jk

I'd say the best part for me is not the ranking per se, but that they look the part. They've played some good teams and not looked out of place. They've played some iffy teams and made them look out of place. Can they still lose to anyone, or lose early in the tournament (if they make it), yes. But they look like a tough out.

The routine D to D play has been so much more composed this year. Last year so many seemingly routine plays went awry, and possession with it, leaving the team hemmed in again. Not sure if that's coaching, or different players, but it's welcome.

That shot is what I mean by elite talent converting chances. What a release.

Miami has had the better of the chances, and they're really quite good in the offensive zone. Lots of successful cross ice passes that have not turned into goals only because of UND's goalie. I wouldn't mind if UND back-checkers could disrupt some of those plays so Persson doesn't have to. UND has the elite talent this year to convert enough chances to win games like this, but they need to play better.

Carolina also does not currently have an affiliated AHL team, which has caused some issues with its prospects.

He's actually not a moron. If you disagree with him on a rule interpretation, you're more than likely wrong.

I recently watched the third period of the big comeback game against MN from the late 90s (thanks to whoever posted that here), and besides the unbelievable amount of hooking and tackling all over the ice, the talent of the Panzers and Blake really stood out. So explosive. Two other things about it. First, it's why I'd like Blake to stick around next year, so we can have another Blake Panzer team. Second, one of my recent colleagues was on the ice wearing the M.

Yeah he was right there, and seemed to be looking right at it.

Totally fine with the lineup as posted. I'll just add that next weekend's games are more crucial than this weekend's for PWR purposes, so if the thought was to get Hobie in, now would be the time.

It's strange for me to think this, but Gaber has gone from being one of the top couple forwards on the team each year to maybe not in the top five this year, and not from any regression on his part, but rather by the growth of younger guys. That says a lot about how good the forward group is, and also opens the door for Gaber to be the best he's ever been, since he won't be trying to carry the team. You can already see him slide into more of a team player. As the spotlight moves off him, he'll be able to step up and bury those snipes at key times.

That's just bad shift crazy!

If they're missing some important players, I don't think Miami actually sucks. They didn't have many shots in the first, but they had some dangerous looks that could have been goals. I think they'll win some league games this year ... Just hopefully not this weekend. Blake turning up ice is getting embedded in my brain alongside images of the other greats. The odds of something electric happening are pretty high.

The pregame optimism here has convinced me Miami will be scoring in the first period tonight. Hoping to get out of the weekend with two regulation wins.

My prowess in projecting NHL futures is known by none, but I think James is nearly a lock to have a bottom six career. I don't know if he will be skilled enough to crack a top six regularly, but he has everything you want below that. Very fast, not small, not scared to be physical, can PK, and with enough skill to convert when an opportunity arises. I think he's actually getting terrific career training with his current usage.

Also, any Sandelin appreciation has been well earned because, wow, did they have a decade. Funny thing, after 2011 I sat behind some Bulldog fans who were slightly perturbed they were stuck with Sandelin after that title, because they wanted to be done with him. His tenure up to then was not great. Guess they were wrong. While recognizing their fantastic run, done while not actually being much better than their opponents game after game but somehow getting to and winning in overtime, my personal objection was to how cheap they were, targeting the best opposing players. When they put Tucker Poolman out for the season, then ran Cam Johnson, they basically effectively ended UND's season. They gave Borgstrom the same treatment in the national title game, he disappeared, and they won. So I guess it worked, but I'm still a bit peeved at it.

Unfortunately they don't care much about that one, since their season ended spectacularly.

There were times this weekend when I thought, how is this the same team as last year? I guess the answer is, at least on the back end, it isn't.

If ever there was a face-off to win, it was to start OT. Was nice to see Hutson and Celibrini on the ice when Blake scored, but it would not have been fun to see them with the puck.

Not doubting Hutson's brilliance, but is he that much more dynamic than Perunovich was at Duluth? Injuries have been an issue, but he's 25 and has played 21 career NHL games. P is listed at 5'10" 175. H at 5'10" 161. He is a fantastic player to have on your college team, but you eventually have to defend.

A couple random observations. I like that Johannes, Berg and James don't mind heading to the net and shooting. Fancy is nice and we have a good dose of that this year, but there's a place for power moves and ripping a shot. I also like that Livanavage doesn't like to sit back and get things set before heading up ice. He gets the puck and goes. Hard to believe he's just a month into his college career.

That post pk shift was the first time this year's team looked like last year's.

I don't know which is more frustrating, last year when the good opponents were clearly way better, or this year when UND looks like the better team but can't get the scoreboard to reflect it. I guess I'll take my chances with the better team this year.

Woulda been nice if Perron coulda shoveled that one in with three seconds left.

I think O Mac has taken a big step this year. Last year you could see the talent, but a stiff breeze could knock him off the puck. This year he's protecting the puck better, and the points will come soon.

Definitely the better team tonight. The downside is they're not guaranteed to be the better team tomorrow, which is why you've gotta win when you're better. UND can be really good this year.