HockeyisGr8

how about a big time kudos to zane gothberg. Put the 2nd period softy behind him and absolutely carried his team for 2½+ periods of hockey. Way to go ZG, you were the story tonight! Congrats to the Sioux, Coach Hakstol and his staff, hopefully they can win 2 more in Philly!

Yale = Tradition - maybe? Winning tradition - not so much. Really depends on what one means by tradition. I don't really view Yale as having tradition in hockey anywhere near like I do UCLA or Kentucky in basketball or Notre Dame or USC in football or Denver, Michigan, UND in hockey. Yale has been around a long time, won a lot of games in 121 years sure, but does that equal tradition - to some yes, to others not really.

ironically, there is very good chance we will play wisco in the 1st round

yes and had those butt heads won last night instead of phoning it in, we would already be in the dance b/c Mass/Lowell looks like a sure winner over NH.

I may have to cheer for them, but I still can't stand them.

This hits the nail on the head for me. The hockey has not been fun to watch and in fact very difficult to watch at times. Maybe the answer is simple - Hakstol should start recruiting the likes of Travis Zajac, Drew Stafford, TJ Oshie, Jonathan Toews, Matt Frattin,Danny Kristo, Ryan Duncan, Trupp, etc. again. Even if those guys lost, it was often crazy fun to watch them play. Entertaining and losing is way better than boring and losing I guess. .

Agree completely with you & hrkac. I will be the first to admit that I am not a hugh hakstol fan but this teams shortcomings are mainly talent related in my opinion and not coaching. Lets face it, nothing against Pattyn, but he is a fourth line player at best on a really good team and not second line/power play guy like he is at UND. Luke Johnson is nice player and may become a really good player but he is not ready for a 1st/2nd line role. TO me the real question is what happen to our top notch recruiting. So we lost a couple of players - so what, every elite program has. That goes with the territory. Losing an elite recruit here and there should not decimate you team of top level talent and in fact should factor in to one's recruiting plan. Miami has been hit hard by defections the last year or two yet they still have 3-4 top end offensive players on their team that we would kill for (to have just one) this year.

I think what many are talking about is that hakstol provides the structure and systems by which the team plays and don't like what he is having them do. However, you are absolutely correct in that the players must still perform and they have failed terribly on many occasions this season.

We'll it is late and I'm going to bed. I think my wife is still awake - even if UND can't score, maybe I still can. Wish me luck.

Tamba who!

If we can get in anything can happen. Remember Yale - that was one mediocre team and they are the defending national champs. But we will have to be way better tomorrow to even win our game and then will still need help.

I personally think schmaltz has regressed the last 4-5 weeks. He was absolutely dominant there for a while, but has been just average and not near as noticeable lately.

I don't think the issue is losing anyone because no one on this team is even AHL ready. The issue is can we add (or do we have) any high end offensive talent coming in. A lot to ask from incoming freshmen but we need scorers desperately!

15 won,t do it. With miami or Denver guaranteed a spot, will have to be at worst #14 and even that might not be enough if there are any upsets tomorrow.

Can you believe the two open nets parks and McMillan missed? Pure goal scorers (which we sorely need next year) never miss those kind of opportunities. I guess that is why many say this team is not very talented. Even starman commented on this teams surprising lack of high end talent. Why is that, I thought we were supposed to be a recruiting joggernaut.