It is only fitting that On Friday the 13th the UND Fighting Sioux head to down Marriucci arena to begin an important two game series with their hated WCHA arch rival the "Golden Gophers" . This is a pivotal series and the Sioux need to win at least one game to put them in position for a second half playoff run (the old adage sweep at home and win on the road). UND has an 8-2-1 record on the road and 5-6 record on home ice (yikes that’s pathetic).
The brutal reality is that the Fighting Sioux needs conference points in a desperate way, four points would be very nice and is very much a possibility if the Fighting Sioux play their game and don’t get caught up in the extra bull S#!t. In other words they need to cycle the puck, crash the Golden Gopher net, keep the front of the UND net clear without getting a lot of unnecessary penalties. Also the Fighting Sioux hockey team need to let Jordy and Phil see the puck. Did I mention the Fighting Sioux need to stay out of the penalty box? Minnesota has the number one rated power play in the WCHA and they love to set up in the opponent’s zone and let their power play go to work. Make the Gophers pay when they go into the Fighting Sioux end. The Gopher hockey players don't like to hit or be hit.
This is a crucial series because UND as I mention earlier needs points to finish in the top five of the WCHA standings so they can host a WCHA home playoff series and then hopefully earn a spot in the Final Five in March. Another reason it’s important for UND to have a good showing this weekend is that frankly the Fighting Sioux laid an egg last time the two teams played up in Grand Forks. It seemed like the UND players was more worried about Ryan Stoa and his antics and less about keeping the opponents puck out of their net.
The Goon’s prediction on the weekend is I say split but I wouldn’t be surprise if UND takes 3 of 4 points. Hak will have them ready to kick some Gopher Ass this weekend.
Glad that you asked. Kessel is a nice story, I have seen him play and I think he is definately a top 15 draft pick in next years draft. Being a UND fan I think Zach Parise is better. Listing to XM radio it appears that Phils stock has dropped after the WJT.
ReplyDeleteI was watching the Goofer game against Niagra when I changed the channel to see how the wild were doing (I definately would rather watch the wild play than the Goofs) and when I turned back, Doug and Frank were talking about the incident. I can't comment on the incident because I didn't see it. All I know is every team in the WCHA has to put up with bad officiating so I don't think the Goofs are our should be immune to it. It sounds like Donny Lucia snapped after the game on Sheppard. Big shock there.
Are you talking about the two benedict arnolds that play for the Goofers now.
ReplyDeleteAnti-goon or should I say Bert? you do sound a lot like one of my brother's buddies, welcome aboard.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I have gotten some of my intelligence on from the NHL on XM 204 and from watching Kessel, I know some of the Canadians are a little miffed at all of the hype that Kessel has gotten.
IMHMO Kessel doesn't pass all that much and takes a lot of up the ice rushes that end in the puck going the other way and that happened a lot in the games that I watched in the WJC. However, on the flip side of this, Kessel does actually play defense better than pretty boy Vanek. I also think both players are pretty boys, neither like to get hit and they can be taken off of their game by hitting them. The Czech did against Phil last year in the WJC and he was a non factor.
All this being said I have never once said that Kessel isn't a good player, because he is, I don’t think he is worth of the number one pick. There is no way that Kessel is as good as Ovechkin or Malkin nor Sidney Crosby.
As far as the Vanek and Parise comparison they aren't the same kind of players.
Parise plays defense Vanek does not. Also Parise is offensive but maybe not as skilled or dynamic as Vanek. I believe that Vanek is purely an offensive player and doesn’t know where the defensive blue line is.
Fargo Celtics is a chocker on the golf course and a pretty boy from Fargo. Always making up rules and rulings.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Gophes suck.