On 3/21/2013 11:59 AM, Jim Dixon wrote:
> I have it on DVR - please free free to stop by - although free is a 
> relative work as it involves a flight to Fairbanks - but the beer and 
> brats are on me.
>
> With Alaska sitting tied for 16th in pairwise, the path to the 
> playoffs is a strange and twisted one.

Jim, especially strange and twisted for the fact that sitting in a 
five-way tie for 16th in pairwise is less encouraging than having soared 
to 30th on the strength of an eight-game undefeated streak that only has 
to be stretched to ten to preserve the longest NCAA tournament 
appearance streak.  At least Michigan can still influence its destiny 
and chance to perform the same miracle for the second time in four years.

Three years ago, the junior three-year starting goalie went down in 
about the last regular season game that left any practical possibility 
of keeping the NCAA appearance streak alive and the untried sophomore 
walk-on kicked off a win streak that kept him in goal for the rest of 
his college career.  Michigan didn't lose again until the ref lost sight 
of their winning overtime goal in the regional final, but he kept 
Miami's second overtime period goal in sight.

This year, the freshman goalie emerged from the goalie pile just in time 
to salvage a 7th-place conference finish and get another stab at 
stretching the record for consecutive NCAA appearances. Can't help but 
be reminded of the Maple Leafs in the six-team NHL, who always seemed 
satisfied to coast into the fourth playoff spot well-rested and then 
wreaked havoc with the leaders who'd torn themselves apart in the 
regular season.

I'd like to see Fairbanks in the NCAAs, but my first vote is for 
anything that puts Michigan against Boston U in this year's semi-final.  
Red needs a last shot at Jack for the time BU interrupted Michigan's 
second three-year national championship streak in a year the Wolverines 
had been #1 from the pre-season poll to the end of that semi-final 
game.  If that comes about, I don't care who wins the final.

Bob