1.  Rob LaRue (Minnesota goalie) played well on Saturday, stopping several point
blank attempts from CC.  However, in my opinion he wasn't directing his rebounds
well, nor does he impress me with his footwork.  The irony is that these seem to
be Adam Hauser's strengths.  Hauser's most obvious deficiency is his inability
to stop breakaways (which seem to happen WAY too often).  Too bad we can't have
a Rob LaHauser composite goalie.
 
2.  I do not believe the Gopher defensemen have any less talent than they had in
the past.  However, since Bill Butters left the program as defensive coach a few
years ago, I don't see the same degree of improvement in the defensemen over the
course of their careers.  Under Butters' tutelage, the defensemen seemed to play
smarter, knew how to tie people up better, and were more aware of clearing the
slot.  For whatever reasons Butters left, the defensive play has suffered
because of it.
 
3.  North Dakota has the most impressive expectation of winning I can recall in
a hockey team.  Regardless of the deficit (which isn't often), ND puts forth
wave after wave of unrelenting pressure until they score.  This rattles the
opposition and they score again.  And again.  I have seen this so often in the
last few years from this team, that I pity anyone that is holding a late lead
against them.
 
4.  I was actually impressed with the attendance at the WCHA final five last
weekend.  Considering that Wisconsin was not involved, and the current apathy of
the (corporate) Minnesota fans <== the real fans were there, even filling the
lower bowl for these games should be considered an accomplishment.
 
5.  Finally, maybe a CC fan can answer this:  is Toby Peterson the lifeblood of
this team?  They seem to have an entirely different attitude with him out of the
lineup, in spite of all the other talent of the team.
 
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