Sioux-per Villain

Keys to the game: 1. coaching edge: DU 2. scoring edge: DU 3. team health edge: DU 4. special teams edge: DU 5. team defense edge: UND 6. goaltending edge: UND From the looks of it, we would need our goaltenders to "stand on their heads" to have a chance to win a game. The biggest advantage that UND has is the intangibles, but they have to realize it emotionally. This is the team that knocked the Sioux out of a trip to the Frozen Four. This is a highly ranked team that UND has not faced. The positive PWR ranking implications is huge for the Sioux. Mathmatically, it's a DU sweep. Can "Hack" get finally get these guys mentally prepared to come out flying? Hasn't happened yet.

The Sioux need to get 6 pts in their remaining homes games to put some life into their season. If they do, they'll have a strong chance to finish in the top 3 and pass Mn in the standings. By then, it won't matter what Duluth does. A Wisconsin sweep of Mn will help. UND isn't the only team in a scoring slump. Minnesota's Ryan Potulny has 1 goal (The 9th goal (PPG) in the 9-6 win against Mankato at the Excel) in his last 10 games.

The Sioux control their own destiny. If they win out, they will can finish no better than third. If they do, huge movement in the PWR rankings will occur. Tall order for them no less. Check the "what if" calculator. If they finish #3, they wouldn't have to play the "play in" game at the final five. Although they won last night, if they continue to play like they have, they'll lose games they should win and struggle to get home ice for the playoffs. Wouldn't it be great if Mn and UMD finished 5th & 6th?

Either the recruiting is poor, or the coaching is poor. IMO "Hack" will never be anything more than a .500 coach. UND needs to take a serious look at this immediately after the season. I'm also not convinced the talent of this team is as high caliber as everyone seems to think. Every week they miss huge opportunities to capitalize on there opponents mis-queues and on legitimate scoring chances. However when the Sioux make mistakes, even weaker teams around the country make them pay. Week in and week out, they're not moving their feet, their hand skills are poor, their passing is off the tape, and they lack intensity. I'm sure the homers on this board will retaliate to this posting but let's face it, this program deserves better and their performance this year is totally unacceptable. If a team is ranked #1 at anytime during the season, it's not a rebuilding year.

I don't think he was a homer pick. I think that people actually thought he could help them, just like I think that they felt that Gologoski and Likens could help as well. While Lee didn't look comfortable out there, he didn't get burned as bad as Likens did the whole tournament. Just because it didn't turn out the way they anticipated doesn't mean he was a homer pick. By saying that, you are insinuating that all of the U.S. brass thought they should put someone in a tournament they were defending for the first time ever only for fan appeal. I think USA hockey is a little beyond that. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's a great HS player and I'm glad to see him knock some people around, but anyone who thinks Lee was anything more than a "homer" pick for WJC is rather naive.

Maybe this will generate some goals. Nothing else has worked.

agreed, but stranger things have happened. duluth just took 3 of 4 on the road against the #1 team in the country while the goofers got beat at home by a last place team. Mn is in a funk right now, Duluth is playing better, and the Sioux can't score. Should be an interesting finish none the less. I'm still hoping they'll finish 3rd but I may be high.

oh how the Sioux could use a player like Conner................ by the way, if UMD gets hot, the Sioux might find themselves in Duluth during the playoffs and out of the NCAAs 1. CC 2. DU 3. Wis 4. MN 5. UMD 6. UND The Sioux better take care of business against AA and SCSUcks and at least split against DU and Wis or they'll be in tough shape.

"Hottest"? We've lost 7 games already after being ranked #1. Nobody on this team has been remotely close to being hot. weak

After this weekend, there will be 2 teams out of it from a league title perspective and both fighting for home ice by end of year. Dogs at home against a team that can't score. Edge to Duluth> Friday: UMD 4 - 2 Saturday: UMD 3 - 1

I think the Sioux should have practice passing eggs. They seem to have a lot of trouble handling the puck when the pass is on the tape. They also need to learn to crash the net and get into position to take advantage of rebounds. (This is clearly a coaching concern). Last, where's the team speed? Sometimes it appears they're skating on sand. Sorry to sound overly critical, but this season is not off to what I'd consider to be successful with the level of talent they're supposed to have on this team.

Anyone know anything about Trevor Geiger from Salmon Arm? He's providing alot of scoring for the Silverbacks and just had a monster game on Sunday scoring 4 goals and adding an assist in a 6-2 win. Just wondering if he's made a commitment to play college hockey.

The Sioux are in no position to mix up their goalie rotation right now. I realize the season isn't even half over, but they simply can't afford any let downs the next two series. These are league games and all of the other teams that matter have games in hand on the Sioux. Winning the next 4 games puts UND back in the hunt for the league title after many had written them off. We need to ride the hot goaltender right now. If Hakstol feels he needs to get Jake some ice time, do it against someone like Canisius. By the way, anyone have a injury report on Murray?

Here's what I noticed that stood out in addition to poor passing, slow skating, lack of intensity, etc. Not to pick on one player but Somebody needs to tell Smaby that he's 6'5'' and 200+lbs. He was getting knocked on his ass by smaller Gopher freshman all night.

Agree with your numbers but numbers don't necessarily dictate the outcome, they merely help predict it. Sure hope you're right. Bottom line is that we need better offense. The Sioux have taken too many penalties thus far and the rodents haven't been. If we allow them multiple 5x3 opportunities and spend half the game shorthanded coupled with a quality start by Briggs, we're in trouble in close games.

Not sweeping Mansucko (even on the road) is what I consider to be unacceptable. Although I'm predicting a Sioux sweep, a split against Minnesota should not be considered unacceptable for this team. They still have to figure out how to score goals and stay out of the box. The way Briggs is playing right now, there's a good chance he could stand on his head this weekend and cause problems for us.

Sioux keys to success: Take away Minnesota's transition game and they're beat. Gophers are small but fast. Maintain physical play. Make the hits count. Need to generate shots. 20 shots on Briggs and the Sioux will lose. Maintain outstanding penalty kill. We'll need it. Prediction: Sioux sweep but both games will be low scoring and close. Potulny goes on the disabled list.

The past weekend was the first proof that the Sioux may be feeling the effects of the loses of Parise and Bochenski.(Hope it's an anomalie) Only generating 4 goals on 45 shots over the weekend against a team ranked eighted in the league is deplorable. The only aspect of their game that has been stellar is penalty killing which they're getting way too much practice at. They need guys like Stafford, Zajac, and Murray to step up their game against Minnesota or we'll likely get embarassed in own building this weekend. Minnesota is small (but fast) and inexperienced on defense with the exception of Briggs who is playing well. They must keep the game physical while staying out of the box. Clean, hard hits will slow down the Gophers in a hurry. Give Mn a few 5x3's and we're in trouble. With the way games are being called based on the new rules, it's looking more and more like the teams with strong and balanced special teams will reap the most rewards this season. Go Sioux!

Virg also picked Duluth 5-2 over Notre Dame. UMD needed a goal late in the 3rd to gain a tie in front of 1300 fans.......hmmm The big question for tonight will be, who is ready to play as a team? Maine lost nearly as much talent from last year's team as we did. But they have Howard. The keys for the Sioux is to get production early from their talented freshmen and take advantage of their experience on defense. (which wasn't evident against Manitoba). I like Parise to start in goal. He's less likely to get rattled in a hostile environment. I think if we can hold Maine to 20-25 shots, the Sioux win both games by narrow margins.

What I hear from my MN buddies is that the team doesn't really want him back. With their highly impressionable youthful squad, they'd prefer to not have his bad attitude (Mientkiewicz like) in the locker room this season and they feel the team would be better without him. Like the Sioux, they'll need to replace a great deal of scoring, but with their diminished defense, look for them to be no better than middle of the pack in the WCHA. Unfortunately, they do have a cream-puff schedule which will likely get them into the West Regional hosted by Mariucci Arena.