Fargo regional

[J.D.]

First round. Eliminate the bye week. Quarterfinals at 2 different sites that draw well.

This has come up countless times over the years and I'm now regretting bringing it up again because I'm not too keen on hearing the same tired arguments.

An on campus opening round with just two teams at each site should work. I would be ok with that. Coaches don't want on campus regionals but I am not sure what they think on just an on campus opening round.

[MavsFan]

I really don't think most fans are upset about getting to play rivals potentially and in Grand Forks no less. I mean frankly, nothing feels better than giving a double middle finger to ND fans while they watch us beat whomever in their rink and celebrate on their ice.

Fargo, not Grand Forks. Scheels Arena, not Englestad Arena.

[manurespreader]

Precious few things in life are "perfect in every way."
Selecting the best option doesn't require a perfect one.

But again, it's not my intent to derail the thread so I'll drop it.

I don't agree that this is the best option. I don't even agree it's the second best option.

I am looking forward to the games though. And much as I hate to say it, Go Mavs.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

I obviously don’t have anything firm to base this on, but I don’t think ESPN is sending eight crews out to cover the regionals, let’s just start with that.

[4four4]

You're seeing the persecution complex of Gopher fans coming out. As an MSU fan, I'm just happy our guys don't have to travel far and we'll be able to have some fans there (and I'd love for our boys to have the opportunity to try to end their season for a third year in a row). Every time we've been the 1 or 2 seed we've been shipped out east and haven't had any advantages and have, in fact, been disadvantaged by having a road game (playing Providence in Providence). They just aren't used to having every advantage going their way in every scenario and when it doesn't they whine like a 3-year-old. Just nod and smile, it will make it much easier to deal with.

And, yes, Gopher fans, I know every fan base complains. You just have such a large fan base that it seems like there are so many.....and I like to needle you after having to put up with it for a couple of decades.

Its probably the biggest fanbase in college hockey. It shows in the broadcast ratings how big they really are.

[John J. MacInnes]

First round. Eliminate the bye week. Quarterfinals at 2 different sites that draw well.

This has come up countless times over the years and I'm now regretting bringing it up again because I'm not too keen on hearing the same tired arguments.

Then how about this format?

First round - on campus, 8 sites, best 2 out of 3
Regional round - 2 neutral sites, 8 winners from 1st round, single elimination
Championship - neutral site, 2 winners from regionals, best 2 out of 3

Blends all the best of the playoffs. Top teams don't get knocked out immediately on one bad night. Attendance virtually guaranteed for 16 games that will be on campus. Only have to find two regional sites. For those attending the championship round, they still get multiple games and somewhat mimic the Stanley Cup playoffs with more than just a single title game. Imagine the drama of a game 3 for the title.

[J.D.]

I obviously don’t have anything firm to base this on, but I don’t think ESPN is sending eight crews out to cover the regionals, let’s just start with that.

Nor should that be the expectation. I would think they could send a crew or two out and then let the other places use their regular streaming team and put those games on ESPN+.

[J.D.]

Then how about this format?

First round - on campus, 8 sites, best 2 out of 3
Regional round - 2 neutral sites, 8 winners from 1st round, single elimination
Championship - neutral site, 2 winners from regionals, best 2 out of 3

Blends all the best of the playoffs. Top teams don't get knocked out immediately on one bad night. Attendance virtually guaranteed for 16 games that will be on campus. Only have to find two regional sites. For those attending the championship round, they still get multiple games and somewhat mimic the Stanley Cup playoffs with more than just a single title game. Imagine the drama of a game 3 for the title.

I think a 2 out of 3 championship format is a non starter. Are you going to play every other day for that? That just doesn't work for fans. Sure it works in the summer for the CWS but basketball doesn't do it so I don't think hockey would. But I am good with the rest of your format.

[MavsFan]

Nor should that be the expectation. I would think they could send a crew or two out and then let the other places use their regular streaming team and put those games on ESPN+.

Just like they do with the dozens of college baseball games that they have on every day.

[StateofHockey78]

Fargo, not Grand Forks. Scheels Arena, not Englestad Arena.

yea,yea,yea. You're right. Forgive me if all those middle of nowhere ND towns all blend together in my mind.

[MavsFan19]

Well that game by MSU is our season in a nutshell. Dominant at times but no scoring punch.

[Russell Jaslow]

Amazing how many Canisius "fans" traveled all the way to Fargo... LOL

[FredsDeadFriend]

How did this team only finish 4th in their conference? They look better than that.

[LordofBrewtown]

How did this team only finish 4th in their conference? They look better than that.

I think part of the issue why the Atlantic and CCHA are don't fare well in the RPI/Pairwise is the bottom half of the conference is so bad. The top 4 or 5 are competitive;but when you have 4 or 5 teams in the bottom 10-12 of the RPI/Pairwise, it just kills the other teams in the conference.

That major pretty much ended Canisius' chances. No doubt about the call either.

[FredsDeadFriend]

I think part of the issue why the Atlantic and CCHA are don't fare well in the RPI/Pairwise is the bottom half of the conference is so bad. The top 4 or 5 are competitive;but when you have 4 or 5 teams in the bottom 10-12 of the RPI/Pairwise, it just kills the other teams in the conference.

That major pretty much ended Canisius' chances. No doubt about the call either.

That's a good point. But in Canisius' case, they were only what, 2-3 games over .500? So they struggled to win games.

And yeah, I almost felt bad for them after that major. I think Minnesota would have won no matter, but it could have been a much closer game had that 5 minute major not happened, I felt bad for that coach after the two quick goals in that PP. And that last goal was just a fluke bounce, too.