Frozen Four Game 1 - Michigan v Denver
Makes sure to get in your pregame nap, crush a sando, and tell off Shorsey one last time, boys. We've shipped up to Boston, boys! Time to fire in a couple bar-down wristers, half-clapper top cheddar, biscuit top titties bardownskis all weekend long. Always bardownski, boys.
NCAA semifinal (Boston, Mass.), 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN2 | Live Audio | onhockey.tv
I'm going with a comfortable 3-goal Michigan win, 6-3. What's your score prediction?
Get em boys.
Michigan 5, Denver 4
Wheels, snipe, celly boys!
Dirty effin' dangles!
Ferda!
Prediction?
Pain
I'm curious about your thoughts on the second game and what the atmosphere has been like on your side of the lake. Times like these make me miss being just outside the Twin Cities.
TBH hard to get a feel. Since I’m in Duluth, interest has been a bit lower than last years now that they’re eliminated.
Haven’t been down to the cities since I went to the B1G championship game. But things were REALLY hyped for that. Dinkytown was buzzing, long lines waiting for the doors to open.
Mankato’s fanbase isn’t huge, but there’s a dedicated core there. A couple hundred people came up for the Ice Breaker and made good noise.
Obligatory:
42 - 27
High scoring affair
No goalies
Also going with 5-4. I don’t think there will be anything comfortable about this game.
Yeah, I should have put comfortable in quotes.
Ghostbusters?
Let's Go Blue! Beat the Pioneers!
And stay out of the damn box!
Other game: MN St vs MN @ 8:30 PM ET on ESPNU.
I predict this game will be bad for my heart regardless of result
6-5 Denver in overtime
Why is it the only time I ever get a prediction right it’s for a loss?
Ugh. If we’re gonna lose please just put me out of my misery in regulation
5-3 UM…Late EN goal ices the game!!! #HAIL
RIP Brad Delp.
I'm going with an overtime loss. And I hope I'm wrong.
Unfortunately, completely prescient.
Sometimes being right sucks.
Great players this year. And perhaps not the most cohesive team.
Usual lines.
Alex and David both speculated that they might change things up. But:
*To me there’s some wisdom in consistency, particularly when they needed to work on some basics in the last week;
*Denver’s forecheck is aggressive, but they aren’t big, which theoretically ameliorates the main issue with the Blankenburg pairing. They need to be precise and prompt with their passing, which can be a concern, but getting blown off the puck seems less of a threat;
*If there were a time to pair Blanks with Power again, it could be for the final of Michigan were to make it, when you face bigger forecheckers. And, frankly, when you can give your top two D pairings a lot more ice time and use the third pairing less, because there is no next game to worry about being fatigued for.
Well...I'll be watching the Blankenburg-Edwards pairing. Hopefully they (and everyone else) don't struggle with the forecheck
Not surprising but FWIW ESPN says Luke Hughes at least will not immediately sign with the Devils after the season and is probably leaning toward coming back for a 2nd season. I think that's the status quo at this point but nice to hear that this is still what 'insiders' are hearing
I think Hughes really shines when he's got other stars around him who also create. It makes his own rushes up ice look more normal and less of an attempt to do it all himself. I'm not sure what lines would look like next year, but I wouldn't surprised to see games that look a lot like they did when Quinn was here.
Hughes coming back would be spectacular. Hobey favorite, etc. Cross fingers and hope we get a Beecher and/or Bordeleau to come back as well, plus the other frost returning and the recruits come in on schedule…
But honestly if they win two games every drafted player could leave and I’d throw them a parade on their way to their NHL contract signing.
I don't really know what Beecher's plans are. It's pretty obvious he's not on track to meet what the Bruins hoped out of 1st round draft pick so I'm not sure what his hockey career will look like. It's probably play another year with (probably) Mackie and Dylan or just call it and go play in the AHL somewhere. I'm not even sure the AHL is a given for him. Would be great to basically copy-paste that line up to the 1st or 2nd line next fall
6-3 sounds a little optimistic, but I our chances. I fear that if the score is 6-3 in the third, that it ends up being a 6-5 nailbiter. Can't imagine why, lol.
Go Blue!
Warmups beginning.
Looks like Michigan is wearing… white?
Its just a jersey. Doesn’t mean anything. But I honestly don’t get it. I really like the script maize unis.
Oh well. Go win. I don’t care what they wear if they win.
Pitter patter.
Let’s get at ‘er
To be fair, puck is scheduled to drop in around another 15 minutes.
To be faaaaaaiiiiir.
Keeping it real.
Mom's spaghetti?
I would love to see a Melo-produced hype video for the hockey team. So many highlights to choose from.
I'm with this guy! I'm not going to watch the game, I'm going to live vicariously through you guys...
I'm stressed. I need a time traveler to just rip the bandaid off and tell me if we win it all or lose
If UMD were playing instead of Denver, it would be a nightmare.
I’m watching the first period from a bus transportation company office. The company that provides coach busses to UMD hockey.
Ah well.
Not sure how much I’ll be chipping in once the puck drops. Sports emotion is a fickle thing.
Terror.
Go Blue.
Always amusing to be how hockey players look. Like your average Michigan football player and basketball player are huge and jacked at that. Most college hockey players look like they don't know where the weight room is
Game on!
Definitely got away with an interference there
Save, Portillo!
Denvers forecheck causing some issues. Already two chances off turnovers
I need a replay on that 360 by Huges in front of our net... how did he keep that puck?
Ok, got the replay. Lucky af.
Gosh is this ice bad? The puck seems to be rolling and jumping off everyone’s stick