Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

[Goon]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

Gwoz's team walked all over the Sioux this weekend eh?

Yep, unfortunately there weren't any dasher dances or donnybrooks to talk about. No discussion of wardrobes or antics of any kind. Just hockey for the most part.

[Goon]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

With all due respect to Brad, I don't think it's age or injuries that have lead to these recent struggles. It's the team's play, or more particularly, it's lack of success on the power play that is the cause.

The Sioux are 1-8-1 in games in which they are held scoreless with the man advantage. The one blip was the Cornell game.

On the other hand, they are 12-2-4 in games in which they score on the power play. The two losses were games in which UND ran up against an even more potent pp (the penalty fiasco at DU and the second game against Wisconsin).

Even more significant is the role those pp goals played.

Seven times it was the GWG. In two of the tie games, it was the game tying goal.

Numerous times a pp goal changed a two goal margin to three goals, essentially putting the game out of reach.

Last night UND had a numerous chances to stretch the two goal lead to three, on the pp, but failed. That may have been the difference.

It's a good pp team. Granted, it was better with Hextall in the lineup, and even more dangerous with Genoway. But there are plenty of talented players who should be able to capitalize with a man advantage, no matter their age.

I'm glad the pp slump is occurring now, rather than in March. I have confidence Hak and the staff will get it figured out.

I still think the law of averages will catch up eventually, and I believe some of the PP will start yielding goals, I have seen some good shots on the power play the last two weekends that didn't go in. Both teams UND played colaspe around the net very well and take away the passing lanes very well, also both teams have top ten goaltenders backing up the penalty kill.

[GOPHER FREAK]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

There seems to be a lot of Gopher fans concerned about where UND is ranked in the national rankings. It's not the Sioux fans fault that our team is ranked, I blame the hockey writers. Most of us know that these rankings at this point in the season mean nothing. Seriously, the only thing that matters is that UND is a bubble NCAA team, and could go either way. The Gophers not so much.

I could not care less where the Sioux are ranked. Furthermore, I never blamed Sioux fans for the rankings. I simply asked if UND fans thought the rankings were legitimate or not. A very simple question which was answered already by three or four Sioux posters without incident, but most obviously offended your delicate sensibilities. You need to take a deep breath, settle down and try reading a post.

By the way, nice shot on the Gophers not being an NCAA team this year Captain Obvious. Most Gopher fans have know that since about the 3rd weekend of the season. Maybe next time you could try something with 7 in it.

[Goon]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I could not care less where the Sioux are ranked. Furthermore, I never blamed Sioux fans for the rankings. I simply asked if UND fans thought the rankings were legitimate or not. A very simple question which was answered already by three or four Sioux posters without incident, but most obviously offended your delicate sensibilities. You need to take a deep breath, settle down and try reading a post.

By the way, nice shot on the Gophers not being an NCAA team this year Captain Obvious. Most Gopher fans have know that since about the 3rd weekend of the season. Maybe next time you could try something with 7 in it.

Holy Cow talk about touchy. Let me fix my post.

There seems to be a lot of Gopher fans concerned about where UND is ranked in the national rankings. It's not the Sioux fans fault that our team is ranked, I blame the hockey writers. Most of us know that these rankings at this point in the season mean nothing. Seriously, the only thing that matters is that UND is a bubble NCAA team, and could go either way. The Gophers not so much.

[lord k]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

Good observations. I am convinced that with the huge developmental leaps in goaltending and team defensive systems that have really negated 5 on 5 scoring in recent years, success on special teams IS the differentiating factor in team success. UND may have a sputtering power play without Genoway, but I also think Denver's PK is the best component part of the Pios' overall game, in part to Cheverie and in part to do the quick forwards up top with active sticks and shot blocking. Had UND been up against an average PK, they probably would have had 3 or 4 PPGs this last weekend. UND's puck movement was good, shot selection was good and creativity was fine. What they lacked was a strong crease presence, the play reading ability of Genoway to pick the right option aganst Denver's rotations and overloads and a tendency to over-look for pretty backdoor plays.

Denver's PK was awesome. They were all over the sioux. UND's PK was pretty good too. All the penalty killers from both teams just flat outworked the powerplay units.

UND is struggling to score goals. They may not end up with 1 20 goal scorer this year which is pathetic. The goaltending is not going to hold them in games against the teams with gifted goal scorers. They have no chance trying to beat a team like denver 1 or 2 to zero. It just isn't going to happen.

Denver got a picture perfect road win on friday night and a great come from behind win on saturday. Chevy is really really sound. It's no wonder the sioux couldnt score on him. There were never any gaps for the puck to go in. He played about as perfectly as a goalie could. When he drops into the butterfly and slides side to side there is no five-hole, there is nothing. He is a wall.

I have no idea what will fix UND's goal scoring problems but they better figure it out soon!

[bik4u62]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

With all due respect to Brad, I don't think it's age or injuries that have lead to these recent struggles. It's the team's play, or more particularily, it's lack of success on the power play that is the cause.

I think age and experience is definitely a factor. The kids have lots of energy & hustle. But the Sioux PP shows less patience than earlier this year. I hate watching a team pass around the perimiter forever, but the Sioux seem kinda quick to shoot, and mostly into the body. They shoot when everyone knows they're going to shoot. They don't often make the extra 'unexpected' pass like Genoway (or Duncan) did when the defense converged on them. And this tendencey seems to get worse the more frustrated they get. I think that's one big element that senior experience brings.

[lord k]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I think age and experience is definitely a factor. The kids have lots of energy & hustle. But the Sioux PP shows less patience than earlier this year. I hate watching a team pass around the perimiter forever, but the Sioux seem kinda quick to shoot, and mostly into the body. They shoot when everyone knows they're going to shoot. They don't often make the extra 'unexpected' pass like Genoway (or Duncan) did when the defense converged on them. And this tendencey seems to get worse the more frustrated they get. I think that's one big element that senior experience brings.

It's not just age. The juniors and seniors are very talented. At the rate they are scoring only 1 may have 15 goals this year. They all need to score 15 goals this year or UND will go nowhere.

[Goon]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I have heard mention of an incident when the DU bus arrived at the Ralph Englestad Arena. Of course no where have I heard/read it mentioned except by DU fans. Did something happen?

[dggoddard]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I have heard mention of an incident when the DU bus arrived at the Ralph Englestad Arena. Of course no where have I heard/read it mentioned except by DU fans. Did something happen?

I think we confirmed that it was a just a rumor. Some DU fan said they were texted a message. It was probably a joke that got lost in translation.

[Dirty]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I think we confirmed that it was a just a rumor. Some DU fan said they were texted a message. It was probably a joke that got lost in translation.

No, no. I'm sure the entire UND Team lead by Davey the Middle Finger and Brett the Bastard Child attempted to assault the Pioneers. Luckily St. George the Merciful was able to fend off the attackers with only his wit, suitcase full of ties and contagious smile.

[dggoddard]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

No, no. I'm sure the entire UND Team lead by Davey the Middle Finger and Brett the Bastard Child attempted to assault the Pioneers. Luckily St. George the Merciful was able to fend off the attackers with only his wit, suitcase full of ties and contagious smile.

You sure George didn't use the broom used to SWEEP the Sioux?

[HoosierPioneer]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

All of the goals this weekend were awesome plays. UND may have struggled to score, but the 2nd goal was especially fun to watch as a hockey fan, if not a DU fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBvtQuVMPD4

[Goon]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I think we confirmed that it was a just a rumor. Some DU fan said they were texted a message. It was probably a joke that got lost in translation.

Gotcha.

[cross cheque]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

We are so over rated right now its hard to fathom where these votes are coming from. We should be tied with UM off the top 20 with 6 votes, and I just cancelled my hotel reservations in st paul. Its going to be a long summer.

[brianvf]

Re: Denver at North Dakota: Big Rivalry, Big Weekend

I just cancelled my hotel reservations in st paul.