Univ of Michigan notes: Senior defenseman Doug Evans seriously injured a knee in the quarter-final victory over NMU. I haven't confirmed it, but it looked like a season and/ or career ending injury. Evans is one of Michigan's four seniors actively playing (others are forwards Denny Felsner, Mike Helber and Ted Kramer). Evans should easily win Michigan's Most Improved Player award, as he is having his finest season. Hobey Baker candidate Denny Felsner is still within striking distance of several Michigan records. Felsner is 41-52-93 through 43 games. The Michigan records are 43-56-99 by Dave Debol (43 goals shared by Debol and current Wolverine coach Red Berenson). Felsner could become the first Wolverine to register a 100-point season. Dwayne Norris notes: I'M NOT NORRIS BASHING, BUT... Glen Keeney pointed out that Norris and White have been together all season (both having tremendous years!). On the other hand, Michigan's Denny Felsner has been experimented with practically every forward on the UM roster. Last season's formidable line of Felsner, fellow All-American David Roberts and Mark Ouimet hasn't clicked (nor had much of a chance to). Felsner spends most of his time with sophomores Brian Wiseman and David Oliver. On statistics: Both are my degrees are in statistics, so it's been interesting to follow the statistical discussion going on in hockey-L. I don't want to interject much, frankly I'm just too lazy to get involved. I will, however, pass on a familiar statistical proverb: Statistics doesn't lie, but statisticians may. Probabilities are fun to play with, but the desired outcomes can often be generated by manipulating the assumptions. Please don't work in this direction. On the Michigan-NMU penalties: I hasten to say this, because it may be largely a result of bias. With that forward, I feel that NMU deserved the extra penalties they received last weekend. It would have been nice to see who could win 60 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey, but my ONE GAME impression of NMU is that they could never go more than 10 minutes without a penalty. NMU and Michigan seemed to have similar styles. I don't define either of them as a cheap/dirty team, but they both do A LOT of holding, clutching, grabbing, etc. They both play a physical game as well. While Michigan doesn't discriminate (they hold everyone on the other team), NMU seemed to be going overboard on Felsner. Denny received several penalties for retaliating, but IMHO, NMU got of light considering they hit him with everything but the kitchen sink (and I'm not too sure about that even!). This is exactly the opposite impression I have after seeing Minnesota play three games. The Gophers are actually too gentile for hockey. I'd thoroughly enjoy watching them for an entire season because I honestly really like the team. As someone pointed out earlier though, their style is not conducive to the physical game often needed in the post-season. LSSU did not outhit them into defeat, but I think that they could have if they weren't as successful in skating right through the Minnesota defense. On Albany: Finally, to Garrett and everyone else on their way to the phinal phour, Yes - I will be there. I don't know what my seats are, but I'll try to look up as many of the others as I can. I'll also do my best to swing by the Hockey-L gathering on Thursday. C-YA. John UMich