Good article on the shootout.

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

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

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

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

On to the officials

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

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

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

Bucky Gleason dead wrong on the Bruins.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gaborik done for the season?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from Russo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wild Fans frustrated with their horrible team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Milan Lucic works Tim Wallace

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

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

Ryan Bayda settling into role.

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

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

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

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

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

Brian Lee Scores his frist NHL Goal.

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

Wednesday morning linkorama.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Parrish different city same story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

T.J. Oshie-Keith Tkachuk-David Backes

David Perron-Patrik Berglund-Brad Boyes

Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen

Bruins getting balanced scoring.

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

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

NCAA Round Up (Going Five Hole)

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

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

Denver Cup January 2 & 3 2009

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

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

The Dodge Holiday Classic. January 2 & 3 2009

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

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

Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamout Cup January 2 & 3 2009

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

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

Shillelagh Tournament January 2 & 3 2009

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

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

Goon’s Top Ten

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

INCH Power Rankings.

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

Wild fans are fed up with their crappy team.

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

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

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

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

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

Uh-oh.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Koivu agreed, to a degree.

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

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

The Debris from the GLI.

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

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

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

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

Links to the BSU series.

*The Beaver pond.

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

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

*BSU player Stats

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

*Northern Student newspaper.

Jordan Schroeder's simply amazing.

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

Sad news on Alexei Cherepanov

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

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

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

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

Bruins 2 Thrashers 1 (Kessel scores again)

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

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

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

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