Re: NCAA Hockey Championship Prediction

Tonawanda Kardex <tonawandakardex@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:6fac1f07-55f6-4d5b-af31-05bf4e62d47a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

On Apr 12, 1:25 pm, Ed <emeye...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tonawanda Kardex <tonawandakar...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:b08c729f-382e-
4792-b111-a77d1bdaf...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:



Let's be honest: Notre Dame was lucky to win the semifinal against
Michigan. The Irish got out to a big 3-0 lead in the first period,
including that last-second shortie which chased Billy Sauer from
the game. Now Sauer played over his head all year long, and in his
last two games at "The Can" in Denver (both NCAA tourney games at
the Pepsi Center), he's given up 10 goals in four periods of play.
But still -- with that kind of lead, the Irish should have waltzed
away with the game. But they didn't.

They blew the 3-0 lead in complete form just a few minutes into the
third period (after giving up two goals in about 20 seconds midway
through the second period). They were hanging on for dear life, as
the Wolverines pummeled them for most of the last 40 minutes in
regulation. Notre Dame lost their leading scorer on the season
(Eric Condra) midway through the CCHA tournament, and they're beat
up. They have a great coach and some kids who really know the
meaning of hard work, discipline and team chemistry.

When they went up 4-3 in the third period against Michigan with
8:30 left, they got a reprieve. But again, they couldn't hold the
lead. Just three minutes later, Notre Dame's best player -- goalie
Jordan Pearce -- let in a really soft goal. While it's very
admirable the Irish overcame these two devastating comebacks by the
Wolverines to win it in OT, we all know that overtime hockey is a
crapshoot. Plus, the Irish beat a freshman goaltender, playing in
just his sixth game all year, for that OT winner. Sure, it counts,
but ... again, Irish eyes were smiling on Notre Dame Thursday
night.

I feel that their feel-good story has run its course for 2007-08,
because there is another team who probably is a bit better and a
bit healthier on the ice than the Irish -- and that's Boston
College. Nothing against Kevin Porter, but Nathan Gerbe showed he
was Hobey- worthy on Thursday with a hat trick against North Dakota
in the semifinals. The whole team looked "ON" from the first drop
of the puck.

Since an OT loss at home to Northeastern on March 7, the Eagles
haven't lost. In eight wins since then, they haven't scored fewer
than four goals in any single contest. They've given up only 13
goals in those eight games, which included a 3OT game in the Hockey
East tournament semifinals. In the NCAA regional final, they beat
Miami-OH, the other team besides Michigan which held the #1 ranking
for a good part of the season. They have beaten the best, and
they've beaten them thoroughly.

In the end, I think the Irish will be gassed, both emotionally and
physically. I think Boston College is ready and primed to grab the
title that escaped them in both 2006 and 2007. Last year, they lost
the championship with 19 seconds left in the third period. Two
years ago, a Wisconsin goal halfway through the third period cost
them the title. They feel this is their title, and I think they're
ready to take it, mercilessly: BC 5, Notre Dame 2.

--

That being said, I don't care if I am wrong. No matter who wins,
it's a great story and a great finish to the NCAA hockey season.
Good luck to both Notre Dame and Boston College -- have a great
game, boys!

I can only hope that you analysis of the finals is as accuarate as
your semifinal predictions!

Of course, it was ... I'm an expert in college hockey.

Didn't you know that?!


I bow before greatness!

--
"So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it
enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do"
Benjamin Franklin
.

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