siouxweet Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 I think und is catching the Gophers at the right time. Minnesota has been riddled with injuries--Stoa out with a knee, Bostom out with hand surgery, Wheeler banged up a little, Mike Howe missing some time from a concussion. Therefore, Lucia is forced to play Hoeffel, White, Fisher, Kevin Wehrs as a forward but natural position is defensemen who are all true freshmen. Playing that many young guys typically does not add to the scoring punch or to victories. Missing Mike Carman the 1st half of the year does not help matters any. Add to the mix 3 freshmen blueliners and it equals a middle of the pack WCHA team so far. The Gophers have looked very good at times this year but they also have looked very bad at times. Inconsistent is the buzz word right now. I do think the Gophers will be a lot better in February than they are in December but for this weekend I do not see any way the Gophers take 3 or 4 points. Possibly a split but more than likely und either sweeps or they get 3 points. cautiously optimistic should be the key phrase for us. as I remeber 2 years ago we were coming into this series playing very well coming off a sweep at tech and the gophers were limping in coming off a sweep by the badgers at the john and nobody was giving them a chance at that time either and look what happened. they swept us to start our 2 year run of bad decembers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 That didn't strike me as your kind of question. Actually, I have attempted to ask some smart-ass questions before, but they never use them. So I gave up. I guess the PCM impersonator is better at it than I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cujo2 Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 cautiously optimistic should be the key phrase for us. as I remeber 2 years ago we were coming into this series playing very well coming off a sweep at tech and the gophers were limping in coming off a sweep by the badgers at the john and nobody was giving them a chance at that time either and look what happened. they swept us to start our 2 year run of bad decembers. Good point. I think the key difference from the 2005 series to this series is the 2005 team had a dominate line in Potulny, Irmen, and Kessel. This years team does not have a dominant line. Hell this years team could not even score in a whore-house Also, 2005 team had upper-classmen blueliners who did not turn the puck over and also could jump up into the rush. This year's blueliners have only 1 guy even remotely capable of that and that is Cade Fairchild. Also, wasn't und's 05-06 team made up of mostly freshmen--Oshie, Toews, Duncan,Lee etc etc etc?? Like I said, I would be estatic with a sweep, pleasantly surprised by a split but really looking for und to break out the brooms on Saturday night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow6 Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Good point. I think the key difference from the 2005 series to this series is the 2005 team had a dominate line in Potulny, Irmen, and Kessel. This years team does not have a dominant line. Hell this years team could not even score in a whore-house Also, 2005 team had upper-classmen blueliners who did not turn the puck over and also could jump up into the rush. This year's blueliners have only 1 guy even remotely capable of that and that is Cade Fairchild. Also, wasn't und's 05-06 team made up of mostly freshmen--Oshie, Toews, Duncan,Lee etc etc etc?? Like I said, I would be estatic with a sweep, pleasantly surprised by a split but really looking for und to break out the brooms on Saturday night. Same sentiments from most Sioux fans!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrkac Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 I for one would be all for it, it is time that Joe throws down so we can see what he can or can't do yeah, i'd like to see that too. I keep hearing that Bickel is big and tough. IMO, the definition of big and tough is quite different for each school. For example, Jake Taylor was big and tough but picked Brady Murray to wrestle with in a crowd of much bigger players on the ice. Also, from what I've heard, this might be the least physical Gopher team in many years. you make the call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianvf Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Scoring offense ND 3.00 MN 2.5 Scoring defense ND 1.77 MN 2.75 Penalty Minutes ND 20.5 MN 14.2 Power Play ND 16.9 MN 11.5 Penalty Kill ND 90.9 MN 83.8 Combined Special Teams ND 56.0 MN 45.2 (note, ND is 1st, MN is last) Special Teams Net ND +4 MN -6 (MN is last. ND is 3rd) Goals allowed by period ND 3-10-10 = 23 MN 10-14-18 = 44 Hopefully the Sioux can start getting the PP % up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Penalty Minutes ND 20.5 MN 14.2 Power Play ND 16.9 MN 11.5 Penalty Kill ND 90.9 MN 83.8 Telling stat is 20+ minutes for penatly minutes. Hum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirtcoach Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 It is finally going to happen. I am making my inaugural pilgrimage to watch the Sioux game at the REA this weekend for both games (Thanks to nephew Chartreuse Muskie Killer). I've seen youth games and the International Juniors Tourney there, but this is my first opportunity to watch the Fighting Sioux LIVE in Grand Forks since they skated at the Rusty Brown Building. After checking 12 motels, I finally found a room. I am pumped!!! It is a shame there are no "Dollar Pitchers at the Spud" to prepare Friday. One question I must ponder on my trip north. Do I treat Gopher fans as I am treated in Minneapolis or St. Paul, or as I would like to be treated? GO SIOUX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siouxweet Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Telling stat is 20+ minutes for penatly minutes. Hum... this weekend the sioux will have no few than 20 penalty min a game and the gophs will have no more than 4 as the WCHA will make sure it's poster school gets all the help it can to get back on track. I wouldn't be surpirised if there is a 5 minute 5 on 3 for the gophs with oshie and duncan both being called for bogus checking from behind calls just to make sure the gophs get all the help they need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexBanner Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 this weekend the sioux will have no few than 20 penalty min a game and the gophs will have no more than 4 as the WCHA will make sure it's poster school gets all the help it can to get back on track. I wouldn't be surpirised if there is a 5 minute 5 on 3 for the gophs with oshie and duncan both being called for bogus checking from behind calls just to make sure the gophs get all the help they need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 A preemptive WCHA officiating whining strike? I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 this weekend the sioux will have no few than 20 penalty min a game and the gophs will have no more than 4 as the WCHA will make sure it's poster school gets all the help it can to get back on track. I wouldn't be surpirised if there is a 5 minute 5 on 3 for the gophs with oshie and duncan both being called for bogus checking from behind calls just to make sure the gophs get all the help they need. I can see it happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianvf Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Telling stat is 20+ minutes for penatly minutes. Hum... I wouldn't read too much into that. It would probably go down decently if you took that UW game out of there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxbow6 Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 I wouldn't read too much into that. It would probably go down decently if you took that UW game out of there. But that stat didn't even take into account the Finley slash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sioux rube Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 Is or will Oshie be at 100% for this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagard Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 The telling stats isn't the penalty minutes, we all know the Sioux are a bunch of hacks well deserving of their three extra minors per game. Sadly the telling stats are the goal differentials and it is pretty depressing where I sit. Can't see both nights being close unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sioux rube Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 The telling stats isn't the penalty minutes, we all know the Sioux are a bunch of hacks well deserving of their three extra minors per game. Sadly the telling stats are the goal differentials and it is pretty depressing where I sit. Can't see both nights being close unfortunately.Who is we?Ya got a turd in your pocket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagies Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 this weekend the sioux will have no few than 20 penalty min a game and the gophs will have no more than 4 as the WCHA will make sure it's poster school gets all the help it can to get back on track. I wouldn't be surpirised if there is a 5 minute 5 on 3 for the gophs with oshie and duncan both being called for bogus checking from behind calls just to make sure the gophs get all the help they need. I bet they get Toews too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfm567b27 Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 The telling stats isn't the penalty minutes, we all know the Sioux are a bunch of hacks well deserving of their three extra minors per game. Sadly the telling stats are the goal differentials and it is pretty depressing where I sit. Can't see both nights being close unfortunately. Hoping to see a few soft ones let in by Jeff "Wrap Around!" Frazee..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagard Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Hoping to see a few soft ones let in by Jeff "Wrap Around!" Frazee..... I can live with the wrap arounds, they are tough to stop at times. I hope he keeps his eyes on Bina the whole time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sioux Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 I can live with the wrap arounds, they are tough to stop at times. I hope he keeps his eyes on Bina the whole time. so everybody else will score? sioux sweep. 5-3(empty netter) and 4-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luapsided Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 so everybody else will score? sioux sweep. 5-3(empty netter) and 4-1 jinx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Ringo Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Can't see both nights being close unfortunately. I think you should give this place a try, http://www.sandbaggersanonymous.blogspot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedFrog Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Friday night UND 4 Minn 1 Saturday Night UND 5 Minn 2 Ah, memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soohockey15 Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Good point. I think the key difference from the 2005 series to this series is the 2005 team had a dominate line in Potulny, Irmen, and Kessel. This years team does not have a dominant line. Hell this years team could not even score in a whore-house Also, 2005 team had upper-classmen blueliners who did not turn the puck over and also could jump up into the rush. This year's blueliners have only 1 guy even remotely capable of that and that is Cade Fairchild. Also, wasn't und's 05-06 team made up of mostly freshmen--Oshie, Toews, Duncan,Lee etc etc etc?? Like I said, I would be estatic with a sweep, pleasantly surprised by a split but really looking for und to break out the brooms on Saturday night. It's amazing seeing the decline of the Gopher power-play without a solid puck moving defenseman. Right now they dont have a guy that can dominate at the point and move it with a purpose. Keep in mind for the last five or six years they have had a Ballard or a Goligoski who were both fantastic with the puck. Fairchild, Fischer, and co. cannot move the puck as well. This year it shows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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