RECAP: Sioux 7 Cornell 3

This was the kind of effort we have been looking for and expecting to see from the Sioux. They were able to score, especially on the power play. Equally important they only gave up four power play chances to Cornell. But let’s not declare victory and book our flights to Washington D.C. We have a long way to go to get back into the national race. Last night’s effort needs to be consistent and sustained. Tonight’s game will be huge. Win it and we are starting to turn the corner. Lose it and all will be for not.

Game Summary-UND Web Site

The Sioux season begins tonight

The next nine games will be a defining moment for the Sioux. Seven of the next nine games will be against non-conference teams, with the majority of them being played at home. This is a must time for the Sioux to get on track. A good run over these next nine games will provide momentum going into the rest of the season, where the Sioux will play into the “teeth” of the WCHA. Winning at least 7 of the next 9 games is not only something that is possible, but something that must be accomplished in order to have a chance for post-season play.

BU - Time to get back on track

Tuesday night BU will play Holy Cross at Agganis Arena. This will be an opportunity for BU to get back on track after the stinging sweep by UVM over the weekend. On paper, BU should win this game but they cannot take Holy Cross lightly........just ask Minnesota.

B's have a new third jeresy

The Bruins unveiled a new third jersey. I am not sure I like it because I am more of the "old school" type. I'm sure over time it will grow on me.

RECAP: UMD 3 Sioux 1

This was an important weekend to get on track. The bottom line is we are not scoring. I know we ran into another hot goalie but I am tired of hearing that. We need to start thinking about what are we doing wrong and not what the other team is doing to us. The Sioux are tied for 37^th in the country in scoring right behind Bentley…OUCH. We need to take advantage of the power play. The Sioux are ranked 34^th on the power plays. This is a dismal ranking. With the new “rule calling” in college hockey we need to be able to score on these opportunities. Only four other teams in Division I had more opportunities to score on the power play than the Sioux and let’s not forget we are a pathetic 43rd on the penalty kill. Finally, just to add “salt to the wound,” on combined special teams, we are 55^th. We are better than three other teams in all of Division I. Special teams are “killing" us. This must be fixed or it will be a long season.

The next four games are against ECAC teams. The Sioux cannot take Cornell or Harvard lightly or they will be on the losing end.

Game Summary - UND web site.

RECAP: UVM 4 BU 3…..Again

This score is not a mistake. It is the same score as Friday night. This was a differently played game with the same result. BU was down 3-1 and came roaring back to tie the game early in the third period. UVM scored in the third period at the 8:07 mark to go ahead and that was the game. Bottom line UVM out-played BU the whole weekend and was very opportunistic on the power plays. Over the weekend series, UVM had four goals on eight tries on the power play.

This is not the old Hockey East where a few teams dominate. In my opinion Hockey East is the toughest division, top to bottom, in college hockey. If you think you can just put on the sweater and assume you will win – you are in trouble.

BU will play at Agganis on Tuesday night against Holy Cross. But most importantly, T's Pub reopens on Monday so we can get back to our pre-game drinking rituals.

Game Summary- Hockey East Online

RECAP: SIOUX 2 UMD 2

Not much to say here, the Sioux should have won this game but came out with a tie. Eidsness continues to shine.  Let’s hope they can win tonight and come out of Duluth with three points. 

A summary of the game from UND's web site.

RECAP: UVM 4 BU 3

Well if you said the number 2 team in the country, would be playing at home, with a seven game home streak, have 41 shots on net, 2 for 5 on the power play, you would think BU would win.....that was not the case tonight.  BU lost to Vermont  4-3.   I know it’s easy to blame Rollheiser, because he has taken all three losses for BU when he is in net.   However, I think it’s time to stop rotating the goalie every other game.  Parker should make the decision to stay with one main goalie and that should be  Millan.  Tonight is Millan’s turn and we will see what happens.  

A summary of last night's game from BU's web site.

BU ranked number one in the Polls

BU is ranked number one in the polls. This is the first time they are ranked number one during the regular season since 1998. Here is the story on BU's web site about the rankings. This is great news, but personally I hate this because there is no where to go but down.

RECAP: CC 7 SIOUX 4

SUMMARY:  What can you say about last night’s game other than it was a weird night, and the Sioux lost and need to move on to next week.   UND split the weekend on the road and, in general, that is not a bad thing.  We can blame Don Adam for penalty calls, or make excuses because of the injuries, or be in awe of Eric Walsky’s four-goal performance -- but the bottom line is despite these distractions the Sioux fought hard and still had a chance to win. 

THE GOOD: I liked the way the Sioux played this weekend and I feel that some of the players came into their own during this series- especially Eidsness and Hextall. 

THE BAD: The five-minute major on Brett Hextall.  I kept replaying the B2 webcast of the hit and although I thought it was a penalty (he hit the player into the net) I did not think it was worthy of a five-minute major game misconduct penalty.  But with that said, there was no reason for Hextall to make that hit; Duncan had just scored and based on the replay it seemed like Hextall could have avoided hitting the CC player.  He needs to show restraint.  That penalty changed the momentum of the game. 

THE UGLY:  The own goal.  These things happen and you just have to laugh about it.  Just think of the "ribbing” Chris VandeVelde is going to get all week in practice. 

UND’s record for the first eight games is very similar to last year’s record. UND is currently 3-3 in the WCHA and 3-5 overall for the first eight games.  Compare this to the first eight games from last year when UND was 2-3 in the WCHA and 4-3-1 overall.  Both are not are not very good starts.  I think we have to take the positive out of this weekend which is UND did play well despite all the distractions.  I truly believe it’s just a matter of time when all cylinders start clicking and they go on their post-December roll.   

RECAP: Sioux 3 CC 1

SUMMARY:  This is what the Sioux needed --  a road win against a very good team.  Let’s hope they can have a repeat performance tonight and get back into the national rankings. 

THE GOOD: Brad Eidsness was terrific in net.   He put the team on his shoulders in the third period when the Sioux needed him the most.  He deserved a shut-out, but that is not going to happen when most of the play in the third period is in the Sioux end. 

THE BAD:  UND needs to finish strong and play for sixty minutes. They had five of their nine penalties in the third period. They held CC to sixteen shots in the first two periods and then allowed fourteen shots in the third (mostly due to penalties).  In addition, the Sioux only had four shots on net during this period.  If it were not for the play of Eidsness this game would have a different story line. 

THE DIFFERENCE:  This was a good win and Eidsness was the difference in the game.  It was nice to see scoring from Davidson and Hextall, which were their first goals in a Sioux uniform.  These goals couldn’t have happened during a better game (or time -- 14 seconds apart) .  The Sioux need to continue to play strong.  A win tonight will go a long way to getting back on track. 

RECAP: BU 6 ULowell 4

SUMMARY:  What a game!  BU scores four goals in the third period including the winning goal with fourteen seconds left in the game. 

THE GOOD:  Good teams find a way to win and that is the case tonight.  ULowell outplayed BU, as matter of fact BU took their first lead of the game with 14 seconds left.  BU never gave up and came away with two points.  

THE BAD: From a ULowell perspective, Hutton left the net due to an injury and this turned the momentum against ULowell and opened the door for BU.  

THE UGLY: From a BU perspective there wasn't much of an ugly except they trailed throughout the whole game. Winning in the final seconds definitely makes up for this "ugliness."

The celebration of the game winning goal: