A Dish Best Served Cold

tUMD 4, SCCC 2
tUMD 3, SCCC 2 (3OT)

On 11 March, 2007, freshman defenceman Trent Palm was on the bench when Andreas Nodl ended tUMD's season at 11:33 of the 3rd overtime. Senior Josh Johnson made 62 saves in his last game as a Bulldog. There wasn't a single Bulldog player, staffer or fan who wasn't absolutely devastated by that loss.

And last night, two freshmen defencemen for St. Cloud were in the locker room getting IVs to rehydrate, one after cramping up on ice and crawling off after being trapped out there while tUMD maintained possession of the puck. Mike Lee made 60 saves before Mike Connolly finally got the puck past him and ended SCSU's season. I doubt there were any Husky players, staffers or fans who were not absolutely devastated.

We know how you feel. Really, we do.

And now we know what it's like to feel the ecstatic relief of a triple-overtime win. Since the student section numbers were down, I decided I'd stand with them and make some noise. I was missing my nice, padded, comfy chair in 216 after awhile, but those nice long bleachers are perfect for lying on for a quick rest at intermission. Oh yes, there were five intermissions. Five. They had the Duluth East - Eden Prairie game on between periods, which caused me even more stress, and then when East lost I was terrified the Bulldogs were going to suffer the same letdown.

The Bulldog defence wasn't going to let that happen. Mike Connolly put the puck in the net, but the defence won the game. St. Cloud's only goals came from a power play and a scrum around the net. Drew Olson somehow stopped a breakaway, coming out of nowhere. Everyone was getting bodies on players, sticks in passing lanes, and pucks off stickblades. Kenny made a third fewer saves than Mike Lee (who was outstanding) thanks to the defence. And the forwards were in on it, too, laying hits or stepping back if a defender jumped up into the play. Mike Seidel was a human wrecking ball. And Kenny stood his ground, like Gandalf with the Balroc.

Northland News Center video that includes the game-winner, which I did not even see because it was so far away and I didn't have the presence of mind to look at the video board because I was mobbing Biddco and friends.


Northland News Center video of the postgame comments by Mike Montgomery and Mike Connolly.


I am so happy. After the Hermantown loss, the East loss, and the UMD women's loss, it just felt like nothing could go right. I was so nervous it was hard to participate in chants. We were hungry, thirsty, people were sobering up... I mean, we're talking real tragedies here. Anyway, I am so VERY glad I'm not getting in my car at this moment to drive back to the Cities from Duluth after a game right now, and thanks to THE ENTIRE BULLDOG TEAM, I didn't have to!

And I'm sure Palm is beyond thrilled to be on the right end of overtime this time around.

.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Bulldog six that day,
The score stood two to two, with but sixteen minutes to play.

And then when Fulton fanned a shot, and Gergen did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair.
The rest clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast.
They thought, "If only the Bulldogs could get themselves reset.
We'd put up even money now, if Raymond hit the net."

Akins seemed a bit lost, without linemate Curry;
And Kemper, who was a wrecker, took a sketchy penalty
So upon that stricken multitude, grim melancholy set;
for there seemed but little chance of anyone hitting the net.

But Gergen let drive some good shots, to the wonderment of all.
And Fulton tried a wraparound, but none would get the call.
And when the whistle blew, and men saw what had occurred,
there was nothing in the net, except Bobby Goepfert.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
it pounded through on the mountain and recoiled upon the plain;
for the Bulldogs, mighty Bulldogs, were refusing to be slain.

There was ease in McKnight's manner as he stepped into his place,
there was pride in Carroll's bearing and a smile lit Nisky's face.
And when, among the many cheers, the face-off match was set,
no stranger in the crowd could doubt tDogs would hit the net.

Ten thousand eyes were on them as they skated up the ice.
Five thousand tongues applauded, cause Johnson's saves were nice.
Then, while the writhing Goepfert was flopping on the ground,
the Bulldogs all dug at it, but no one could get it 'round.

And now the rubber cylinder came hurtling through the air,
and Johnson stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Shot by the sturdy Husky the puck unheeded sped --
"That ain't my style," said Johnson.

"No goal!" Jon Campion said.
From the benches, maroon and gold, there went up a muffled roar,
like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone (probably the Bob),
and it's likely they'd have killed him had not replay done its job.

With a smile of certain victory, each Bulldog's visage shone,
they stilled the rising tumult, they bade the game go on.
At a signal from the referee, the linesman dropped the puck,
the goal horn blasted loudly, but Jon Campion said, "No luck!"

"Fraud!" cried the maddened Huskies, and their fans answered "Fraud!"
But at scornful looks from Bulldogs, the audience was awed.
They saw each face grow stern and cold, they saw the muscles strain,
and they knew that Johnson wouldn't let that puck go by again.

The sneer has fled from Fulton's lip, the teeth are clenched in hate.
He enters the faceoff circle, against a guy named Nate.
And now the linesman holds the puck, and now he lets it go,
and now the air is shattered by the force of Nodl's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,
but there is no joy in Mudville -- the mighty Bulldogs got knocked out.

*this poem is an adaptation of "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest L. Thayer

The S Word

Sadly, I was working tonight, just in case someone needed to run out and buy something completely needless, despite the relentless snow. So, I missed out on the awesomeness that was tonight.

RWD would like to extend a standing ovation to senior goaltender Josh Johnson for his shutout tonight, the second of his Bulldog career. Believe it or not, Josh has a winning record, in the conference as well as overall. I know he's struggled through some things during his career, and I am glad to see him man up to the task.

The other story of the night is Kemper the Wrecker, with two goals, one being an unassisted shorthanded goal to get the 'Dogs on the board. I'm sure those crazy ladies we met in Denver were screaming their lungs out for you, Nick.

Numbers
Points Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: DONE!
Wins Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: DONE!

My "Guys" Competition:
Matt Niskanen: 30! (Excellent! Off notice!)
Michael Gergen: 15
Mike Curry: 13
Matt McKnight: 8! (It's about time!)
Jason Garrison: 2 (Any time now, buddy!)

Freshmen Competition:
Akins: 10
Fulton: 9! (Listened to my direction!)
Stalock: 4
Gorsalitz: 2
Palm: 1
C. Ryan: 1

On Notice:
Mike Curry: GD 15
Drew Akins: GD 16 PD 5
Trent Palm: GD 23 PD 23
Ryan Geris: GD 33 PD 4
Travis Gawryletz: GD 34
Matt Greer: GD 11 PD 11
Jeff McFarland: GD 10 PD 10
Jay Cascalenda: GD 10 PD 10
Michael Gergen: GD 7
Jordan Fulton: GD 6
Josh Meyers: GD 4

This Is How We Do It

To steal from Montell Jordan, it's Friday night and I feel all right.

BECAUSE WE WON! WE FREAKIN' WON! (Ow! My freakin' ears!) Tip up your cup and throw your hands up! I'm kinda buzzed and it's all because (this is how we do it) the Bulldogs do it like nobody does!

I listened to just under half the game, when B-Mac scored the shorthanded goal to put us on top. Then I had to go to work (it's inventory time, so there were all these sketchy ex-cons with scanners running around) and forgot my cell phone at home. So, DA and UMDDogz were furiously texting me with updates, and I was none the wiser, trying to get my stuff done so I could call and find out the score. And here, there was tension, and drama, with a tie game, pipes being hit, saves being made, and OVERTIME! High stress situations that I was blissfully unaware of. It was great to see us play good D and to see Josh Johnson play well in goal. I am going to assume that was the case, considering the 2-1 outcome of the game. Superb, excellent, awesome! I'm thrilled.

Numbers
Points Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: 18 (GLORY HALLELUJAH!)
Wins Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: 8 (CAN I GET ANOTHER HALLELUJAH????!!!!!)

My "Guys" Competition:
Matt Niskanen: 21! (Brilliant! Game winning OT goal and SH assist!)
Mike Curry: 10 (But by all accounts played one heckuva game!)
Michael Gergen: 9
Matt McKnight: 3
Jason Garrison: 2

Freshmen Competition:
Akins: 9
Fulton: 7! (Assist on OT goal!)
Stalock: 3
Gorsalitz: 2
Palm: 1
C. Ryan: 1

Sub-Basement D

I am really, really reluctant to post at all. I just don't want to.

A guy whose name sounds like "Mall Rat" scored the first goal of the night.

I am very, very, very sad for my Guy, Matt Niskanen. Remember the rules, that my Guys are NOT ELIGIBLE for the HSWCHA (Humane Society of the WCHA). That's part of the benefits of being one of the Guys. Another benefit is, I'm nice to them. So I extended this invitation to Nisky on tPenalty Box: "Nisky can come to my house and listen to the game tomorrow. I'll make him dinner and we can eat a whole carton of ice cream and watch The Mighty Ducks and Slap Shot and Miracle and he'll feel better." Sounds like a plan. The boys who were naughty in Alaska had a good time when they came over here during the Yale series.

We have a fake Christmas tree, which I dislike on principle, but it is also cheap and crappy and still got needles all over the place. I THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON YOU GOT A FAKE TREE: NO NEEDLES EVERYWHERE.

My avatar at tPB is now a very tiny picture of Mike Curry. I like it.

We got a goal by crashing the net, and it was not waved off. I love it! RWD hearts garbage goals.

19 penalties in a game is a little excessive. And that's JUST how the Mavs want it.

Blogger needs to stop harrassing me to change to their stupid beta thing. I will do it when I'm good and ready. Leave me alone.

Johnson played fairly well. Only gave up 3 goals, and seriously, how was he supposed to anticipate that 3rd one? What if Johnson stole us some games like Ziggy did last year?

If we do finish the league in Sub-Basement D, where we currently reside, then we could pull off a Holy Cross on the Gophers. Then Bruce Ciskie could make the "Do you believe in miracles?" call like those HC radio kids did.

*Sigh* Let's hope for a split.

Numbers
Points Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: 20
Wins Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: 9

My "Guys" Competition:
Matt Niskanen: 17 (+1 for Mankato)
Mike Curry: 8
Michael Gergen: 8
Jason Garrison: 2 (not playing! Hurt again!)
Matt McKnight: 2 (BACK IN ACTION!!!!! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!)

Freshmen Competition:
Akins: 8
Fulton: 6
Detroit Wheels: 3 (needs to play again!)
Gorsalitz: 2 (ditto)
Stalock: 2
Palm: 1
C. Ryan: 0 (in the lineup tomorrow?)

When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong

So... not the best way to end the weekend. Seriously, I can't have a birthday every day! Someone else needs to step up and proclaim it is their birthday. (That someone could have been Nate Ziegelmann, but I guess not...)

Key injuries to MacGregor Sharp and Nick Kemp, and a not-so-key injury to Josh Johnson, may have hurt us tonight offensively, but I thought we'd have a chance with Mannino in net, since consensus had Fisher as DU's top goalie. But, it was not to be.

FYI, I may have to bring the Hater Report back for Rhett Rakhshani.

I hope I never see Bill Mason again.

Numbers
Points Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: 23
Wins Until We Surpass Last Year's Total: 10
(both holding steady until we sweep next weekend)

My "Guys" Competition:
Matt Niskanen: 9
Michael Gergen: 3
Jason Garrison: 2
Matt McKnight: 1
Mike Curry: 0 (No penalties! Excellent physical play! Superb!)

Freshmen Competition:
Fulton: 3
Akins: 1
Stalock: 1
others: 0
Mitch Ryan and Trent Palm got in their first official games tonight. Fulton did get a point, so the freshmen are on the board!