Hello, everybody! Welcome to another lunch chat.
It should be a fun weekend in Mankato with the first home playoff series since 2008 and MSU trying to get back to the Final Five for the first time since 2003.
I think they will. They really haven't played without intensity this season, in my opinion. They always seem to come ready. I think they took a punch early on Saturday and came back pretty quickly against a good UND team.
That's a good question, Cardinal. They've started three different guys over the last month, none of whom was the one who beat MSU in December. That was Stolarz, who went major junior and then signed with Philly.
Hastings said Zuck probably won't play this weekend but is skating again (not practicing, though). They miss Zuck on the kill, but you're right, Herndon has done well.
It's on Charter, as usual, but I think that's just local or in state. If you have Charter, I'm sure you can check. Channels 226 and 826 (HD). I believe it's the usual webcast. Links at msumavericks.com
Bryn, I think that's something the Mavericks can't worry about. I went to the PWR at College Hockey News and put in wins and losses by MSU. Obviously, this doesn't factor in all of the other games taking place this weekend, but it appears that wins keep them in about the same spot. Losses could make them a bubble team.
Glass, As I just said, losses probably make them a bubble team, and then anything can happen. They don't want to be in that position again.
We've written about the wish list for the Verizon, and we'll see what happens with this year's bonding bill and if Mankato gets the money.
I've only seen their results and read about their games. They obviously have the talent to do what they did in the first half of the season, but it sure looks like they're reeling right now. MSU has to prepare for the one they played in December.
Greatest question of all time, going back to fall of 1990!
Ck, now my head is spinning. Winning cures all.
I don't think it's 100 percent. I think both have very good chances. The buzz seems to favor Williams for Rookie of the Year, but I think Bob Motzko at St. Cloud State will get a fair number of votes for Coach of the Year as well. It will be between him and Hastings.
I think expectations were very high for him when Jutting was the coach. It might have been more of a mystery for Hastings. He didn't start off particularly well, but took off starting with that Wisconsin series and hasn't looked back.
I'd agree with that, Bruggy. That was a game the Mavericks felt they needed to win, and to start off like had to be tough. I think everyone was curious to see how he'd respond, and he did with flying colors. They needed him to be good for the rest of the first period because UND was coming hard.
Charlie, that's a really good question. They kind of did the same thing last year. Even when things were going well, I'm not sure their goaltending was all that strong, and that's come back to bite them some. They still have a lot of dangerous players, though.
I thought student attendance was pretty good both nights last week considering it was the start of break. If those kids only went home for break rather than to someplace warm, I'd guess a lot of them would be back tomorrow night.
I'm not "in the room" but a lot of credit there has gone to the captains, Eriah Hayes and Tyler Elbrecht. This is the first year in a long time I've heard so much praise for the captains. As for practices, Hastings runs a pretty tight ship. The pace is fast and fairly intense when they're out there. Players have to stay on their toes.
Palmquist almost made one of my all-conference teams. Really close. He's had a good year and keeps on improving. I wish MSU would keep time on ice as a statistic like they do in the pros because he'd have to be among the WCHA leaders. Good kid, standup guy who talked to me on Friday after coughing up that go-ahead goal.
Dick, the attitude seems good. Practices have been short and to the point. The guys looked like they were having fun yesterday at the end, and that's always an encouraging thing to see. They didn't look beat down at all.
Broadway, I'm not sure what you mean by factor. I think they'll want to go into the new league next year feeling like a conference power. Being an NCAA team certainly ought to give them that badge. Of course, Ferris State was in the national title game last year.
