The Frozen Four-Viva Las Vegas!

[The Sicatoka]

Not enough net front ... I wondered about no Littler in the line-up.

[burd]

Scratch needs his cuddle toy.  

[Oxbow6]

9 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Not enough net front ... I wondered about no Littler in the line-up.

Zakreski should have sat IMO. 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

I think 22-24 should have sat and 20-27 played the forth line with Olly but we’re not the coaches. 

[franchise]

45 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

You can tune into the Masters and hear all about how great Tiger was...

Hopped in the truck the other day, just in time to hear ESPN radio say, "The Masters just won't be the same this year without Tiger Woods playing."

[Wilbur]

41 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Zakreski should have sat IMO. 

Not having Littler in is a bit confusing IMO.  Not that one guy would have made a difference.

Zakreski playing on his off wing when you've got a righty that is tough on the wall.  IDK. 

[RhettRingers]

If Hauser doesn't make those two huge saves on Croal and Ollie, we'd be talking about how we're going to beat Denver on Saturday.

[Pump It Up]

10 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

If Hauser doesn't make those two huge saves on Croal and Ollie, we'd be talking about how we're going to beat Denver on Saturday.

If I had wheels I’d be a wagon.

[.357]

Carle has singlehandedly prevented the juggernauts of BC & Michigan from winning about 4 national titles between them, yet many here aren’t that grateful that he is helping the NCHC remain as the premiere conference; compared to UND, who doesn't uphold its end of the deal & perennially sh!ts the bed when it matters most.

His amazing coaching success against the likes of Michigan who are trying to buy a title is great for the smaller schools & for the integrity of college hockey. He wins the right way, with his sharp mind, against teams with huge NILs, & he is the main reason why the NCHC is widely regarded as the best conference. 

[yzerman19]

After sleeping it off, here is where I sit.  This year's team completely exceeded expectations.  One year ago we were a storied program on the decline.  We were losing 2 chippaz to the portal.  There was discord among the staff and players.  We were 9 full seasons removed from the Frozen Four..from a recruiting perspective that might as well have been forever (think for the 2010's that can be offered in August they were in kindergarten or first grade the last time we were there).  We injected Chyzyk and with him hope, Jax got going...we brought in a couple chippaz and got buy-in from the grindaz.  We weren't high flying or ultra skilled, but we were good...all season we were good.  I love what GFHockey brings to this board.  He's been on for years.  The one place I have disagreement is the Sandy and UMD title envy.  Its one and done hockey, anything can happen.  The best team doesn't always win the natty.  If we can return to the team that is a virtual lock for the Frozen Four every year and Chyzyk brings in guys that we see grow from kids into NHL stars on the regular...and we play Sioux hockey (fast, skilled, tough, heavy) it is going to be a nice long stretch of fun.  Lots to be optimistic about.

[siouxfan512]

Disappointing end for sure. The boys were a step slow from the puck drop. Picked it up throughout the game, but lack of PP, connecting passes, shooting doomed them in the end. Nobody to blame but themselves. IMO after that performance, there isn't a player on the team who should be signing early ... nobody looked ready for the next step. Bad time for Livanavage to have one of his worst games ever, he flat out looked like a liability to me and was the reason for numerous turnovers ... not that he was the only one. The first WI goal was disappointing, but the second one was just terrible terrible D!

Other observations:

- Announcing was terrible as expected. There are several people who would do a far better job than the clown show they bring in.

- Did anyone else think the refs just always seemed to be in the way? 

- The slashing penalty on us was unbelievably weak, that being said, it's going to happen when you've already had so many calls go your way.

-Not to turn this into a Berry moment, but this is why it is so critical to build a culture like DU has and like UND used to have. The lights are pretty bright when you hit the FF, having that tourney experience and certainly that FF experience is huge. I know WI didn't have that either, but the point is the same, when you have guys on your team who have been there multiple times, it can definitely change the tone of the game.

 

Wouldn't mind seeing WI win it all, though I don't think anyone needs to inflate the Big10 more. This UND group needs a come to Jesus moment like the Oshie/Toews era, keep as many of these kids around as they can, run it back and finish the job.

Disappoint, but still a great season, and I feel very confident in saying a far better season than we would have had under previous leadership. Just keep building!

[siouxfan512]

51 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

If Hauser doesn't make those two huge saves on Croal and Ollie, we'd be talking about how we're going to beat Denver on Saturday.

If UND could have completed one PP, we might have had a chance

If we didn't give up 2 goals in less than a minute. 

If we didn't have so many turnovers

If

IF

IF!

 

[Dustin]

3 minutes ago, siouxfan512 said:

IMO after that performance, there isn't a player on the team who should be signing early ... nobody looked ready for the next step.

Amen.

[UNDDOM]

ESPN post-game coverage with one of the analysts saying... UND hasn't played a competitive game for 3 weeks and in fact lost that one.  Brutal take.    

[Dustin]

4 minutes ago, siouxfan512 said:

Announcing was terrible as expected.

I think it's generally agreed upon that people like John B.'s enthusiasm for the sport, but he's not good at hockey play-by-play (which is a special skill - try doing it for radio when there's no picture to help the listener).  The extent of Bucci's call is "Here comes...(team or player)."  Colby Cohen is just flat out annoying, and I wish he had never won that championship with BU.  It's interesting at how many times he's wrong on something (off-sides call, for instance) before the replay corrects him.  I wonder if John and Colby can't stand each other (or one of them can't stand the other), otherwise, why aren't they both in the booth like a normal PxP/Color combo?  I have nothing against Quint Kessenich. 

[franchise]

Felt like Liv was very noticeable in a good way last yr, but either didnt stand out this year...or did because of a bad turnover.

[Washburn Sioux]

Spunar had a number of spectacular saves, we could have lost by more than 1 goal. He kept us in the game.

[Dustin]

4 minutes ago, UNDDOM said:

ESPN post-game coverage with one of the analysts saying... UND hasn't played a competitive game for 3 weeks and in fact lost that one.  Brutal take.    

Ouch.  That hurts, but it's true.  I didn't look like UND was built to handle the elites of this year's tournament, despite the #2 overall seed.  That will need to change.

[Dustin]

Just now, Washburn Sioux said:

Spunar had a number of spectacular saves, we could have lost by more than 1 goal. He kept us in the game.

Clearly our best player.  Happy that he will be backstopping us for more seasons.

[Dustin]

Title game is a coaching rematch of the 2022 title game (Carle vs Hastings).  I wonder how much having access to a Big Ten roster will improve Hastings' chances.  I was rooting for him then and I'm rooting for him now.

[Walsh Hall]

1 hour ago, RhettRingers said:

If Hauser doesn't make those two huge saves on Croal and Ollie, we'd be talking about how we're going to beat Denver on Saturday.

I agree.  Hauser played great.  Several of the UND shots were ticketed and he just made great saves.  Not positioned well and they hit him, but great shot with better saves.  I was surprised that Wisconsin generally carried the play, but UND had more than enough grade A chances that just didn't get into the net.

Such is NCAA and single elimination hockey.  It's not gonna happen, but I sure wish there could be series for the NCAA tournament.

[franchise]

5 minutes ago, Walsh Hall said:

Such is NCAA and single elimination hockey.  It's not gonna happen, but I sure wish there could be series for the NCAA tournament.

Was it Kernan who had it bounce over his stick when he had a wide open net?

I seem to remember a very similar play in the 2011 loss to UM. I think it was Trupp on the door step.

[TwamleyShuffle]

1 minute ago, franchise said:

Was it Kernan who had it bounce over his stick when he had a wide open net?

I seem to remember a very similar play in the 2011 loss to UM. I think it was Trupp on the door step.

I thought it was Young but I could be wrong

[SIOUXELEVENS]

Just not our night, lessons learned for next season. 

[TwamleyShuffle]

1 hour ago, .357 said:

Carle has singlehandedly prevented the juggernauts of BC & Michigan from winning about 4 national titles between them, yet many here aren’t that grateful that he is helping the NCHC remain as the premiere conference; compared to UND, who doesn't uphold its end of the deal & perennially sh!ts the bed when it matters most.

His amazing coaching success against the likes of Michigan who are trying to buy a title is great for the smaller schools & for the integrity of college hockey. He wins the right way, with his sharp mind, against teams with huge NILs, & he is the main reason why the NCHC is widely regarded as the best conference. 

Carle should be rewarded with an NHL coaching job 😃