'Hab' or 'Hab' Not? That is the Question

by Redwing77

Well, my Wings are eliminated and the questions surround their head coach prevail, but that's not really news.  What IS news is that Tampa Bay is on the verge of total collapse.

Yup.

Game 6 is HUGE.  Why?  Because I truly believe that Tampa has ZERO chance at advancing if the series goes to seven games.  ZERO.

For this reason, Game 6 is must watch.

The series has been  a roller coaster.  We've seen Carey Price play like he's the most overrated overhyped goaltender in NHL History and then, next thing you know, he's invincible.  We've seen Bishop play above his head, and then suck in such epic fashion that you wonder how he even got a pro contract.  And the Montreal power play?  Maybe that's the key to the whole thing.  COMPLETE NON FACTOR in the first three games.

In fact, one may argue that the Montreal Power Play benefited Tampa!

In any case, apart from that, I think the only other item that jumped out to me in this series is that Andrej Sustr is a hot-headed liability.  Montreal's power play is back running and Carey Price continues to be epic, so Tampa Bay isn't going to be able to take careless penalties anymore.

My prediction?  I still believe Tampa can finish Montreal off.  But I'm not betting on Tampa beyond Game 6.

Video: Capitals Disallowed Goal Against the Rangers

Capitals forward Joel Ward thought he had scored the go-ahead goal against the Rangers in the second period of Friday's game. Unfortunately for Ward, the refs ruled that he had interfered with the Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

On the non-goal, the ruling on the ice was that Joel Ward's contact with Lundqvist prevented him from making the save. No penalty. No goal.

— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 9, 2015

Ruling per the Washington Post

According to NHL rule 69.1, “Goal will be disallowed if . . . an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgement of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.”

Daily News: Tom Brady will be suspended by Roger Goodell

Any one have a prediction on how long of a suspension that Tom Brady will receive? I have seen were some want Brady to be suspended for the whole season. That would be pretty harsh in my opinion.

Gary Myers, New York Daily News -- Tom Brady will be the highest-profile player ever suspended in the 96-year history of the NFL.

Roger Goodell’s decision is expected to be announced next week, and it is no longer a matter of if the NFL commissioner will suspend Brady, but for how long he will suspend him.

In conversations I’ve had with several key sources who always have a good sense of what goes on at 345 Park Ave., there is little doubt that Goodell considers Brady’s role in DeflateGate a serious violation.

The NFL is convinced, according to sources, that connecting all the dots of the evidence supplied by Ted Wells leads to one conclusion:

Brady cheated.

Finally, are we to believe that the New England Patriots are the only team that cheats? I hardly think so.

According to Myers who talked to multiple sources, Tom Brady is going to  receive a two-game suspension. It also looks like the Patriots are going to be fined $250,000.00

Deflated balls or not, does anyone think that the result against the Colts would have been any different. I am not condoning cheating, but the Patriots beat the Colts 45-7. DeflateGate or not, the Patroits were a better team than the Colts.

(UPDATED) Herald Poll: Vote for the Two "No Nickname" Options

The Grand Forks Herald has an on-line poll where you can vote for the two no nickname options. North Dakota is winning by a large margin. Update: the vote tally keeps going up. Don't forget to vote.

POLL: Of the two "no nickname" options, which would you choose for UND? VOTE HERE: http://t.co/Y3UMa9hVN6 pic.twitter.com/SstxRrYUtM

— Grand Forks Herald (@gfherald) May 7, 2015

Tampa Bay Lightning: Tyler Johnson's Buzzer Beater Puts Habs on the Brink

The Tampa Bay Lightning have pushed the Montreal Canadiens to the Brink of elimination when Lightning forward Tyler Johnson scored the game-winning goal at the one-second mark of the third period.

I must say that I am shocked. I thought that the Habs would have put up a bigger fight in this series. All the games that I have watched in this series have been exciting and full of action.

:-) pic.twitter.com/YysYOlC1JI

— Callum Fraser (@CallumFraser18) May 7, 2015

Picking a Nickname Won't End the Discussion

First, there's about four months will UND's fall sports kick off the 2015-16 season. For those keeping track on the calendar, UND plays a football game against the Wyoming Cowboys in 120 days. The question is, what will UND's sports teams be referred to when next season rolls around?

Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald kind of reinforced an opinion that has picked up steam since UND dropped the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald -- There were roughly 2,000 submissions—about 50 pages worth—of people suggesting "North Dakota," "UND," "University of North Dakota," "no nickname," "none," or another variation.

This is an option that should get heavy consideration from the university's Nickname Committee and President Robert Kelley for multiple reasons.

Last month, the Committee laid out criteria for the new name, saying that the main priority is that it promotes a sense of pride and passion, that it is distinctly UND's and that it is a unifying and rallying symbol.

At this point in time, it's hard to believe they can pick anything that will be unifying and rallying. A new nickname is much more likely to creative a divide on campus and among the alumni community. That's not something the school and community needs right now.

One opinion that I keep hearing, UND needs to have a nickname for marketing purposes. Really, I don't see why? In hockey, UND already is a big player on the national stage and is well recognized. The Women's hockey team is quickly getting there as well. I just don't buy it. UND has played without a nickname for three years already.

As an Alumnus of UND, I am very worried that the nickname committee will feel pressured to hurry up and pick a nickname. This is how we will end up with a silly nickname like Sundogs or Flickertails.

"Stick with UND" (so everyone can keep calling them Sioux) http://t.co/g29kAUZvO8 Not the answer.

— SiouxFootballInsider (@SiouxFootball) May 6, 2015

What would you find more marketable, a Richardson Ground Squire or North Dakota? Check out exhibit A. That's a rodent, where do I start? That looks like the mascot of one of our rivals. Yuck! That mascot would cause UND to be the butt of many jokes.

Now if we're looking for good nickname choices, this is one that I could get behind. Introducing Reapers or Grim Reapers.

Finally, selecting a nickname probably isn't going to end the debate. I predict, that things will only get more heated when UND finally decides on a nickname. This matter has been festering for years. It's not going to end here this summer.

You're dreaming if you think it will.

People are still going to yell Sioux at the end of the anthem. It's going to happen. Nothing is going to change that.  There are going to be people that will be unhappy with the final product.

Replacement Nicknames

Yesterday the University of North Dakota released a list of potential names for replacing the UND nickname. There are quite a few entertaining nickname suggestions. There were also some funny nicknames that won’t be used. You could write five or six blog posts from that list as well.

People on social media are having a field day with the story. Of course my friend Donna has had a field day as well. True to form, she has made snarky an art form and that's awesome.

Both lists are organized alphabetically and each submission is listed separately, contributing to the length of the documents.

The most-submitted option for consideration appears to be North Dakota, the name the university has used since retiring the Fighting Sioux nickname in 2012. Other popular submissions on the list of considered submissions included the Flickertails, NoDaks and the North Stars.

Johnson noted the process is not a popularity contest based on the number of times a name was submitted. (Grand Forks Herald)

I am concerned when I read the that process isn't a popularity contest. What the hell are we doing then? Wouldn't you pick the most popular nickname or simply "North Dakota".

This is how UND is going to end up with a stupid nickname that no one will be able to get behind. Are we going to end up picking from three crappy nickname ideas or are we going to be able to pick one of the three most popular?  This is also how we are going to end up with a stupid nickname like Sundogs. I will be following this issue very closely. Thoughts?

UND Nickname Suggestion Released

The UND Nick Name Committee has released its names of that will be up for consideration.

Here are the more popular choices. There are some creative nickname suggestions. 

Here's the link to the nicknames under considerations. 

Aviators

BLIZZARD

Cavalry

Explorers

Flames

Nodaks

North Dakota (by far the most popular)

North Stars

Tsunami

Warriors

Here’s the list of nicknames that aren’t going to be suggested 

Fargo Forum Editorial: UND Fans Still Don't Get It

Per the Fargo Forum: Leafy Spurge for the UND fans still don’t get it. I can't wait to see the letters to the editor.

LEAFY SPURGE: To the unreconstructed University of North Dakota fans who say without shame regarding the discredited and retired “Sioux” logo and nickname, “We will never give it up!” That’s akin to saying “Racism,” we will never give it up! “Homophobia,” we will never give it up! “Bullying,” we will never give it up! “Sexism,” we will never give it up! Get over it, kiddies. Times changes. Mores change. A deeper, more complete and more sensitive understanding of American Indian symbols emerges. After years of discussion, debate and eventually thoughtful consideration, the old logo was scrapped. A too-lengthy process has been underway to find a new name. But people of goodwill on both sides of the logo debate have come to consensus about the old one and the need for a new one. Move on.

Crawford takes a Scandella Slap Shot off the Mask

What a slap shot by Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella. Also, it looks like the Scandella slap shot stunned Cory Crawford. No quiet room for Crawford.

Minnesota Wild: Vanek Victim of Poor Officiating

Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek was assessed a two-minute minor for goalie interference. You can watch this play all day long and it's still not a penalty. The on-ice officials in this game should be ashamed of themselves. This is brutal, and some of the worst officiating that I have seen in some time.

You can see that Vanek didn't agree with the call either.

Habs vs. Lightning, Winning goal was offsides

At the 02:06 mark of the second overtime, Tampa Bay Lighting forward Nikita Kucherov scored the game-winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens. There is one problem, the play appears to be offsides. You can see the play in question below. After the game, the Habs coach Michel Therrien wasn't happy with the Lightning being offsides on the zone entry.

Video: Parise vs Toews

A nice video tribute to two former UND fighting Sioux Hockey Players Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews.

Odds for the Stanley Cup

Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup

New York Rangers                     13/4 

Chicago Blackhawks                 4/1 

Anaheim Ducks                         9/2 

Minnesota Wild                         11/2 

Montreal Canadiens                   13/2 

Tampa Bay Lightning                 15/2 

Washington Capitals                  9/1 

Calgary Flames                         12/1 

The odds to win the Stanley Cup come from Bovada,

SWC Bulletin: Jeff Dubay arrested for suspected meth possession after Cottage Grove traffic stop

This is very sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with Jeff Dubay as he meets this struggle head on. Over the years, I've had a few friends that have fought addiction (drug and booze) and it's a tough, uphill battle. Relapses happen. I just hope Jeff can win fight.

Scott Wente, swcbulletin.com --- Twin Cities sports radio personality Jeff Dubay was arrested Wednesday for suspected methamphetamine possession after a traffic stop for speeding in Cottage Grove.

Dubay, 47, was stopped by police around 5 p.m. after he was driving 50 mph in a 35-mph zone near a school, according to Cottage Grove police. Dubay was driving after suspension and had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant out of Wright County for no insurance.

During a search as part of his warrant arrest, Dubay was found in possession of two unused hypodermic needles and a small baggie that contained a trace amount of substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to a police summary of the arrest.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: How Did Your First Round Picks Turn out?

So how did you do? I got them all right the first round. Now it gets dicey.

Grand Forks Herald: Many Oppose UND's Decision to Pick a New Nickname

The Herald has a nice article about fans not wanting to let go of the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald -- Aaron Rients' plan after his UND graduation in December was to get a job at a local accounting firm, find a nice girl and start a family, but with his school looking at replacing its former Fighting Sioux nickname soon, he's having second thoughts about staying in Grand Forks.

"It's stupid that it means this much to me but really, just the thought of being something else doesn't seem right," he said. "I'd have to look at that new logo all day if I lived here."

Rients is one of many in the community and across the country who are vehemently against UND picking a different permanent nickname after retiring its former Fighting Sioux name in late 2012 and playing simply as UND and North Dakota after the NCAA threatened sanctions.

UND President Robert Kelley has remained firm since December 2014 when he said going back to the old name was not an option.

This newspaper article stirred quite a bit of discussion on twitter this morning.

I think most of us know that the University of North Dakota can't go back to being the Fighting Sioux. Doing so would jeopardize their status in the Big Sky Conference. I do like UND being in the Big Sky Conference and there's no way that UND can play as an independent.

We have to look at the big picture. With the Fighting Sioux nickname, UND wouldn't have been able to host the West Regional. this past spring.

I think that most UND fans are worried about the unknown. My biggest concern is that we will end up with a stupid nickname like Sundogs or Flickertails. I can't think of a worse nickname for UND to transition to.

Looks Like a NCAA Hockey Regional

Because of the Baltimore riots, there no fans allowed into Orioles Park in Camden Yards today as the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox played in an empty stadium. Reminded me of an NCAA Hockey Regional in Grand Rapids, Michigan or Toledo, Ohio.

Actually, it's sad that no one was allowed to attend the game today.

Minnesota Wild's Second Round Schedule

The NHL has finally released the schedule for the Blackhawks vs. Wildseries.

Friday, May 1 8:30 p.m. (central) Minnesota at Chicago NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Sunday, May 3 7:30 p.m. (central) Minnesota at Chicago NBCSN, CBC, SN360, TVA Sports

Tuesday, May 5 7:00 p.m. (central) Chicago at Minnesota NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Thursday, May 7 8:30 p.m. (central) Chicago at Minnesota NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

*Saturday, May 9 TBD Minnesota at Chicago TBD, TVA Sports

*Monday, May 11 TBD Chicago at Minnesota TBD, TVA Sports

*Wednesday, May 13 TBD Minnesota at Chicago TBD, TVA Sports

*If Necessary

Kronwall faces Player Safety hearing

It looks like Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall might have finally earned himself a suspension after this hit on Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.  I think that Kronwall might not be able to get out of this one.

NHL Department of Players Safety -- Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall will have a telephone hearing Tuesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a hit against Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday.

Kucherov was hit by Kronwall at 19:00 of the second period. No penalty was assessed on the play and Kucherov remained in the game.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: charging/illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.