Erik Johnson suspended two games by the NHL

Former Gopher and current Colorado Avalanche Eric Johnson has been suspended two games by the NHL for his dirty slash on New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen. Personally, I think it should be longer.

NEW YORK - Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson has been suspended for two games, without pay, for slashing New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen during NHL Game No. 878 in New York on Saturday, Feb. 8, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The incident occurred at 12:09 of the third period. Johnson was assessed a minor penalty for slashing. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average annual salary, Johnson will forfeit $38,461.54. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

(Video) Former Gopher defenseman Erik Johnson looking at a Shanaban

) 

Former Golden Gophers and current Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is facing supplemental discipline for this dirty/brutal slash on Islander New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen. It will be interesting to see what kind of punishment is given to Johnson. (Shanaban)

NHL.COM --- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will have a phone hearing Tuesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a third-period slash on New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen on Saturday night.

Nielsen was skating for a loose puck in the Avalanche's zone when Johnson slashed him on the wrists with 7:54 left in the third period. Johnson was given a two-minute penalty on the play.

The following grounds for the proposed supplemental discipline are being considered: slashing. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to these infractions accordingly upon further review

Thoughts on the slash? How many games will he be facing?

Team Russia's lines

s/t to RMNB Puck Daddy's Dmitry Chesnokov reported the lines.

Forwards:
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeni Malkin – Alexander Semin
Vladimir Tarasenko – Artem Anisimov – Nikolai Kulemin
Alexander Radulov – Aleksandr Svitov – Ilya Kovalchuk
Alexander Popov – Alexei Tereschenko – Viktor Tikhonov

Defensive pairings:
Anton Belov – Nikita Nikitin
Alexei Emelin – Evgeni Medvedev
Andrei Markov – Slava Voynov
Ilya Nikulin – Fedor Tyutin

UND vs. UMD - Tickets still Available

Get your tickets at umdbulldogs.com... It's worth the trip if you can swing it.

USA Women blitz Switzerland 9-0

It was a very good day for the American women, Monique Lamoureux, Amanda Kessel, Kendall Coyne each scored two goals for team USA.

First period -- 1. USA, Monique Lamoureux (Jocelyne Lamoureux, Meghan Duggan) 9:20; 2. USA, Brianna Decker (Amanda Kessel, Hilary Knight) 10:07; 3. USA, Kessel (Kendall Coyne) 10:15; 4. USA, Knight (Kelli Stack, Julie Chu) 14:23; 5. USA, Kessel (Coyne, Decker) 15:42 (pp)

Second period -- 6. USA, M. Lamoureux (J. Lamoureux, Lee Stecklein) 13:26

Third period -- 7. USA, Coyne (Stack) :49; 8. USA, Coyne (Kessel, Megan Bozek) 3:59; 9. USA, Alex Carpenter (Josephine Pucci) 15:39

Goalie saves -- USA: Molly Schaus 6-2-2 -- 10; SWI: Florence Schelling 12-15-17 -- 44

Good Afternoon, thought I would put up a few pictures that I found on twitter today. Some good stuff out there today. Some hockey humor as well as a few Olympic pictures.

That's so hot. RT @CapitalsHill: The Kessels head to Sochi and you guessed it, here's a combo of the siblings we made pic.twitter.com/Cn7WEjvuJA
— Кевин Янг (@kevinyoung90) February 10, 2014

Doughty, Canada's blue line tops Olympic defensive rankings - http://t.co/BWeyfxcTGp pic.twitter.com/axIKyAprUP
— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 10, 2014

Best one yet! @JocelyneUSA17 @mduggan10 @moniquelam7 #triplets RT @angshult: You score,then I score,then you score! pic.twitter.com/QXuz13A4Ld
— Julie Robenhymer (@JulieRobenhymer) February 10, 2014

Acha refs...@ClubHckyProblms pic.twitter.com/dwKqZRXy7Z
— Kollen Bayko (@kollenbayko) January 25, 2014

Poll Monday, UND 17th

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

February 10, 2014

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Boston College	(47)	21- 4-3	997	2
2	Minnesota	( 3)	19- 4-5	917	1
3	Union		19- 6-3	889	4
4	Ferris State		20- 6-3	817	5
4	Quinnipiac		20- 5-5	817	3
6	St. Cloud State		15- 6-5	746	6
7	Massachusetts-Lowell		19- 7-3	715	7
8	Wisconsin		16- 8-2	646	12
9	Providence		15- 7-5	618	8
10	Michigan		14- 7-3	509	10
11	Cornell		12- 5-5	493	9
12	Northeastern		16- 9-3	474	11
13	Yale		12- 7-4	344	13
14	Clarkson		17-11-2	267	14
15	Vermont		15- 9-3	262	19
16	Minnesota-Duluth		13- 9-4	254	17
17	North Dakota		14- 9-3	209	16
18	Denver		13- 9-6	201	15
19	Colgate		14-11-3	105	NR
20	Notre Dame		16-12-1	92	18
Others receiving votes: Maine 64, Western Michigan 25, Minnesota State 15, Ohio State 14, Air Force 8, Nebraska-Omaha 1, New Hampshire 1.

Team USA Lines and Defense Pairings?

These are correct. For today at least. RT @SI_sarahkwak: D pairs are:
Fowler-Suter; mcdonagh-Carlson; shattenkirk-Martin; orpik-Faulk (https://twitter.com/SI_sarahkwak/status/432939873473794048)

This appears to be the forward lines and defense pairings in practice so far for the American Team. Love the All-WCHA line of Zach Parise, David Backes and T.J. Oshie.

Sarah Kwak (@SI_sarahkwak) tweeted at 11:21am - 10 Feb 14: USA lines: jvr-pavekski-Kessel; Parise-Backes-oshie; brown-Kesler-Kane; Callahan-stastny-pacioretty ( https://twitter.com/SI_sarahkwak/status/432927352956657664)

Sunday afternoon randomness

Just for comparison sake, I thought I would take a look at a few of the top players in our league as well as a few nationally… I think sometimes we don’t give our opponents enough credit, but there’s some good players in division I college hockey.

In the NCHC, the forwards for SCSU, Miami and UNO are very good. Also, I included SLU because UND played them and split with them. That series actually started UND’s good run. I also put the players national rank next to their name.

While there’s a lot of gloom and doom today, Since UND started the season 4-7-1, UND has 10-2-1 record over the last 13 games. That’s not too bad in my opinion.

Boston College – just because

1 Johnny Gaudreau, B.C. (24g-32a—56pts)
2 Kevin Hayes, B.C. (20g-27a—47pts)
4 Bill Arnold, B.C. (11g-30a—41pts)

SLU, because UND played them

3 Greg Carey, SLU (14g-32a—46pts)
28 Matt Carey, SLU (16g-16a—32pts)
40 Jeremy Wick, (13g-15a—28pts)
51 Justin Baker, SLU (8g-19a—27pts)
51 Gavin Bayreuther, SLU (7g-20a—27pts)

Former league opponent

18 Jean-Paul Lafontaine, MSU-M (18g-18a—36pts)
20 Matt Leitner, MSU-M (9g-24a—33pts)

Next Week’s opponent

6 Riley Barber, MU (17g-19a---36pts)
7 Austin Czarnik, MU (10g-24a—34pts)
- Sean Kuraly, MU (6g-12a—18pts)

SCSU league member

37 Nic Dowd, SCSU (15g-12a—27pts)
37 Jonny Brodzinski SCSU (14g-13a—27pts)
40 David Morley, SCSU (8g-18a—26pts)
60 Kalle Kossila, SCSU (12g-13a—25pts)

UNO Mavericks
16 Josh Archibald, UNO, (21g-11a—32pts)
71 Ryan Walters, UNO (6g-18a—24pts)
71 Dominic Zombo, UNO, (13g-11a—24pts)
98 Brock Montpetit, UNO, (10g-12a—22pts)
98 Jake Guentzel, UNO, (3g-19a—22pts)

One of ours

98 Rocco Grimaldi, UND (10g-12a—22pts)

I am sure all of us are frustrated with the results this past weekend... Saturday night was an utter disappointment to the fans, the coaching staff and the players... I don't think one person in the UND locker room was satisfied with the results of that game... Hate to break it to the Hakstol haters, but Hakstol isn’t going anywhere... I would bet even money on it. Even if the UND doesn't make the playoffs, he's going back behind the bench next season.

First, Hakstol is a proven coach that has one of the best coaching records in the NCAA over the last 10-years. Also, he's got a big contract and it would take a lot of money to buy him out.

Second, UND isn't going to fire him, it’s not going to happen, unless he did something criminal. Do any of us think that's going to happen? I don’t. I think Hak is a good coach and will continue to get the job done.

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota set to Battle (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers Half Way Point (thehockeywriters.com)

Tale of two Clarke Saunders

Coming to Saturday’s game, Clarke Saunders has been rock solid in net, posting a 2-1-0 record, with a 2.03 goals against average and a 933 save percentage. In Friday night’s game against Nebraska-Omaha, Saunders was very good, stopping 31-of-33 shots in route to a 4-2 victory.

What a difference a night makes.

In Saturday’s game against the Mavericks, Saunders gave up six goals on 35 shots (.829). On Saturday nights, Saunders is 0-2-0 with a 4.81 goals against average and a .849 save percentage. That being said, you can’t fault the goalie alone. Defensemen were flat footed and caught out of position all night long.  The power-play was a major factor in Saturday’s poor play.

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Clarke Saunders Holds Off Mavericks (thehockeywriters.com)
• North Dakota Coughs up Two-Goal Lead against UNO (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: Clarkes Saunders Fills in for the Injured Zane Gothberg (thehockeywriters.com)

Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais tossed from game

During UNO's 6-3 win against UND, Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais was tossed from the game by NCHC official Andy Thiessen for not putting a player in the penalty box after his team took an unsportsmanlike penalty.  No one really knows what was said, for the Mavericks to get an unsportsmanlike bench penalty.

“We dealt with some adversity at the start of the game,” UNO Maverick forward Josh Archibald said. “With (Dean) Blais getting kicked out of the game, our team battled back and good things happen when you battle back. We’re lucky to come out on top tonight.”

“I don’t really know how we got the two-minute unsportsmanlike penalty for the bench minor to start things off. I just don’t think that coach agreed with it and a lot of the guys on the bench didn’t agree with it. He just kept saying no to the ref and I guess he got thrown for that.”

It appears that coach Blais being tossed from the game, actually fired up his hockey team. Archibald would go on to score a natural hat trick and add an assist for a four-point night.

Archibald was asked if his coach getting tossed from the game fired up the Mavericks.

“If he (coach Blais) is going to do stuff for like that for us, we’re going to battle for him any day.” 

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Taking a Look at the UNO Mavericks with Matthew Semisch (thehockeywriters.com)

UND vs. UNO game two lines

UND Forward Lines

21 Brendan O’Donnell–19 Rocco Grimaldi–27 Luke Johnson

9 Drake Caggiula–16 Mark MacMillan–15 Michael Parks (A)
28 Stephane Pattyn (A)–13 Connor Gaarder–11 Derek Rodwell

29 Bryn Chyzyk–17 Colten St. Clair– 22 Andrew Panzarella

UND Defense Pairings

18 Dillon Simpson ©–24 Jordan Schmaltz
5 Nick Mattson–6 Paul LaDue

4 Keaton Thompson –  2 Troy Stecher

UND Goalies

33 Clarke Saunders

30 Matt Hrynkiw

Scratches: 20 Gage Ausmus, 7 Wade Murphy, 25 – Mitch MacMillan, 26 - Coltyn Sanderson, 31 Zane Gothberg (injury).

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks Forward Lines

20 Jake Guentzel – 14 Dominic Zombo (A) – 15 Josh Archibald

17 Ryan Walters – 12 Brock Montpetit – 16 Austin Ortega

23 Johnnie Searfoss (A) – 19 Tanner Lane – 13 Zahn Raubenheimer

6 Matt Youso – 9 James Polk – 10 Alex Simonson

UNO Defense Pairing

8 Jaycob Megna – 11 Nick Seeler

7 Michael Young ©– 28 Brian O’Rourke

2 Brian Cooper – 24 Ian Brady

UNO Goalies

29 Kirk Thompson

1 Reed Peters

On our way to Grand Forks and Ralph Engelstad Arena to grab 6. Home of the Mavsssssssssss
— Ryan Walters (@ryan_wally17) February 6, 2014

UND Hockey: Clarke Saunders Holds Off Mavericks - http://t.co/T15uNUpoyq #hockey #THW pic.twitter.com/hrK5f51vaW
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) February 8, 2014

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota set to Battle (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: The Weekend in Review (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: Great Northwest Showcase Nets Mixed Results (thehockeywriters.com)

Look who's on top in the NCHC

I know there's a lot of hockey left, but the log jam at the top continues.

Related articles

• NCHC Hockey: Non-Conference Record Should Cause Some Concern for the NCHC. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCHC Hockey: No Second Thoughts or Regrets (thehockeywriters.com)

UND vs. UNO game one shot charts

As you can see by the shot charts, UND was under attack in the second period and Clarke Saunders kept UND in the game. Many of the shots he faced were in close from the slot. Eight of those 18 shots were from between the faceoff dots. It might not have been UND’s best effort, but UND found a way to win, despite being outshot 33-22.

UND will try to get the sweep against the Mavericks tonight. Hopefully, we will see the traditional circle of sticks at center ice tonight.

UND vs. UNO game one lines

UND Forward Lines

21 Brendan O’Donnell–19 Rocco Grimaldi–27 Luke Johnson

9 Drake Caggiula–16 Mark MacMillan–15 Michael Parks (A)
28 Stephane Pattyn (A)–13 Connor Gaarder–11 Derek Rodwell

29 Bryn Chyzyk–17 Colten St. Clair– 7 Wade Murphy

UND Defense Pairings

18 Dillon Simpson ©–24 Jordan Schmaltz
5 Nick Mattson–6 Paul LaDue

20 Gage Ausmus –  2 Troy Stecher

UND Goalies

33 Clarke Saunders

30 Matt Hrynkiw

Scratches: 4 Keaton Thompson, 22 Andrew Panzarella, 25 – Mitch MacMillan, 26 - Coltyn Sanderson, 31 Zane Gothberg (injury).

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks Forward Lines

20 Jake Guentzel – 14 Dominic Zombo (A) – 15 Josh Archibald

17 Ryan Walters – 12 Brock Montpetit – 16 Austin Ortega

23 Johnnie Searfoss (A) – 19 Tanner Lane – 13 Zahn Raubenheimer

9 James Polk – 25 Justin Parizek – 10 Alex Simonson

UNO Defense Pairing

8 Jaycob Megna – 11 Nick Seeler

7 Michael Young ©– 28 Brian O’Rourke

2 Brian Cooper – 24 Ian Brady

UNO Goalies

1 Reed Peters

29 Kirk Thompson

On our way to Grand Forks and Ralph Engelstad Arena to grab 6. Home of the Mavsssssssssss
— Ryan Walters (@ryan_wally17) February 6, 2014

Related articles

• UND Hockey: The Weekend in Review (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota set to Battle (thehockeywriters.com)

UND Hockey: Breaking down the Numbers

Here’s something that sticks out for me. From November 15, 2013, UND has a 10-4-2 record. During the 16 games UND averaged 2.81 goals per game. Also, UND gave up 2.56 goals against per game. Breaking it down further, during the last 11 games, UND compiled a (9-1-1) record. During that time, UND scored an average of 2.90 goals per game and gave up 2.00 goals against per game.

Power penalty-kill struggles  

Here’s something that I would be concerned about. Going into the first series against the Mavericks, UND had killed 32-of-33 penalties. That was tops in the nation. Since that time, UND’s penalty-kill has struggled and ranks 52nd nationally going percent (65-for-86) at 75.6 percent. During those 17 games, UND has allowed two or more power-play goals in seven- of-17 games. During those 17 games, UND has a 11-4-2 record. (UNDSID)

Power-play not much better

UND’s power play has also struggled in recent weeks, having gone 3 for 28 (10.7%) over the last seven games. UND has been held without a power-play goal in four of its last five games. One exception, on January 24, 2014, against DU, UND went 2-for-4. (UND SID)

 UND………………………………………………………………UNO

2.79 (5th)..................................Goals For............................ 3.21 (2nd)

2.71 (3rd)............................. Goals Against.......................3.38 (t-7th)

+0.08 (6th).........................Scoring Margin..................... -0.17 (7th)

18.3% (5th)............................ Power Play..........................19.2% (4th)

81.5% (5th)............................Penalty Kill......................... 76.0% (8th)

14.5 (5th)...........................Penalty Minutes.....................15.0 (3rd)

Record during 17-game special teams skid

Nov. 10 at Nebraska Omaha* W, 3-2 (1-0-0)

Nov. 15 #20 Minnesota Duluth* (Midco SN) W, 4-2 (2-0-0)
Nov. 16 #20 Minnesota Duluth* (Midco SN) L, 6-3 (2-1-0)
Nov. 22 at Boston University (NBCSN) L, 3-1 (2-2-0)
Nov. 23 at Boston University (NESN) (ot) T, 3-3 (2-2-1)
Nov. 29 St. Lawrence # (Midco SN) L, 5-2 (2-3-0)
Nov. 30 St. Lawrence # (Midco SN) W, 3-2 (3-3-1)
Dec. 6 at Western Michigan* (CBSSN) W, 3-2 (4-3-1)
Dec. 7 at Western Michigan* W, 3-2 (5-3-1)
Dec. 13 Northern Michigan (Midco SN) W, 3-2 (6-3-1)
Dec. 14 Northern Michigan (Midco SN) W, 3-1 (7-3-1)
Jan. 10 Colorado College* (CBSSN) W, 5-3 (8-3-1)
Jan. 11 Colorado College* (Midco SN) W, 3-2 (9-3-1)
Jan. 17 at Bemidji State (LPTV) (ot) T, 1-1 (9-3-2)
Jan. 18 Bemidji State (Midco SN) W, 4-2 (10-3-2)
Jan. 24 at #16 Denver* (CBSSN) W, 4-2 (11-3-2)
Jan. 25 at #16 Denver* (Root Sports RM) L, 3-0 (11-4-2)

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Long Video Review Confirms Goal (thehockeywriters.com)
• North Dakota Slips Past St. Lawrence (insidehockey.com)

UNO's Ryan Walters predicts UNO Sweep against UND this weekend.

On our way to Grand Forks and Ralph Engelstad Arena to grab 6. Home of the Mavsssssssssss
— Ryan Walters (@ryan_wally17) February 6, 2014

Someone quick post this on the North Dakota hockey team's bulletin board in the locker room. I am sure that Blaiser is going to be happy that one of his players is posting this stuff on social media as well. Don't worry, I have a screen shot as well, so it will be there for all eternity.

T.J. Oshie's game winning goal against Boston

Of all the people to beat my favorite hockey team, it had to be former Fighting Sioux forward  T.J. Oshie. Actually, Boston Boston overcame a 2-0 deficit to come back and tie the game in the third period. Before Oshie won it for the Blues in overtime.

Oh marvelous, T.J. Oshie scores for the Blues to beat the Bruins in O.T.
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) February 7, 2014

Related articles

• T.J. Oshie hit on Torey Krug (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

New York Islanders begin fire sale.

Ha, ha, ha... In retrospect, it appears that the Wild were very smart to not resign Pierre-Marc Bochard.... Sounds like you can get a bag puck for him now. Garth Brooks is doing a hell of a job in New York.

#Isles have traded Peter Regin and Pierre-Marc Bouchard to Chicago for a 2014 4th-round pick.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) February 7, 2014

T.J. Oshie hit on Torey Krug

Well former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie was engaged tonight. I wish the refs would have let Johnny Boychuk and Oshie fight first. Osh had his glove off.

The box score reads.
17:59 BOS Johnny Boychuk Roughing - 2 min against T.J. Oshie
17:59 BOS Johnny Boychuk served by Shawn Thornton Roughing - 2 min against T.J. Oshie
17:59 STL T.J. Oshie Roughing - 2 min against Johnny Boychuk