Hey Sioux fans....
I know. On paper it doesn't look too good. Two losses. Drops the record to 7-4-1. Doesn't matter how close the games were, doesn't matter if the Sioux played well, they got swept in Denver. That's the bottom line. However, there is a lot more to the story than the scoreboard...
Ok, I'll give it to DU on Friday night. They deserved that game. They outplayed the Sioux for the first period and most of the 2nd. North Dakota dominated the 3rd, but were unable to crack the brick wall that is Denver goalie Marc Cheverie. That's fine. That is going to happen every now and then...and in hindsight, at least the Sioux didn't get blown out. I figured they'd come back and play harder and stronger Saturday night. And that's exactly what they did.
The Sioux jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period and like most Sioux fans, I assumed they were going to cruise to a victory. However, things were not going to be that simple for the Sioux. They started off the 2nd period on the penalty kill and DU capitalized. Fine, no biggie. But then, as the period went on, the Sioux were getting called constantly. At one point, DU had 9 powerplays to UND's 0. That's right. Nine penalties in a row on the Sioux! Granted, not every one of them was a bad call. But there were some that made me want to throw my laptop out the window. Naturally, DU was able to take the lead, 3-2.
In the 3rd, DU kept the pressure on the Sioux, but the Sioux seemingly tied it up late in the game. Take a look below.
Unfortunately, the call was reversed on the ice, and the goal was no good. In my opinion, I cannot tell that he decisively kicked it in. Because the call one the ice was a goal, I feel this should have stood. In fairness, had they called it no-goal, I don't see anything decisive on there that shows he did NOT kick it in. It's one of those goals, I guess. And sadly, the Sioux lost the game.
As I said above, on paper, this seems awful. But there are some good things that the Sioux can take away from this weekend.
- Cichy, Kristo, and Knight were all over the place. They had a fantastic weekend
- Eidsness played great all weekend, keeping the Sioux in the game the first night with some great saves
- Fienhage and LaPoint stepped up and played fine defensively all weekend.
- The Sioux kept up physically with the Pioneers all weekend
So like I said, they are still losses in the record books. But they do have another series with the scumbags from Denver in January. I suspect that it will be more important then two wins.
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17 comments:
You're a liar. The longest stretch of penalties called on UND was 5.
9? Nice exaggeration rube.
http://www.collegehockeystats.net/0910/boxes/mdenndk1.n21
2nd Period (20:00)
NDK-4 Derrick LaPoint (2-Tripping) 0:20
DEN-4 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Tripping) 0:20
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Hooking)
NDK-6 Ben Blood (2-Contact to the Head)
NDK-7 Brad Malone (2-Slashing)
NDK-8 Danny Kristo (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
NDK-9 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing)
DEN-5 Jesse Martin (2-Hooking)
That is FIVE . You're a moron.
Donald, I thought you didn't read my blog
I got an email from someone pointing this entry out.
So I came by.
It's SIX in a row. The LaPoint and Rakhshani minors both occurred at the :20 of the 2nd period but Rakhshani got called first - LaPoint's was a stupid retaliation penalty. However, the exact quantity in a row is irrelevant. I think the point is that DU got what was equivalent to or pretty darn close to a period of power play time. Completely one-sided.
Look at the types of penalties called on NoDak. Tripping, Hooking, Slashing, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and Roughing. It is not like they were questionable Interference calls. Sounds like frustration, and thus, deserved penalties to me.
Anonymous. Maybe you should've watched the game. Then you would've seen that some of these calls were B.S. How about Ben Blood being blatantly tripped with the puck. The DU radio announcers said "DU will be going to the box for that trip". Only to see no call on the trip, and Hextall go for unsportsmanlike. That's only one instance of the travesty that night.
That was some fantasy footwork by Malone on what was obviously an attempt to kick the puck in the net.
Perhaps he should go out for the womens' soccer team next year, where those goals will count for something.
Normally, I would agree with you chuck, but it was pretty clear on the replay a distinct kicking motion. Either way, it will be a much different series up in the good ole Forko.
attention everyone...I have further reviewed the video and agree that while he did kick the puck in, everyone is labeling Malone as a cheater who tried to cheat to win. I disagree with that. He was trying to kick the puck to his stick. You can clearly see him take a swipe at the puck. He just swiped a little too late. And Donald, I thank you for gracing my blog with your presence.
Oh wow! Brandon you have been told off by the all mighty narcissist Donald Dunlop the self proclaimed voice of the UAA hockey team. Yawn!
It was six penalties in a row. Now you have people policing your blog and sending out email. How childish! Well at least our team isn't a proverbial bottom feeder that may if their lucky finish in 8th place this season.
Anonymous:
Are you going to tell me you can tell that you can tell they are deserved penalties just by looking at the box score? That's a special talent. Nobody said they weren't deserved, but Denver committed penalties during that stretch that were uncalled and should have been, that's what UND fans are upset about.
The disallowed goal was a kick. He tried kicking it to his stick but missed with his stick and it went it. That was a good call.
Donald Dunlop my favorite dough bag.
Anon 9:18 I think you mean douche bag and that Donald is.
Connollys for Hobey = automatically a genius.
I think the two Connollys for Hobey is probably going to be an option since they are like the top scoring players in college hockey right now.
Also if you stack one on top of the other they are as tall as a regular person.
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