Tigers Survive Despite UGLY Start

From 2007 Tiger Ho...

The Tigers scored a mere 37 seconds into the game and then got stuck in the mud. The whole team looked like they were skating, passing and stick handling in the mud through the first 2 periods. Luckily, UAA looked like a team that has only 3 conference wins, 1 in 08. Scott Owens and Ken Landau both said UAA came out tough but to most of us in the stands, the Tigers looked like crap. CC mustered only 5 shots in the first period and could hardly pass or skate without falling down, getting the puck lost in their skates, or simply fanning on shot attempts. The third period looked much more like the Tigers we know and love, it was like the ice suddenly widened and the Tigers decided to get out of the mud. The looked faster, crisper and had more determination. It was most obvious when Scott McCulloch battled for a lose puck in front of the UAA bench, got hit, tripped, and finally got loose and nailed an empty-netter, as if to say "I'm going to end this stupid game and get to tomorrow".
Bachman was solid in net, facing almost all of the Seawolves shots in the first 2 periods, he held his ground, literally. Bachman was run over 4 times throughout the first 40 minutes, none of which were called-a theme that was common all night. Once again, Marco Hunt was the head official and once again, did an absolutely TERRIBLE job of officiating. He rarely called anything and so the physical game picked up. When a Tiger was leveled going into the UAA zone, he was greeted with a white elbow to the face in a wicked check-no call. One odd penalty was called on Gannon when we was put into a 20 second long headlock, fell down with the Seawolf clutching his neck, and was called for holding. Holding? At least call something believable like roughing or interference. Horrible job, which was rewarded with an extremely loud "F**K you!" from a fan as the men in stripes exited after the game.
All in all, the Tigers were simply a better team. UAA looked like they didn't know what to do when they got the puck in the offensive zone. They usually just passed it around the boards, then around again, and around again. A couple times the puck handler just stopped and stood there. A better team would have had this game 5-3 in their favor. Thankfully the Tigers season work has given them a first round opponent not capable of doing too much damage. Tomorrow night should be a wild game. I would expect an extremely physical game with the Tigers skating fast. Look for something like a 4-2 game, with the Tigers explosive offense being the difference.
(pics from tonight are in the game pics on the left)

In the other WCHA playoff games, it went pretty much as expected. ALL of the home teams won, with the only anomaly being Mankato beating Minnesota 1-0 in 2 OT. Normally this would be a giant upset, but the Gophers are the lower seed and on the road. Still, it's a little weird seeing them as the "worse" team.
North Dakota blanked Michigan Tech 4-0 (if anything, the score was merciful)
DU beat Duluth 6-3 (The Bulldogs can score! and DU got more than 4!)
St. Cloud knocked off Wisconsin 3-0 (must have been a dog fight)

Teams I'm picking to finish off the series tomorrow night: CC, North Dakota and DU
CC is too good for UAA, likewise with ND over Tech, and I don't think the Bulldogs can score so DU will have a 2-0ish win.
The Gophers will rebound, but lose Sunday, Wisconsin will even it up but also lose Sunday.