Now THIS was a good hockey game!
 
The Minnesota Gophers played the Brynas Tigers of Sweden in what was
a fast paced, well skated game.
 
Now I had no idea what to expect out of this Swedish team, and when
the Gophers scored less than a minute into the game, I thought it
would be a blowout.
 
Boy was I wrong. This was just about the best game I've seen this
year. Minnesota was in the very unusual position of playing a team
that skated better than they did, and they handled it well, I
thought.
 
Being an exhibition, and so close to Christmas, the crowd was a bit
sparse and low-key. But in the third, when the Swedes really picked
up the game and went ahead, first 3-2 then 4-3, the crowd started to
get excited, as the Gophers managed to tie it up both times. I know I
was excited. To see Minnesota play as well as they did against this
level of competition did my heart good, especially coming after the
9-2 loss to Colorado College.
 
One great aspect of the game was Jeff Moen in net. finally he had a
good start, and the crowd wad behind him all the way, especially
when, only a few seconds after being put into the game (just past the
halfway point of the game) he made a great sliding save. The crowd
loved him after that, as he made some wonderful saves, and hopefully
gained back some of his confidence. Callinan played well in net, too.
 
And Jed Fiebelkorn, fan favorite player, got his first goal of the
season!! Sure, it was in an exhibition game, and sure, the Swedes
complained afterward that he threw the puck into the net with his
glove, but from the far end of the ice, I couldn't really see the
play all that well. So I will give Jed the benefit of the doubt, and
say, "Way to go, Jed!"
 
I was disappointed in Woog's choice NOT to play Andy Brink in all six
positions, as he mentioned he might do in last week's Doug Woog
report on MSC. I was looking forward to Andy playing for a while in
goal. It sounds like a great promotion--I wonder why Woog chose not
to do it? Because the game was so close? Because Brink didn't want to
do it?
 
Anxiously awaiting my two teams, Boston University and Minnesota, to
play in Friday and Saturday's games of the Mariucci classic!
 
                                                Lee-nerd
                                                [log in to unmask]
 
"Violence is the last resort of the incompetent." --Isaac Asimov