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2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston University

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Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

My gopher hate has been in remission so long I'd forgotten how disturbing it can be. Last night I dreamt that the great big sugar maple in our yard was filled with thousands--no, tens of thousands--of little gophers standing shoulder to shoulder on the branches singing Minnesota Uber Alles in little Alvin, Simon and Theodore voices. Jdubbs was on the ground leading them with one of those little souvenir hockey sticks. I had a pellet gun in my hands and boxes of pellets, but there were so many fat little singing gophers there I just couldn't make myself decide where to start.

Tonight can't come soon enough.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Little late on this, but lets all give some credit to Parker and Connolly at BU. What a nightmare they had to deal with off the ice this year. Congrats on making the tourny this year.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

vhawk said:
I dont think MN is some huge favorite, of course. There really isnt such a thing as a huge favorite in college hockey, but even if there were, this would definitely not be it. But it is at least even money, and if you had to pick one team to be the favorite, its likely to be UMN.
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Not even close.

The PWR is easily the most effective measure of quality level of teams and is used to rank for playoffs. It says UND is favorite.

The KRACH is the alternative ranking system. It says UND is favorite.

USCHO polls, USA Today polls and INCH power rankings all have UND as favorite.

The two teams just played each other a week ago in playoff conditions in the same venue...and UND dominated.

UND is the top seed. There is no question UND is favorite.

burd said:
This is the weakest team UND has had in 8 or 10 years...
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I think you mean fanbase.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

DtownDogs said:
Little late on this, but lets all give some credit to Parker and Connolly at BU. What a nightmare they had to deal with off the ice this year. Congrats on making the tourny this year.
Click to expand...

I dont think allowing an atmosphere of sex and alcohol is something Parker should be contratulated for. They got what they deserved.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

5mn_Major said:
Not even close.

The PWR is easily the most effective measure of quality level of teams and is used to rank for playoffs. It says UND is favorite.

The KRACH is the alternative ranking system. It says UND is favorite.

USCHO polls, USA Today polls and INCH power rankings all have UND as favorite.

The two teams just played each other a week ago in playoff conditions in the same venue...and UND dominated.

UND is the top seed. There is no question UND is favorite.



I think you mean fanbase.
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I don't have a huge problem with calling UND a favorite but there are some things about the "Simple Math" Scooby loves so much that didn't add up for me this year. if PWR counts the entire season equally, It seems a little strange to me that Minnesota finished higher in the standings and won the season series against both UMD and UND yet PWR says both are ranked higher than Minnesota. It's not that I don't see any justification for both to be higher but when I look at it that way, it seems a little weird that the math could spit that out. I understand that Minnesota's non conference record was 4-4-1, but 9 games out of 40 seems to carry more weight than the remaining 31. UND's 2 victories carries more weight than the 3 Minnesota won. I don't know, maybe that truly is the best way to determine who should be ranked higher. Oh well...this system has been used for quite a few years now without a lot of changes. For that reason, it appears PWR is the best system to use. Especially when the general concensus from this message board is that most everyone believes in the results it produces every March. Like I said, I just thought it was strange this year.

Now as far as today's game. I've watched the 2 teams play each other 5 times. I've seen Minnesota play dozens of other times and I've seen UND play about a half a dozen other times. Minnesota has the better players. I have to believe most everyone can agree to this. However, the one true skill Dave Hakstol has managed since he took over is UND plays almost perfect hockey in the months of January, February and March. The remaining months, especially April, not so much. Since this is still March, I don't expect UND to give this game away. Minnesota will have to earn it. If they can stay out of the box and limit the offensively stupid defensive zone mistakes, I really don't see how UND can win this game. That being said, I don't expect Minnesota to accomplish this in full. They're going to take a least a couple of dumb penalties and I predict they will make at least 1 collossal mistake that costs them a goal. If I'm picking with my head, I have to base it on past results. UND has ended our season 3 times since 2005. If you count the 2006 game against the Purple team from Worcester, MA whose name I won't mention, that would be 4 times since I believe UND played an indirect role in that ending as well. The best way to predict any event is look at what history tells us. My head says UND wins. However, I'm going with my heart on this one so I say Minnesota will advance. Won't be surprised either way but will be extremely disappointed if my head is correct.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Do we know who the referees will be?
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

skiumah2 said:
I don't have a huge problem with calling UND a favorite but there are some things about the "Simple Math" Scooby loves so much that didn't add up for me this year. if PWR counts the entire season equally, It seems a little strange to me that Minnesota finished higher in the standings and won the season series against both UMD and UND yet PWR says both are ranked higher than Minnesota.
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Not so strange.

I think people get fooled by the McNaughton and think that the Gophers belong at the tops of the national picture. UND was 10-1 and UMD 9-2 in nonconference games. Not the Gophers.

And although current level of play doesn't really make it into PWR, its also decidedly in favor of UND. MN is pretty much .500 for 2012 and not much better since the first half of November. UND has 2 losses in its last 17 games.

I do believe that the Gophers have the best talent...but about tonight, it'll probably come down to finishing scoring chances.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

I'm hoping for a good clean hard-hitting game. That's not decided by a weak call but a great play.

Having seen all 5 UND -Minnesota games this season, I have to say Minnesota outplayed North Dakota in all 5.

The formulas for winning are mirror images:
* UND needs to stay out of the box. Minnesota feeds on its power play.
* UND needs to clear the zone consistently. Minnesota needs to pressure UND's back lines.
* UND needs to watch matchups. Minnesota needs to create mismatches.

Overall, Minnesota the edge on talent. North Dakota gets last change, and the rink especially those fast bounces off the end boards, is more like home.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Tonight comes down to Kent Patterson. If he plays up to his standard for the entire game, then the team in front of him will feel comfortable and will play a better game.

If a bad bounce goes in, he has to recover immediately. He can't tank mentally. He also can't think about out dueling Dell and his stellar playoff record (11-1).
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Gurtholfin said:
Oh, I don't know... Of course I was rooting against both of you on general principle, but tomorrow's game is the one any college hockey fan or WCHA fan would want to see. Should be fun, could be epic.
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Amazingly enough Gurt got it right.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

JF_Gophers said:
Tonight comes down to Kent Patterson. If he plays up to his standard for the entire game, then the team in front of him will feel comfortable and will play a better game.

If a bad bounce goes in, he has to recover immediately. He can't tank mentally. He also can't think about out dueling Dell and his stellar playoff record (11-1).
Click to expand...

Yep

Both teams can score, the Gophers probably have more depth but UND is playing better on the back end right now, defense and goaltending wins championships. Patterson needs to be a brick wall today.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

It was an ezac crew yesterday. The Sioux bronco game had two AHL refs who are part time EZac not your standard ezac crew that would call a euro style game with less contact then a WCHA women's game.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

Driftryder said:
Both teams can score, the Gophers probably have more depth but UND is playing better on the back end right now, defense and goaltending wins championships. Patterson needs to be a brick wall today.
Click to expand...

#1 - avoid defensive letdowns. MN's offense is very good - not great. UND's team overall is good - not great. I think the Gophers hold the edge in pouncing on defensive errors. To me, the see-saw momentum in last week's F5 semifinal was due to each team feasting on the others' defensive confusion.
 
Re: 2012 West Regional: North Dakota vs Western Michigan; Minnesota vs Boston Univers

I'm nervous. Go Sioux.

Beat those arrogant ********!
 
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