Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh

I'm frustrated. Very, very frustrated. Why? Because we aren't the top Dogs anymore!

I think what's killing us is the new penalty calling b.s., and our inability to adapt. Let's look at the WCHA Standings:

Penalty Minutes: Games PIM PIM/G
1 Minnesota-Duluth 9 241 26.8
2 Minnesota State 7 172 24.6
3 Denver 7 158 22.6
4 Minnesota 8 175 21.9
5 North Dakota 9 194 21.6
6 St. Cloud State 8 166 20.8
7 Alaska Anchorage 7 145 20.7
8 Michigan Tech 7 143 20.4
9 Wisconsin 7 126 18.0
10 Colorado College 5 76 15.2

Power Play: Totals SHA PCT
1 Colorado College 10/ 35 0 28.6
2 Wisconsin 14/ 57 1 24.6
3 Alaska Anchorage 9/ 43 1 20.9
4 Michigan Tech 11/ 53 1 20.8
5 Minnesota-Duluth 13/ 66 0 19.7
6 Minnesota 10/ 56 0 17.9
7 St. Cloud State 9/ 65 2 13.8
8 North Dakota 7/ 53 0 13.2
9 Denver 8/ 64 4 12.5
10 Minnesota State 6/ 50 4 12.0

Penalty Kill: Totals SHF PCT
1 St. Cloud State 64/ 68 3 94.1
2 Wisconsin 44/ 49 1 89.8
3 Minnesota 50/ 58 2 86.2
4 Colorado College 28/ 33 1 84.8
5 Minnesota-Duluth 67/ 79 5 84.8
6 North Dakota 56/ 67 0 83.6
7 Denver 45/ 54 2 83.3
8 Alaska Anchorage 39/ 47 0 83.0
9 Minnesota State 40/ 50 0 80.0
10 Michigan Tech 36/ 48 1 75.0

All right, I've highlighted some key stats for our little examination.
We're #1 in penalties. I know in the past I've gotten excited about penalties, but in this new era of zebras, we've got to stop taking so many penalties! We are spending over a period in the box! (I realize some are coincidental, but for crying out loud!) Now look at Colorado College, the team to beat so far: They're last in the conference in penalty minutes per game! They've obviously adapted well to the new officiating. With a team that relies so much on the game flow, on wearing down their opponents, on speed, we can not be taking so many penalties. It wears us out, and it keeps the other team more fresh, since we have to stop so often.

CC also has the top power play unit, which, coupled with the fewest penalty minutes per game, makes them a tough team to beat. We will not be beating CC any time soon with the amount of time we spend in the box. Our power play unit would be better, statistically speaking, if we didn't waste the power play 15 seconds in with a stupid penalty! Oh yeah, and that awful 5-on-3 where we couldn't get a f-ing goal. North Dakota is also struggling in the power play (Sioux fans are pissed about it, too), and it's showing in their record.

Our penalty kill would also be better, if not for the awful Vermont game where they got all their goals on the power play, and our defense was absolutely decimated by the crappy game DQs. However, five shorthanded goals is pretty freaking amazing. CC has the same penalty kill percentage as we do, so at least we're on par there.

I'm listening to the Sioux game right now while trying to pack for my journey down to Illinois, and I'm on the gamethread at Sioux Sports. Lots of hockey fans there. If you're coming here from the link on my posts on the message forum, then hi!