances the Sioux are giving up this year, though. Here are UND's shots allowed this year. It's remarkable how many more shots UND goalies have faced on Saturday than on Friday. 37 Miami 35 MSU 19 NE 18 NE 23 UNH 43 UNH 28 DU 25 DU 24 Wisco 46 Wisco 29 UMD 43 UMD 26 SCSU 43 SCSU 19 MTU 44 MTU That's right, on the last four Saturdays, UND has allowed an average of 44 shots per game. That includes allowing more than 40 to UMD, SCSU and Michigan Tech. What is MN going to get, 70? Jordy Parise has truly been UND's MVP this year.

Over the last few weeks we have heard (in coaches shows, etc.) that Watkins and Kozek were turning the corner, and now it's starting to show on the scoreboard. As for Wisconsin giving it to MN this weekend, a few things: First of all, MN isn't the first team to get hammered by Wisconsin lately. Second, they're getting drilled because MN's defense hasn't been airtight, and Wisconsin's has. UND's defense has given up more than 40 shots in a game to both SCSU and MTU in the last two weeks, so UND isn't exactly airtight right now either. Third, you can bet MN is going to get hammered more by Lucia this week than they were by Wisco this weekend. I'll bet they will be absolutely flying Friday night. Of course, so will UND, which should make for superb hockey. Last, aside from the WJC a year ago, next weekend's games will be the most watched REA games to date, with EVERYONE wanting to see Toews and Kessel.

I don't feel badly for them anymore. Go Sioux, play smart now.

Tech just hates the world right now. For about 30 minutes they played as well as they can play, and they could have been up about 3-0. Instead it was 1-1. Then Stafford scored again, UND started moving, and the next thing you know it's 4-1 ... 5-1 now. Really stinks for them, and I feel bad for them. I hope they take it out on CC or DU or Wisconsin or MN. Pretty good for us UND fans though.

Tech has a player whose name sounds something like "Skorchenski," and every time I hear that from Hennessy it brings back memories of a recent era. It used to be a sign of impending excitement, and my heart quickens just a bit until my head takes over and reminds me that the era is over. Belongs in another thread, but there was a pretty lengthly article in the Strib today about Zach's uneven adjustment to the next level. Zach might be taking a little heat from buddies about his cookie-baking.

It is my impression from the radio call that Tech has owned UND for this entire game, in every way but on the scoreboard. The Sioux have converted on two of their few chances, while Parise has stoned Tech on nearly all of their many chances. Sounds like the second Stafford goal may have turned the momentum a bit, and the Sioux have actually had possession of the puck for a few moments.

No offense to UND's academics, as I did earn a degree there, but as a parent I think it's fantastic that a kid like this could go play at Harvard. What a great way to leverage hockey talent into a terrific life experience. I've always thought another non-traditional way to experience college hockey would be to go play someplace like Alabama-Huntsville. You still get to play hockey, but you also get warm weather and Southern belles. The old US International U. in San Diego would have been a similarly good setup.

There are some old and newer Sioux names that might be showing up in the 2007 or 2008 recruiting classes, such as Christian, Marvin, Lamoreaux, Zajac and Toews. I don't know anything about any of these particular cases, but history suggests that family ties play a role in the recruiting process. This is all pending continued development, etc.

I'd love to see it, but I think the league is tougher than you guys do. I don't know how they'll do, but the numbers suggested seem tough to reach, to me.

Good. It's a great building and event. The championship game a few years ago with Parise, Bochenski, Ballard, Vanek (all of whom started the season on NHL teams) was a jaw-dropping display of the college game at its most exciting. The wrong team won, and I think UND might have gotten burned up emotionally a bit, but it was a heck of an event.

Oooh, uninformed but intelligent speculation. Count me in. Kermit, I agree with your projections for departures next year. I think it's possible depending on New Jersey's offer and the brothers' desires that perhaps Travis Zajac could stay to play with his brother for a year, if he were to come to UND. Maybe UND's offer could be: Darcy's scholarship kicks in when Travis' ends. And then a few years from now Darcy's could end when the next brother's begins. Sort of a decade long Zajac family sholarship. (I have no idea if the next brother is a D-1 type player; just playing.) On Genoway, I have wondered if he would come in and be the jack-of-all-trades person on the roster, similar to what Marvin has been. Injuries on defense, play Marvin. Injuries up front, play Marvin. I have heard that the Vernon fans love Genoway's skating game. The step to the USHL is a tough one for a lot of players, even some who become good college players. Wheeler apparently looks great at MN, and he had a solid but not at all spectacular USHL year. Chris Porter came on in the second half at Lincoln, but overall didn't have a great USHL year. He was very ready for college, though, a brick house on skates from his first game. Hopefully Vandevelde and Marto can use their USHL seasons well.

Good news. Another name for us to follow this winter. Welcome aboard, Michael.

I think this weekend will be tougher than last weekend. Wisconsin has its whole team back from last year, less a few bench players and plus a few budding offensive stars. Despite their slide down the stretch last year, I thought Wisconsin was very tough at the Final Five: good at every aspect of the game save perhaps putting the puck in the net. And they seemed to figure that out last weekend. I expect it to be very tough for the Sioux this weekend. Whatever the results, and I could imagine the entire range of possibilities, I hope they just continue to get better each week. If they do, then the results will ultimately take care of themselves.

Bit of a wakeup call for the boys tonight. All the talk of how far ahead of the curve they are may have gone to their heads. Next weekend will be really tough, with a very experienced and tough Wisconsin team, one that's waking up, in town. The tough part about tonight is that you have to take advantage of scheduling breaks, and getting a shorthanded DU team tonight was an opporunity to get a few more points.

There's always the Eddie Belfour don't-camp-in-the-crease stick swing. You know, the one that starts on the ice and goes straight up, until ...

I wasn't party to the on-ice conversations, but I guess I wouldn't be at all surprised if the tough Sioux defensemen last year, especially the captain, did have plenty to say. It also may be pretty accurate that last year's Sioux team was that type of team, where intimidation played a big role on the ice. That may be why some teams wanted nothing to do with the crease after a period or so of pounding. I wouldn't say it in the press if I were him, because it seems pretty inflammatory. But it doesn't seem wildly off the mark.

I don't think he said anything wrong. What would you expect him to say at this point? p.s. Not saying he's a good guy.

dagies, thanks for saving me the time typing. You expressed my sentiments perfectly.

I'd personally rather beat them straight up, with full rosters. I think the Spirko and Irmen injuries will ultimately benefit both teams, as younger players are getting opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have. Later, plug in the recovered star and the team is that much better. This assumes the team in question wins enough along the way to make the second half matter.

gibber from uscho has posted some photos from the weekend: http://www.joshgibney.com/hockey/photos.html There's one particularly nice one from Saturday of Smaby crushing someone at the blueline.

It sounds like it was not a nice play, but before complaining about chippiness I try to remember that UND plays a pretty physical game that does get chippy and at times even slips into the "illegal" category. I'm glad UND has an edge to their game. If I were a Northeastern fan, I would want that too, just with a little more restraint than was shown this weekend.

I see no reason to rush to anoint a number one goaltender. Both guys will see plenty of rubber this year, if early indications hold true. Why not keep both guys involved throughout the year, so you have a very stable situation if one ends up injured for a while? When the time comes, ride the hot one (talking hockey here).

I pretty much don't participate in the flame wars, but I've seen enough to give you some advice: Don't ask a question like the number of games played unless you're sure you're going to be right. Just a quick check shows Craig Ludwig with 1,256 NHL games played, and James Patrick with 1,280 NHL games. I can see how you missed them, though, since they aren't in Larson's ballpark for games played. edit: gasp ... redwing beat me to it

I wish Murray all the best and I'm sure he did the right thing when faced with a good offer in an unusual situation (the Swiss league eligibility deal), but Panzer signing there brings the irritation to the surface just a bit for me. I thought Murray had a chance to be the next Panzer, which, to my eyes, is huge praise. Panzer going to play with Murray reminds me that Murray left without becoming the next Panzer. Such is life, I guess.