Seriously, I really don’t think there is really too much of a difference between the two teams, like one fan said over on DG’s blog this series could have gone either way. I agree with that. In whole grand scheme of things UND is still a pretty young team but is ranked third nationally in team defense, not too shabby. UND was also missing their top defenseman this weekend. That probably played a big hand in this weekend’s results.
Going Forward
I have already have discussed the shoddy official’s performance in this series and I don’t know if I need to cover that anymore today. Sioux7 might have something to say about it next week. None-the-less, I am going to be on the officials like a laser this season. If they screw up I am going to talk about it. If I see a poor performance involving any team from the officials I will cover it. That means if UAA gets screwed by the officials it will get discussed. The fans are paying way to much money to get cheated by the on ice officials. I also don’t think they are off limits for discussion. If you have visual evidence of a travesty email it to me and it will get covered.
Silver Linings
The Fighting Sioux also learned that if take stupid penalties it could come back to haunt you. Former Fighting Sioux hockey coach Dean Blais used to say “if you’re going to take a penalty you better be ready to kill it.” I actually thought UND did pretty good on the penalty killing this weekend. Special teams were key in this weekend series, all of the goals scored this weekend came on the power play. Really if you look at the silver lining UND lost by two goals in a two game series. That is better than getting blown out two nights in a row.
The sun did come up to day as well and there are many things to be thankful for.
Props ~ I think that Joe Gleason picked up his play this past weekend and did a good job moving the puck out of the zone.
Props ~ Danny Kristo had a goal and an assist this past weekend and I thought he looked pretty good this past weekend.
Props ~ Brad Eidsness was pretty good this past weekend and now has a record of 6-3-1 in ten and a half games and a GAA of 1.69 and a SV% of .929. Like BigA HG of Sioux Sports said, Eids has looked great in my eyes (not in some others). I would have to say that I concur.
Props ~ To Patrick Wiercioch and Marc Cheverie for making it back to the line up from injuries and having a hand in sweeping UND.
[Box Score]
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1st Period (20:00)
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DEN-1 Jesse Martin (2-Tripping) NDK 1x1 1:31
DEN-2 John Lee (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) NDK 1x2 2:22
NDK 1 - 0 6x4 PP Danny Kristo (2) (Brad Malone, Evan Trupp) 3:23
NDK: 7,19,22,25,18,G31 DEN: 24,27,6,G1
NDK-1 Ben Blood (2-CTH ROUGHING) DEN 0x1 10:07
NDK-2 Corban Knight (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 0x2 13:37
DEN-3 John Ryder (2-Roughing) NDK 2x3 16:32
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (4) (Jason Gregoire, Danny Kristo) 17:26
NDK: 29,7,17,20,26,G31 DEN: 19,21,6,9,G1
NDK-3 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Holding) DEN 1x3 19:18
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2nd Period (20:00)
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NDK-4 Derrick LaPoint (2-Tripping) 0:20
DEN-4 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Tripping) 0:20
DEN 1 - 2 6x5 PP Joe Colborne (4) (Kyle Ostrow, Drew Shore) 1:09
DEN: 12,19,23,28,15,G1 NDK: 22,19,24,25,G31
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Hooking) DEN 1x4 2:09
NDK-6 Ben Blood (2-Contact to the Head) DEN 2x5 4:45
DEN 2 - 2 6x5 PP Joe Colborne (5) (Patrick Wiercioch, Tyler Ruegsegger) 5:22
DEN: 12,28,15,19,9,G1 NDK: 11,19,25,3,G31
NDK-7 Brad Malone (2-Slashing) DEN 3x6 6:47
DEN 3 - 2 6x5 PP GW LL Kyle Ostrow (5) (Joe Colborne, Rhett Rakhshani) 8:33
NDK: 9,11,3,25,G31
NDK-8 Danny Kristo (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) DEN 3x7 13:04
NDK-9 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) DEN 3x8 15:54
DEN-5 Jesse Martin (2-Hooking) NDK 2x4 17:22
NDK-10 Brett Hextall (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) DEN 3x9 18:47
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3rd Period (20:00)
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DEN-6 Matt Donovan (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 2x5 5:32
NDK-11 Chris VandeVelde (2-Slashing) DEN 3x10 10:32
NDK-12 Brad Malone (2-Interference) DEN 3x11 16:10
DEN-7 Joe Colborne (2-Hooking) NDK 2x6 17:43
DEN-8 Jesse Martin (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 2x7 19:16
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End of Game
Goon, please stop covering the officiating. You're better at discussing big hits, pretty goals, and the teams themselves. There is a reason why Denver is the pre-season pick to win the NCAA title: they are good. And with a healthy Cheverie, they are REALLY good. St Cloud is in trouble next weekend, they will need to play almost perfect hockey just to get a split.
ReplyDeleteGoon makes a good point. . . I don't think he was saying that the officiating necessarily cost UND the series, but it was very poor, as it has been over the past few seasons. This doesn't excuse dumb penalties the Sioux took and they certainly could have won those games in other areas, but even Bruce McLoud made it sound like the officiating hasn't been up to par. Bottom line is the Sioux ran into a tough team this weekend and it should make for a great series later this season in GF. If you are going to get swept at least it was to a solid team and they can leave knowing this could have just as easily been a sweep the other way. Great Series by both teams.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin for your kind words. You got my points. WCHAdominates I will be covering the officials when I feel that they need covering. Hopefully through the grass roots we will get the officials to change.
ReplyDeleteLastly there is very little difference between DU and UND I think this weekend proved that, if your team can get sent to the penalty box and only lose twice by two goals it bodes well in the future.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else notice that DU ONLY scored on the POWER PLAY?
ReplyDeleteTheir where no even strength goals scored in the series!
Copied from Schlossman:
ReplyDelete"The calls I thought were the most curious: 1. Ben Blood getting hooked at the blue line and UND going shorthanded after it; 2. The ref's arm going in the air to make a call, Denver touching the puck, and UND going in the box; 3. No penalty shot when Chris VandeVelde was hooked down on a clean breakaway."
I agree with Brad, those three points summed up the terrible officiating. That Blood hooking play had even the DU webcast announcers asking what the hell was going on.
I guess penalty shots are tough to get called but I don't know if a guy can be more in the clear than VV was on that play.
I didn't see Saturday's UND-DU game, didn't listen to it on the radio either.
ReplyDeleteI watched the UMD-UM game that evening.