Mavericks @ Badgers

[KatoPuckFan]

It'll be #10 Minnesota State (13-7-3) and #4 Wisconsin (15-4-3) this coming weekend in Madison, WI. The Mavs had the week off after coming away with a split at Minnesota in two very well played games. The Badgers are coming off a sweep in St. Cloud and have won three in a row. UW has traditionally owned Kato in years past, but as we all know this is a totally different Mavs team. The badgers did however sweep the first meeting in Mankato (3-0 & 4-3). Dufour got both starts in net for UW and only had to make 9saves in the first game for the shutout. It's pretty tough to win when we get outshot 40-9. The second game was a bit more competitive with the Mavs falling a goal short. The story this year for wisconsin so far had been its solid defense and very good goaltending. I'm just looking at the numbers, but I've noticed with these great defensive stats your penalty kill isn't all that great :confused: Maybe something the Mavs should look to exploit. During intermission for the men's Mavs & Anchorage game they interviewed MSU coach Jeff Vizenor, and basically what he said was although last weekend was quite emotional for the Mavs, they got a few days off this week and now it's been back to work. Vogt is still playing rock solid with a 2.02gaa & .940sv%, and the offense is coming to life as of late. Karen Rickard had a nice weekend in St. Cloud so we may want to keep an eye on her. Any comments on the series are welcome. Go Mavs :D

[KatoPuckFan]

Mankato Free Press article about MSU coach Jeff Vizenor for Coach of The Year (http://www.mankato-freepress.com/sports/story.php?storyid=65858)

[dave1381]

I agree he's a sure thing for WCHA coach of the year and the national favorite... Joy Woog's definitely a candidate too though. If say Northeastern wins Hockey East with that young lineup, and Minnesota State doesn't reach the WCHA semis, then I'd give the national nod to her.

[SKATNMIASOV]

I think the If's with Northeastern winning hockey East are pretty long. I will say however that NU has played some tough teams alot better than expected this year. As much as I hate to say it, MSU has toppled more giants than Northeastern has. Vizenor gets my vote for Coach of the year (Not that my vote is worth a red dime) . IMO he had much farther to go than Woog and has had much less to work with. If for some reason he does not win it, he should get Motivator of the Year.

[sevenpucks]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by SKATNMIASOV
As much as I hate to say it, MSU has toppled more giants than Northeastern has.

What do you have against saying something nice to a team that has had a great turnaround this year. There is nothing wrong with giving credit where credit is due, it shouldnt hurt you to say a team is good or team has had a great season so far. GO MAVS

[brookyone]

Is it my imagination or is there a serious dearth of Badger womens hockey fans / supporters / posters in this forum ? I would be interested in their thoughts or viewpoints on the team from Madison. They're having a good year & have developed a solid program...I would think we'd here more from them.

At risk of suffering the wrath of the Maverick faithful, I would give the edge this weekend to Wisconsin but expect the games to be fairly close with Vogt giving the Mavs a chance to win either game. I saw the SSP girls play Saturday, Amanda Stohr in particular. She's going to be a nice addition for MSU & hopefully up that per game scoring average, something I think they could use.

[ARM]

The most prominent Badger posters I can remember are Frozenaffairs, whom I haven't seen post in a long time, and nitty1. You are right, I'd like to read more posts from a Badger perspective.

[SKATNMIASOV]

Sevenpucks

It is not that I don't like MSU Hockey, I just don't like the Ego filled, insult hearling, quick to get their feelings hurt, It's MSU or no one at all fans. Such as yourself. I gave MSU a compliment and you turn it into a negative. WOW.
I can't really blame you though, It's natural. When I was 14 like you, I acted the same. Don't worry 15 isn't that far away.

GO MSU- (Michigan State University)

[MSUMavsPuckFan]

Originally posted by brookyone
I saw the SSP girls play Saturday, Amanda Stohr in particular. She's going to be a nice addition for MSU & hopefully up that per game scoring average, something I think they could use.
Good to hear... the Mavs should be in good shape with all but 2 players returning next year, unfortunately one of them is #30.

[binnyrus]

Originally posted by ARM
The most prominent Badger posters I can remember are Frozenaffairs, whom I haven't seen post in a long time, and nitty1. You are right, I'd like to read more posts from a Badger perspective.

Absence of the Badger faithful has pretty much been the case since I started posting too. For some reason, Badger women's hockey has yet to take hold in the imagination of the fans in Wisconsin. Maybe if Bucky makes it to the FF this year it will . . . it's too bad, they have a great program and a nice team to follow.

I thought it would help now that most of their games are played in the new facility (the name escapes me at the moment.)

[KatoPuckFan]

I may be late on the info, but I was told today by her ex that Steph Millar quit UW hockey....is that true?

[binnyrus]

That would be shocking news indeed . . . . given that she's a senior and co-captain. I hope it's not true.

[ARM]

I hope that is false, also. I've always liked her as a player. She played Saturday night and was still on the power play.

[KatoPuckFan]

New USCHO polls are out....Wisconsin still #4 and Minnesota State moves up to #9

[trs45]

Just wondering when you heard the info about Millar. But I would have to say with about 99% certainty that she has not quit the team. But there is always a 1% chance that i could be wrong.

[KatoPuckFan]

Originally posted by trs45
Just wondering when you heard the info about Millar. But I would have to say with about 99% certainty that she has not quit the team. But there is always a 1% chance that i could be wrong.

I just talked to her ex-boyfriend today (who still talks to her). He told me she quit. But even I wouldn't take it as 100% certain until I heard officially from UW. I used to live with the guy so I know him pretty well and it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out she didn't quit. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

[KatoPuckFan]

Okay so I'm retarded. My brain took a nap or something. I said Steph Millar quit UW hockey before, but SVogt was looking out for me again and caught my mistake. I really meant Steph Boeckmann, not Millar. Thanks Shari, you're like the sweetest thing (in my best TS voice). Sorry for the confusion everybody :cool:

[wd1]

she has yet to quit... she was at practice monday.

[MSUMavsPuckFan]

The Mavs should be ready for the Badgers with a week off after spliting with Minnesota at Ridder last weekend. I thought the Mavs played their best all-around game of the year last Sunday in their OT win. Who will be in net for the Badgers? Dufour played both games in Mankato but Horras has played more lately and was national defensive player of the week (the Shari Vogt award)two weeks ago.

[ARM]

Wisconsin is without three players from the Canadian U-22 team, but they are one of the deeper teams in the country, so I don't know that it will be the determining factor. Any time you mess up the lines, it can play havoc with the timing, and MSU-M is great at taking advantage of that.

Mankato should be able to possess the puck more in this series than they did in Minneapolis. The problem against Wisconsin is being able to do something with the puck when you have it. Their D manages to keep everything to the outside and cut down on your chances around the net.

Also, I think the Badgers are a harder team for the Mavericks to frustrate. UMD and Minnesota really don't like to play 2-1 games. They'd rather freewheel and take their chances outscoring you. Wisconsin seems to like a slowed-down game. If the game is tied after two periods, I think they have you right where they want you.

Strangely, the teams who stand to most benefit from the Mavericks taking points away from the Badgers are MSU's biggest conquests of the season. UMD could use the help in the PWR, and Minnesota's chances of holding Wisconsin off in the conference race increase if the Badgers stumble.