Tweet of the Week

My favorite tweet of the week is by Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. Russo makes a great point. Can you imagine spending money on this game? The last NHL game that I attended cost me $77.00. And was more exciting than this gem.

For the most part, this season, the NHL, except for a handful of teams and games has been boring to watch. Almost unwatchable. This game is almost as bad at the 1-0 game that UND lost to BSU on November 20, 2011.

One of the worst hockey games in the history of the sport is scoreless after two...One period to go...

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) January 11, 2016

Alex Ovechkin Nets 500

Washington Capitals All-World forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 500th goal of his career against the Ottawa Senators. IMHO, Ovechkin is one of the greatest hockey players of my lifetime. Ovie joins some pretty good players in the 500 goal club.

Ovechkin 5th fastest #NHL player to 500 goals: 1. Gretzky (575 GP) 2. Lemieux (605) 3. Bossy (647) 4. Brett Hull (693) 5. Ovechkin (801)

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 11, 2016

Picture of the Day

Leaving the Ralph.

A photo posted by Eric J. Burton (@eric.burton.94801) on Jan 3, 2016 at 7:40pm PST

Brad Malone Will Not Be Suspended for Hit on Nick Foligno

Last night, at the 14:55 mark of the third period, former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone laid this hit on Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets captain was injured on the play and has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.  Foligno will not be available for Saturday's game.

Further inflaming the matter for some fans, Malone will not be suspended for the hit. I looked at the hit last night, and I don't know. That was a tough call to make.

Everyone's favorite Blue Jacket Brandon Dubinsky would later challenge Malone for his hit on Foligno.

For those keeping track at home. Malone has now been in five NHL fights this season. That's good for 10th in the NHL. (Hockeyfights.com) It wasn't much of a fight, and it was ruled a draw.



To make matters more interesting, the two teams play again tonight. There could be some fireworks.

#CBJ Dubinsky: "I'm pretty sure that was a head hit. I'm pretty sure it was dirty. (Foligno) is not feeling too good right now."

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 9, 2016

Dave Hodge: Thumbs down to discipline disconnect

First, this article says what a lot of fans have been saying for a very long time, in all levels of hockey. I have begun to refer to this as blow the f'n whistle.

If you monitor social media this is a reoccurring theme, nightly. The refs aren't calling the game of hockey by the book. When fans say it, they're just blind homers.

That being said, someone needed to say it. What gives it credibility; someone from a major  sports channel in Canada put it to print. And now it's out there.

After the NHL lockout of 2004-05, the refs were calling stick penalties and the obstruction. Now, the refs have basically declined back to the days of the clutching and grabbing up and down the ice. No wonder Sidney Crosby can't score, he has two guys in his hockey pants.

Dave Hodge, TSN -- According to the league, the refs aren't making the proper calls.

Corrections made after the fact do nothing to satisfy the teams that deserved better during the game.

Where video review and coach challenges are concerned, it's all about transparency and getting the calls right, but that's not the case with penalty calls. It should be.

Apart from addressing the need to show that the refs and their overseers are working from the same rulebook, the NHL should treat all calls by officials the same way. If the legality of goals can be determined by video and not by the refs' eyes, if coaches can challenge the failure to call goalie interference and offside, hits such as those delivered by Sill and Johansson should be subject to review on the spot, and proper penalties and power plays awarded.

It's too late the following day. And it's too late to make the argument that the refs' judgment needs to be respected. It isn't anymore.

For those wondering who Dave Hodge is, he's been with TSN.CA since 1992.

Thumbs down from @TSNDaveHodge to the NHL's discipline disconnect. READ: https://t.co/rnzXRlfVUK pic.twitter.com/DyHbhQDcZD

— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) January 9, 2016

While we're on the subject of officials and off-ice officials. Zeke from the Hockey Writers also addresses the Department of Player Safety and their lack of consistency.

The NHL DPS comes out a loser. Whatever credibility they might have gained from going after Torres was short-lived. That credibility was lost by a failure, a chronic failure, to enforce player safety in a broader way with any real sense of diligence. For example, the opening night head-butt by Dustin Brown on Logan Couture in the video clip below drew nothing from the DPS. The list of offenses that DPS has managed to ignore is ridiculous. If someone attempted to compile a list of the top ten offenses the DPS ignored, they be swamped by the available material. The only player that needs to fear a harsh reaction from the DPS is Raffi Torres. That sort of hypocrisy not only hurts the game, it insures the DPS has no credibility in the eyes of the people it must be credible to – the players.

Who's the Best Player in College Hockey?

Eric Sorenson of ESPN has his mid-season rundown of college hockey. First I realize that ESPN is stationed in Bristol, Connecticut and they have a hard time seeing past Michigan when it comes to college hockey.

Second, I want to be clear,  Michael Garteig is a great goaltender, but is he really the best player in the NCAA?

Best player: Michael Garteig, G, Quinnipiac

Garteig has been a block of granite for the Bobcats in their 17-1-3 start. The senior broke QU records for career wins (62) and longest shutout streak (194 minutes, 49 seconds) so far this season. His goals-against average is 1.35, which is within striking distance of the D-I record of 1.19, held by Maine's Jimmy Howard in 2004.

For comparison sake: Michael Garteig is ranked fifth in the NCAA, Cam Johnson is first overall. Yes, you read that correctly. Johnson leads the nation in goals-against average and save percentage.

Johnson is currently the top ranked goalie in division I college hockey (9-0-1, 1.07 GAA and .957 save percentage). Since returning from injury, Johnson is (8-0-0, 0.50 goals-against average, .981 save percentage).

Yesterday, Johnson was also named the NCHC Player of the Month for December. Today, Johnson was named the Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) National Division I Player of the Month for December.

All things aside, who's the best player in college hockey?

No. 1/2 QU Men's Ice Hockey Featured On https://t.co/SJEjWyJhZx https://t.co/xufAZSy5NJ

— Quinnipiac Athletics (@QUAthletics) January 6, 2016

Fighting Hawks Nickname not Catching on Quickly

@robport They are still using it the same number of times as before, they just changed when they use it.

— Brad E. Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) January 5, 2016

Don't worry, the Fighting Hawks nickname isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That being said, the nickname isn't catching on as fast as some would like. The University of North Dakota is phasing in the new nickname. This past weekend, P.A. address Darrin Looker didn't say Fighting Hawks at full strength at the end of a penalty kill. This weekend, it was phased in somewhere else.

Looker: “I don't think it's very effective if you kill that penalty and it's met immediately with 11,000+ people booing.”

So for now, it's been removed from parts of the game, But the university still has the name scripted into pregame ceremonies and in other places during the production. So it's almost certain that fans should get used to their new name.

Looker: “Eventually you know the fans are so supportive and so great that they'll come around to it. At the end of the day it's North Dakota, it's the UND culture and that's the number one thing." (WDAZ)

UND Can't Use "Fighting Hawks" Nickname Because Everybody Boos It https://t.co/ZYGK6jE276 #NDPol pic.twitter.com/T2G4b4zEMZ

— Rob Port (@robport) January 5, 2016

UND NO. 1 In USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

January 04, 2016

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	North Dakota	(36)	18- 2-2	976	2
2	Quinnipiac	(14)	17- 1-3	958	3
3	Providence		13- 2-3	866	1
4	St. Cloud State		16- 4-0	825	5
5	Harvard		8- 1-3	789	7
6	Nebraska-Omaha		14- 3-1	786	6
7	Boston College		13- 4-1	697	4
8	Michigan		11- 3-3	623	10
9	Cornell		9- 2-2	568	9
10	Massachusetts-Lowell		11- 4-4	562	8
11	Boston University		9- 6-3	482	11
12	Yale		6- 4-2	412	13
13	St. Lawrence		10- 5-2	348	15
14	Penn State		12- 3-3	336	14
15	Notre Dame		9- 4-6	319	16
16	Bowling Green		12- 5-5	301	12
17	Denver		7- 7-4	195	17
18	Minnesota State		10- 6-4	156	18
19	Minnesota-Duluth		7- 7-3	87	19
20	Rensselaer		11- 7-3	81	NR
Others receiving votes: Robert Morris 49, Michigan Tech 33, Holy Cross 22, Union 21, Merrimack 8.

The University of North Dakota is the number one team this week. This is the first time that they will do so under the new nickname. UND will now have the target on their back.

UAH vs. UND Game 2 Lines

UND freshman Mike Gornall makes his collegiate debut tonight. UND forward Rhett Gardner is out with an injury. Cam Johnson is looking to extend is shutout streak. Johnson needs about 97 minutes to break former Lake Superior State Laker and Boston Bruins goalie Blaine Lacher 375.01.

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Goaltender U(insidehockey.com)

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Mike McFeely Trolls Bison Fans, Again

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of Mike McFeely's shtick, but this is kind of growing on me. I didn't expect McFeely to troll hairy cow fans this much. And he's got a point, I've seen a lot of silly stuff online from Bison fans wanting to move up to FBS and wanting to play to play the big boys of college football.

If any Bison fans watched Alabama game last night and are still saying "Bring on 'Bama," you need to check yourself into rehab pronto.

— Mike McFeely (@MikeMcFeelyWDAY) January 1, 2016

UAH vs. UND game 1

This weekend, the CPS (Bryn Chyzyk, Johnny Simonson and Austin Poganski) line could end up picking up the slack for UND. UND fans will get their first look at Brad Shepherd tonight. Yay!

Tyson Jost Ranked in Sportsnet’s Top 30 2016 NHL Draft Prospects

Over on Sportsnet.CA, they have ranked the Sportsnet’s Top 30 NHL Draft Prospects for December. You can see that North Dakota recruit Tyson Jost is ranked pretty high. USA WJC star, Auston Matthews is ranked number one.

12. (9) Tyson Jost, C, Penticton (BCJHL), 6-0, 195 lb. Scouts are very eager to see him at the World Junior A Challenge in Whitby and Cobourg, Ont. this week. He’s putting up big numbers with the Vees.

Low Expectation for Canadians WJC Team?

Over at Sportsnet.CA, Gare Joyce has an interesting perspective today. I am actually surprised that there isn't more hand-wringing going on north of the border. Especially, since hockey is Canada's national sport. I also believe that if the USA doesn't make some noise in the medal round, there could also be some hand-wringing south of the border, too.

HELSINKI – If you listened to the scouts in attendance at the Ice Hall on Thursday, you come away with awfully low expectations for Canada going into the elimination round.

It’s not the fact that the defending champions will be facing the host Finns, who had an impressive comeback win over the Czechs Thursday.

More to the point, with a 5-2 loss to Sweden, Canada has one regulation win through four opening-round games. Even that comes with a qualifier: Canada rolled over a Danish team that was bound to suffer a letdown in the wake of a tight win over Switzerland that secured the team a spot in the A pool next year.

Thankfully there are no placement games for losing teams in the quarter-final or else this Canadian team could end up in a seventh-place game—echoes of ’98 and the loss to Kazakhstan.

2016 WJC Tourney Playoff Schedule

Quarter-Finals (2 Jan.):
14:00 Russia vs. Denmark, Hartwall Arena (7 AM EST)
16:00 Sweden vs. Slovakia, Helsinki Ice Hall (9 AM EST)
18:00 Finland vs. Canada, Hartwall Arena (11 AM EST)
20:00 USA vs. Czech Republic, Helsinki Ice Hall (1 PM EST)

Semi-Finals (4 Jan.):
Winner SWE/SVK vs. Winner FIN/CAN
Winner RUS/DEN vs. Winner USA/CZE
The semi-finals are played at Hartwall Arena at 16:00 and 20:00 respectively.

Now the fun starts. If team USA wins their next game, they will probably end up playing the Russians in the semi-finals. Win or go home. Team USA needs to win their next game to at least get a shot of winning a medal.  These games will be shown on the NHL Network.

Brad Marchand Suspended 3 Games

I actually thought that Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was going to receive a longer suspension than three games. Missing the Winter Classic is a big deal, too. Marchand leaves his team in a precarious situation, they're already missing David Krejci due to an injury.


“It was a simple play. I was trying to get to the puck carrier and I turned up ice and he was kind of standing there. I just turned up and tried to go after the puck carrier,” Marchand told the Boston media after Tuesday's game.

Brad Marchand's next game will be Jan. 9 .... against Borowiecki & the Senators.

— Matt Kalman (@TheBruinsBlog) December 31, 2015

Marchand to Have Hearing for Dirty Hit on Borowiecki

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand is a great offensive talent, but he's also a flawed player. Marchand plays with an edge and shows no respect for the opposition. Last night, Marchand crossed that line again and he's going to pay for it. I predict that Marchand will miss the Winter Classic on Friday.

Marchand is a repeat offender and is about to receive yet another long suspension. Looking at the play in question, I don't see any way that Marchand escapes justice from the NHL's department of Plyers safety. The puck is nowhere near Marchand and he low bridges Mark Borowiecki.

I think the league has to make a stand this time. This is also the same type of play that landed him a five-game suspension in 2011. In last night's game, Marchand also speared Senators forward Kyle Turris. 

Again, did I mention that Marchand is a dirty player and a repeat offender. I am also a Boston Bruins fan, but I have seen enough shenanigans from this guy. Marchand needs to feel the burn.

Brad Marchand / Brad Marchand to have discipline hearing with NHL over low hit https://t.co/sB8yF7Y4U8 #NHL #BOS

— Boston Bruins (@BostonBruinsNHL) December 30, 2015

Department of Player Safety Looking at Brad Marchand's Dirty Hit on Mark Borowiecki

Just when you think that he's turned the corner, Boston Bruins forward Marchand does something else that's incredibly stupid. In 2012, Marchand has been suspended five games for a hit similar to this, so he could be in trouble again. Brad Marchand flips Mark Borowiecki.

So, does Marchand deserved another suspension? I think he's going to have a hard time avoiding one this time. It's also a poorly thought out move because he could end up missing the Winter Classic against the Canadians. The Bruins are already shorthanded and missing key players.

Per a source, Brad Marchand low hit on Mark Borowiecki is under review by NHL Player Safety Department

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) December 30, 2015

Should Brad Marchand be suspended for this low hit? @Sportsnet https://t.co/AOrMQs5w70

— NHL_Update_ (@NHL_Update_) December 30, 2015

(Video) Boston and Senators line brawl

What an ending tonight in Boston. The Boston Bruins fans got their monies worth tonight as their team beat up and beat the Ottawa Senators 7-3. The Bruins were lead by Jimmy Hayes that recorded that hat trick.

In my opinion, this is how you respond to a visiting team tries to rough you up in your own building.

NESN play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards, "We've got a line dance potential going here."

The Box Score will read:
19:33 OTT Chris Neil Instigator - 2 min against Adam McQuaid
19:33 OTT Chris Neil Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Adam McQuaid
19:33 OTT Max McCormick Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min against Adam McQuaid
19:33 OTT Mark Borowiecki Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min
19:33 OTT Dave Dziurzynski Fighting (maj) - 5 min
19:33 BOS Adam McQuaid Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min
19:33 BOS Zac Rinaldo Fighting (maj) - 5 min
19:34 BOS Kevan Miller Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min
19:38 BOS Matt Beleskey Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min 19:38 OTT Zack Smith Misconduct (10 min) - 10 min

Don't Poke the Bear: Zdeno Chara Rag Dolls Mark Borowiecki

Don't poke the bear. I think the on-ice officials did a good job in recognizing that this was going to be a miss match and stopped it before it got out of control.

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara was ready to lay some smack down on the Ottawa Senators   Mark Borowiecki when he was rescued by the on-ice officials. I also have to give credit to Chara, he didn't hit Borowiecki when he was down.

GLI: Alex Gillies Goal (Reviewed goal)

Michigan Tech forward, Alex Gillies scored this goal at 08:44 mark of the third period of game one of the Great Lakes invitational. After a long review, it was ruled a good goal.

Watching the video, you can see that Michigan State head coach Tom Anastos wasn't very happy with the call. I don't think Gillies interfered with Spartans goalie Jake Hildebrand. I also think that Hildebrand thought that he had the puck frozen. What do you think, good goal or not?