All Things Hockey:

[nodakfan17]

North Dakota at the Kohl Center tonight ... I badly wanted to make the trip from Green Bay. #4 @ #7 in an old school WCHA matchup.

[trwi7]

I miss the WCHA. Other than Minnesota, there's no connection between the Badgers and any other B1G team.

[nodakfan17]

I miss the WCHA. Other than Minnesota, there's no connection between the Badgers and any other B1G team.

Take comfort in knowing that the Badgers are in the most stable conference in college hockey. Even though the NCHC (lame name) has been a success to date, you can bet fans from North Dakota, Denver, and Duluth are paranoid that one team will get a Big Ten affiliate invite and leave the others no longer competing at the 'highest level' of college hockey.

 

As for this weekend's series, I'm predicting a split. It's early in the season and UND is still figuring out their line combos. They are 1-2-1 on Friday, but 4-0 on Saturday this season.

[ZBTMP]

3 wins in the last 8 games, 6 of which are against teams that will not be in the tournament, isn't going to get it done. 26th in pairwise. Frederic has been held off the score sheet for 4 straight games. My hope was he would improve upon his >1ppg last season but not so far. Its a long season and hopefully Hayton gets hot for a extended period of time, but frustrating last few weeks. Maybe still a season or 2 away.

[stoutdude04]

The talent is there, but yea the results have been frustrating.

 

The wife and I are heading to Nashville this weekend and are taking in a Preds game on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it!

[ZBTMP]

On a loosely related note, Stevens Point native (and recent Buckeye decommit) Cole Caufield already has 13 goals in just 9 games with the US National U17 team playing primarily older USHL competition. Wisconsin recruiting is pretty booked, but you'd think they can find room for him.

 

Cole Caufield did indeed end up committing to Wisconsinover the weekend. Up to 23 goals in 17 games. A lot of events happen between then and now, but the 2019-20 team should be loaded.

[trwi7]

Big for the Badgers to split in Minnesota. Hayton needs to either play better or sit his ass on the bench although Trent Frederic is probably a huge fan because Hayton is keeping him from being the biggest disappointment on the team.

[stoutdude04]

Big for the Badgers to split in Minnesota. Hayton needs to either play better or sit his ass on the bench although Trent Frederic is probably a huge fan because Hayton is keeping him from being the biggest disappointment on the team.

 

Yep. Hayton has been pathetic.

[danzig6767]

Big for the Badgers to split in Minnesota. Hayton needs to either play better or sit his ass on the bench although Trent Frederic is probably a huge fan because Hayton is keeping him from being the biggest disappointment on the team.

 

Those last 45 seconds in the 2nd Minnesota game was nuts and Berry came up with some great saves. In fact, he was great all game.

 

I don't know what to make of this team except that their inconsistency is consistent.

[stoutdude04]

Wisconsin gets ND at home tonight. Hoping for a split. ND is tough.

[stoutdude04]

Missed opportunity tonight. Badgers with a terrible 3rd period.

[danzig6767]

Missed opportunity tonight. Badgers with a terrible 3rd period.

 

That was brutal to watch. The ND comeback started when Berry took that silly tripping penalty, leading to a power play goal.

[trwi7]

[nate82]

How did this guy not get suspended?

 

[ZBTMP]

Wisconsin played its best game yesterday against #1 Notre Dame at the United Center. Got the first goal, Berry made some strong stops, and Wisconsin buried a few more opportunities. Notre Dame didn’t play its best game but it did show Wisconsin’s potential as they out played Notre Dame most of the game. Hopefully this sparks something. Would be nice to break Penn State's dominance of head-to-head matchups this weekend.

[stoutdude04]

At the badger game tonight and I'm not sure I've ever seen such bad dzone plays. BLTs and pathetic turnovers.

[danzig6767]

At the badger game tonight and I'm not sure I've ever seen such bad dzone plays. BLTs and pathetic turnovers.

Yea, Wisconsin was very fortunate to come out with a tie.

 

I thought their chances for tournament bid were shot a few weeks ago, but they have four huge games coming up against Michigan and Minnesota.

[stoutdude04]

At the badger game tonight and I'm not sure I've ever seen such bad dzone plays. BLTs and pathetic turnovers.

Yea, Wisconsin was very fortunate to come out with a tie.

 

I thought their chances for tournament bid were shot a few weeks ago, but they have four huge games coming up against Michigan and Minnesota.

 

 

The last 6 games are huge. 2 against OSU too. The tie dropped them from 17 to 19 in the pairwise...so really they are about 5 spots out. They should have about 5 goals in the second period...so many missed opportunities and the penalty shot call was incredibly weak, but regardless, they didn't play well enough defensively to win.

[trwi7]

Badgers trying to make a run but it might be too little too late. Admirals are in a 2+ week abortion right now.

[stoutdude04]

Badgers trying to make a run but it might be too little too late. Admirals are in a 2+ week abortion right now.

 

Yep. They need to sweep the end. 3 n 1 might be close with a win or 2 in the big 10 tourny...maybe

[paul253]

Between the lack of NHL stars and the odd start times I’m really having a hard time getting into the Olympic Hockey. The USAs pedestrian results certainly don’t help. 4 goals in three games. Blah.

[stoutdude04]

Yep. I've seen the final displayed and never go out of my way to watch it. If it's on I'll leave it on, but yea, not all that exciting. I wish it was all college kids.

[owbc]

It's sad. Hockey could be #1 in sports headlines right now but instead the headline is for racist fans. I can't imagine how any league would turn down the free publicity of the Olympics, likely worth tens of millions of dollars or more, but here we are.

[stoutdude04]

It's sad. Hockey could be #1 in sports headlines right now but instead the headline is for racist fans. I can't imagine how any league would turn down the free publicity of the Olympics, likely worth tens of millions of dollars or more, but here we are.

 

Yep. Poor decision on the leagues part.

[trwi7]

All because they didn't want to stop the season for a couple of weeks. No reason they couldn't have started it a week earlier and ended it a week later.

 

The NHL has a star problem because most player's personalities are bland and they only play about one-third of a game. Now you have to opportunity to get all of these stars on the same teams, playing against each other and you decline it.