Former Golden Gopher and current Boston Bruins star Phil Kessel is on a roll right now.
Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to 15 games -- the best in the NHL this season -- and Michael Ryder scored two goals Saturday night to lead the Boston Bruins to a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.
The Boston Bruins are going to have cap issues in 2010-2011.
The Minnesota Wild are having scoring issues. The Wild have scored two goals in the last three games. Make that 3 goals in the last four games after they lost to the lowly LA Kings.
Wild superstar Marian Gaborik is skating with the team but not ready to play just yet.
Sounds like Marian Gaborik should have taken the Wild's offer when he had the chance. From the looks of it Marian is going to be hard pressed to get the 8 million the Wild offered him earlier this fall.
Sean Avery decision coming on Sunday? It appears that Avery is probably going be done in Dallas.
First off my daughter likes Dora and I was watching the show with her the other day so I haven't gone soft or lost my mind. Life is all about our kids.
I suppose the guys I sit with at the games aren't going to let me go anymore. I figure because the Sioux swept and I wasn't there the guy that sits two seats over is going to make a ruling that I am no longer allowed to go to the games. Nah, it isn't going to happen.
Oh well, one must count there blessing. Life isn't too bad I was able to watch the sun set on the Atlantic ocean. Then go back to my room and watch the games on the Sioux Extra. After looking at the weather forecast back home southern Georgia looks pretty good. It just doesn't feel like the Christmas season though, I went into a store and there was Christmas music but it feels like May or early June. I made the snide comment that it doesn't feel like Christmas without snow. This brought the stare of some snotty rich high society woman. This is coming from a guy wearing shorts when some were wearing parkas. I kid you not; on Jeykll Island today a young woman was wearing a parka. It's was 55 degrees out people. We drove by a golf course and there was no out there.
Lastly, how many of our friends in North Dakota were able to eat fresh craw fish, shrimp and crab legs preceded by raw oysters?
Game analysis
I am surprised to see Jase Weslosky give up as many goals as he did this weekend. I wonder if Weslosky is injured or just having a rough spot in his season? The Sioux have lost to Huskies once in the last 11 games and are 6-1-4 against them during that period.
The Brad Eidsness line 16 games played, record 9-5-1 GAA 2.72 SV% .909. Eidsness was ok this weekend but a little sloppy tonight after playing good last night. Eidsness needs to be sharper on his angles control his rebounds. In Brad's defense SCSU has a pretty dynamic line that can score at any moment. Ryan Lasch (3-13-16) and Garrett Roe (9-16-25) had one point between the both of them for the weekend. How do you like the Sioux defense now?
UND is 5-1-0 in the last six games and have beaten some decent hockey teams. If it wasn't for a bad call by an official UND could be unbeaten in 6 games. Will they finally crack the top 20 in USCHO and the INCH power rankings?
Offensive Sioux
The Fighting Sioux are starting to crank up the offense they have scored 24 goals during the month of December that is an average of 6 goals per game. The Sioux have scored 32 goals during their 5-1-0 run. That is an average of just over 5 goals per game. Sounds better than the 1.8 goals per game average.
Three Stars of the game
1.) Brad Miller 0-3-3 1/+1 (top scorer on the team)
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I didn't cover the positives last night because my fellow classmates and I were having a party and its tough to write after a few margaritas. I think there is much to be positive about. Here are a few of the postive points as I see it.
~Since starting out the season 0-3 the Sioux are 8-5-1.
~Mario Lamoureux scored his first goal as a Fighting Sioux.
~Ryan Martens career points total before this season was 4-15-19 this season he is 7-6-13 already. Martens has 8 points in his last three games (4-4-8). Can we say on fire.
~A win against a tough WCHA opponent and the Sioux get their WCHA season record to 5-5-1.
~With the Win last night Brad Eidsness is now 8-5-1 GAA 3.63 and SV% .913.
The Sioux beat the Huskies 3-2. It would be interesting to see if the SCSU radio announcers are still excited about playing the Sioux after this game. Solid effort by the Sioux, Ryan Martens continues to play at a very high rate. Martens has 8 points in the last three games (4-4-8). That is three wins in a row for the Fighting Sioux. Brad Eidsness continues to play great in net; 8-5-1 Gaa 2.63 and a SV% of .913.
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NDK-4 Matt Watkins (2-Interference) STC 0x4 5:13 STC-2 John Swanson (2-Interference) NDK 0x2 5:27
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STC-3 Nick Oslund (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) NDK 0x3 2:06 NDK 2 - 1 6x6 LL Ryan Martens (7) (Darcy Zajac) 5:25 NDK (+): 8,11,20,5,3,G31 STC (-): 25,5,13,3,19,G33 NDK 3 - 1 6x6 GW Mario Lamoureux (1) (Brett Hextall, Brad Malone) 12:35 NDK (+): 9,26,22,24,14,G31 STC (-): 6,17,25,26,12,G33 STC 2 - 3 6x6 EA Sam Zabkowicz (1) (Garrett Raboin) 19:59 STC (+): 3,6,11,7,12,16 NDK (-): 11,20,29,5,25,G31
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You can't make this story up. This is one of these nice stories, but you can't phantom it happening in today's NHL.
By NHL.com Staff --- The Washington Capitals dressed a 6-foot-7 producer for their Web site as their backup goaltender for the start of Friday's game against the Ottawa Senators because of an injury to Jose Theodore.
Brett Leonhardt, who played Division III hockey in college and has dressed for practices when the Caps needed an extra goalie, signed an amateur tryout contract before the game. He took part in the pregame warmup and was on the bench when the game began at the Verizon Center.
*Former Black Maine Bear Ben Bishop has been recalled by Peoria to fill in for the the injury of Manny Legace.
*Former Sioux hockey players T.J. Oshie didn't make the Blues latest western road trip.
*Canucks all-world goalie Roberto Luongo is not ready to return to the line up yet.
*All world hack and punk Steve Downie has been sent back to the minors.
*The following former college hockey players are listed as the top rookies on TSN; 5. Blake Wheeler, RW, Boston, 8. Matt Hunwick, D, Boston, 10. Alex Goligoski, D, Pittsburgh, 16. Kevin Porter, RW, Phoenix, 27. T.J. Oshie, C, St. Louis, 31. Ryan Jones, LW, Nashville, 33. Kyle Okposo, RW, N.Y. Islanders, 34. Kyle Turris, C, Phoenix, 37. Jesse Winchester, RW, Ottawa, 47. Andreas Nodl, RW, Philadelphia.
Here are some interesting trade rumors involving a few ex-college hockey players.
TRADE RUMOURS -- The Ottawa Sun dredges up more Ilya Kovalchuk trade rumours, which prompted an immediate and vehement denial from Thrashers GM Don Waddell. The Edmonton Journal chimed in, though, wondering if the Oilers would give up Shawn Horcoff, Tom Gilbert, Andrew Cogliano and a first-round pick to get him. Wouldn't the Thrashers at least consider that?
*Former Fighting Sioux Jason Blake is currently on fire with 6 points in his last 3 games.
Before the skates were even sharpened for the pre-season, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, intentionally, sold his team short.
In his daily media scrums, the Windsor, Ont. born coach stuck to the Maple Leafs party line. He was convinced, or so he said, that his hockey club was at their most distressing point in recent history.
In an effort to quell the thirst of 41 years of futility, Wilson made a brilliant P.R. move with the Toronto media.
He used the dreaded word no fan wants to hear, whether it's true or not.
Rebuild.
That word sent ice through the veins of an impatient, yet loyal, fan base.
Former general manager Cliff Fletcher was even piling heaps of misery on the club he assembled. Fletcher went out of his way to say that his team had one top six player in the line-up.
Following a opening night 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, all those carefully prepared doom and gloom speeches by Wilson set the ground work for a team that isn't as bad as advertised.
Today, that presents an interesting quandary for the Leafs.
After 29 games played, the Leafs are 11th in the Eastern Conference, five points behind eighth place Buffalo and 11th in the NHL in scoring with 83 goals, one behind ninth place Calgary.
They are neither good or bad and you can't say they are clearly out of the play-off race.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) hired Wilson and Burke on the proviso that they were going to strip the team down and build it back up into a contender.
So what does new GM Brian Burke do with this team?
Does he stand pat or does he trade away assets in return for valuable draft picks?
Although there are four or five movable assets on the Leafs, Tomas Kaberle is clearly the diamond in the coal mine.
The Czech is a rarity in the league: a highly skilled, puck moving defenceman. No doubt several teams, who fancy themselves as Cup contenders, are salivating at the chance to grasp Kaberle from the hands of a new GM looking to make a early splash.
However, it's not going to be easy to move the defenceman. He has a three year no-trade clause that won't expire until July 1 of 2009.
The upside of moving him would be worth the effort.
Since the lockout he has led NHL defenceman in scoring with 49 goals and 169 assists, 30 points more than Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle.
Kaberle's $4.5 million (US) salary is a bargain considering Boyle earns $6.6 million (US) with San Jose.
According to Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons, Kaberle has been looking over NHL rosters to see where his style of play best fits in.
Simmons also says that one possible rumour has Kaberle going to Washington for Karl Alzner and a first and second round pick.
The draft is a crap shoot but given Burke's track record and the Leafs need to acquire assets, the risk may be worth the reward.
Kaberle has a reasonable salary and is young enough to play for three to five more years. If he waives his no-trade clause, he may find himself with a chance to win now and Burke gets what he needs for later.
Check out this great post by BrettB of St Louis Simply Put. Yep the NCAA is a horrible way to develop talent for the NHL ranks. You would have to be an idiot to infer something as outrageous and ridiculous as this person claimed that the NCAA is bad at developing NHL talent.
So the NCAA isn't a place to develop into the Pro's? In lieu of some idiot that told me the NCAA isn't the best place for future NHL players, and then for the sole argument of which school has developed more players into the NHL? I decided to compile some stuff. Now keep in mind this list is of NCAA Schools that had the most players who played in the NHL in 07-08, which by the total of players is 253! 253 players, meaning I could field 11 and half teams in the NHL with former NCAA players :
16(North Dakota) Drew Stafford,David Hale,Ryan Bayda, Jonathan Toews, Matt Greene, Brady Murray, Brandon Bochenski, Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Jason Blake, Matt Smaby, Ryan Johnson, Matt Jones, Brian Lee, Mike Commodore(Shocked at the low count, but understandable they rebuilt from their last championship, and 11 of them joined the NHL within the past 4 years. I'll go with 7 Great NHL'ers in this crowd)
Well, my predictions last week were absolutely atrocious, but like they say that's why they play the games. Last week saw mostly sweeps, with SCSU sweeping MSUM, UW sweeping UAA, DU crushing MTU twice, UND sweeping Harvard, and UMD taking 3pts from CC.
It's a tight league race, 7-points separate 1st from 9th, and teams 2-9 have 2 or 4 games in hand on the 1st place team. Or think of it this way a five-hundred record puts you in 7-8th place, WOW. With that in mind lets look at this weeks tilts.
#17 St. Cloud State(5-5-0) at North Dakota(4-5-1) Both teams are coming off of sweeps, both are basically looking to start a streak and make a push towards the top of the WCHA standings. SCSU is 2-3 on the road and UND is 3-3 at home. After last weekend it looks is if the Sioux might have found their scoring touch, 22-goals in the last 4 games, and Eidsness is continuing his good play and getting better every week. SCSU has scored 11 goals and given up 10 in their last 4 games. I'm going with the home team here, Sioux sweep. Oh, and by the way the weather might strand the Huskies in GF longer than they want :)
#6 Denver(7-4-1) at #14 Minnesota State(5-5-2) The Mavericks have only 1 win in their last 4 games (1-2-1) have the purple people eaters gone on a holiday diet? They need some wins to keep pace and stay in contention for home ice in March. Mean while, DU is wanting to get some points to help solidify their spot in the top of the WCHA. Last season each team sweep the other, "there is no place like home" for these to foe's. With taking history into account, which is dangerous, I'm taking the Purple over the Red, 3-pts for the Mavericks.
Michigan Tech(1-10-1) at Minnesota-Duluth(4-4-4) Oh, woe is me, or woe is Tech. Their last win was on Halloween night, maybe they should only play on holidays?? The Bulldogs have been on a roll, a 5game unbeaten streak (3-0-2). Lets see, Tech 10 losses in 12 games, only 28 league games, outlook = bad. UMD call them even after 12 games, outlook optomistic. Especially if they sweep the Huskies. So, I'm picking the Bulldogs in this dog fight, sweep for UMD.
#9 Colorado College(6-4-2) at #2 Minnesota(6-1-3) OOOHHH, a match-up of top ten teams (sat/sun series). CC started they year winning, but since the calendar hit November the Tigers have been mediocre. The question in C. Springs is what will happen this weekend, a sweep and all is forgive, get swept and we can say the wheels are coming off. The Gophers are also in the same boat as the Tigers, UM is 1-2-1 in their last four games, winless in the last 3. I think both teams are feeling the pressure to win. I'm going call this series a SPLIT, but who wins what nights, thats a toss-up.
Bye weeks - Wisconsin(7-5-2) and Alaska-Anchorage(4-6-2)
Former Fighting Sioux hockey player Zach Parise made the top ten top bargins.
THN.com Top 10: Best bargains 8. Mike Komisarek, Defenseman, Montreal - $1.7 million Komisarek isn’t flashy (or healthy at the moment), but he’s quickly becoming one of the better shutdown defenders in the league. He hits, fights and is a top-three blueliner making the salary of a fifth or sixth guy.
3. Zach Parise, Left Wing, New Jersey – $3.125 million The most expensive player on the list is a bargain nonetheless. Parise has exploded this season and currently sits tied for 15th in league scoring. His 15 goals, 28 points, plus-12 rating, four power play goals and two overtime goals all lead the Devils. With numbers like that and having just the seventh-highest salary on the team, Parise is a bargain.
1. Tim Thomas, Goaltender, Boston – $1.1 million The quarter-mark favorite for the Vezina Trophy ranks first on this list because he’s first in the league in GAA (1.90), second in SP (.940) and is the No. 1 tender on the No. 1 team in the East.
You would think that Joe Sakic could afford to pay someone to blow snow out of his drive way, now he is going to be out for another three months because he injured his hand trying to unclog his snow blower.
TSN.CA STAFF: Sakic is actually fortunate that the injury was not worse. Reportedly the future Hall of Famer was attempting to dislodge some wet snow from around the blades. While the blower was off, when the snow was cleared the torque from the blades jammed his hand.
Sakic suffered five broken bones in his hand and required pins in all three injured fingers.
If you read the Star and Tribune today you will see that Marian Gaborik skated with the team for the first time since October 30th. Here is the video. Lets hope that the often injured super star can get himself in game shape soon so he can join Wild line up. The Wild are in dire need of his offense skills soon, and he could add a spark to the line up. Lets hope Gabby can stay healthy so the Wild can either sign him to a contract or get something of value in return for him. It will be interesting to see what the Wild can get via a trade if Gaborik decided that he wants to test the free agent market.
Here is the latest article that I wrote for Sean Leahy's Going Five Hole.
Out of Pocket
Due to the fact that I am in Georgia for Training and the limited schedule for this weekend I won’t review any of the upcoming matchups. In my opinion there really isn’t any that are very intriguing.
Air Force comes back to earth
I didn't think Air Force would go through the rest of their conference games without losing in their conference schedule, I don’t care what the hockey pundits say. This is why the RPI, PWR and KRACH don't mean much till after the first of the year and probably later into February and March. The Numbers change all of the time and mean little until you have played about 2/3 of your schedule. Even then, the numbers can change drastically each week with a bad loss or a quality win. Air Force losing to RIT this past weekend would be considered a bad loss. Again nothing is won till ALL the games have been played out and the Brackets have been set. There is no award for winning the most games at the half way point of the season.
Someone posted this article by Jess Meyers over on Sioux Sports.
I guess maybe Jess is trying to inflame the masses at UND again, any thing to take a shot at UND right Jess? The article has one thing right NDSU isn't interested in having hockey and it doesn't take much to know that NDSU isn't interested in starting a Division one program. It isn't going to happen. Jess would know that if he read the Fargo Forum and listened to the people in the know at NDSU.
Seriously, NDSU doesn't have the stomach or the patience to start a division one hockey and the hopes of having a division one hockey program went out with their former athletic director in a park in Nebraska. I am not sure why you would even write this article? Sigh. If NDSU wants to start a hockey program come on in the water is warm.
Sioux fans may cringe just a tiny bit if boasting but their hockey program’s seven national championships, as Bison backers can note that their hockey team has eight national titles to its credit. Of course, the titles won by NDSU have been at the college club level, not in the varsity realm.
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll 1 Notre Dame (41) 12-3-2 976 1 2 Minnesota ( 3) 7-2-5 918 3 3 Miami ( 3) 10-3-3 873 4 4 Boston University 10-4-1 805 7 5 Northeastern 11-3-2 759 6 6 Denver ( 1) 11-5-1 731 8 7 Boston College 9-5-2 723 2 8 Princeton ( 2) 10-2-0 678 9 9 Colorado College 9-5-4 570 5 10 Cornell 7-1-2 544 13 11 Vermont 9-3-2 507 12 12 Air Force 14-2-0 445 10 13 Michigan 11-7-0 438 14 14 Minnesota State 8-5-3 272 11 15 New Hampshire 7-6-3 214 19 16 Wisconsin 9-7-2 183 NR 17 St. Cloud State 10-6-0 169 NR 18 Dartmouth 6-4-0 163 16 19 Nebraska-Omaha 9-4-3 156 18 20 Alaska 8-4-4 86 20 Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota-Duluth 47, Alaska-Anchorage 45, North Dakota 44, Mass.-Lowell 40, Ohio State 39, Maine 35, Massachusetts 23, Yale 14, Niagara 2, Quinnipiac 1
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll Dec. 8, 2008 Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week 1 Notre Dame (30) 12-3-2 504 1 2 Minnesota (2) 7-2-5 459 2 3 Miami (Ohio) (2) 10-3-3 443 4 4 Boston University 10-4-1 380 5 5 Denver 11-5-1 347 7 6 Northeastern 11-3-2 337 8 7 Princeton 10-2-0 307 9 8 Boston College 9-5-2 279 3 9 Cornell 7-1-2 220 13 10 Colorado College 9-5-4 212 6 11 Vermont 9-3-2 192 12 12 Michigan 11-7-0 126 14 13 Air Force 14-2-0 120 10 14 Minnesota State 8-5-3 46 11 15 New Hampshire 7-6-3 33 15 Others receiving votes: Dartmouth 16, Wisconsin 16, Nebraska Omaha 13, St. Cloud State 9, Maine 6, Yale 6, Alaska 4, Ohio State 4, Massachusetts Lowell 1. ***
INCH Power Rankings1. Notre Dame 2. Minnesota 3. Denver 4. Boston University 5. Princeton 6. Miami 7. Northeastern 8. Vermont 9. Boston College 10. Cornell 11. Air Force 12. Michigan 13. Colorado College 14. Minnesota State 15. Dartmouth 16. Wisconsin 17. Ohio State T-18. Alaska and Nebraska Omaha 20. Minnesota Duluth Dropped out: UMass Lowell Bubble-licious: New Hampshire, St. Cloud State
Analysis I am surprised the C.C. stay so high in the rankings after being tied and beaten by UMD this past weekend. Air Force stay in the top 15 even with their loss to RIT. To the guys at INCH just pick one team to be 18 and one to be 19 it really isn't that big of a deal.
Buffalo Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn denied a report that the western New York hockey club is for sale.
In an article to be released later this week, Western New York Hockey magazine writer Jim Kelley reports that Quinn is looking for a buyer for the Sabres and that he reportedly approached Research in Motion co-founder Jim Balsillie with an offer.
Quinn released a statement on Dec. 8 denying the Sabres are for sale. “Absolutely not,” Quinn told TSN.ca. “We’re not selling the team, we’re not moving the team to Hamilton, there is absolutely nothing going on.”
The magazine also stated that part of the purchase bid would require that the Sabres play some of their home games out of Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ont. Quinn stated that the hockey club would “never entertain discussions to move the team out of Buffalo.”
Richard Rodier, Balsillie’s lawyer, issued a statement, via e –mail, on behalf of Balsillie.
“From time to time reports surface quoting anonymous sources claiming a club is for sale, or that Jim is doing this or that with respect to a particular club. These reports have generally been inaccurate,” Rodier said. “More importantly, these reports unfairly put the incumbent owners in the uncomfortable and potentially destabilizing situation of having to comment on these inaccurate reports. As such we have no comment beyond referring you to the statement made by Larry Quinn, the Managing Partner of the Sabres.
Earlier this year the Toronto Star reported that Balsillie approached Sabres owner Tom Golisano in 2007 about a potential sale. Galisano rejected Balsillie’s offer in December of that year saying that he would never move the team out of Buffalo.
This marks the third time Balsillie has tried to buy a hockey club.
In 2007 Balsillie made a $220 million (US) offer for the Nashville Predators. Balsillie went a step further by offering season tickets to hopeful hockey fans in Hamilton. The deal for the Penguins went sour after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Balsillie that the NHL would restrict his control of the team.
This news comes as the Board of Governors hold their annual meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. The crumbling economy is expected to be at the top of the discussions.
Tip of the hat to the Illegal Curve. This hit last season on Patrice Bergeron by Randy Jones got him a two game suspension. This just seems out of wack to me.
Check out this quote: Bettman was out to protect the integrity and dignity of his sport. I get that. Bravo, I say. But there have been more important events on Bettman's watch that have gone far less punished. He's making his stand now, here, around Sean Avery? This can only mean, after all these years, John Ziegler must still be phoning in the plays (from Switzerland, of course).
For instance, Randy Jones came close to killing Patrice Bergeron a little over a year ago, and the Flyer defenseman received only a two-game suspension. Well, if that's all it's worth, fine. But in one instance a guy attempted to take another guy's head off, and then Avery, standing in a locker room in Calgary, shot off his mouth, making himself look far more vulgar and idiotic than anyone he was attempting to smear. Two games for the former, six for the latter. Huh?
This is the comments that the NHL has determined to be more offensive than Randy Jone's dirty hit on Patrice Bergeron.
Atlantic Hockey Army 0 at Canisius 2 Mercyhurst 11 at American Int'l 1 Bentley 2 at Holy Cross 3 RIT 3 at Air Force 2 ot
Analysis Air Force suffers their first conference loss of the season. With the loss it drops Air Force from 1 to 11 in the KRACH rankings.
CCHA Miami 4 at Western Michigan 2 Northern Michigan 2 at Lake Superior 2 ot: NMU wins shootout Michigan 5 at Michigan State 3 Notre Dame 1 at Ferris State 0 Alaska 1 at Nebraska-Omaha 1 ot: Alaska wins shootout
Analysis Miami stays hot. Michigan pastes Michigan State this weekend hanging 11 goals on the Michigan State goaltenders. All-American goalie Jeff Lerg lets in nine goals on the weekend. UNO comes back to earth.
CHA Alabama-Huntsville 2 at Bemidji State 4
Analysis Bemidji sweeps their hated rival Huntville.
EZAC St. Lawrence 0 at Cornell 1 Union 5 at Yale 2 Clarkson 3 at Colgate 3 ot Rensselaer 7 at Brown 2
Analysis Cornell keeps winning, in typical boring Cornell fashion. I can't believe fans like to watch that kind of hockey. Boring! RPI wins in a more exciting fashion.
Hockey East Boston University 3 at Boston College 1 Mass.-Lowell 2 at New Hampshire 3
Analysis Boston University takes 3 points on the weekend.
WCHA Minnesota State 2 at St. Cloud State 6 Minnesota-Duluth 7 at Colorado College 4 Denver 6 at Michigan Tech 1 Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Wisconsin 7
Analysis The BADgers sweep the Seawolves. With the win the BADgers take over first place in the WCHA with a 7-5-2 record. Note; the Badgers have played 14 games in league play the most in the WCHA. All other WCHA teams have either played 12 or 10 games. UMD Bulldogs takes three of four point from the C.C. Tigers. The Purple cows from MSU-M are swept by the SCSU Hussies. DU takes it to the "Real Huskies". Minnesota play the dreaded "Bye" team.
Non-Conference Robert Morris 4 vs. Ohio State 7 North Dakota 4 at Harvard 3
I didn't think Air Force would go through the rest of their conference games without losing. This is why the RPI, PWR and KRACH don't mean much till after the first of the year and probably later into February and March. The Numbers change all of the time and mean little until you have played about 2/3 of your schedule. Even then the numbers can change drastically with a bad loss or a quality win. Losing to RIT would be considered a bad loss. Again nothing is won till ALL the game have been played out and the Brackets have been set. There is no award for winning the most games at the beginning of the season.
CHN: RIT forward Andrew Favot scored with 38 seconds left in overtime to lift RIT. Air Force suffered its first home loss and first conference loss of the season. The Falcons fell to 14-2 overall this season and 11-1 in the AHA. The win for RIT marked the highest ranked team the Tigers have ever defeated. The Falcons immediately dropped from No. 1 to No. 11 in KRACH, most likely a more reasonable assessment anyhow. “This was a gut-wrenching loss,” head coach Frank Serratore said. “The story of the game was our inability to score on the power play and our 5-on-3’s in the game. When you let a team hang around like we did, it is going to come back to haunt you. We played a lot better than we did last night, but our inability to convert on the power play cost us. The only thing you learn from losing is losing.”
