Scores from 1-3-2009

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
Air Force 4 at Connecticut 3
RIT 4 at Bentley 2

Analysis
Yawn! Air Forces wins after losing Quinnipiac University and tying the University of Connecticut the weekend before. I have noticed that there isn't as much talk about Air Force being a great team and going to the NCAA tournament as there was before they started losing some games. Personally, I think Air Force fans and the hockey pundits should worry about Air Force qualifying for the National Tournament before they start the discussion again. There are not midseason awards for having a great first half of the season.

CCHA
Alaska 3 at Michigan State 1

EZAC
Harvard 1 at Princeton 5
Dartmouth 0 at Quinnipiac 6

Analysis
Nothing here to see folks. Quinnipiac might be the team that Cornell and Princeton have to worry about the most in the ECAC.

Non-Conference
Nebraska-Omaha 3 at Minnesota State 4
American Int'l 2 at Robert Morris 5
Northern Michigan 6 at Wisconsin 5 ot
Niagara 4 at Sacred Heart 2
Bemidji State 3 at North Dakota 4 ot

Analysis
Wisconsin gets swept by NMU on the weekend, I guess I didn't see that result coming. I wounder if the NMU fans are still going to be calling for Walt Kyle's head. The Sioux sweep the Beavers in a pair of hard fought 4-3 games. The MSU-M Mavericks beat the UNO Mavericks. Last season UNO keep MSU-M out of the NCAA playoffs by beating them twice in two non-conference games.

Dodge Holiday Classic
Northeastern 2 at Minnesota 3 ot
Western Michigan 1 vs. Brown 1 ot

Analysis
Minnesota ends up beating Northeastern in the championship game good for the WCHA's out of conference record after it has taken a few hits this season.

Denver Cup
Rensselaer 3 vs. Holy Cross 4
Boston University 4 at Denver 1

Analysis
Denver University gets beat by BU that was short two of their top players to the WJC. I wounder if DU just had a bad night or if BU is really just that good? I guess time will tell. This season BU has beaten some teams by some big numbers: UND 5-1, DU 4-1, Michigan 7-2.

Ohio Hockey Classic
Army 3 vs. Miami 2
Clarkson 0 at Ohio State 2

Analysis
Honestly after all the talking a certain Miami fan probably named RedHawk has done over on USCHO.COM this season I can't do anything but giggle when I see that Miami got beat by Clarkson and Army two teams at the bottom of the RPI/PWR ranking in the same weekend, it makes our lost weekend more tolerable because at least the teams that the Sioux lost to came from the CCHA and the WCHA. It just goes to show you what comes around goes around.


Catamount Cup
Ferris State 3 vs. Colgate 3 ot FSU wins shootout
St. Lawrence 0 at Vermont 4

Shillelagh Tournament
Mass.-Lowell 1 vs. Union 2
Minnesota-Duluth 1 vs. Notre Dame 3

Analysis
The Bull Dogs put on a good show this weekend. Before losing to the Fighting Irish the Bull Dogs were unbeaten in 8 games including three sister kissings.

Exhibition
Boston College 4 at New Brunswick 2
US Under-18 Team 2 at Merrimack 4

Analysis
Boston college came back to beat New Brunswick after losing the first night 5-3. When I first saw that score I thought it was a miss print.

Two former Sioux score in the same game.

Last night two former Fighting Sioux hockey players scored in the same game. Here is the goal that Columbus Blue Jacket Mike Commodore scored on the Blues.

Not to be out done, former Fighting Sioux star T.J. Oshie scored his third goal of the season against Steve Mason. T.J. Oshie has points in all three of his games since returning from a leg injury.

The Blues won the game 5-2.

Fedor Tyutin vs David Backes

David Backes has proved to be a pretty good NHL hockey player and a decent fighter. The fight is the result of a questionable hit that former MSU-M player David Backes puts a on Columbus player Kristian Huselius. You wonder if Backes will be disciplined by the NHL league office? I don't think in the end he will,it he is it wont be that long of a suspension. Backes isn't known for being a dirty player.


Check out the write up on the Columbus site:

Notes: Blues forward David Backes drew a game misconduct with about five minutes left in the first after apparently cross-checking Kristian Huselius in the mouth, although Murray thought only both players' sticks made contact. Huselius was hit after stopping just short of a check only seconds after Backes and Jackman sandwiched Nash on an open-ice hit. ... Tkachuk has 87 power-play goals with the Blues in parts of eight seasons, passing Garry Unger for fourth on the franchise career list. ... Nash has 10 points, eight assists, in the last five games.

Sioux vs Gophers week.

Here are a few things that should get you in the mood for this weekends series against the Golden Rodents of Minnesota. Lets just say that there is a lot of history between the two teams. Sometimes the results don't always go our way.

I look forward to these games every season when old rivals can get together to play some hockey and possibly exchange a few pleasantries. I am sure we are going to hear how UND is a bunch of hacks.

Lets just say I expect the Fighting Sioux to ready to play and I can't wait to see how the guys respond in this series.

In years past you would hear a lot of silly comments about UND using a bunch of 25 year old Canadians and how their titles don't count because they cheated. One of my favorites is how the Sioux are a bunch of goons and hacks. Most come backs against Gopher fans can be trumped with 7>5.

Zach Parise makes Puck Daddy's Friday's three stars.

Former Fighting Sioux star aka "God" to the Gopher fans made Puck Daddy's Fridays three stars list. Nice to see Zach get noticed for his stellar play. Parise has been on fire this season and is 5th over-all in the NHL in scoring.

No. 2 star: Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
The leaders in the Art Ross race were mostly usual suspects before Parise crashed the party Friday with two points to jump past Jarome Iginla into fifth place with 46 points. Parise scored the game-winner late in the first period, doing a nice job of showing pass before sliding one past Montreal's Jaroslav Halak. You'll want to check the highlights for the behind-the-back, behind-the-net pass that allowed Jamie Langenbrunner to put his 10-game goalless drought to bed. Simply a thing of beauty.

SIOUX 4 BEAVERS 3

The Fighting Sioux improved to 11-10-1 on the season and evened their non-conference record 5-5 overall with a series sweep of the gritty and tough Bemidji State University Beavers. Every game from here on out is a playoff game, the guys have gotten themselves into a whole and must claw their way out. Even with losing two games last weekend UND is 6-2 in their last 8 games. Taking it further UND is 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Donna from Runnin With the Dogs got me thinking about this series results with a comment she made about last night's game. Sioux fans; we can't just expect our team to go into the Glas or the REA and blow out the BSU Beavers, our team has to earn it. The Beavers are a good team and they play with emotion and grit. The Beavers are a direct reflection of the coach standing behind their bench. Bemidji should be commended and congratulated on their play this weekend.

Sioux return to WCHA this weekend

This weekend the Fighting Sioux return to league play as they face off against their hated rival the “Dirty Minnesota Golden Gophers”. The Sioux have are currently sitting in 6th place of the league standings and have an unimpressive record of 6-5-1. The Sioux are almost at the half way point; they have 16 games remaining of their WCHA conference schedule. There are eight games at home and eight games on the road. The time to make a move is now.

Another blown call?

I went home after the game to review the goal that was waved off and it appears that the refs blew another call. While Genoway was in the crease he was pushed in the crease by the BSU defender and the goal was incorrectly called off. Sioux7 asked if the WCHA league office still has their forum letter typed up from last season? That is the second legitimate goal that UND has had waived off at home this season.

Bits and pieces

It is no secret that Fighting Sioux forward Ryan Duncan is struggling this season. Dunc has 1 assist in the last 6 games. The Sioux need to have their top forwards clicking going into the last half of the season. While some would say, "see I told you he was overrated". Response to those people is that you don't get to play of top lines and win the Hobey Baker if your a hack. Ryan Ducan is a skilled forward with good offensive skills that will find his way again soon. Mark my words. I thinking that there is no time like the present to break out of the slump.

Positives

The following players have impressed me this season with their play game in game out: Jason Gregoire (5-7-12), Brett Hextall (8-5-13), Matt Frattin (8-5-13), Chay Genoway (2-19-21), Brad Miller (4-17-21). I look for these players to make a bigger contribution the second half of the season.

I told someone that Brad Malone has made some great strides this season. In the face off circle and on the penalty kill Brad Malone has played solid defensive hockey. Malone is also starting to contribute on the score sheet as well.

Vandy breaks out

Fighting Sioux junior forward Chris VandeVelde (7-9-16) aka VV has had what I would call a hot and cold season so far. After this weekend it would appear that Vandy is starting to heat up at the right time as Chris scored three goals and one assist on the weekend. After watching the winning goal I honestly thought that VandeVelde has redirected the puck into the net but they gave the goal to Hextall.

BOX SCORE
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1st Period (20:00)
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BMJ 1 - 0 6x6 Brad Hunt (4) (Tyler Scofield, Matt Read) 0:27
BMJ (+): 29,13,19,17,7,G35 NDK (-): 19,29,2,5,21,G31
BMJ 2 - 0 6x6 Matt Francis (5) (Matt Read) 5:07
BMJ (+): 13,19,17,9,5,G35 NDK (-): 26,18,25,6,22,G31
BMJ-1 Jamie MacQueen (2-Slashing) NDK 1x1 6:05
NDK 1 - 2 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (6) (Brad Miller, Jake Marto) 6:54
NDK: 29,14,25,16,26,G31 BMJ: 17,5,23,9,G35
BMJ-2 Darcy Findlay (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 11:00
BMJ-3 Chris Peluso (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 11:37
BMJ-4 Travis Winter (2-Holding the Stick) 13:00
NDK-1 Matt Frattin (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 13:00
NDK-2 Jason Gregoire (2-High-Sticking) BMJ 0x1 17:31

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2nd Period (20:00)
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BMJ-5 Darcy Findlay (2-Interference) NDK 1x4 3:52
NDK-3 Brad Miller (2-Interference) BMJ 0x2 4:36
NDK-4 Darcy Zajac (2-Interference) BMJ 0x3 11:47
NDK 2 - 2 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (7) (Darcy Zajac, Matt Watkins) 14:28
NDK (+): 29,11,20,25,24,G31 BMJ (-): 19,17,13,9,5,G35
BMJ-6 Brandon Marino (2-Boarding) NDK 1x5 15:39
NDK-5 Matt Frattin (2-High-Sticking) BMJ 0x4 18:52

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3rd Period (20:00)
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BMJ-7 Chris McKelvie (2-Interference) NDK 1x6 6:12
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-Tripping) BMJ 1x5 8:56
NDK 3 - 2 5x6 SH Jason Gregoire (5) (Chay Genoway) 9:55
NDK (+): 17,5,16,6,G31 BMJ (-): 21,22,8,9,29,G35
BMJ 3 - 3 6x5 PP Tyler Scofield (8) (Chris Peluso, Cody Bostock) 10:44
BMJ: 13,9,19,7,17,G35 NDK: 17,16,3,25,G31
BMJ-8 Brad Hunt (2-Checking from Behind) NDK 2x7 19:01

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Overtime (0:31)
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NDK 4 - 3 6x5 PP GW LL Brett Hextall (8) (Brad Miller, Chay Genoway) 0:31
NDK: 26,14,5,29,16,G31 BMJ: 21,13,5,9,G35
BMJ-9 Graham McManamin (2-Roughing) 0:31
BMJ-10 Graham McManamin (2-Roughing) 0:31
BMJ-11 Graham McManamin (10-Misconduct) 0:31
NDK-7 Matt Watkins (2-Roughing) 0:31
NDK-8 Matt Watkins (2-Roughing) 0:31
NDK-9 Matt Watkins (10-Misconduct) 0:31

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End of Game

Sioux 4 Beavers 3 (FSSN Rant)

This was the first time since UND started playing BSU in Bemidji that I haven't attended the game(s). This year I forgot to schedule the time off from work, over sight on my part and being that it is a holiday weekend my work schedule didn't allow me to make the trip. Snooze you lose. Next year I won't let that happen because this is the one away trip that I enjoy the most, next to the final five of course.

Originally Pat Sweeny had announced that FSSN was going to cover the game in Bemidji but apparently Pat had misspoke and the game ended up not being on FSSN. I think in the end that was a poor move by WDAZ/FSSN but what do you expect from a second tier television station. For what ever reason WDAZ/FSSN doesn’t want to cover Fighting Sioux hockey on a full time basis; and they only want to cover the games at the REA.

Grand Forks is all about the Fighting Sioux hockey team and I am pretty sure the stations sales department can find the needed sponsorship to fund the television broadcasts for Fighting Sioux hockey. I think it is utterly unacceptable that one of the bench mark programs in division one hockey can’t have their away games on television. Maybe UND needs to market its self better and find a better television station to cover the team. You mean to tell me you can’t travel 121 miles to the John Glas Field house in Bemidji, MN to cover a hockey game. Heck you probably could have payed KBSU 17 to put the broadcast on channel 23. Come on lets be a little more creative.

No FSSN No problem

I had the opportunity to watch the game on B2 which turned out to be a pretty good broadcast. Calling the game for the KBSU 17 was former Beaver forward Eric Monsrud and Scott Williams. Scott and Eric did a good job calling the game even being from the other team’s broadcast team.

I have to say theses two guys are much easier to listen to than some of the clowns we have heard this year via the Internet broadcast (copy right Harvard and MSU). Also they are way more objective and we didn’t have to listen play by play man cheering on his squad ever move and great play copy right “the Rug”. Thank God we also didn’t have to listen to the home town broadcast team slaughter Jason Gregoire’s name.

Hey guys we won

After reading siouxsports.com you would have thought the Sioux had lost the game. On the ice the post game celebration was subdued as well. At the end of the game the Beavers hit the post with time expiring. The Sioux players just stood on the ice emotionless. Hey guys we won the game, nothing to be ashamed of here.

Positives of the game

UND moves up to 23rd in the Pair wise rankings with a win tonight.

Sophomore forward Evan Trupp was 1-2-3 for the game tonight.

UND moves back to .500 with a win tonight.

Junior Forward Chris VandeVelde 1-1-2 for the game tonight.

Freshman Brad Eidsness 10-7-1 picks up the win making some key saves at the end of the game to preserve the win.

Trupp, Hextall, Frattin and Jason Gregoire are making a contributions in each and every facet of the game.

The Fighting Sioux known in the past for taking a lot of penalties took three minor penalties the whole night. The Fighting Sioux had to kill only one penalty for 11 seconds all night. I guess you can't call the Sioux a bunch of goons any more eh?

Goals Scoring/Penalties Time

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1st Period (20:00)
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NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (5) (Evan Trupp, Matt Frattin) 1:41
NDK (+): 29,19,21,2,5,G31 BMJ (-): 3,4,20,15,11,G1
BMJ 1 - 1 6x6 Matt Read (6) (Tyler Scofield, Matt Francis) 5:51
BMJ (+): 19,13,17,7,29,G1 NDK (-): 10,26,22,3,24,G31
BMJ 2 - 1 6x6 Ryan Cramer (1) (Shea Walters, Ben Kinne) 6:26
BMJ (+): 15,9,20,5,11,G1 NDK (-): 20,8,2,11,5,G31
BMJ-1 Tyler Scofield (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 8:08
NDK 2 - 2 6x6 Evan Trupp (3) (Chris VandeVelde, Matt Frattin) 13:51
NDK (+): 19,29,21,24,3,G31 BMJ (-): 13,17,7,29,19,G1
NDK-1 Brad Miller (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 14:11
BMJ-2 Cody Bostock (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 14:11
BMJ 3 - 2 6x6 Tyler Scofield (7) (Matt Read) 18:22
BMJ (+): 13,19,5,17,9,G1 NDK (-): 14,25,16,17,6,G31

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2nd Period (20:00)
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NDK 3 - 3 6x6 Brett Hextall (7) (Brad Malone, Andrew Kozek) 3:00 NDK (+): 26,22,10,5,2,G31 BMJ (-): 22,23,6,4,3,G1
BMJ-3 BENCH (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) (Served by Darcy Findlay) NDK 0x2 3:45
BMJ-4 Chris Peluso (2-Interference) NDK 1x3 6:40
NDK 4 - 3 6x5 PP GW LL Ryan Martens (8) (Jason Gregoire, Evan Trupp) 7:11
NDK: 8,17,21,19,5,G31 BMJ: 17,29,23,7,G1
NDK-2 Chris VandeVelde (2-Diving) 7:58
BMJ-5 Graham McManamin (2-CHECKING) 7:58
BMJ-6 Chris Peluso (2-Slashing) NDK 1x4 9:11
BMJ-7 Cody Bostock (2-Hooking) NDK 1x5 17:09

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3rd Period (20:00)
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Timeout - Bemidji State 18:44
NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-CHECKING) BMJ 0x1 19:49

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End of Game

Should the NHL suspend Ovechkin?

I saw this over on Puck Daddy. Check out Alexander Ovechkin's hit on Jamie Heward its definitely a questionable and bush league hit and one has to wonder if the NHL brass has the intestinal fortitude to suspend one of the NHL’s top draws?

I think the league will review the hit and give Ovechkin nothing. Personally, I think the league office needs to send Alex a message and suspend him for 2-3 games. Just because you are a super star doesn't mean you are above the rules and can do anything that you want.

Lines for UND and BSU

Brad Elliott Schlossman has posted the lines for tonights game in Bemidji. Game time is at 19:35 hours.

UND's lines
17 Jason Gregoire (4-6-10) -- 16 Ryan Duncan (7-8-15) -- 14 Brad Miller (4-15-19)
20 Matt Watkins (3-4-7) -- 11 Darcy Zajac (2-6-8) -- 8 Ryan Martens (7-7-14)
19 Evan Trupp (2-4-6) -- 29 Chris VandeVelde (4-8-12) -- 21 Matt Frattin (8-3-11)
10 Andrew Kozek 3-4-7) -- 22 Brad Malone (2-3-5) -- 26 Brett Hextall (6-5-11)

2 Joe Finley (0-1-1)-- 5 Chay Genoway (2-17-19)
6 Zach Jones (1-0-1) -- 25 Jake Marto (1-3-4)
24 Ben Blood (0-0-0) -- 3 Derrick LaPoint (1-1-2)

31 Brad Eidsness 9-7-1 GAA 2.64 sv% .910
30 Aaron Walski

I guess I am kind of surprised that Miller isn't playing on defense. I really like Miller back on the point. I guess the coach wants to get Blood and Fienhage in the line up this weekend.

Bemidji State's lines

13 Tyler Scofield--19 Matt Read--17 Matt Francis
28 Jamie MacQueen--8 Travis Winter--21 Brandon Marino
20 Ben Kinne--11 Shea Walters--15 Ryan Cramer
22 Ian Lowe--23 Chris McKelvie--6 Darcy Findlay

9 Chris Peluso--5 Graham McManamin
7 Cody Bostock--29 Brad Hunt
4 Dan McIntyre--3 Ryan Adams

1 Matt Dalton
35 Orlando Alamano
33 Dan Bakala

Gabby is mailing it in.

The saga of Minnesota's selfish super star continues but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I will be glad when this season is over and Wild fans can wave goodbye to GM Doug Risebrough, prima donna Marian Gaborik and head coach Jacques Lemaire because this season has been a train wreck and it is only going to get worse. It's time for a major shakeup of the Minnesota Wild Hockey team. Here is the latest from the Michael Russo.

Doug Risebrough made it pretty clear on the conference call that he’d prefer Gaborik continue playing and not have surgery, saying, “I’m disappointed that he won’t be here with us for this point in the season. But, you know, this is the choice that Marian has made. So I have no other comment.”

Gaborik made very clear that he’s 26 years old and he is unwilling to jeopardize the rest of his career by ruining his hip. He said it very tough not playing, but this is something he has to get fixed. He said if he was 38, it’d be a different story.

He said his plan is to definitely return this season, but he’s got to be smart. He said he believes the hip problems have been the cause of his career-long groin problems, and that this will solve it for good. As an example, he said he’s had no right groin problems after his right hip surgery.

Incidentally, Gaborik is not happy with all the talk that he’s not willing to play through 100 percent and that he’s “milking” the injury. I’ll have more on this on the blog later and in tomorrow’s article

The latest hockey show is up. (UND and BSU)

Here is the (link) to the Hockey show. Moose and Scott and their perspective on the up coming game.

Scott and Moose on the Sioux.

Have heard some Sioux fans complaining about the goaltender. Looking at the numbers he isn't too bad.

There is 13 draft picks on this team so they are going to be good.

Two Gophers and one Eagle.

They are not all on the same team but they had a hand in the out come of the game as the Boston Bruins remained hot and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 to sweep the home and home series against last year's Stanley Cup runner up. Yep the Bruins are tied with the San Jose Sharks for the NHL's best team.

Former Golden Gopher Blake Wheeler continues to impress the naysayers as Wheeler added another assist on David Krejci's 14th goal of the season. David Krejci is also second on the Bruins in points with (14 goals - 27 assists - 41 points).

Former Boston College Eagle and Sioux killer Chuck Kobasew assisted on Milian Lucic's 11th goal of the season.

Former Golden Gopher and current Penguin Alex Goligoski remained hot as he assisted on Dustin Jeffrey first goal of the year.

Former Wild Goalie Manny Fernandez is impressed with the Bruin's season so far:

"It is unbelievable to do what we are doing," Fernandez said. "Looking at those numbers kinds of scares me... you don't want to be the one to drop the ball."

Fernandez improved to 9-0-0 at home. Boston has only two regulation losses since Oct. 30 and its winning streak is its longest since March 9-28, 1973.

With the home-and-home sweep over the Penguins, the Bruins also moved into the top spot in the NHL with 62 points, one more than idle San Jose.

"When you have that kind of talent on the other side ... you have to be extremely disciplined and I like the way we responded," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.

Gophers coach might miss game due to illness.

This just came across the wire. Gophers Hockey coach Don Lucia may miss Friday's game because of an undiclosed illness. I hope that Lucia's illness is nothing serious and he can return to the bench soon.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune --- Last update: January 1, 2009 - 10:00 PM
Gophers men's hockey coach Don Lucia never has missed a game because of illness in 22seasons as a head coach at three colleges. That streak might end tonight when the Gophers play Brown at 7:07 p.m. in the second game of the Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena.

Lucia has made only one brief appearance this week at the rink because of an undisclosed medical problem. Whether Lucia returns tonight depends on how well he feels, said Jim Strick, the men's hockey sports information director for the university.

Good article on the shootout.

USCHO hockey blogger Todd D. Milewski has a good article on the shootouts in college hockey.

There are many around college hockey that don’t have much good to say about shootouts, other than maybe conceding that fans seem to get excited. Their reasons for not wanting them to be part of the college game are varied.

Some used to say they didn’t want them to impact the PairWise Rankings, but the reality is that they don’t. Games that go to shootouts still count as ties toward all the ranking systems except a league’s standings. (You can make an argument, however, that teams getting points for shootout victories makes a difference in the final standings, altering which teams get to play at home.)

I have watched a few of the CCHA games that went to a shootout courtesy of FCS. First off I have not seen a lot of people leaving for the exits because the game is going to be decided by a shootout. The fans for the most part have stayed in their seats and enjoyed the show, much like the fans in the NHL. Like Todd says, the shootouts do not have any impact on the PWR/RPI numbers so I don't see what the big push back is? I have heard the arguments about what is wrong with a tie and they still don't sway my feelings towards the shootout.

On to the officials

This past weekend during the Badger Hockey Showdown, the championship game between Wisconsin and LSSU went to a shootout to determine the tourney champion. During the last round of the shootout with Wisconsin leading it appeared LSSU player had scored a legitimate goal. The WCHA ref Brad Shepherd watching the play signaled no goal. To be sure that the right call had been made refs Brad Shepherd went to check the video replay in the penalty box. On arriving at the penalty box Shepherd was informed that the replay officials had turned off the system after the overtime period. Big shocker here the WCHA screwed up another goal/game. This is why the fans are on ice officials and the off ice officials. The officials have got to do a better job, the officials have to pay attention to the details of the game more closely. I don't think it is bad for the fans to expect more of the on ice and off ice officials.

My first question is; why was the replay system turned off before the conclusion of the game? Couldn't they wait a couple more minutes? Anyone who watches a lot of hockey knows that shootouts can bring about a video review. I have seen it many times in the NHL.

I believe it is just a matter of time before the NCAA mandates that tie games be decided by a shootout. The refs are going have to learn the ins and outs of the game so they can make the right decision on the ice regarding the goals and non goals.

Bucky Gleason dead wrong on the Bruins.

This is what NHL beat reporter Bucky Gleason had to say about the Boston Bruins at the beginning of this season. This guy's predictions couldn't have been further from the truth. In fact looking at the Northeast Division the current order of the teams is: Boston 60 points, Montreal 48 points, Buffalo 39 points, Toronto 36 points and Ottawa 31 points. The Bruins are tearing through the first half of the season and are the best team in the east nine points ahead of the Capitals.

Prediction: I wouldn't be surprised if the Bruins won the Stanley Cup this season.

Bucky Gleason's Bruins Season Prediction:
Offense:Marc Savard, right, and Marco Sturm were the only forwards who had 40 or more points last season. Patrice Bergeron should be back
after suffering a serious concussion. Michael Ryder had 31 points for Montreal but spent most of his time in the doghouse. Rating: 1.9

Defense: Zdeno Chara, left, was in contention for the Norris
Trophy, presented annually to the best defenseman named
Nicklas Lidstrom. Ex-Sabres prospect Dennis Wideman has
evolved into a very good player. The others are average
(Shane Hnidy, Aaron Ward), shaky (Andrew Ference) or coming
off injuries (Andrew Alberts). Rating: 2.4

Goaltending: Tim Thomas is coming off a career year with a
28-19-6 record, a 2.44 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The Bruins
would have missed the playoffs without him, but can he do it
again? Rating: 3.0

Intangibles: Bergeron will be a major asset, assuming he’s the
same player he was before the concussion. Coach Claude Julien
needs to address a penalty-killing unit that was dreadful last
season. Rating: 2.4

Outlook: The Bruins slipped into the postseason last year
with a late surge, but they don’t have the depth to return.

Gaborik done for the season?

This is the latest in the Maryanne Gaborik saga. Michael Russo is reporting that Gaborik might have to have surgery on this left hip and basically ending his season. That also means Gaborik will walk and the Wild won't get so much as a bag of puck for the often injured prima-Donna.

Doug Risebrough has really managed this situation well. Now not only are the Wild not going to sign Gaborik now they aren't going to get anything for him in return. Wow, that is an impressive way to manage a NHL hockey team. What does this mean for the Wild: good bye playoffs; good bye season. Welcome to mediocrity.

I’ve been digging at this all day and felt I was getting close enough to this being the truth that I got in touch with Lynn again.

This time, Lynn confirmed to me that over the next two days, the Wild is examining all of its Gaborik options. The most likely, it appears, is for Gaborik to have surgery on what Lynn described as a “hip deficiency.”

Last May, Gaborik had surgery on his right hip to repair a torn labrum. This is to his left hip, Lynn said, and he reiterated it’s a deficiency that involves a lot of things, including his labrum.

If Gaborik has surgery, he can begin skating in a matter of weeks, Lynn said, but he’d be out until at or near the end of the season.

This is catastrophic, and I’m not talking about what this does to the team this season.

More from Russo.

Check out this awesome blog by Minnesota Wild beat writer Michael Russo this article is a must read. I think Wild fans are lucky to have a guy like Russo covering the Minnesota Wild.

Lastly, on today’s column, I know a lot of people inside the Wild ain’ t happy with me right now.

I have always considered myself an objective beat reporter. I don’t root. I tell it like it is (ask Mike Keenan, who grew tired of me real quick in Florida). And I have written a lot of positive stories about the Wild, the players on it and the GM, who I do have great respect for.

But as I once told Ray Whitney, who got angry with me after an article, “Ray, I’ve written a lot of good things about you, and you know what, you have to take the good with the bad.”

The Wild has lost nine of 11, and I don’t believe this just a slump. My job is to write for the fans, for the Star Tribune readership. And I believe I expressed the sentiment today that a lot of fans have felt for a long time (and incidentally, the midseason report is about 10 days from appearing).

The fans drive the NHL like no other sport. Hockey basically makes squat from TV, from merchandising, etc. The NHL is unique because the paying customers, for the most part, almost directly pay everybody’s salaries — players, coaches, management. That’s the biggest revenue stream.

The fans are upset. There’s serious problems going on right now inside this organization. I wrote it, and the fans deserve to have it written. That’s my job.

I like these players. But the overall team is not good enough, and that’s what I

Mike I agree with you 100% the Wild are a mess and the management needs to know this. If they are upset with you so be it. They need to take a look at what they are doing. Since 2000 Wild fans have been patient with the team and watched them flounder and have limited success.

Please don't hold back and keep reporting it like it is. I know there are a lot of us that appreciate what you’re doing. I appreciate your candid writing while others in the print and broadcast media dance around the issues and act like there is nothing wrong with this team. The Wild fans deserve better.

Wild Fans frustrated with their horrible team.

Wild Hockey Blog extraordinaire Mike Russo has a really good article in the Red Star and Sickle on who the Wild fans have become upset with the way things are going with the team. I am also glad that the media in Minneapolis is finally taking the management to task and starting to ask the questions that need to be asked about the Wild management. The current status of the team is squarely on the shoulders of the Wild coaches and GM.

General Manager Doug Risebrough is either in denial or not paying attention if he really "wrote it off" as playing at home the day after Christmas -- as he said Monday. The irritation of Wild fans I witnessed mirrors what I've heard during this month-long plummet to the bottom of the Western Conference.

You know owner Craig Leipold is hearing it, since he sits in the middle of it all.

The on-ice product has been crummy. Games have been bland, scoring low. The loudest the X got this month was when the Wild killed off a two-minute five-on-three against Carolina.

The lack of talent compared with its opponents is dramatic, and it's not just because of injuries to Marian Gaborik, Owen Nolan and Marc-Andre Bergeron, as Risebrough says.

Thumb through the rosters and system depth charts of most NHL teams, and the Wild doesn't compare. Other than Ottawa 67s defenseman Tyler Cuma, no budding prospects are on the horizon. Because of Cuma's knee injury, the Wild doesn't have a single world junior championships participant.

Wild owner Craig Leipold could make the first step in the direction by firing the head coach Jacques Lemaire and the GM Doug Risebrough immediately. This team is stagnant and the team needs a shaking up. Jacques Lemaire systems don't work anymore this isn't the 1995 New Jersey Devils and no one wants to watch that style of play anyways. Also NHL coaches can not constantly be playing head games with professional hockey players, these guys start talking to other players and eventually no one wants to play for your team.

On the front office front; it is obvious that General Manager Doug Risebrough doesn't have a clue what he is doing. The Wild have nothing they can bring up from Houston and there isn't anything on the current roster worth trading except a banged up Gaborik.

Look at some of the last few first round draft choices, Colton Gilies, Benoit Pouliot, James Sheppard none of these players are worth a hoot and yet they are taking up roster spots for the Wild. You mean to tell me this is the best you can do for first round draft choices. Their pathetic!

Risebrough talks about untouchable James Sheppard, 20, (minus-16) as if he's going to miraculously turn into Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews. Benoit Pouliot, 22, (no goals since Nov. 15) floats most nights. Colton Gillies, 19, is a few years away, but he's not a top-liner.

While listening to beyond the pond the other day I learned that the Wild turned down getting Olli Jokinen because Doug Risebrough didn't want to give up James Sheppard or Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Are you kidding me? How would Olli Jokinen look in Wild Jersey right now? That has to be one of stupidest moves made during the off season.

**Check out the comments on the article the fans are fed up and calling for the coaches head.

Milan Lucic works Tim Wallace

You just have to love the Pittsburg homer announcers the fight wasn't as close as they would like you to believe. Wallace had his ass handed to him. What you don't see that lead up to the fight was Lucic was yapping at Sidney Crosby and Wallace was sent out by the coaching staff on the next face off to confront Lucic. The rest is history. The legend that is known as Milan Lucic grows.

According to hockeyfights.com Tim Wallace is a former Notre Dame Fighting Irish players and is an american from Anchorage Alaska.

Ryan Bayda settling into role.

Here is a interesting article on former Fighting Sioux forward Ryan Bayda who is playing on the Canes fourth line with former B.C. Eagle Patrick Eaves and Brandon Sutter.

Simply succeeding: Bayda, Eaves and Sutter align and energize Hurricanes
RALEIGH -- Their job is more about grit than glamour.

Rarely are they seen lifting their sticks into the air, letting out a primal scream like Eric Staal when he scores a goal. Rarely are they chosen one of game's three stars, nor do they get 20 minutes of ice time in a game.

Twenty minutes? That might be three games' worth of ice. But Patrick Eaves, Brandon Sutter and Ryan Bayda know their role for the Carolina Hurricanes and are making the most of whatever time coach Paul Maurice gives them. Whether as the Canes' fourth line or as penalty-killers, they're doing what's needed.
-----snip-----------
Bayda's game is anything but soft. Hardly a big guy at 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, he is all over the ice, forechecking, hitting and fighting for the puck -- generally being a pest.

"He's not going to be on the wrong side of the puck," Maurice said. "He's a smart, smart fellow. He'll be coaching this team at some point."

Brian Lee Scores his frist NHL Goal.

Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Brian Lee scored his first ever NHL goal. Lee scored his first NHL goal in the 17th regular season game of his NHL career. Actually it is his 21st NHL game if you count last seasons NHL playoffs.

Wednesday morning linkorama.

I came close to calling the score of the Bruins and Penguins game yesterday. The Bruins won the game 5-2. It would be an understatement to say that the Boston Bruins are on fire right now because they have been rolling through the opposition. In fact the Boston Bruins are playing their best hockey in 15 years as they won their 9th straight game in a row tonight. The Bruins are 11-1 in the month of December. Also hot for the Bruins is former Golden Gopher Phil Kessel as he scored his 23rd goal of the season in a winning effort for the Bruins.

Just for the record Phil Kessel is in the final year of a three year contract and he has already surpased last season goal total of 19. Looks like the Boston Bruins owner is going to have to open that wallet if he want to keep young Kessel.

More on the Marry Anne Gaborik saga he will decide after the morning skate if he is going to play against the Sharks. I really hope he doesn't break a nail. Anyone else sick and tired of this Prima-Donna's antics.

The Wild says Marian Gaborik will take part in tomorrow’s morning skate and decide after if he’ll play against San Jose. The Wild did not yet have an update on defenseman Kim Johnsson, who returned to the Cities from Calgary yesterday because of a family emergency. Owen Nolan may skate with the squad in the morning, but he’s not ready to play obviously.

The Chicago Blackhawks had their nine-game winning streak snapped by the Detroit Red Wings as former UNH star Ty Conklin made 36 saves for his seventh NHL shutout.

Former Fighting Sioux star Zach Parise has two goals in the Devils win against the St. Louis Blues 4-3. If anyone is counting that is 22 goals on the season for Zach Parise. For the Blues T.J. Oshie made his return to the Blues line up after missing about 20 games with a high ankle strain. Oshie got an assist on former MSU-M star David Backes' 11th goal of the season. Check out this line that Oshie played with: T.J. Oshie-Keith Tkachuk-David Backes Talk about the All American line. Oshie UND, Tkachuck BU, Backes MSU-M.

Sounds like KFAN's Paul Allen misses his old side kick from the PA and Dubay show. Here is what P.A. had to say after the Viking finally made the playoffs again. In a way I can see how PA feels because there does seem to be a hockey void for rubes like me that are fans KFAN 1130 AM.

HC BRAD CHILDRESS cried when he hugged his wife DRU 30 minutes after the game-winner and it's by far the most emotion I have seem The Computer Chip display in the three years I have known him and worked closely with him. The WILFS, by far the most generous owners in town, finally were rewarded with a postseason game. ZYGI told me before the game, "This team will get even better next year and be good for quite sometime." Pretty sure he meant he (Wilf) will empty his pockets again if the right guys are made available. Minnesota should love these owners because they go all-in to make things better. Much on which to opine tomorrow and the rest of the week and I am excited to take part in it.

One buzzkill, I find myself wishing JEFF hadn't bleeped up and taken part in the fun because at heart he is Minnesota's Biggest Rube and loves this football team. I miss Jeff and love when people ask me how he's progressing because he's doing very well and I know it pains him to not be able to join the 'Montage and chat about this team, his team, the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings.

The Joe Finley Haters are out in full force again all you have to do is check out the comments on (Brad's blog). Hey folks it is ok to give constructive criticism but Big Joe wasn't the reason the Sioux lost last weekend. The Sioux gave up 4 goals all weekend and still lost two game. The reason they lost is that they scored a grand total of two goals in two games. That is not good and not big Joe's fault the Sioux lost. For the people that like to say vile things about Big Joe, I dare you to say it to his face. Remember Big Joe is 250 and 6'7" and will make more money than most of us playing a kids game. Just some perspective.

Former Sioux defenseman Brian Lee scored his first ever NHL goal tonight as the Senators beat the Oilers.

Mark Parrish different city same story.

Seems like we have heard this song before. Former Wild and SCSU star Mark Parrish is scratching his heard after sitting out the last two games as a healthy scratch. If you watch the video you will see three of his four goals he scored in 20 games this season. If Mark doesn't get it going he could be in the minors because he is on a two way contract.

T.J. Oshie returns to the line up tonight.

Props to T.J. Oshie's Dad Tim for the heads up and also read (the link here). Oshie is going to be skating on a line with former MSU-M Star David Backes. The game will be on Versus which can be seen on channel 69 and 309 in Grand Forks, ND.

If T.J. Oshie can play as good as he’s been dressing lately, Blues fans will be happy. The other day, Oshie was donning a flashy, grey pinstripe suit.

“It’s a little too standout-ish for me, but oh well . . .,” Oshie said.

How much does a fancy suit go for these days . . . $1,000, $2,000?

“I don’t know, I haven’t gotten the bill yet,” Oshie said. “I’m sure I’ll see it soon.”

More importantly, Blues fans will see Oshie in the lineup later tonight. He has missed 24 of the last 26 games with a high-ankle sprain, but he’ll make his return against New Jersey. He missed 13 games with the ankle sprain and then after playing Dec. 5 against Calgary, he reinjured his ankle Dec. 6 against Phoenix.

“I thought was ready to come back (last time), but the only thing was that scar tissue that was still in there,” Oshie said. “That scar tissue is gone now. It still pops every once in a while, but not a bad pop. It feels good, it feels strong.”

Oshie return gives the Blues some more skill up front. He’s going to play on wing on the Blues top line tonight. Here’s what the Blues’ top three lines should look like against New Jersey:

T.J. Oshie-Keith Tkachuk-David Backes

David Perron-Patrik Berglund-Brad Boyes

Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen

Bruins getting balanced scoring.

Check out how balanced the Boston Bruins scoring has been so far going into the new year. The Bruins play good defense, score a lot of goals and have a great two headed monster in goal. Prediction: Bruins win the Stanley Cup. Boston Bruins Hockey Blogger Brian Metzer breaks down the Bruins offensive prowess.

They (Bruins) are getting contributions from up and down their line-up and have six players with 10 or more goals. They also have eight players with 20 or more points and eleven with at least 15. The slick passing Marc Savard, who is still under-rated in my opinion, paces their forwards. He is joined by the surprising David Krejci, a break out third year player in Phil Kessel, rookie Blake Wheeler and the reclamation project, Mike Ryder who probably has many GMs wishing they would have given him a jingle on July 1st.

NCAA Round Up (Going Five Hole)

Here is the latest addition of the NCAA Round Up I wrote for Sean Leahy's Going Five Hole.

The NCAA Round Up will return to full strength next week after the hiatus during the holidays. There are a few holiday tourneys of note that should grab your interest. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Ironically the Bruins and the Penguins play tonight. Prediction Bruins 4 Penguins 2.

Denver Cup January 2 & 3 2009

Holy Cross 5-11-1 versus Denver 13-5-1 7:37 MT
RPI 3-13-1 versus Boston University 11-4-1 4:37 MT

Prediction: Denver and Boston University should meet in the championship game of the Denver Cup and I am going with the Denver Pioneers as the camps. Denver wins 5-3 in the championship game.

The Dodge Holiday Classic. January 2 & 3 2009

WMU 3-11-4 versus Northeastern 11-3-2 4:07 CT
Brown 1-8-2 versus Minnesota 8-3-5 7:07 CT

Prediction: Minnesota and Northeastern should play for the championship game of the Dodge Holiday Classic and Northeastern wins 3-2 in overtime.

Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamout Cup January 2 & 3 2009

SLU 7-8-1 versus FSU 9-8-3 4:00
Colgate 5-7-4 versus Vermont 9-4-2

Prediction: FSU and Vermont play for the championship of the Catamount Cup with Vermont winning the game 4-1.

Shillelagh Tournament January 2 & 3 2009

UMD 8-4-6 versus UML 8-8
Union 8-7-1 versus Notre Dame 14-3-2

Prediction: This tourney was originally scheduled to be the Lightning College Hockey Classic but the tourney was moved to Hoffman Estates, Illinois. UMD and Notre Dame play for the championship of the Shillelagh Tournament with the Fighting Irish taking the game in a overtime. Let’s say a shootout and the game is won by the Irish 3-2. Sorry no sister kissing for the Bull Dogs this time.

Goon’s Top Ten

1.) Notre Dame
2.) Denver
3.) Boston University
4.) Miami
5.) Minnesota
6.) Northeastern
7.) Boston College
8.) Vermont
9.) Michigan
10.) Wisconsin

INCH Power Rankings.

INCH Power Rankings.
1. Notre Dame
2. Denver
3. Boston University
4. Miami
5. Minnesota
6. Princeton
7. Northeastern
8. Boston College
9. Cornell
10. Vermont
11. Air Force
12. Michigan
13. Wisconsin
14. Colorado College
15. Ohio State
16. Dartmouth
17. Minnesota State
18. Nebraska-Omaha
19. Minnesota Duluth
20. Alaska
Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: New Hampshire
There were USCHO or USA Today Polls this week.

Wild fans are fed up with their crappy team.

During last night’s game I got more and more frustrated as I watched the Wild get taken apart by the Chicago Blackhawks. Let’s be honest the Blackhawks are good but the Wild should be able to play with the Blackhawks and not get run out of their own building. While the Wild would probably still lose the game it should have been more close where they lose 2-1.

I don’t blame the fans for booing because the Wild because they suck; the Wild fans are paying a lot of money to watch a substandard mediocre team that won’t make the playoffs. You can mark it down folks the Wild don’t have the team to make it to the playoffs. If I had been at that game last night I would have been booing as well. The Wild better get used to the booing because I don’t see it changing. If the Wild keep losing there won't continue to be 18,568 screaming fans in the Xcel Energy center.

In a blog post linked below Doug Risebrough basically has told Michael Russo he has got nothing in the works to right the ship. Dig in folks grab a beer because it’s going to be long season miserable for the Minnesota Wild.

I put the blame for this on Wild's general manager Doug Risebrough for not putting a competitive team on the ice. I keep hearing how Risebrough didn’t want to trade the future of the Minnesota Wild away so they resigned Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a long term deal. How is that working out for you Doug? Bouchard has done nothing this season and has 2 assist in the last five games.

Even the most untrained hockey eye it is no mystery that the Wild have no offensive weapons outside of Miettinen-Koivu-Brunette line. The Wild have a roster full of 3rd and 4th line players. Most of these guys would probably have trouble scoring goals at the AHL level. Benoit Pouliot and James Sheppard have been complete and utter busts. If I was Doug Risebrough I would put these guys on waivers and then ship them Houston if they cleared waivers, or just cut them because they are dead weight. I just hope the Owners of the Minnesota Wild get smart and send both the GM and the Coach packing because it just isn’t working anymore. It is time to start over.

Uh-oh.

Entering one of their toughest stretches of the season, the Wild were a step slow much of the evening and twice were ushered off the ice by boos from the 18,568 home fans during a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night at the Xcel Energy Center.

A red-faced Mikko Koivu, one of the few bright spots on a Minnesota team that was outshot 15-4 in the first period and 12-6 in the second, sided with the angry fans after the game by lambasting the effort of a few of his teammates.

"In front of this crowd," he said, tossing in a couple epithets, "that (ticks) me off," he said.

Of course, the opponent had plenty to do with the Wild's futility, swaggering into the X on an eight-game winning streak and sauntering out with its ninth in a row, a record for an NHL franchise that is 82 years old.

"It's a special achievement for the whole group," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "They should be proud."

Said Wild coach Jacques Lemaire: "It's the best team right now. Everyone knows that. If you don't know it, you don't follow hockey and I don't think you should play."

Koivu agreed, to a degree.

"Give them credit," he said. "But they're not that good. They outworked us, that's obvious. We didn't play hard. You have to be ready for every game, and we weren't ready for tonight's game (click here to read the rest of the story)

Mike Russo also has a blog article that is pretty critical of the Wild.

The Debris from the GLI.

First off congrats to the real Huskies for beating the Sioux this past weekend. Jamie Russel has a good game plan and his team stuck with it. Merry Christmas Boosh and MeG.

The Sioux did something I didn't think was possible they were able to lose to TWO bottom dwellers in the CCHA and the WCHA in the same weekend. Yep those losses to the Huskies and Spartans are going hurt in the long run. There is no if and or buts about it. The losses could leave a lasting mark on the Fighting Sioux's chances of making the NCAA tourney if the boys don't turn their season around quickly. There is no tomorrow. Time to stop talking the numbers don't lie. No more sports cliches.

Here is the look at the current KRACH numbers and it is not pretty folks, however, it is still early. It would appear that UND is going to have to first beat the Beavers, then they are going to have to beat teams like DU, MSU-M, C.C. and Minnesota to get some traction in the PWR/RPI. Also, the Fighting Sioux might have to get all the way to the championship game of the Final Five and maybe win the tourney to get a chance to go to the NCAA tourney. So we move on.

This week the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux 9-10-1 play a home and home series against the Bemidji State University Beavers 8-7-0.

Links to the BSU series.

*The Beaver pond.

*The Hockey Show with Moose and Scott. You can also down load it to your ipod and listen to the Hockey Show. So that way you don't have to be a hostage to your computer and you can listen to podcast of the Hockey Show as you blow snow that is plugging your drive way. This weeks show should come out on itunes Friday or Saturday.

*Official home page of the Bemidji State Beavers Hockey team.

*BSU player Stats

*Bemidji Pioneer: BSU men's hockey: Beavers go back to work at Dartmouth tournament. John J. McRae BSU beat writer.

*Northern Student newspaper.

Jordan Schroeder's simply amazing.

Check out this goal by Gophers freshman star and current WJC player Jordan Schroeder. This goal was nothing short of amazing and the goal that put team USA up 3-1. Gophers fan enjoy Schroeder while you have have him because Schroeder is going to be a top 5 pick in this summers draft and his stay with the Gophers is going to be very short. With skills like this the NHL teams will be drooling to get him on their team. Schroeder is the total package with an awesome shot.

Sad news on Alexei Cherepanov

Here is some really sad news on former WJC Russian Star Alexei Cherepanov it appears that he engaged in blood doping.

MOSCOW - Blood and urine samples show hockey star Alexei Cherepanov engaged in blood doping, Russian investigators said in a statement Monday.

Cherepanov, 19, collapsed Oct. 13 while on the bench for Omsk club Avangard in Russia's Continental Hockey League, known as the KHL. The player, a top prospect for the NHL's New York Rangers, died shortly afterwards.

Russia's federal Investigative Committee said a chemical analysis of the samples allowed experts to conclude "that for several months Alexei Cherepanov engaged in blood doping." There was no elaboration, and a spokeswoman at the committee refused to comment further.

Bruins 2 Thrashers 1 (Kessel scores again)

Former Gopher Phil "the thrill" Kessel scores yet another goal, that's number 22 on the season as the Boston Bruins beat the hapless Thrasher 2-1. Also, former Golden Gopher Blake Wheeler remains hot as he added an assist on Michael Ryders goal. The Boston Bruins have now won 8 games in a row and are marching towards a division title.

Alex shows us how it is done. (lesson in goal scoring)

When I saw this goal I thought the Fighting Sioux forwards to check out this video and take not of the effort on this goal by Alexander Ovechkin. This is what they mean when they talk about driving to the net. There is any getting hung up at the blue line. If someone tries to check Ovechkin he refuses to be held up or denied.

We also don't hear Ovechkin complaining about hot goalies. Ovechkin eats them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Where there is a will there is a way. This is the message that Fighting Sioux coach needs to give his players.

MTU 2 UND 1

The Sioux look uninspired and do something I didn't think was humanly possible; the Fighting Sioux managed to lose two games to two of the worst teams in the big four conferences. Coming into to today's game both teams had a combined win total of 9 wins. After today craptastic! exhibition (copy right Boosh) both teams now have 10 wins.

The Brutal reality is that the Fighting Sioux will probably have to win the WCHA Final Five to make the NCAA tourney. That is not going to happen with this team. I will go to the games I will cheer loudly but I realize also that the run of Hakstol trips to the frozen four only to loose is over. I highly doubt the Fighting Sioux could beat the UND woman's team right now.

That being said the positive is that the Bruins are red hot right now. Unfortunately the Bruins are down 1-0 after one period to the Atlanta Thrashers. Score update -- Boston 1 Thrashers 1. Former Golden Gopher Phil Kessel with the goal his 22nd of the season.

Wild being killed by the Chicago Blackhawks. 2-0. The Wild are the NHL version of the UND Fighting Sioux; the Wild couldn't hit water if they were standing in a boat.

Box Score

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Matt Watkins (2-High-Sticking) 6:29
MTU-1 John Schwarz (2-Cross-Checking) 6:29
MTU-2 Jordan Baker (2-Goaltender Interference) NDK 0x1 11:14
NDK-2 Jason Gregoire (2-Checking from Behind) MTU 0x1 15:15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-Tripping) MTU 0x2 0:34
MTU-3 Ryan Bunger (2-Slashing) NDK 0x2 3:05
MTU-4 Ricky Doriott (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x3 4:47
NDK-4 Matt Watkins (2-Goaltender Interference) MTU 0x3 7:45
MTU 1 - 0 6x6 Ryan Angelow (1) (Ryan Bunger) 17:18
MTU (+): 13,21,20,26,28,G37 NDK (-): 2,14,19,26,29,G31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Evan Trupp (2) (Brett Hextall, Chris VandeVelde) 8:14
NDK (+): 19,26,3,5,29,G31 MTU (-): 10,24,13,21,14,G37
MTU-5 Geoff Kinrade (2-O-HOOKING) NDK 0x4 8:37
MTU-6 Brett Olson (2-Tripping) NDK 0x5 11:40
MTU 2 - 1 6x6 GW LL Jordan Baker (9) (Brett Olson, Alex Lord) 14:02
MTU (+): 22,16,7,10,23,G37 NDK (-): 11,8,20,3,5,G31
MTU-7 Jordan Baker (2-CHARGING THE GOALIE) NDK 0x6 15:12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game: Thank God that sucked.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UND Lines against MTU.

Here are the UND's lines for today's game against the MTU Huskies.

17 Jason Gregoire--16 Ryan Duncan--21 Matt Frattin
20 Matt Watkins--11 Darcy Zajac--8 Ryan Martens
15 Brent Davidson--22 Brad Malone--10 Andrew Kozek
19 Evan Trupp--29 Chris VandeVelde--26 Brett Hextall

3 Derrick LaPoint--5 Chay Genoway
2 Joe Finley--14 Brad Miller
6 Zach Jones--25 Jake Marto

31 Brad Eidsness
30 Aaron Walski

Here were yesterdays lines.

20 Matt Watkins--11 Darcy Zajac--8 Ryan Martens
16 Ryan Duncan--29 Chris VandeVelde--10 Andrew Kozek
17 Jason Gregoire--18 David Toews--21 Matt Frattin
19 Evan Trupp--22 Brad Malone--26 Brett Hextall

Looks like coach Hakstol has decided to change things up bit. I am hoping Hakstol is finally feeling the pressure. David Toews is out of the line up and Davidson is in. I am not sure I like that the line up change but I am not the coach. Maybe Hak is trying to send Toews a message that it is time to step it up and play some Fighting Sioux hockey. Also, it is about time that coach Hakstol puts Duncan on a line with some more skilled players. I not sure why it took so long. With the right players Duncan can make some noise offensively.

The Finley Haters are back

That didn't take long did it? My God, check out the comments on Brad's blog. Holy Cow the Finley haters are out in full force. Of course they are real brave when they can hide behind an anonymous name and not have to stand up for their comments. I would love to see some of these classless skippy's say these vile and hateful things to big Joe's face. I don't think they are brave enough. Do you?

Let me explain it to the "Finley haters"; Big Joe is one of our best defensive forwards on the team. Big Joe was also the reigning plus minus player in the WCHA last season. Players don't get those types of defensive numbers by being a hack.

Avery going back to the Rangers?

Being a Bruins fans I have to admit that I enjoy watching the Rangers fumble their current bad streak.

Here is one perspective by the NY Post writer Larry Brooks that says the Rangers need Sean Avery back. Ah yes; Sean Avery the gift that just keeps on giving. Personally, I think that Sean is great for the Rangers and that they are a match made in heaven. It gives the fans in the Eastern conference a villain to hate. The NHL needs Sean Avery because he sells tickets and gives the fans some drama/soap opera to follow. Think about it. The guys is a tough guy that is interested in fashion and wrote for Vogue magazine. I dare someone to call him a sissy, Avery will pop you in the face.

The Rangers have a negative-eight goal differential. They have been outscored in every period. They have been outscored at even-strength and are just even on the specialty teams. They are 1-6 in their last seven games decided in regulation, 2-8 in the last 10.

But they like each other! They really like each other!

The Rangers are smooth, like a snow globe. The best teams find the way to incorporate jagged edges into their room and into their equation, the way the Rangers were able to do with Avery.

What happened in Dallas, happened. It's clear that there's one team and one team only for which Avery can play; one city and one city only big enough for him to live; one coach and one coach only - the one behind the Rangers bench - for whom Avery can play.

The mechanics of making it happen are hazy. But those are mere details. The Rangers need an infusion of energy. The Rangers need someone who actually will be tough to play against. The Rangers need Avery almost as badly as he needs them, and if anybody doesn't like it, he should be playing better.

Because this is pretty much it was before Avery became a Ranger . . . the first time.

What really is the problem?

The Fighting Sioux suck right now. I also looked at my calender and noticed that it is still 3 1/2 days until the new year comes and we can only hope that the Fighting Sioux will turn the corner and go on yet another run to the NCAA playoffs. Just like the Fighting Sioux did the last 4 seasons.

I believe the later isn't coming this season, but there is still a lot of hockey. Personally, I think the Fighting Sioux's season will end on a Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center. Just a prediction. I hope I am wrong, and I can only imagine the carnage if this turns out to be true.

Lots of questions to be answered

I sit here today scratching my head, My favorite football team the Vikings suck miserably and I am hoping the Vik-queens will lose today's game so we can start the fire Brad Childress watch.

While I don't hope for the same fate for Hakstol he is wearing on me and other Sioux fans. All you have to do is read the posting on USCHO.COM and SIOUXSPORTS.COM. The Sioux fateful are getting nervous and want some answers. They are tired of hearing I like this team, we are almost there. We want to see W's in the win column.

1.) I am more than miffed; why have the Fighting Sioux have played so many games the past 5 years with little or any emotion? This didn't happen a lot on Dean Blais' watch.

2.) Could it be that Hakstol isn't the greatest of coaches? Is Hakstol in over his head? Who do we blame for these yearly debacles? Should the fans hold the players more accountable?

3.) What happened to Sioux pride? Doesn't wearing Sioux warrior on the front your jersey mean anything anymore?

4.) Who is going to step up and be a leader?

5.) Is anyone else sick of stupid sports cliches?

Certainly not a real good performance,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “Our heads were up our rear ends from the drop of the puck through the first 11 minutes of the hockey game. And the rest is history.

“I don’t want to take anything away from (Michigan State’s) performance. They are a great team that knows how to win. Certainly, a lot of guys in that room have done a lot of winning. They did a very good job. We did not.”

6.) Is that all our coach can say after a pathetic loss? Your team just lost to a team that had not won a game in 12 games and this is all you have to say? It is the coaches job to perform the extraction, make adjustments to your game plan and move on. Don't let the guys flounder on the ice for 2 1/2 periods.

7.) Should the Sioux hockey team worry less about filming cool shows like Miller Time and start concentrating more on playing hockey?

8.) Is Jess Meyers right? I would hope not.

9.) Should the Sioux wear the black uniforms more often?

10.) Can the Sioux beat MTU today? I dunno Boosh and MeG I think your team has a chance.

BRUINS 4 CANES 2

I was watching this game as I listened to the Sioux and MSU game. I just wonder where the heck did this Blake Wheeler come from the guy is on fire and had two goals tonight to pace the Bruins to their seventh straight win (Wheeler goal 1) (Wheeler goal 2).

Having Watched Blake play for three season with the Minnesota Gophers I have to say that I am shocked at Blake Wheeler's play so far. I was ready to classify him as bust. I even thought Wheeler was a soft player that was going no where in the NHL and couldn't understand why the Phoenix Coyotes has picked him fifth over all in the NHL draft? When Blake turned down the Coyotes to sign an possibly play for the Boston Bruins I thought the B's were high. What the heck were they doing? When Wheeler made the Bruins out of camp I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. Now I can hear Wheeler saying, "how do you like me now"?

Sioux 1 MSU 2 (Unacceptable)

The Fighting Sioux play an uninspired game against a horrible Michigan State University team (a team that hadn't won a game in 12 games) and lose 2-1. This type of play is not acceptable if the Sioux have any hope of making the NCAA tourney. Playing like this is not the way to make the Final Five either. By squandering games like this one, the Sioux are hammering the nails in the Fighting Sioux's NCAA playoff coffin. They Fighting Sioux must right the ship now if they want to do anything this season. I hope the coaches and players spare us the cute sports cliches. I am sick and tired of hearing how we are so close to playing really good and clicking. Stop talking and just play hockey.

The only bright spot for the Fighting Sioux was the play of Fighting Sioux freshman goalie Brad Eidsness. For their efforts the Fighting Sioux get to play Michigan Tech University and if they play like they did tonight they could end up losing the game to real Huskies as well.

Positive(s)

*The play of Freshman goalie Brad Eidsness. Another strong effort in net.

*Miller and Genoway continue to play good on defense.

*Big Joe Finley is back with the Fighting Sioux after missing 18 games. Big Joe is starting to look more comfortable with each shift after missing so much time with the post concussion syndrome.

*Matt Frattin is becoming the player that we thought he would be as he is now the leading goal scorer on the Fighting Sioux.

Negative(s)

*Very little shots inside the dots against MSU, a good goalie like Lerg is going to see shots from the perimeter and stop them every time. You need to get traffic in front of the net. The Sioux did not.

*Horrible effort by the Fighting Sioux forwards as they played dump and chase all night and then when they dumped the puck in the offensive zone they were beat to the puck by MSU defense.

*Taking stupid penalties at bad times during the game.

*Lack of cycle down deep in the Spartans zone.

Box Score

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1st Period (20:00)
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NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Kneeing) MSU 0x1 2:28
MSU-1 Andrew Conboy (2-Charging) NDK 0x1 4:10
NDK-2 Andrew Kozek (2-Interference) MSU 1x2 6:48
MSU 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Matt Schepke (8) (Corey Tropp, Joey Shean) 7:14
MSU: 24,25,19,7,2,G1 NDK: 17,16,25,6,G31
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Holding the Stick) 8:19
NDK-4 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) (Served by Andrew Kozek) MSU 1x3 8:19
MSU-2 Jay Sprague (2-Interference) 8:19
MSU-3 Andrew Conboy (2-Charging) NDK 0x2 9:16

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2nd Period (20:00)
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MSU 2 - 0 6x6 GW Matt Schepke (9) (Corey Tropp) 1:39
MSU (+): 24,25,2,19,5,G1 NDK (-): 17,14,18,21,2,G31
MSU-4 Andrew Rowe (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 8:41
NDK-5 Jason Gregoire (2-Interference) MSU 1x4 9:32

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3rd Period (20:00)
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MSU-5 Matt Schepke (2-Tripping) NDK 0x4 0:23
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-Tripping) MSU 1x5 5:10
NDK-7 Chay Genoway (2-Hooking) MSU 1x6 5:50
NDK-8 Derrick LaPoint (2-O-HOLDING) MSU 1x7 13:35
MSU-6 Jay Sprague (2-Slashing) NDK 1x5 14:42
NDK 1 - 2 6x5 PP Matt Frattin (8) (Chay Genoway, Brad Miller) 16:35
NDK: 21,5,14,19,17,G31 MSU: 21,25,24,5,G1

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End of Game

UND and MSU lines for tonight's game. Michigan 5 MTU 0

Here are the UND's lines for tonights game with Michigan State.

20 Matt Watkins--11 Darcy Zajac--8 Ryan Martens
16 Ryan Duncan--29 Chris VandeVelde--10 Andrew Kozek
17 Jason Gregoire--18 David Toews--21 Matt Frattin
19 Evan Trupp--22 Brad Malone--26 Brett Hextall

3 Derrick LaPoint--5 Chay Genoway
6 Zach Jones--25 Jake Marto
2 Joe Finley--14 Brad Miller

31 Brad Eidsness
30 Aaron Walski

Michigan State's lines

24 Matt Schepke--19 Joey Shean--25 Corey Tropp
28 Andrew Conboy--40 Tim Crowder--17 Jay Sprague
6 Andrew Rowe--9 Daultan Leveille--10 Dustin Gazley
26 Kurt Kivisto--4 Trevor Nill--27 Daniel Sturges

8 Brandon Gentile--2 Jeff Petry
21 Matt Crandell--7 Tim Buttery
16 Justin Johnston--5 Brock Shelgren

1 Jeff Lerg
29 Drew Palmisano

Michigan 5 MTU 0

Michigan was too much for MTU as they were shut out 5-0 by the Michigan Wolverines. The score was 4-0 after one period. So much for the real Huskies being on a roll.

(Click here for the BOX SCORE)

Tim Thomas robs Patrik Elias

Check out this sick save by Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, this is unbelievable.
This is a game changing ten bell save. Thomas also robbed Zach Parise as well.

Wild Rumors.

Eklund "The Anonymous Hockey Blogger" has this latest rumor involving Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Gaborik. I am not sure what the Wild would have to trade to get Ilya Kovalchuk? Personally it isn't that great of a move because Kovalchuk is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this. It could be like a lot of the other Eklund rumors mere speculation that doesn't come to fruition.

The Minnesota Wild are looking hard at Kovalchuk as well, but Gaborik is NOT involved in that deal I am told. The Wild are talking Gaborik with the Islanders, Canadiens, Kings, and Penguins.

Possible line for todays USA WJC.

The World of Junior Hockey the lines posted for this afternoon's game.

Fowards

James Van Riemsdyk-Colin Wilson-Jordan Schroeder
Drayson Bowman-Mitch Wahl-Jim O'Brien
Eric Targradi-Matt Rust-Aaron Palushaj
Mike Hoeffel-Tyler Johnson-Jimmy Hayes
Danny Kristo

Defense

Ian Cole-Jonathan Blum
Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk
Cade Fairchild-Teddy Ruth
Blake Kessel

Goalies
Thomas McCollum
Josh Unice

INCH-ESPN perspective on the GLI.

Check out what INCH had to say about the upcoming GLI. Yeah I am not going to shed a tear for the Wolverines because they are missing a player or two to the WJC. In years past UND fans have had to watch depleted Sioux teams tangle in the Christmas tourneys as well as league games during the WJC.

Michigan looks for second consecutive Great Lakes win
Who to Watch --- Michigan will be the only team shorthanded from the World Junior Championships this year, as offensive catalysts Aaron Palushaj and Matt Rust will represent the United States in Ottawa. The leaves a great deal of the burden on Palushaj's linemate Louie Caporusso to pick up the slack, and he'll be looking for help from freshman David Wohlberg, who has played very well in recent weeks. For the Sioux, keep your eyes on Brad Miller and Chay Genoway, who each have 18 points on the season. And, given the fact that neither Michigan State nor Michigan Tech has generated much offense, they'll rely on the goaltending of Jeff Lerg and Josh Robinson to keep them afloat.

WJC tourney news.

Here are some of the links of interest to the 2009 WJC. Go team USA.

Canada hockey schedule

2009 IIHF World Junior Championship
*Friday, Dec. 26 Canada vs. Czech Republic 7PM EST TSN
*Sunday, Dec. 28 Canada vs. Kazakhstan 3PM EST TSN
*Monday, Dec. 29 Canada vs. Germany 7PM EST TSN
*Wednesday, Dec. 31 Canada vs. USA 7PM EST TSN
*Friday, Jan. 2 Quarter-final #1 3:30PM EST TSN
*Friday, Jan. 2 Quarter-final #2 7PM EST TSN
*Saturday, Jan. 3 Semifinal #1 3:30PM EST TSN
*Saturday, Jan. 3 Semifinal #2 7PM EST TSN
*Monday, Jan. 5 Bronze Medal 3:30PM EST TSN
*Monday, Jan. 5 Gold Medal 7PM EST TSN

*Former Maple Leafs coach Pat Quin returns for team Canada.

*Here is the team USA World junior hockey championship capsule.

United States
No shortage of talent, but an inability to finish sums up the Americans the last few years at the world junior championship. They've played for a medal the last six years and won just two. The U.S. has heaps of talent again, including four first-round NHL draft picks on defence. If they master the art of playing as a team, the gold could be theirs.

Player to watch: UNH player James vanRiemsdyk, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 NHL draft by Philadelphia.

James vanRiemsdyke is also leading the NCAA in pointers per game as well (9-17-26). Look for the Flyers to sign vanRiemsdyke after the Wildcats season is over.

*Prospects Tavares, Hedman rivals on ice and off with both vying for the No. 1 spot at the June draft. I have read where some of the NHL pundits have compared Tavares to the great one.

*Title defence: Manning Team Canada's blue line. Wisconsin's Cody Goloubef is the only NCAA player on team Canada's defense.

CODY GOLOUBEF

Oakville

Lone college player on the team out of Wisconsin is calm, covers off gaps and doesn't give quarter in the defensive zone. Good skater with quick transition game.

*Team USA hockey roster.

*Jonathon Blum (Vancouver Giants of the WHL)was named team USA captain, Colin Wilson (Boston University) and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (Boston University) have been named team USA's alternate captains. Hockey East is represented well.

*Here is the team USA WJC blog.

*Here is current Golden Gopher and USA WJC player Jordan Schroeder's hockey's future page.

*Canadian WJC coach Pat Quinn has built this years team around speed and skill up front, a bruising defensive corp on the blue-line. I believe it is a good way to set up any team. Hum, sounds like last season B.C. Eagles.

*Canada 2009 WJC preview (read the article here).

*I think this article is stating the obvious; Canadians face stern test in Ottawa.

United States (2008 result: 4-2, 4th place)

With four first-round NHL draft picks on defence, the Americans will be competitive and will be led by James vanRiemsdyk, the second overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The lineup also includes 2009 draft prospects Jordan Schroeder , who had seven assists at last year's world juniors, and Jeremy Morin. Both will go in the first round of the draft in Montreal.

Another player to watch is Colin Wilson , who was Nashville's top choice, seventh overall, in the 2008 draft. He is the son of former Canadian national team member Carey Wilson.

The Guelph Storm's Thomas McCollum of the Ontario Hockey League is expected to get the majority of the starts in net for Team USA. He was the 30th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 draft.

*Here is a link to the Dallas Star's prospects in the WJC.

Boxing Day addition. (Linkorama)

Boxing Day in Winnipeg

When I got up this morning I said its December 26th Boxing day in Canada. Obviously I am an American but I do live in a border state. If the Winnipeg Manitoba still had an NHL team I could have the opportunity to watch NHL hockey 150 miles from my front door, but I digress. The Jets folded up shop and moved to Phoenix Arizona after the 1995-1995 season and that team is now known as the Coyotes who are now floundering in the desert southwest poised to lose millions of dollars. There has been some question wether they will be able to make payroll or not.

I believe to this day that it was a huge mistake to take a NHL hockey team out of Canada and put it in a city that doesn’t appreciate hockey. There are even suggestions that the Coyotes should move back to Winnipeg. I am crossing my fingers.

I remember back to the Winnipeg Jets 1992-1993 season and my father, brother and sisters attended a hockey game in Winnipeg Manitoba at the Winnipeg Arena to watch an NHL hockey game between the Jets and the L.A. Kings.


Fighting in the NHL up again

The incidence of fighting is up in the NHL. My first response is good. Usually we hear the hue and cry from some fair weather hockey fans how fighting has lost its place in the NHL and the league needs to ban it immediately. The usual claim is that incidence of holding fans back fan or keeping the NHL from having more fans follow the NHL. I say B.S.

First off, hockey is a regional sport and we don't need a lot of clueless fans that we have to explain the game of hockey too every step of the way. Go watch basket brawl. If these novice hockey fans don't understand the reason for fighting in hockey we don’t need them to be fans they are probably the same people that like the Fox Glow Puck.

Fighting in hockey is a tool and keeps the agitators and cheap shot artists in check. The thought of having to pay for you transgressions keeps players honest. If I am one of these punks that hides behind a half shield runs around the ice running players and hacking the opposition with my stick I am going to pay for my actions eventually.

Goons/tough guys protect players like Sidney Crosby or Marian Gaborik. I know that if I take a run at Marian Gaborik I am going to have to look over my shoulder for the Boogey man, because he is coming. If fighting is taken out of hockey there is no checks and balance to cheap shot and the league will putting a star player’s health in jeopardy.

Detractors of hockey say that fighting keeps the sport away from a broader fan base and continues to leave the sport in relative obscurity. In the past, efforts to curtail fighting have set hockey back on several occasions. I’m not talking about taking the sport back to the reckless style of the 1970’s, but critics have to recognize the unbreakable link between fighting and the popularity of hockey with its fans.

Penguins Coach on a the rampage

The Penguins coach Michel Therrien let his team have it after loosing to a crappy Tampa Bay Lightning team. As a hockey fan I would like to see more coaches have press conferences like this one. Team plays bad let them know it. These guys make too much money to be dogging it.

Penguins coach Michel Therrien was critical of his team's effort.

"The schedule is pretty tough. We just played four games in six days. Those are excuses," he said. "We don't have the right attitude. We like to complain about each other on the bench and on the ice. They better wake up pretty quick. ... I'm really disappointed with their work ethic and the concentration. Until they change their attitude, we are going to have the same results."