Friday afternoon Links

Game day is almost here we are about 6 hours from the drop of the first puck. The hated Golden Gophers are coming to the Ralph and we can expect the Gophers to give up a fight. Also, this is the last chance for Gophers fans to watch their team before the Sioux send them off to the golf courses.

In addition, it's a sweet moment for Sioux fans, because this is the last time we will seen Gopher Hacks; Brad "the Hack" Schack, Tony "dad can I be captain" Lucia, Ryan "I am a hack too" Flynn and Mike "Jersey Pop" Carmin. I think of all the senior classes of the Gophers I think I despise this one the most. As an opposition fan I think this is a group of players I depise the most. There are no classy players like former Gophers Thomas Vanek or Jordan Leopold.

Check out Don Lucia and Paul Allen on KFAN. Lucia is on with PA at the end of the show.

Patrick C. Miller of the Boards Room has a great blog post.

Here is the TV schedule this weekend's series thank God I have tickets.

Friday

* Fox College Sports Central (FSN North broadcast)
* Midcontinent Communications
* Fighting Sioux Sports Network
* DirecTV 617 (FSN North broadcast)

Saturday, 7 p.m.

* Fox College Sports Central (FSSN broadcast)
* Midcontinent Communications
* Fighting Sioux Sports Network
* DirecTV 617

Sunday (If necessary), 7 p.m.

* Fox College Sports Central (FSSN broadcast)
* Midcontinent Communications
* Fighting Sioux Sports Network
* DirecTV 617

Follow UND Hockey beat writer Brad Schlossman on Twitter

Follow UMN hockey beat writer Roman Augustoviz

Here is Ryan Cardinals appearance on KFAN this morning.

Here is the pre game write up from enemy territory; Ryan Cardinal from GPL.

Dave Hakstol the coach of the Fighting Sioux was on yesterday with Paul Allen.

This is Gopher beat writers blog Roman Augustoviz thinks the Gophers are going to win in three games. I think he is living in denial.

The Gophers have been an inconsistent bunch this season. Lethargic, disinterested in some games, looking outmatched.

But in others, they seem to be a team capable of beating anyone. If they bring their A game -- and what better time to do it -- they will shock the world, OK shock Grand Forks -- and advance to the Final Five.

Cross posted at the Sin Bin.

Don't Fire Don Lucia, Fire Tony

The rumor mill has been saying that Don Lucia's job as head hockey coach isn't secure. When I read that on Sioux Sports last year I thought it was silly. My opinion at the time was that Don Lucia had earned a very secure position at the University of Minnesota.

Compared with the other major sports I thought that Lucia had the most secure job of any of their coaches. After all, Lucia has a couple national titles. The other programs at Minnesota have been uniformly disappointing.

This year when the rumors inevitable surfaced I had to wonder. It's not that I thought that the Gopher's record put him in jeopardy. It was the effort on the ice that was lacking, not necessarily a lack of wins.

It's not that the Gophers don't have talent. Judging by the NHL draft picks on the team they have plenty of that.

We know Don Lucia can coach. He's been successful everywhere he's been. So what's wrong? Is it the leadership on the team that's lacking. Is it that the coach put his son on the team that's demotivating the team?

I went to the archives and found that Don Lucia's coaching record prior to Tony Lucia joining the team is 203-86-26. That gives him a winning percentage of 69%

Lucia's record since Tony joined the team is 84-57-21. That's a winning record of only 58%.

The best season for the Gophers since Tony joined the team was his Freshman year. They went 31-10-3 that year. Chris Porter was able to end their season with an overtime goal.

Since Tony's freshman year the Gopher's record has really tanked. They're only 52-47-18 for that period for a winning percentage of 52%.

This year the Gophers named Tony Lucia as one of their captains and things went further downhill. Right now they're sitting at 17-17-2. If the Sioux have a good weekend we can end their season and give Don Lucia his first losing season in Minnesota.

We know Don Lucia can coach. We know the Gophers have talent. Maybe I'm putting the blame in the wrong place, but I'll predict that next year the Gophers, without Tony Lucia improve and the talk about firing Don Lucia goes away.

Maybe it's not Tony that's hurting this team. But he's the coaches kid and a captain. I think it's fair to consider him first.

College Hockey News says Sioux in three

Here is the prediction from the College Hockey News, they say Fighting Sioux in three games, I hope UND would end it faster than that. I would rather be sitting home relaxing rather than sweating out the results of a hockey game.

NO. 7 MINNESOTA AT NO. 4 NORTH DAKOTA
This season: 1-1-2; Oct. 16 at North Dakota (UND won 4-0), Oct. 17 at North Dakota (3-3 tie), Jan. 15 at Minnesota (3-3 tie), Jan. 16 at Minnesota (UM won 5-1)

This weekend: The key number to remember this weekend is three. The first team to score three goals will be in the driver's seat to get the win. North Dakota has won seven games in a row and over that span, goaltender Brad Eidsness has yet to allow an opponent more than two goals in a game. Minnesota, meanwhile, when scoring three goals in a game this season is 16-2-2.

"We're going to have our chances. Now the thing is, can we convert on our chances?" said Gophers head coach Don Lucia. "When we score some goals, we win. If we're only scoring 1 or 2, we haven't."

For its part, the Gophers will need a tremendous effort from goaltender Alex Kangas. Say what you want about his inconsistent play, but he is 2-0 in playoff series — sweeping SCSU last season and playing at a historic level in Mankato two years ago. Minnesota has been playing better defense in front of him down the stretch, finishing fourth in the league in goals against this season.

"I think our seniors have played well down the stretch, but we need to have some other players step up," said Gophers head coach Don Lucia. "Alex is going to have to play well and we're going to have to play well defensively."

The teams played four times this season, with each team winning and tying on their own home ice. Ralph Engelstad Arena has been a house of horrors for the Gophers of late, as they own a 0-3-1 record there over the last two years, having been outscored 19-7 in that same span. Keep in mind, the No. 7 seed has won this series in each of the last two seasons. That same team has also advanced to the Final Five championship both times. If the Gophers are going to get back to the NCAA Tournament, they're going to need to follow that same path.

Prediction: North Dakota in three

Sioux and Gophers (time for talk is over)

This weekend the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux 20-11-5 overall and 15-10-3 5th PWR play the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers 17-17-2 overall and 12-14-2 23rd PWR in the WCHA in a best 2 out of 3 game playoff series at Ralph Englestad Arena. The series winner will play in the Red Baron WCHA Final Five on March 18th – 20th at the Xcel Energy Center.

Series Record

THE ALL-TIME SERIES: UND trails the all-time series 125-131-14 (.489) but is 67-53-8 (.555) all-time against the Gophers on home ice. The UND Fighting Sioux are 6-0 all time against the Gophers in Grand Forks, ND and the last time the Sioux and Gophers met in the playoffs in Grand Forks, ND was in 1986-87, when the Sioux took the WCHA series with a pair of 5-3 wins. During Coach David Hakstol tenure as head coach the Sioux have a 12-7-3 against the Gophers.

Surging Sioux

The UND Fighting Sioux have went on another Dave Hakstol text book second half surge; the Sioux have currently won 7 straight hockey games and are 7-1-0 in February and March. Ironically the second half surge commenced when Brett Hextall returned from a lower leg injury in February 12th against the SCSU Huskies.
Below is a year-by-year comparison of UND's pre and post-Christmas records:

Year Before After
2004-05 13-7-2 (.636) 12-8-3 (.587)Frozen Four
2005-06 12-7-1 (.625) 17-9-0 (.654)Frozen Four
2006-07 7-10-1 (.417) 17-4-4 (.760)Frozen Four
2007-08 8-6-1 (.567) 20-5-3 (.768)Frozen Four
2008-09 9-8-1 (.528) 15-7-3 (.660)NCAA playoffs
2009-10 9-6-3 (.583) 11-5-2 (.667)?

In Hakstol we trust

Under head coach Dave Hakstol the Fighting Sioux have gone 25-12 in the playoffs (WCHA and NCAA), that is eight more wins than any other WCHA team. That includes a 16-7 record in the WCHA playoffs, a victory total that also tops every WCHA team.

The Sioux are 16-3 (.842) in the playoffs at the new Ralph Engelstad Arena, including a 14-3 record in the WCHA playoffs and a pair of wins in the 2006 NCAA West Regional. [Fighting Sioux]

What does this mean?

I was thinking about this up coming series last night, honestly, I really don’t know what to think and I don't have any prediction. Seriously, I am not into making grandiose predictions nor do I have delusions of grandeur either. This weekend really is a crap shoot, the Sioux for the most part are already in the NCAA tourney. There is lots to play for, the team that wants it the most will be rewarded.

The 2009-2010 season for the Fighting Sioux has had many ups and downs, the injury to Chay Genoway in November, getting swept by the Denver Pioneers at home back in January were both major downers. I like many Sioux fans were ready to stick a fork in the Fighting Sioux after that series.

Since the sweep at the hand of the Denver Pioneers the Fighting Sioux have gone an impressive 7-1-0 run, during that time period they Sioux have beaten the SCSU Huskies, C.C. Tigers and the UMD Bulldogs and finally the hapless MTU Huskies. Before that brutal schedule all of those teams were ahead of the Fighting Sioux in the standings but the MTU Huskies. The Sioux over took two of those teams and finished on single point behind the SCSU Huskies.

Win with class

Most Sioux fans that I know including myself hate the “Golden Rodents”, they are our heated and hated rival, nothing brings a smile to my face more than a win against the Golden Rodents, except maybe a finely struck golf shot or shooting a double during duck hunting season. Gopher fans drive us nuts and say some of the stupidest things, you will hear comments like 25 year old Canadians, UND is a bunch of goons or Manitoba’s Pride on Ice. Unfortunately, my brother in law was one of them (former Golden Gopher Hockey player) and a lot of my family members are fans of the hated Gophers as well, It’s the old saying you can chose your friends but you can chose your family members. But I digress and none the less, let’s keep some perspective and let’s also remember it’s only a hockey game. We don’t need anymore ugly incidents before, during or after the hockey games. Don't be that fan.

Let’s remember to keep our heads about ourselves and don’t get into senseless or needless fist fights. Let’s think twice before we get into confrontations with opposition fans, again hockey is only a game folks. I learned along time ago that alcohol makes people braver and there is always someone tougher than you. No one needs to get killed over a hockey game, no one needs to get arrested and no one needs to throw knuckles. Be the better person and walk away. If you find your self getting into a situation remove yourself from it. Also, show some respect for your neighbors at the game. Please don’t ruin our experience at the game because you decided to be an ass. Let’s Go Sioux lets end the Gophers season this weekend.

Links to the Story:

Ryan Cardinal's break down of the series on Gopher Puck Live.

MHKY Notes: Sioux, Gophers battle in opening round of playoffs

Friday Hockey Game to Air on FSN Alternate Channel [Gopher sports]


Cross Posted at the Sin Bin.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

Here we are spring has sprung us into the 1st round of WCHA playoffs. We have a full slate of playoff games, 5 WCHA series to play this weekend. I’ll do one more TOP TEN list to end the season.

10 – Number of teams in the league (it’ll be 12 come October)
9 – Points separated the top 5 teams
8 – Points the MTU Huskies got this season
7 – Where Minnesota has finished 2 of the last 3 seasons
6 – How many drinks I had at last Friday’s game
5 – Teams that will make it to St. Paul next weekend
4 – WCHA teams that will for sure get into the NCAA
3 – Maximum number of games in the opening playoff series
2 – Leads blown by MTU last weekend
1 – Goals UW put in their own net last weekend


FINAL 2009-2010 WCHA STANGINGS

TEAM………………......W-L-T….PTS
1 Denver--------------19-5-4….42
2 Wisconsin-----------17-8-3….37
3 St. Cloud State------15-9-4….34
4 North Dakota--------15-10-3…33
5 Minnesota-Duluth----16-11-1…33
6 Colorado College-----12-13-3…27
7 Minnesota-----------12-14-2…26
8 Minnesota State------9-17-2…20
9 Alaska-Anchorage-----9-17-2…20
10 Michigan Tech-------4-24-0….8


Michigan Tech at #1 Denver (season series DU wins 2-0-0)
Last weekend the Huskies were swept in Grand Forks by the Sioux, and the Pioneers and Tigers split their series.

The Huskies scored first in both their games last weekend, but could hold off the Sioux. The Pioneers got back on track Saturday after losing Friday to their arch-rival Tigers. These teams just played each other a couple of weeks ago (Feb 19-20), with DU sweeping that series in Denver. In theory this should be a two game sweep for DU. But, with just sweeping them it is hard to win over anybody four times in just three weeks. It wouldn’t surprise me if a game went to OT, but DU is just too much for the Huskies, especially if it was to go three games. DU in 2


Alaska-Anchorage at #3 Wisconsin (season series UW wins 2-0-0)
Last weekend the Seawolves hosted the Bulldogs and split their series, and the Badgers and Gophers split a pair in Minneapolis.

Interesting tidbit, the Badgers have not won more the three games in a row this season, and have not lost two games in a row. This time of year, you need to string together more than three wins in a row if you want to get a title. The Seawolves on the other hand have only won back to back games once, and that was against Michigan Tech. If the Badgers stay true to form, they will win on Friday, since they lost on Sunday to the Gophers (UW had already wrapped up 2nd place on Friday). But to the Seawolves credit, they have beat some good teams this year, except those wins have come in Anchorage. UAA has only made the Final 5 once, and they upset the Badgers to do it, back in 2004, but this is 2010. I’m going with UW in 2.


Minnesota State at #7 St. Cloud State (season series MSU-M wins 1-0-1)
Last weekend the Mavericks took 3-points from the SCSU Huskies, and now they meet again this weekend.

SCSU is now on a three game winless streak, and is 3-4-2 in their last 9 games, not the best way to head into the playoffs. The Huskies recent skid has cost them a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, the Mavericks would like to keep spoiling the Huskies NCAA tournament seeding. With a couple more wins the Mavericks could make an appearance at the Final 5. I like it when teams play each other on back to back weekends, it really builds a rivalry. Like they say familiarity breeds contempt. With the outcome last weekend it, I’m leaning toward the Mavericks in this series. However, now SCSU has something to play for, last weekend they might have figured they had third place wrapped up and were taking the weekend off, so to speak. I’m going to take SCSU in 3.


Minnesota at #5 North Dakota (season series tied 1-1-2)
Last weekend the Gophers and Badgers split in Minnesota, and the Sioux swept the MTU Huskies in Grand Forks.

The Sioux come into the playoffs riding a season long 7 game winning streak. The Gophers come in going 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. FSN had an interesting fact, that the UM has never won a playoff game in Grand Forks, they are 0-9. The Gophers last playoff game in Grand Forks was in the NCAA West Regional where they lost to Holy Cross. The Sioux have been playing good hockey and look to keep build up momentum this weekend by extending their winning streak, and ending the Gophers season. UND is a pretty solid lock in the NCAA tourney, while the U of M needs to run the WCHA playoff table and get the auto-bid to make the NCAA tourney. The Sioux are hot right now and playing one of their rivals should give The Ralph a great playoff atmosphere. Sioux in 2.


#15 Colorado College at #14 Minnesota-Duluth (season series UMD wins 3-1-0)Last weekend the Tigers split with the Pioneers, and the Bulldogs split with the Seawolves in Alaska.

The Tigers and the Bulldogs, both started off the season hot, and now both have gone cold. CC is 1-5-0 in its last six games, and is 4-10-0 in the WCHA in 2010. The Bulldogs haven’t fared much better going 2-4-0 in their last six games. Both teams have a chance to get back on track this weekend and back into the NCAA mix. Right now these teams are mirror images of each other. Whoever wins this series will most likely be in Thursday’s play-in game in St. Paul, unless some of the top teams’ faulter. Both teams have/had good offenses, and this could be the highest scoring playoff series in the league, which should make it entertaining to watch. I’m going to go with the home team in this series. UMD in 3.

McLeod = Campbell

In reading this Colin Campbell’s statement yesterday, I am beginning to wonder if Bruce McLeod isn’t a Colin Campbell clone or cut from the same mold?

"No one likes when a player like Marc Savard goes down the way he did. No one likes when a player like David Booth goes down the way he did. But we have to be consistent. I know Matt Cooke is a repeat offender, he's been suspended twice in the last year. I can't suspend Matt Cooke for being a repeat offender, I have to find a reason. Right now our rules say that shoulders to head are legal. Matt Cooke did not jump, and did not do anything that we found illegal in his actions even though again you don't like what happened. I know it's not something that Boston fans, or hockey fans would like to hear. They want justice. We feel we have to be consistent and do what we feel is right and hopefully we've gone to a place in our meetings today that we can eradicate plays like this in the future."

- NHL Sr. VP of Hockey Operations, Colin Campbell
[Stanley Cup of Chowder]

NHL not serious about protecting it's players.

I was driving around town when I found out that the disgusting waste of human life Matt Cooke was not suspended by the NHL for the hit above. You have got to be kidding me? Think about this for a moment; the NHL just spent three days meeting in Boca Raton, Florida discussing head shots and wanting to elimiate them from the NHL and then this ruling from Colin Campbell comes down.

Seriously, is your head spinning yet? Mine is. I am not sure how I can write this blog post without using colorful and profane language to describe how feel about that disgusting piece of camel dung that is Matt Cooke. If you watch any amount of NHL hockey you will know Matt Cooke is a cheap shot artist that skates up and down the ice taking liberties with opposition players. When Challenged to a fight for his thuggery Matt Cooke will turtle and or will only fight European and other more skilled players not known for their fighting skills.

I hold Cooke in the same low regard that I held former thug Claude Lemieux and eventually they get what is rightfully coming to them, live by the sword you die by the sword. Eventually, someone is going to come to collect on the bill that past due and Matt Cooke won’t be able to duck out or turtle this time. This is what I hope happens to Mister Cooke, check out this beat down that Claude “the Fraud” took.

Some examples of Matt Cooke's thuggery

The Matt Cooke knee on Eric Cole

Cooke Cheaps Anisimov - 2 Game Suspension

Wednesday Links and Pontifications

Check out what Andy Baggot had to say about the head coach of the Fighting Sioux. Baggot is the beat writer for the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team and he picked Coach Hakstol as his coach of the year candidate.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dave Hakstol of North Dakota. The very young Fighting Sioux lost their best all-around player after seven games (senior defenseman Chay Genoway), missed their leading scorer for a prolonged stretch midway through the season (senior center Chris VandeVelde) and looked dead in the water after losing five of six heading into Valentine's Day. They've won seven straight since then and are gearing up for another deep run into the playoffs. There's a lot of good coaching woven into those details.

Some profound words from the Minnesota Golden Gophers head hockey coach. Seriously, if any hockey teams gets four or five goals on the board its very hard for any team that is trailing to come back and beat the Opposition. UND has the top ranked defense in the WCHA as well.

Lucia said the most important thing to win is a tight defense and not giving up more than two goals. "If North Dakota gets four or five on the board," Lucia said, "it will be awfully difficult for us to win. We want to go up there and play a great road game.

"Our feeling is that if it is 0-0 after the first period, we are happy. As long as we can keep that game tight into the third, or maybe even into overtime. Based on history I wouldn't be surprised if the games are going into overtime this weekend. Good starts are going to be extremely important and then all 18 guys and the goaltender have to play well and I think they will be prepared to do that." [Goal Gophers]

This is what Todd D. Milewski had to say about the Fighting Sioux in his weekly blog post on USCHO.COM, its really not how you start its about how your team finishes at the end of the season.

* I mentioned a while back that I didn’t think North Dakota was a top-10 team at that point. Times sure change, don’t they? Look at the Sioux now: Winning five in a row against the likes of St. Cloud State, Minnesota-Duluth and Colorado College alters the landscape. [USCHO.COM]

Since the refs in the WCHA don’t wear their numbers on the back of their uniforms anymore, that is a discussion for another day, here is the official roster from the WCHA league office.

This weekend: Here is my prediction on who will be the on ice officials for the series between Minnesota and UND series is Derek Shepherd and Marco Hunt with Papa Shepherd sitting in the press box looking on. You can’t spell nepotism without Shepherd and McLeod.

Supervisor of Officials: Greg Shepherd.

Referees: 3-Derek Shepherd; 4-Todd Anderson; 5-Justin Brown; 7-Don Adam; 8-Tom Sterns; 9-C.J. Beaurline; 10-Peter Friesema; 11-Tim Walsh; 12-Butch Mousseaux (R-L); 14-Brian Thul; 15-Marco Hunt; 17-Craig Welker; 18-Max Battimo; 20-Brad Albers; 22-Bill Mason; 23-Matt Ulwelling (R-L); 24-Jon Campion; 25-Mike McCreary; 27-Jonathan Morrison; 29-Scott Bokal; 31-Brett Klosowski; 33-Brad Shepherd.

Linesmen: at UAA: 36-Kent Asplund; 73-Scott Sivulich; 74-Steve Glines; 75-Travis Jackson. at CC & DU: 52-Scott Staudte; 57-Bob Keltie; 67-Greg Rockenback; 80-Butch Mousseaux; 82-Stephen Stankevich; 86-Gary Pedigo; 88-Tim Swiader. at MTU: 35-Dan Juopper; 85-Sean Jacques; 98-Damon Beirling. at UM, UMD, MSU, SCSU: 38-Joe Harris; 44-Chris Olson; 45-Jerome Krieger; 50-Tony Lancette, Jr.; 53-Rick Nelson; 55-Jeff Schultz; 61-Luke Huggett; 62-Jarod Moen; 68-Chris Perrrault; 80-Tony Czech; 90-Matt Anderson; 91-Sterling Egan; 96-Eric Whisler. at UND: 37-Tom Lund; 71-Brian Novlesky; 76-Brandon Schmitt; 77-Mike Eslinger; 78-Nathan Freeman; 79-Matt Ulwelling; 83-Justin Hills; 84-Phil Stodgell; 92-Andy Carton. at UW: 34-Ed Moberg; 38-Dan Carey; 42-Dan Dineen; 51-Mike Gulenchyn; 65-Matt Gerlach; 87-Brad Roethlisberger. (R-L) Referee & Linesman.

Here is the Bracket Analysis, Breakdown, Comparison from Adam Wodon of College Hockey News. I have to think we have a date with Boston College in the future.

4-5. Boston College, North Dakota
These two have been so intertwined in the NCAAs over the last 10 years, it's only fitting they currently sit 4-5 — which would set up a regional final matchup if things stayed the same. It doesn't look like North Dakota can flip any comparisons with teams above it that would allow it to move up. But it's possible, if it plays and defeats Wisconsin next week, that it could grab that one, which could then be enough to surpass Boston College despite losing the individual comparison with BC. So that will be an interesting drama — whether BC has to go West, or North Dakota has to go East. But it looks like the stars are aligned for these guys again, just not at the Frozen Four like usual.

The latest verious of USCHO Bracketology has the Fighting Sioux going to the Northeast Regional.

Northeast Regional:

Ferris State vs. Boston College
Michigan State vs. North Dakota

Getting serious about headshots starts now

Elliotte Friedman has a really good point about eliminating head shots in the NHL. I think hockey in general should take the same approach. This is a serious issue and we literally have hockey players getting their brains scrambled from hits to the head.

Rob DiMaio played 18 years in the NHL, his career ending in 2006 after a borderline hit by Guillaume Latendresse. DiMaio was an aggressive player – had to be to keep his job – yet averaged less than one penalty minute per game. He’s got a good perspective on this issue.

“If you really want to eliminate head shots, you have to make the penalty so severe that players will really think about it,” he said. “You can’t have them thinking, ‘Well, if I hit this guy and I get suspended, it will be for only one game.’”

Boy, do I agree with that 100 per cent.

If the GMs really want to eliminate the Richards/Booth and Cooke/Savard hits, Step I must be Fear of God. Simply tell players that anyone who does it is getting a long-term suspension. (What’s long-term? You could start at eight games, chosen arbitrarily because it’s 10 per cent of the season. Discuss amongst yourselves.)

Then deliver. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time offender. It doesn’t matter if you averaged three penalty minutes a season. If you do it, you’re going to be punished. Automatically.

(By the way, the GMs should also consider penalizing players who intentionally make themselves vulnerable to blindside hits. It might have to be after the fact/upon review, but you know there will be a diver or two who tries it. Can’t be allowed to happen.)[CBC Sports]

Awesome Tim Thomas save.

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas was on his game all night last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tim Thomas robbed former Golden Gophyer and Boston Bruin Phil Kessel on a least two grade "A" scoring opportunities. Since leaving the Bruins Kessel has had 1 point against his former team in 5 games.

Sioux and Gophers

Ah yes its rivalry week again as the Sioux will take on the Gophers in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. The Gophers have to win the Final Five to make the NCAA tourney, the Sioux are probably in the tourney. From watching the video this has to be from 1992-1993 season. I am torn because one of these teams isn’t going to be in the Final Five. It’s a shame the Sioux didn’t finish 3rd or the Gophers didn’t finish 6th. Oh well!

I will probably break the series down latter in the week. Seriously, I am still suffering from another head cold that my daughter gift wrapped and brought home from day care for me.

Most seasons I would ussually throw out more red meat but frankly I am not that excited about this series or really in the mood for ripping on the Gophers that much, honestly this season the Gophers just aren't very good, no matter how you spin it, they suck! I would compare it to kicking a dead horse.

That being said, I am still going to the game and I still think that the Holy Cross choke game is still funny and I still smile when I think about the Region of death in Denver Colorado. Regardless of what happens this weekened the Gophers season either ends this weekend or next. The Sioux mostly likely have the NCAA's to look forward to.

LET'S GO SIOUX KICK SOME GOPHER ASS...

List Challenge: Top 5 Overrated NHL Goaltenders

Ok, I'm bored, but I'm issuing a challenge to the writers and commentors on this blog. Top 5 lists to flavor up the blog. Yeah, it's all nice to talk about the cheap hits, but I think it's time to spark some other kinds of debate.

So, I'm going to pose my top five most overrated goaltenders currently playing in the NHL. My rules? They cannot be a rookie or a goaltender that has not at any point in the previous two seasons been called the "#1 goaltender" for their respective club. They cannot already be considered a poor goaltender (Sorry, Vesa Toskala is out). They must have at least SOME hype to them.

Here they are:

5. Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins) - Ok, I'm going to get flak for this, but he's really not all that good. He just has a team in front of him that can cover for his mistakes. He tends to be too aggressive if you want some real goaltender analysis. And yeah, he won the Cup last year, whoopdedoo.

4. Marty Turco (Dallas Stars) - He was so bad last year the 5 hole was briefly named after him ("He got Turco'd."). He was better this year, but he's really not much more than a middle of the road goaltender. He's the king of inconsistent. One minute he's brilliant, the next minute, he's worse than putting goalie pads on a quadriplegic.

3. Jose Theodore (Washington Capitols) - Sometimes called Jose "Threeorfour" by sarcastic fans, this selection actually pains me. You see, I saw him when he played for the Habs and he was REALLY good on a REALLY mediocre if not bad team. I'm not sure why he's not found success, but then again... being on Colorado and Florida can do that to any goaltender... sometimes (I still can't believe Khabibulin has a Stanley Cup ring. Not because he's a bad goaltender, but because... seriously.. TAMPA FREAKING BAY?) can drive home the suck in anyone. And yeah, I know about Colorado and Roy but look at the team in front of him. What? Oh yeah, thought so. I rest my case. And no, I'm not saying Patrick Roy was overrated. I can't stand the guy, but he was VERY legit.

2. Cristobal Huet (Chicago Blackhawks) - #2 and #1 are pretty interchangeable as both I can't see as to why they ever were named #1s for their respective clubs. Huet has a 5 hole the size of Illinois and plays as consistent as the ground in and about a rock slide. He makes me nervous any time someone shoots from the point. UG-GLY.

1. Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) - How sad they have brought in Jaroslav Halak to foster and push Price along and had a GM in Gainey who said Price was the #1 all along and yet... Halak is the real deal and Price is barely NHL quality. I'm not so sure that this is Price's fault though. Gainey was a bad GM and surely rushed Price along. He shows signs of brilliance but often those are just the gleam of the lights off his facemask. I also give him the award for the goaltender who has most often tore the hearts out of Habs fans, stepped on the heart, and then flushed it down the toilet since Patrick Roy left. And he's still young. Oh, and the fact that he's gotten so much hype and has done Z-E-R-O to the millionth power to deserve the hype may also have swayed me to this.

Honorable Mentions: Nikolai Khabibulin*, Peter Budaj, Ray Emery, Any Lightning Goaltender, Vesa Toskala (Hey, can someone suck so bad they become overrated by simply saying he sucks?), Manny Legace (Ouch!), Rick DiPietro. I should give one to Boston's Tim Thomas too, but man, that guy's come a long way to get where he is.

* - He, like Theodore, is among those I have a softspot for.

Henrik Lundqvist could be on this list but the jury's still out. He's not won it all yet, nor has he gone especially deep into the playoffs. However, such factors as how suck the team in front of him is, has to be considered. Put Lundqvist on the Wings and I'm sure he'd be hoisting the Cup.

So my question to the bloggers on this site and the commentors is: What's your top 5?

GMs to recommend banning blindside shoulder hits to the head

I believe this is the first step in the right direction, for the NHL. The OHL already bans head shot already, why not the NHL? In International Ice Hockey Federation play their opinion is that; “there is no such thing as a clean hit to the head." The NCAA bans hits to the head, there is at least a two minute penalty for shots to the head.

The NHL's general managers will recommend the adoption of a new rule to ban blindside hits to the head by a player's shoulder.

So far, this recommendation was made by an eight-man committee of GMs at their annual meetings and it will be placed in front of the entire 30 general managers on Wednesday morning. The proposal will be subject to further review and tweaking but it appears a formal recommendation for a new rule will be made when the meetings end Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re going to fine-tune it,” said San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson, who is a member of the eight-person committee. “It’s going to go back to the bigger group for our thoughts.”

The new rule will also subject offenders to supplementary discipline in the form of suspensions. Repeat offenders will probably face lengthy suspensions.

However, since the details remain subject to further changes by the GMs, who could conceivably even shelve the proposal, no one wanted to say exactly what the proposed rule is other than it will address blindside hits to the head by a player’s shoulder.

The formal recommendation will go to the NHL's competition commitee and the governors for approval this summer. The new rule will probably take effect next season [Globe and Mail]

More Steve Downie antics.

Stick salute to Puck Daddy. Check this video this is wild stuff, classic Donny brook, while Downie does hit the Atlanta defender high and leaves his feet, the MacAurther crosscheck on St Louis was uncalled for, bush league and late, he doesn’t even get a penalty on the play. The two buffoons announcing the game can't see past the homer glasses. I thought it was interesting so I included it.

Poll Monday

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[March 8, 2010]

Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Denver (26) 25- 7-4 976 1
2 Miami (24) 24- 5-7 972 2
3 Wisconsin 22- 9-4 881 3
4 Boston College 21-10-3 827 5
5 North Dakota 20-11-5 779 7
6 Yale 19- 7-3 732 6
7 St. Cloud State 20-11-5 703 4
8 Bemidji State 23- 8-3 644 8
9 Cornell 17- 8-4 587 9
10 Michigan State 19-11-6 528 11
11 New Hampshire 16-11-7 497 10
12 Alaska 18- 9-9 437 14
13 Ferris State 19-11-6 406 13
14 Minnesota-Duluth 20-15-1 367 12
15 Colorado College 18-15-3 261 15
16 Northern Michigan 17-11-8 205 19
17 Union 18-10-6 178 18
18 Nebraska-Omaha 20-14-6 170 20
19 Vermont 15-12-7 114 16
20 Mass.-Lowell 18-14-4 79 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Maine 47, RIT 36, Boston University 24,
Michigan 22, Massachusetts 17, Minnesota 9, Colgate 2

----------------------------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[March 8, 2010]

1. Miami (21)
2. Denver (13)
3. Wisconsin
4. Boston College
5. North Dakota
6. Yale
7. St. Cloud State
8. Bemidji State
9. Cornell
10. New Hampshire
11. Michigan State
12. Alaska
13. Ferris State
14. Minnesota-Duluth
15. Colorado College
Others receiving votes: University of Nebraska Omaha, 16; Northern Michigan University, 13; Union College, 13; Rochester Institute of Technology, 10; University of Massachusetts Lowell, 4; University of Vermont, 2; University of Maine, 1; University of Massachusetts, 1.

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings for conversation.

1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Wisconsin
4. North Dakota 2 Could the Fighting Sioux's upcoming playoff series with Minnesota be any more even? Not only do both teams have identical 1-1-2 marks against one another this season, but both the goals for and against (11-11) are also mirror images. 20-11-5 (15-10-3 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan Tech, 5-1; W vs. Michigan Tech, 3-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota (WCHA First Round Series)
5. Yale
6. Boston College
7. St. Cloud State
8. Cornell
9. Michigan State
10. Bemidji State
11. Alaska
12. Union
13. New Hampshire
14. Ferris State
15. Minnesota Duluth
16. Colorado College
17. RIT
18. Northern Michigan
19. Nebraska-Omaha 1
20. UMass Lowell )

Dropped out: Maine
Bubble-licious: Colgate, Michigan

Matt Cooke knocks out Marc Savard

I think Matt Cooke is a disgusting piece of dog shit and I honestly can't till the day that he is on the receiving end of one of these hits. Cooked is what is wrong with the NHL, the lack of respect for you opponents. It was a deliberate attempt by Cooke to injure Savard, look at the video. Savard suffered a concussion on the play. Another day and another head shot in the NHL.

Dirty, vicious elbow by Matt Cooke on Marc Savard to his blind side after he shot a puck at the Pittsburgh net. Just no regard for the health and well-being of another player right there. Replays showed Cooke lowered an elbow that smashed directly into Savard's head when he had his head turned away from the Penguins forward. The elbow knocked Savard right down to the ice. Savard was down for 10 minutes and trainers had to take the playmaking center off on a stretcher. Somehow there wasn't a penalty called on the play, but there's [no] way Cooke gets off without a lengthy suspension. That is the kind of play that the NHL is trying to rid their sport of, and it's yet another injury that the B's can't afford.
[CSNNE.COM]

Links to the Story:

Puck daddy; Savard stretchered off after Matt Cooke head-shot

KuklasKorner; Matt Cooke Hit On Marc Savard Today

Bruins.com; Bruins Update on Marc Savard

Bruins blog; Cooke delivers concussion to Savard

"A guy like that has to be suspended," the Bruins coach said. "That's the way I see it, because it's an elbow to the head from the blind side. That's exactly the examples they show of what we've got to get out of this game. We have a guy who's got a concussion. Our best player. He's going to be out for a while. He was [unconscious] on the ice for a bit. That's unacceptable."

Hub of Hockey; Is Matt Cooke's Dirty Hit On Marc Savard Suspension Worthy?

Bleacher Report; Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Cooke's Hit on Savard Deserves Big Suspension

Winnipeg Sun; Issue coming to a head

TSN; Bruins' Savard carried off the ice following blindside hit

From the Rink; Marc Savard Taken Off On Stretcher

Stanley Cup of Chowder; Marc Savard diagnosed with concussion

NESN.COM; James Murphy Dishes on Marc Savard Hit, Lack of Retaliation Against Matt Cooke (Video)

How did I do?

I posted my WCHA preseason poll at the now defunct Illegal Curve.

1.) Denver
2.) Wisconsin
3.) UND
4.) Minnesota
5.) UMD
6.) SCSU
7.) C.C.
8.) MSU-M
9.) UAA
10.) MTU

Here is the way the WCHA finished with the final games today.

1.) Denver 42 19-5-4 25-7-4
2.) Wisconsin 37 17-8-3 22-9-4
3.) St. Cloud State 34 15-9-4 20-11-5
4.) North Dakota 33 15-10-3 20-11-5
5.) Minnesota Duluth 33 16-11-1 20-15-1
6.) Colorado College 27 12-13-3 18-15-3
7.) Minnesota 26 12-14-2 17-17-2
8.) Minnesota State 20 9-17-2 15-18-3
8.) Alaska Anchorage 20 9-17-2 11-21-2
10.) Michigan Tech 8 4-24-0 5-28-1

How to improve the NHL

Tom Jones from the St Peterburg Times had a nice article on how to improve the NHL. A couple of these ideas are really good ideas. The NHL should have a lot of momentum coming out of the Olympics and the game of hockey should be looking to expand on that momentum going forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs, of course there will be a whole segment of our population that won't be able to see the games because they are on Versus.

Get back on ESPN

The NHL's cable deal in the United States is with Versus, which does an excellent job covering the games. But it's not about that. It's about being part of the sports fans' consciousness, and that's what ESPN provides (and Versus doesn't). Sports fans instinctively turn their TVs to ESPN, often not even knowing what will be on. It's habit. ESPN carries every major sport — the NFL, NBA, major-league baseball, golf, NASCAR, tennis, soccer, college basketball and football. It even shows poker, for crying out loud. But not the NHL, not since 2004. ESPN sets the nation's sports agenda. If ESPN covers something, the event becomes important to sports fans. Many believe that if ESPN carried the NHL again, the network would dedicate more time to it on SportsCenter and maybe even again have a specialized show for it like it did when it carried the games; its NHL 2Night was a hockey version of Baseball Tonight and NFL Live.

How many times have you stayed at a motel/hotel or went to a friend’s house who doesn't have Versus on their television dial? That is unacceptable in my opinion, this should not happen. During the day of ESPN you didn’t see this happening. The squabble between Direct TV and Versus is also mind numbing, because if it dispute doesn’t get solved soon a lot of people aren’t going to get to see the Stanley Cup playoffs.

This idea is one that I really find acceptable and I am sure I am not the only NHL fan hoping for this change. It's time to tell Gary Bettman thanks for a job well done but don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. The things that are going to stick out the most with me is the lock out in 2004-2005 NHL season and how we lost a whole season of the NHL under the leadership of Gary Bettman.

Find a new commissioner

This isn't meant to slam Gary Bettman, because he's not as bad as many fans and media members think he is. But he has been on the job 17 years now, and it's time for new blood, someone with fresh ideas and a different approach. Don't hire an old-school hockey guy or someone in the NHL office. Owners need to think outside the box by going outside the "company.'' Look to an up-and-coming whiz kid from another sport. Look at a top-level executive from a company outside sports. Find someone who isn't going to keep doing it the way it has always been done. After all, the way it has always been done isn't working.

Trenten Metcalf hit on Matt Walters

This was a hit from the North Dakota High school hockey game between Grand Forks Central High and Bottineau High School on the first day of the North Dakota High School hockey game. There was no penalty on the play. Matt Walters did not play again during the tourney. All right all you referees at home would you call a penalty on the play?

WCHA Playoffs; breaking down the teams. (final numbers)

1. Denver University - Record 25-7-4 WCHA 19-5-4. Second half record 18 games played 14-2-2. The Pioneers went 8-0-0 in February. Open the WCHA playoff against MTU. This match up on paper has route written all over it. [DU player stats] [Beat writer blog]

2. University of Wisconsin - Record 22-9-4 WCHA 17-8-3. Second half record 16 games played 11-3-2. The Badgers went 7-1 in February. Open the WCHA playoffs against UAA who the Badgers have owned and they are an impressive 1-10-1 in their last 12 games against the Seawolves. [UW player stats] [Beat writer blog]

3. Saint Cloud State University - Record 20-11-5 WCHA 15-9-4. Second half record 18 games played 12-4-2. The Huskies went 3-2-1 in February. Open the WCHA playoffs against the MSU-M Mavericks, the Mavericks are 7-1-1 in its last nine visits to St. Cloud. [SCSU player stats] [Beat writer blog]

4. University of North Dakota - Record 20-11-5 WCHA 15-10-3. Second half record 18 games played 11-5-2. The Fighting Sioux went 5-1-0 in February. UND is 6-0 all time against Minnesota in the WCHA playoffs in Grand Forks, ND. [UND player stats] [Beat writer blog]

4. University of Minnesota Duluth - Record 20-15-1 WCHA 16-11-1. Second half record 18 games played 9-9. The Bulldogs went 2-4-0 in February. UMD swept the Tiger in the Springs during the WCHA playoffs last season to advance to the Final Five. Now C.C. gets a chance to return the favor. UMD is 3-1-0 against the Tigers this season so the chances of that happening aren't very good. [UMD players stats] [Beat writer blog]

6. Colorado College - Record 18-15-3 WCHA 12-13-3. Second half record 16 games played 6-10-0. The Tiger went 2-4-0 in February. Has a tall order to make the Final Five, beat the UMD Bulldogs at the DECC. The Bulldogs have not been swept at home this season. [C.C. player stats] [Beat writer blog]

7. University of Minnesota - Record 17-17-2 WCHA 12-14-2. Second half record 18 games played 9-8-1. The Gophers went 3-3-0 in February. [UMN player stats] [Beat writer blog]

8. Alaska Anchorage - Record 11-21-2 WCHA 9-17-2. Second half record 16 games played 5-9-2. The Seawolves went 0-5-1 in February. They have a tall order ahead of them. The Seawolves are 1-10-1 in their last 12 games against the Badgers. [UAA player stats] [Beat writer blog]

8. Minnesota State - Record 15-18-3 WCHA 9-17-2. Second half record 16 games played 6-9-1. The Mavericks went 2-4-0 in February. Mankato is 7-1-1 in its last nine visits to St. Cloud, however, I don't see how they get past the Huskies. [MSU-M player stats] [Beat writer blog]

10. Michigan Tech University - Record 5-28-1 WCHA 4-24-0 Second half record 15 games played 2-12-1. The Huskies went 1-5-0 in February. The MTU Huskie had four wins during the WCHA season. The Huskies beat the UMD Bulldogs twice and the SCSU Huskies and MSU-M Mavericks once each. They play at DU for the WCHA playoffs. [MTU player stats] [Beat writer blog]

Cross posted at the Sin Bin.

Sioux 3 Huskies 2

Check out this great tireless effort by Mario Lamoureux, Mario took three shots at the net and finally burried the third shot that he put on net. That is a great effort in my opinion. Talk about not giving up on a shot.

Clearing up a few loose ends

First off; some house keeping details to end the regular season, for the SCSU fans that were beating/thumping their chest about UND being behind SCSU in every poll, blah, blah, blah, the Fighting Sioux have the same record as the Huskies and are ahead of the Huskies more important Pair Wise Rankings.

5 North Dakota 19 0.5540 20-11-5 0.6250 Mar 6 MTech
6 St Cloud St 18 0.5511 20-11-5 0.6250 Mar 6 Mankato

Sioux come out flat

The Fighting Sioux hockey team are riding a seven game winning streak but tonight the looked as if they were trying to hand the game to the MTU Huskies early and were very lucky to get a win against the 5-28-1 MTU Huskies. You would have thought it was the Fighting Sioux that had the 5-28-1 record. It's imperative that the Sioux not play like this next weekend if they want to advance to the Final Five, anything less than a 100 percent effort would be unadvisable and unacceptable.

A few things that I saw tonight were the Sioux didn’t move their feet to start the game and looked a little sluggish. You have to wonder if they took the Huskies lightly or they just didn’t have their “A” game tonight. Also, there were a few times where the Sioux didn’t get the puck deep and that could come back to haunt them in the playoffs if they don’t right that ship in a quick hurry. Also, you cannot let the offensive player go untested in the slot, which is what happened on the second MTU Husky goal.

Stay out of the penalty box

The MTU Huskies came into the game with a national ranking of 46th over all on the power play and they ended up going 2-5 while the Fighting Sioux went 0-7. Tonight I thought the Fighting Sioux lacked discipline and took some really stupid unnecessary penalties. Taking three straight penalties is no way to start a hockey game and likened to playing with an open flame in a meth lab.

Up next for the Fighting Sioux is the not so Golden Gophers 16-17-2, UND is 6-0 all time against the Gophers in the WCHA playoffs in Grand Forks, ND. In the last 14 games against the Gophers, the UND Fighting Sioux are 8-3-3, six of these games have gone to over time.

[Box Score]

Cross posted at the Sin Bin.

The NHL Trade Deadline and the Red Wings (Redwing77)

Just like the Wild, the Red Wings didn't do much. They made two trades, a bubble player/prospect for another and a veteran washout for a younger winger. Neither look to be an impact player for this year and probably next year as well.

It was very disappointing that we couldn't make a move on a goaltender. I would have LOVED to see Halak in Red Wing red... or better yet, make true the rumors around Tomas Vokoun and bring him to Motown.

I think Howard is going to be a good goaltender, but I'm not sold on him as a #1.

I am sold on the fact that "WasGood" is done. At least he's done as a #1 goaltender in Detroit. Not a bad career for him.

Detroit, though, is with Chicago and New Jersey in that they're not exactly swimming in cap space. Only making it worse is the fact that there is a HUGE question in depth after the current NHL goaltending duo. McCallum might be a good one, but he's a ways out and facing an upward battle after looking dismal in the 2008-9 World Juniors. Daniel Larsson has seen sparing time in the NHL and looks to be the only one even remotely close to NHL ready. Other than McCallom, the Wings have two former NCAA goaltenders in Notre Dame's Jordan Pearce and Yale's Alec Richards in their ECHL affiliate. Neither are NHL material yet...if at all.

Overall, there are teams that are hit by the injury bug and play ok despite it... Detroit isn't one of them. What makes it worse is that they SHOULD have been able to. Osgood SHOULD have been a good #1 goaltender...but he wasn't. Datsyuk and Zetterberg SHOULD have been as dynamic as they've been the past two years... they're still good but they're not.

Oh well. Hopefully Chicago can get Huet and Niemi to play out of their minds so I can see Toews do well at least.

Derek Boogaard suspended for hit on Ryan Jones

This was the hit that had the Internet buzzing last night before I went to bed. Being a Wild fan I have to admit it's really an unnecessary hit that Boogaard didn't need to make. According to Mike Russo the Boogieman has already had a conference call with league executive Mike Murphy this morning meaning we will probably be seeing a spin of the Colin Campbell wheel of justice. Since Boogaard is a one dimensional goon and a repeat offender the league will probably throw the book at him and they should. Edit: I want to go on record that I am a Boogaard fan but you have to play within the rules of the game. The NHL has stepped up and issued a two game suspension for the hit.

The Beat writer David Staples for the Edmonton Oilers isn't all that impressed with Derek Boogaard as well. Check out his thoughts about Boogaard in last night's blog post.

So it happened again, just as it's happened so many times with Derek Boogaard and an Edmonton Oiler, Boogaard -- the very definition of a goon hockey player -- making an illegal hit and almost crippling Edmonton winger Ryan Jones.

This wasn't a hockey play, this was a crime on ice, the kind Boogaard is known for, and the kind he will continue to commit in NHL rinks until some player gets badly injured and decides to sue Boogaard, his coach, his franchise and the NHL.

All of them are complicit in Boogaard's ongoing, illegal on-ice violence. Why do I say that?

Because each time Boogaard maims someone, or comes close to maiming them, he is not handed the kind of sentence that might stop him from maiming again. Last year he got five games for an atrocious elbow to the head of Brandon Prust. He should have been suspended for the season for that vicious late hit, another evident intent to injure
[Edmonton Journal]

Here is an reoccurring argument that I have seen before about players like Derek Boogaard they don’t play very good hockey and they are basically one dimensional players, one could call them fighters on skates, albeit not very good skaters either. I find these comments interesting since the Oiler have their own verision of Boogaard in Zack Stortini who is a little more talented and has 118 minutes in penalties and has been in 13 fights this season.

There should be no place in hockey for the likes of Boogaard. In 243 career NHL games, he has two goals, 14 points and 527 penalty minutes. He is not a player who can fight, he's a fighter who can't play. He's so lame on the ice that in three years of major junior play he only scored two goals.

His only job is to intimidate, threaten, beat and maim.

Will the NHL review this kneeing of Jones and give Boogaard a good, long suspension? The rest of the season is certainly in order for such a blatant attempt to injure.

I'm certainly not holding my breath. If there's one thing that the NHL is, it's soft on crime.

P.S. Boogaard's explanation after the game to Joanne Ireland of the Journal: "I was just trying to make a hit and he slipped out of the way."

Hab's hack Maxim Lapierre Suspended 4 Games

Props to KuklasKorner. Habs player Maxim Lapierre was given a four game suspension for this hit. I can't believe that there wasn't a penalty called on the play and the ref was right there.

TORONTO (March 5, 2010) – Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games, without pay, for a late hit on San Jose Sharks forward Scott Nichol during NHL game #949, last night, the National Hockey league announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Lapierre will forfeit $14,248.72. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

At 1:50 of the third period, Lapierre knocked Nichols into the end boards with a late, careless hit. Nichol was injured on the play and did not return to the game. No penalty was assessed on the play.

UND 5 MTU 1

As I type this blog post the Seawolves just scored against the UMD Bulldogs to take a 3-2 win. UAA Senior forward Kevin Clark scored the game winning goal for the Seawolves. So there is a good chance that the Sioux can finish in 4th place in the WCHA standings, the Sioux hold the tie breakers against the Bulldogs. For the UAA fans that are down on their coach, I believe Dave Shyiak is a good head coach and has the UAA program going in the right direction. Shyiak's team this seaosn has only been swept once at home all season long, incidentally the Seawolves got more points against DU than the Gophers and Sioux combined.

Sioux start slow against the Huskies

I think it would be an understatement if I said the Fighting Sioux came out flat tonight to start the game against the MTU Huskies. The Sioux were behind and didn't score a goal until the 10:22 mark of the second period, it was then that the Sioux started getting things going and scored three goals in about a minute and twenty seconds.

MTU penalty kill dead last

You would have thought that Sioux would be licking their lips with the prospects of facing a team that is ranked dead last on the penalty kill. MTU is ranked 58th out 58 team nationally on the penalty kill and the Fighting Sioux went a lethargic and a pathetic 1/7 on the power play. That can not happen in the WCHA tourney and NCAA tourney if they want to be sucessful. Just for the Record UND is the 10th ranked team on the power play in the nation as well. I do have to give credit to the MTU goalie Kevin Genoe who was impressive and stopped 43/48 shots. Genoe is only a freshman and stopped 50 shots on goal last weekend against the Wisconsin Badgers and I like what I have seen of him this season. Genoe also stopped Brad Malone on a break away in the first period.

Zajac leads the way for the Sioux

The Sioux almost never lose when Dary Zajac scores a goal for the Fighting Sioxu. Tonight Zajac had a big night leading with a three point night (2g-1a-3pts). Zajac was a victim of the famous, "I intended to blow the whistle and that prevented Zajac from having a hat trick and a four point night.

[Box Score]

Cross posted at the Sin Bin.

Erik Johnson vs Jamie Benn

Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Erik Johnson is not known for being a fighter, he has been in two fights his whole NHL career, ironically both fights havve been in the second half of this season. I am also sure that Erik Johnson will probably never try to throw off his elbow pad while his opponent is knocking the snot out of him. Ouch! Benn feed Johnson about three hard punches to the head.

Mix-up sent Gophers men's hockey team scrambling for arena

Someone post the picture of the Target Center Ice on Gopher Puck Live. The Gophers and Badger will be playing in the Target Center this weekend. A screw up of epic proportions has moved the game to downtown Minneapolis, while there have been a few reports of bad ice, that could play into the Gophers favor against the speedy Badgers, I don’t think all is lost nor is this a complete buzz kill. In the past when attending the Final Five when it was at the Target Center I still have very fond memories of the Target Center. The Sioux winning the Final Five against the Badgers in 2000 was a blast.

While it’s defiantly not the Xcel Energy Center, there were a lot off good bars and restaurants with in walking distance of the Target Center. My favorite was Gluek’s restaurant and bar, Gluek’s also has one of the best beers, the Gluek’s Dark was my favorite.

If you don't mind spending an arm and a leg the Hard Rock Café right across the street from the Target Center and is a good place to eat and enjoy a beer. I ate there two years ago during the Final Five and it cost me about 25.00 for a beer and supper.

Forgive the Minnesota Gophers for feeling like guests in their hometown this weekend against interstate hockey rival Wisconsin.

The esoteric sport of synchronized skating is staging its national championships at Mariucci Arena, forcing the Gophers to prepare for the Badgers in a season-ending series that will determine Minnesota's first-round playoff opponent.

Communication became muddled in the bureaucratic swamp between the athletics department and arena officials, who booked the U.S. Figure Skating event for March 3-6 believing this weekend's Badgers-Gophers series was in Madison, Wis.

A mad scramble to rebook garnered stern opposition from U.S. Figure Skating and brought lawyers into the picture, producing a buyout price deemed too expensive to swallow, according to Mariucci manager Craig Flor.

With Ridder Arena hosting the Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's final and the Xcel Energy Center booked for high school wrestling, the Gophers were caught in the headlights until Target Center officials stepped into the breach.

The Timberwolves are on the road this week, which allowed the downtown Minneapolis arena to host its first hockey games in 10 years.

Tonight's match is the first collegiate game there since March 18, 2000, when North Dakota beat Wisconsin in the WCHA Final Five title game.
[Pioneer Press]

Brad Miller Time - The Senior Class

Couple of things that I noticed. Nice to see Chay Genoway back in work out gear. Ben Blood has cut his hair again, I think he looks meaner with a shaved head.

I think this week's episode was one of more funnier ones. While this is a small class of seniors all of them have played a big role their four season at UND. Zajac is an awesome defensive player. Chay Genoway is one of the most dynamic players on defense in the WCHA and Chris VandeVelde has been a solid offensive player his last three seasons at UND.

Friday Morning pontification

There has been some speculation on where the Fighting Sioux are going to finish in the final WCHA standings. A few weeks ago home ice looked bleak but the Fighting Sioux made up 10 points in 15 days and switched places in the standings with the C.C. Tigers to secured home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs for the 8th season in a row.

The Sioux can finish as high as 3rd place, however, 4th or 5th place probably seems more realistic for the Fighting Sioux. It's a long shot and not very probably, but the Fighting Sioux could finish 3rd, first the Fighting Sioux have to sweep the MTU Huskies and the SCCC Huskies would have to lose to games to the MSU-M Mavericks. While I would love to see that, I don’t see that happening, in fact the chances of that happening are slim and none, but also there isn't a snowballs chance in hell. In fact if that happens I will donate a $100.00 to LGM's favorite charity and wear a purple cow jersey to the Final Five (a game of LGM's choosing).

Sioux will be UAA fans this weekend

I think it’s safe to assume that the Fighting Sioux will be Seawolves fans this weekend. If UAA can get a split with the UMD Bulldogs and the Fighting Sioux can get a sweep of the MTU Huskies, the Sioux would end up in 4th place. UND holds the tie breaker over UMD and SCSU. UAA has only been swept one time at home this season so a split isn’t out of the question this weekend, either is a sweep. UMD has cooled off the second half of the season going 8-8-0 and 2-6 in February. Last year UAA swept the Bulldogs at the DECC before the Dogs went on a run to the NCAA tourney. Breaking it down further; UAA has been tought to beat at the Sully and has split with UND, DU, MSU-M, C.C., and UMN. While UAA might only be sitting in 8th place, UAA has more points against DU than the Gophers and the Sioux combined (1-2-1, 3 pts).

Weekend Match-Ups (Sioux 7)

Well, here we are, we’re at the end of the regular season in the WCHA. We have a full slate of games, 5 WCHA series to play this weekend. Congratulations to the Denver Pioneers, they are the 2009-2010 MacNaughton Cup champions. To go with that, we now know the home teams for the playoffs, DU, UW, SCSU, UMD, and UND, but the order can still change. Since this is the end of the regular season, let’s look back to the past and see how close the WCHA coaches were in their preseason voting.

Pre-Season
Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches
1. Denver
2. North Dakota
3. Wisconsin
4. Minnesota
5. St. Cloud State
6. Minnesota Duluth
7. Minnesota State
8. Colorado College
9. Alaska Anchorage
10. Michigan Tech


CURRENT WCHA STANGINGS
(Everyone has played 26 league games now)

TEAM………………....W-L-T….PTS
1 Denver…………….......18-4-4….40
2 Wisconsin………….....16-7-3….35
3 St. Cloud State……..15-8-3….33
4 Minnesota-Duluth…..15-10-1…31
5 North Dakota………....13-10-3…29
6 Colorado College…....11-12-3…25
7 Minnesota…………......11-13-2…24
8 Alaska-Anchorage.....8-16-2….18
9 Minnesota State……..8-17-1….17
10 Michigan Tech……...4-22-0…..8


WCHA

#12 Minnesota-Duluth at Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend the Bulldogs split a series with the Gophers in Duluth, and the Seawolves got swept by their in-state rival UA-Fairbanks.

With a win on Saturday night the Bulldogs stopped a three game losing streak, but are still struggling going 3-7-0 in their last ten games. I watched both UMD-UM games last weekend, and the announcers pointed out that UMD has gotten 43% of their goals on the power play. That tells me one, they do have a great power play, and two if you can keep it 5-on-5 you have a good chance of beating the Bulldogs. UMD goalie Hjelle got his first WCHA shut-out on Saturday, so congrats to him. The Seawolves continue to put together some wins, they now have an overall record of 10-20-2 and a home record of 6-9-0. UMD is 6-7-1 away from the DECC this season. UAA seems to have developed a pattern in WCHA home series, they tend to lose on Friday and then bounce back in win on Saturday. I think this is due to coaching adjustments made by UAA bench boss Shyiak. I don’t think people give Shyiak enough credit for his coaching abilities. With that, it is never an easy task for anyone making the trip to Alaska. SPLIT


#3 Wisconsin at Minnesota
Last weekend the Badgers swept the MTU Huskies in Houghton, and the Gophers gained a split on the road with UM-Duluth.

Back in the first week in November these teams split their series in Madison. The Badgers locked up home ice last weekend are now looking to finish in 2nd place. The Gophers gave themselves hope on Friday with a win, but lost on Saturday, which coupled with UND’s win puts them on the road next weekend. These games are on Friday night and then Sunday afternoon, which is a weird time for a game, in my opinion. The Badgers only need one win to hold on to 2nd place in the league (I believe they have the tie breaker on SCSU) so it is possible if they win on Friday, they might rest up some on Sunday’s game. The Gophers now in 7th place might look to move up to 6th place and pass CC. The Gophers can somewhat control who they might want to face in the playoffs. Even the FSN guys said UM would have a better chance of pulling off an upset in the first round if they avoid UW or UND. UW is one of the hottest teams in the WHCA and country now, and well, UM is not so hot. It will be interesting to see if the Gophers can elevate their game to match the Badgers in this Border Battle. If the Gophers can score first and get the crowd into it, they have a chance. If the Badgers score first, and silence the crowd, the Gophers might phone it in. BADGERS SWEEP


#1 Denver vs #15 Colorado College
Last weekend the Pioneers got a road swept at the expense of MSU-Mankato, and the Tiger got swept at World Arena by the visiting Sioux.

Earlier this season the DU won at CC, and then they tied in Denver. DU is on a 10 game winning streak and CC is on a 4 game losing streak. Since the calendar flipped to 2010, the Tigers are 3-9-0 in WCHA play, while the Pioneers are 9-1-1. Obviously these teams are on two different paths in the second half of the season. However, this is the battle for the Gold Pan. I can see DU taking a game off in this series, since they really have nothing to play for, they have got the MacNaughton Cup, and pretty much sown up a number one seed in the NCAA tourney. The Tigers are still alive to make a NCAA berth, but need to start winning games to get back in the mix. Of course, I’m sure DU knows this as well and would like to have CC watching the NCAA tourney from their dorm rooms. All this makes a tough series to predict, but the crystal ball has been extraordinary that last couple of weeks, so I will consult it again. SPLIT


Michigan Tech at #7 North Dakota
Last weekend the Huskies got swept in Houghton by the UW Badgers, and the Sioux swept the CC Tigers in Colorado Springs.

Earlier this season the Sioux swept the Huskies in Houghton. The Huskies will be on the road this weekend, and next weekend too, when they will travel to Denver to take on the Pioneers in the first round of the playoffs. The Sioux will be hosting a 1st round playoff series next weekend, most likely against CC or UM. The Sioux have now surged into the top ten in the PWR (which mimics NCAA selection) and look to get locked into a number two seed in the NCAA tourney. The Sioux are now on a season best 5-game win streak, and will most likely add two more wins to that streak this weekend. The hapless Huskies own a 1-12-0 road record and have had another rough season. MTU has scored the fewest goals in the league, and UND has given up the fewest. Those stats don’t bode well for the Huskies this weekend. All of MTU’s 4 WCHA wins have been against teams from the state of Minnesota; they have beat MSUM, SCSU, and UMD twice. I don’t see UND letting their foot of the gas pedal this weekend. SIOUX SWEEP


#4 St. Cloud State vs Minnesota State Mankato
Last weekend the Huskies enjoyed a weekend of rest, and the Mavericks were swept by the Pioneers in Mankato.

This is a home and home series for these teams, Friday in Mankato and Saturday in St. Cloud, since this is the only games these teams play against each other this year. However, it is possible that these teams my tangle again next weekend in the first round of the playoffs. The Huskies have been surprisingly good this season and will likely finish 3rd in the league. The Mavericks gave DU a scare last weekend and had a chance to upset them in the OT, but lost with 13 seconds left. MSUM only has one win over the top 5 teams in the conference; they beat UW back in October. In WCHA play the Mavericks are 3-9-0 in 2010, while SCSU is 8-3-1. I don’t see the Mavericks sweeping this weekend, or for that matter getting any points. SCSU SWEEP.

Jan Brady State University :)

Remember folks it's just a game. :) The count down begins; 3-2-1...

Booth and Richards settle things on the ice

Mike Richards hit David Booth with this questionable high hit to the face on October 24th, 2009. The hit by Richards cost the Florida Panthers forward 45 games and a shot at making the USA Olympic team. There was no additional disciple from the NHL on the hit by Richards and the Florida Panthers organization was too happy about that. Last night David Booth got some sweet revenge by fighting Mike Richards and having a great game on the score sheet. This is why I like the NHL they settle things on the ice like men.

David Booth wore the smile of satisfaction as he sat at his locker after tonight’s game. Not only did he have a goal and three assists, giving him six points the past two games, but he had them against the Flyers.
And he fought Mike Richards, the guy who dealt him a concussion with a controversial hit Oct. 24. The concussion kept Booth out 45 games and cost him the silver medal he would have gotten with a spot on the USA Olympic roster. His apology from Richards: a text message.

Booth did what I would have done.

It’s one thing to have your teammates stick up for you, which they did when the teams last played Dec. 21 in Philly. It’s another to not only do it yourself, but pay back Richards and the Flyers with a great offensive night.

That’s how you show you’re back.

Here’s what Booth said after the game about what went down with Richards 2:45 into the first period:

“That was kind of expected. I don’t really know what I’m doing when I fight,” Booth said. “But it was just a lot of…I don’t know what’s built up, but what could have been this year if you were playing, you think about that. But that’s behind me now. I don’t have to worry about that. I can just go out there and play and be free of this. I’m back to 100 percent.”

Booth added: “I just wanted to get it off my chest. It wasn’t cheap or anything. I just asked him if he wanted to and he was good enough to give me my shot. [Sun Sentinel]

Thursday Links

Check out Julie from Hockey Buzz as she shoots her interview from the Fighting Sioux's locker room.

According to Brad Chay Genoway is finally working out again but has yet to re-join the Sioux in practice.

The weekly Chay Genoway update is that he is working out on his own, but has not re-joined team workouts or practice or anything like that. He still has a way to go. As said previously here, his return may depend on how far UND can go this season. But Genoway's intention is to play again this season.

Exile on Dayton Street explains his love for the Golden Gopher hocke fans.

You will be surrounded by people who believe that gopher hockey is the pinnacle of existence. You know how whenever you see the gophers announcers on FSN, they're constantly talking about how great the gophers are, how the other team can't skate with the gophers, how the gophers have halos around their heads and everyone else should just be grateful to be basking in the glow of gopher hockey? That doesn't just come from nowhere. They're not just trying to leave a stinky taste in your mouth, Gopher fans actually seem to think this way.

The understatement of the week or possibly the year. Duh!

In my 15 years of covering DU hockey and working with coach George Gwozdecky, I witnessed a first today. With two regular-season games remaining, Gwoz freely admitted the top-ranked Pioneers (24-6-4) are safe and sound when it comes to the 16-team NCAA Tournament. [Denver Post hockey blog]