The Fight That Saved The Calder Cup

Fighting in hockey has always been a rather controversial topic. On one side you have the fans of fighting that say fighting is a necessary part of the game. Fighting helps the refs police the game better and it changes momentum, giving a team new life. On the other hand, you have the people that think fighting should be taken out of the game. They say that its unsafe and leads to health problems later in life. While I like a good fight, we can't ignore the toll it takes on players. Sometimes, just sometimes there is a fight that changes things for the better, and that also cannot be ignored.

Our story starts in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. It is the Lake Erie Monsters vs. the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Monsters took the first three games of the series. Each of the Monsters' wins were by one goal, so they were all close games. Grand Rapids won Game 4, 5-4, and whipped the Monsters 6-1 in Game 5. The Monsters were losing momentum in the series, and giving up many, many goals.

Game 6 had that familiar feel as well, after the first period the Monster found themselves down 2-1. A quick goal to open the second period by the Griffins, made it a 3-1 hole. It was at this point that Korpisalo was pulled and Forsberg was given the net. This is important to note because sometimes a change in goalie provides a spark for a hockey team.

Well the spark quickly turned into a flame because at the 5:51 mark into the second period, Kerby Rychel fought Mitch Callahan:

What seems like a minor part of the hockey game, changed the course of the game for the Monsters as well as the playoffs. Not even three minutes later, Chaput scored his second goal of the playoffs to make it 3-2. The comeback was on.

#Battletogether #Allin216

The Monsters opened the third period with a quick goal from Sedlak, just 1:43 had vanished from the clock. Werenski and Anderson had the assists. The goal knotted the game at three. Neither team could score in the rest of regulation so the game went into a sudden death overtime!

Lightning struck at the 12:32 mark of overtime when defenseman Zach Werenski cut to the front of the net and scored the game winning goal! A talented defenseman, known for jumping into the play at the right time, completed the comeback. The Monsters took the game (4-3 OT) and series (4-2).

Western Conference Champions

The Monsters faced the Ontario Reign in the Western Conference Finals, and the Monsters carried the momentum. They swept the Reign, winning the first two in Cali, and the last two at home. The series was capped by a double overtime thriller where Sedlak got the goal to send the Monsters to the Calder Cup Final.

The Monsters squared off with the Hershey Bears in a seven game series for the Calder Cup. It was more of the same, just like the series against the Reign, the Monsters swept the Bears for the Calder Cup. The series was capped by another overtime thiller, this time it was Bjorkstrand with the game winning goal. It was the first Calder Cup for Cleveland since 1964.

The Monsters With the Cup!

Now you can argue that fighting does not matter. You can argue it just causes injuries and problems later in life. This fight, Rychel vs. Callahan, changed the game and the series. Dare I say it refocused the Monsters because they played great hockey in the games/periods after the fight. Since the fight, they still have not lost a game 9-0, and oh yeah, they have the Calder Cup!

The Lake Erie Monsters Resemble the Chicago Blackhawks

As I watched the Lake Erie Monsters play the Ontario Reign in the Western Conference Finals of the AHL playoffs, I started to notice something; the Monsters look much like the Chicago Blackhawks. The players, the game, and how the team played were eerily familiar. As I have continued to reflect on this thought, more and more evidence came to light that really helped me piece together this post.

Since I opened talking about the Monsters playing the Reign, let's discuss that for a moment. The Reign are the farm club for the LA Kings, a team that the Chicago Blackhawks know all too well. Between the Blackhawks and Kings you can account for the Stanley Cups won in '10,'12, '13, '14 and '15. The two teams met in the Western Conference Finals in almost all of the years mentioned. They had some very thrilling series over that span, and it was really great hockey to watch.

Quick (Kings) and Crawford (Blackhawks)

What makes this more eerie and more similar about the Blackhawks - Kings reference is they played against each other in the 2013 Western Conference Final. That year the Kings were the defending champions, just like the Reign were the defending champions. Both the Blackhawks and the Monsters used their speed and scoring as an advantage. The Kings/Reign could not keep up as the Blackhawks won the series 4-1 in 2013 and the Monsters won 4-0, sweeping their series in 2016.

The win against the Reign sent the Monsters to the Calder Cup Final. The Monsters are looking for Cleveland's first hockey title since 1964. The 2010 Chicago Blackhawks knew a little about a droughts for hockey titles; they had not won the title since 1961. The Blackhawks had not much to show for, besides being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Cleveland has been through a couple of franchises since 1964; the Barons, the Lumberjacks and now the Monsters; with limited success.

Ending the drought began in similar way, a changing of the guard. In Chicago, Rocky Wirtz took over and started building the team through the draft. Top draft picks like Toews and Kane helped to solidify the core of the Blackhawks in the latter stages of the decade from '00-'10. In Cleveland, a similar change took place as the Columbus Blue Jackets became the parent team for the Monsters. High draft picks like Sonny Milano and Zach Werenski were added to the team. They definitely have given the Monsters an infusion of youth for this year's playoff run.

Phil Simon

As you know a teams run to the playoffs is filled with ups and downs. The Monsters have recently mourned the loss of the beloved equipment manager Phil Simon. Phil died after a 6 year battle with Leukemia. The 2015 Chicago Blackhawks shared a similar loss with the apparent suicide of their equipment manager, Clint Reif. The Blackhawks dedicated their win in 2015 to his memory and made Clint's son part of the celebration after they won the cup. Our hearts go out to the Reif and Simon families, as they try to move on. We will keep you in our prayers.

Now, that we have talked about the teams a little bit, let's talk about the players:

Kane and Shaw

I think you have to start with Sonny Milano as Patrick Kane. Both of them have spin-o-rama goals to their credit. Both them have great speed and offensive abilities. Just give Milano some time and he might challenge Patrick Kane's numbers in the NHL.

Zach Werenski as Duncan Keith; both players have a great slap shot from the point. Not only that but both players have a great sense about when to jump in the play and when to hang back. Both have scored game winners in OT in the playoffs. Both played college hockey in the state of Michigan; Keith at Michigan State and Werenski at Michigan. They are very similar players.

Bjorkstrand

Oliver Bjorkstrand as Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad. This comparison comes with Bjorkstrand's speed and ability to score goals. Both Sharpie and Saader have this and you can see it in Bjorkstrand's game. You let this guy on a break away and it's good night sweetheart.

Michael Chaput as Andrew Shaw. Both players are always the first down on the fore-check. They're energy guys that get other guys involved. You are not always going to see them on the score sheet but their presence on the ice is greatly appreciated by their teammates.

Hossa

Josh Anderson as Marian Hossa. Both are very good two way forwards. They are not scared to play physical if necessary. Both players are also known for timely goals. When they are out of the lineup, they are greatly missed.

That was just to give a little taste of what the primary players on the Lake Monsters translate over to the Chicago Blackhawks. As you can see they have quite a few guys that translate very nicely to some guys that have won multiple Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. You just need to give these guys some time in the NHL and I am sure you will see the next generation of superstars.

Now that you understand that they have similar types of players, it is easy to see that they play a similar brand of hockey. Both teams, the Monsters and the Blackhawks, like to play with speed. They have many players that can get up and down the ice in the blink of an eye. The speed is a great tool especially against teams that like to play physical because sometimes they just cannot keep up.

Bruce Lee

Another thing both teams like to do is, wait for their opportunities to strike on offense. It is like Bruce Lee said, "When my opponent expands, I contract and when he contracts, I expand." Meaning you take your chances when you get your chances. If the other team is pressing, you contract in a defensive shell to prevent goals being given up. If you give either team a turnover, it's mostly going to end up in the back of your net.

Both teams have killer power plays. I think this stems from the amount of talent that the Blackhawks and Monsters possess. When you give either team a power play opportunity it is most likely that they are going to cash in. You might see a lot of passing at the beginning of the power play but by the end it is going to result in a goal.

Toews

Well, I just wanted to give you a flavor of how similar the Lake Erie Monsters and the Chicago Blackhawks are. As you can see they have a lot of things in common. Hopefully, it can translate into a Calder Cup win for the Lake Erie Monsters. The Chicago Blackhawks have captured three Stanley Cups and they are looking for more!

The Columbus Blue Jackets: Help is on the way!

When I was in college, there was a bum on campus that was very good at freestyling. He would always finish up his verse with "help is on the way." This is a statement for the Columbus Blue Jackets. As the Jackets are enjoying another long off season, their farm club, the Lake Erie Monsters, made it to their first Western Conference Final in AHL play. A host of the players have already played with the Blue Jackets so that experience is going a long way. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but other people not so much.

I try to get people I know pumped up about the Blue Jackets. This is proving to be harder than getting people pumped about the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1990s. Look at the Bengals now, they are winning a hell of a lot more games and making the playoffs. I truly believe that the Blue Jackets are on this plan, for a lack of a better term. I think the Blue Jackets will make the playoffs next year and will be a serious threat to win the team's first playoff series.

Let's talk about the help that is on the way:

Josh Anderson

Let's start with Josh Anderson, a right winger with the ability to score. He is a big bruiser at 6'3" and 221 pounds. He could easily be a 3rd or 4th line player for the Blue Jackets. Josh would definitely fit into the Jackets grind-it-out style. He has had multiple call-ups to the Blue Jackets but not for extended periods of time. I think if you give the guy a real chance when you call him up to the team, his confidence will soar. I'm a bit biased, though, because he is my favorite guy on the Lake Erie Monsters.

Joonas Korpisalo

Another huge part of the Lake Erie Monsters' success has been the goaltending of Joonas Korpisalo. I do not think you can say enough good things about this guy. He was up with the team for an extended period of time due to injuries to Bobrovsky and McElhinney. He did all you can ask for and more. He kept the Blue Jackets in many games and gave them a chance to win every time he stepped in the net. Unless the Blue Jackets trade Bobrovsky or McElhinney he might be stuck in Cleveland, but just know there are great players ready to go in net if needed for the Blue Jackets.

Zach Werenski

It would hard to talk about the Monsters key players without naming Zach Werenski. At only 18 years old, this Michigan product is already making waves for the Monsters. He scored the game winner to advance the Monsters into the Western Conference Finals. He is exactly what the Blue Jackets need on the blue line; someone that is willing to pinch in the offensive zone. He also has a great shot from the point, another huge benefit for the Blue Jackets. Pair him up with Seth Jones and you have a top line defense that is set for years to come.

Sonny Milano

Let's talk about a true wild card and that is Sonny Milano. Milano plays with a flare like Patrick Kane does — a little undersized but with a great ability to score. He just had a Sportscenter Top Ten play when he scored on a spin-o-rama against the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also was called up to the Blue Jackets toward the end of last season. Milano and Saad seemed to work well when they were paired on the same line, maybe a little foreshadowing for next season.

Other guys I really like on the Monsters who could help the Jackets include:

#BattleTogether

Kerby Rychel - a left winger out of California. Just really needs a solid opportunity like Josh Anderson to be called up with the team. Not afraid to drop the gloves if necessary.

Michael Chaput - a center with good size. Just a solid all around player and could really help the Blue Jackets depth at center.

Oliver Bjorkstrand - a right winger with a nose for the net. He spent much of last season injured but the upside on this guy is huge. Get him up to the show with a couple of good players on his line, and this guy will get you goals.

These guy will definitely be able to help the Blue Jackets in the near future. They are going to bring a winning attitude to a team that desperately needs it. Plus, the Blue Jackets have the third pick in the draft. Nothing bad lasts forever. Things are going to change, I can feel it. HELP IS ON THE WAY!

NHL Pump Up Songs

What better way to get pumped for your team's game then a great song!  By no means is this a definitive list. Some songs include adult language, you might want to cover your children's ears from time to time. Here is our list of great songs for every team:

Eastern Conference:

Boston Bruins - I'm Shipping Up To Boston by The Dropkick Murphys; For Boston by The Dropkick Murphys; I Wanna Be a Bear by The Descendents, The State of Massachusetts by The Dropkick Murphys;

Buffalo Sabres - Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool; A Box of Sharp Objects by The Used; Boris the Blade by MyChildren MyBride; House of the Flying Daggers by Raekwon; Your Sword Versus My Dagger by Silverstein;

Carolina Hurricanes - Rock You Like A Hurricane by The Scorpions; Hurricane by Bush; When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin; They Said a Storm was Coming by Jamie's Elsewhere

Columbus Blue Jackets - For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica; Ohio is for Lovers by Hawthrone Heights; We're From Ohio by My Sky Your City; The Whip by Locksley; For Those About to Rock by AC/DC, Ohioisonfire by Of Mice and Men;

Detroit Red Wings - Detroit Rock City by Kiss; Bawitdaba by Kid Rock; Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick; On Wings of Integrity by MyChildren MyBride;

Florida Panthers - Black Cat by Janet Jackson; Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent; "Cha!" Said the Kitty by Local H; Tommy the Cat by Primus;

Montreal Canadiens - Le But by Loco Locass; Because You Love Me by Celine Dion;

New Jersey Devils - Runnin' With the Devil by Van Halen; Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones; What Hell I Have by Alice in Chains; Countdown to Hell by Crossfaith; The Man Named Hell by The Showdown;

New York Rangers - Rangers Victory Song by J. Fred Coots; Eyes of a Ranger by Tirk Wilder; New York, New York by Frank Sinatra;

New York Islanders - No Sleep Til Brooklyn by The Beastie Boys; Islander by Falling Up;

Ottawa Senators - Wake Me Up by Avicii, Politican by Cream; Studying Politics by Emery; Politically Correct by SR-71;

Philadelphia Flyers - Motownphilly by Boyz II Men; Flying High Again by Ozzy Osbourne; Fly By Night by Rush; Flights by Falling Up; Given to Fly by Pearl Jam; Learning to Fly by Pink Floyd; Learning to Fly by Tom Petty;

Pittsburgh Penguins - Song 2 by Blur; Pittsburgh by The Amity Affliction;

Tampa Bay Lightning - Thunderstruck by AC/DC; Ride the Lightning by Metallica; Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks; Lightning Crashes by Live; Southern Weather by The Almost; You Can't Wrestle Swordfish in Tampa by Scarlett O'Hara;

Toronto Maple Leafs - Forest by System of a Down; Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath; Fat Lip by Sum 41; Freewill by Rush; No Leaf Clover by Metallica

Washington Capitals - Out of Control by Capital Lights; Paul Revere's Midnight Ride by Four Year Strong; The Shot Heard 'Round the World by Ween; I'm Just A Bill by Deluxx Folk Implosion

Western Conference:

Anaheim Ducks - Bro Hymn Tribute by Pennywise; I Come From the Water by The Toadies;

Calgary Flames - Fight Fire with Fire by Metallica; Take This Life by In Flames; Fire by Jimi Hendrix; Burn by Alkaline Trio; Original Fire by Audioslave; Back Burner by August Burns Red; Burnin' For You by Blue Oyster Cult; Light My Fire by The Doors; Children of Fire by Oh Sleeper; The Flame in All of Us by Thousand Foot Krutch;

Colorado Avalanche - Trapped Under Ice by Metallica; Cold as Ice by Foreigner; Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh; Sound of Winter by Bush; Snow (Oh Hey) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chicago Blackhawks - Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis; Sweet Home Chicago by The Blues Brothers; Here Come the Hawks by J. Swayzee; Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce;

Edmonton Oilers - Gasoline by Audioslave; Fuel by Metallica; Gasoline by Seether;

Dallas Stars - Astronomy by Blue Oyster Cult; Starz by Smashing Pumpkins; Stars by Switchfoot; Texas is South by The Devil Wears Prada; Shooting Star by Bad Company; Star 69 by R.E.M.;

Los Angeles Kings - Our Kings by Miss May I; King Nothing by Metallica; Royal Blood by Bury Tomorrow; Hollow King by Fit For a King; You Wear a Crown but You're No King by Blessthefall; Flight of Kings by The Classic Crime; King for a Day by Green Day; Down with the King by Run DMC; King for a Day by Pierce the Veil; To Live and Die in LA by 2pac;

Minnesota Wild - Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf; Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses; All My Friends are Wild by Adestria; Danger: Wildman by The Devil Wears Prada; Wild Out by The Lox; Wild Eyes by Parkway Drive;

Nashville Predators - Anything With Teeth by Bury Tomorrow; Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator by Demon Hunter; Animal by Pearl Jam; Sabretooth by Hail to the King; Beast by Tech N9ne; Animal I have Become by Three Days Grace;

Phoenix Coyotes - Of Wolf and Man by Metallica; Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne; Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon; Cry Wolf by Texas in July;

St. Louis Blues - Country Grammar by Nelly; Roadhouse Blues by The Doors; When the Saints Come Marching In (Traditional)

San Jose Sharks - Savage Seas by Feed Her to the Sharks; Sink or Swim by Feed Her to the Sharks; Bloodlust by The Browning; Fins by Jimmy Buffett;

Vancouver Canucks - A Certain Shade of Green by Incubus; No Surprises by Theory of a Deadman;

Winnipeg Jets - Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band; Jet Pilot by System of a Down, Cold Heart Bitch by Jet; Airport Song by Guster;

Disclaimers:

I had a hard time with some of the teams because not everyone is writing songs about Canucks. A Certain Shade of Green is a reference to the Green Men that harass opposing players in the penalty box.

In reference to the Washington Capital songs, I tried to pick songs about American History or at least had some reference to American History in the title.

Like I said, this list is not done, and if you have things to add just tell me.

The Chicago Blackhawks' Early Exit

Since the Chicago Blackhawks were bounced from the playoffs, I have been trying to collect my thoughts together to form a sensible post. For the most part, the struggle has been real. You never liked to lose to one of your rivals especially in the first round of the playoffs. Sometimes, you just have to accept that they played better than your team, and there's really nothing that could have stopped the defeat. Finally, to add insult to injury, a Blackhawks former player, scored the game winner for St. Louis.

It was just one of those seasons, it started out rough and it ended rough. We heard all about what and what not Kaner did with that woman for most of the preseason. I did not read all of the stuff that went down so I am not going to comment one way or another on that case. I try to focus on what players do on the field as opposed to the court room. If you want to read or hear about that, you'll have to look elsewhere. Kaner did have a great season winning the Art Ross trophy for the most points in the regular season.

Kaner and The Bread Man

Along with Kaner's play, Panarin aka the "Bread Man," had a terrific season. Kaner and Bread Man looked like they had played together for years. Hopefully, Panarin will win the rookie of the year. He broke the 30 goal mark in the last regular season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. I wish him success in the future with the Blackhawks, he is a great player and he is only going to get better. That could be scary for the rest of the NHL.

The Translator

Another bright spot for the Blackhawks was the addition of Anisimov. Part of the deal that sent Saader to Columbus; he ended up centering the line with Kaner and Panarin. He provided a nice fit for the Blackhawks, on and off the ice. I have always thought his play is much like Hossa's, a solid defensive player that can score when necessary. One of those players that doesn't always get the credit he deserves because all the little plays that he makes do not end up on the stat sheet. He also provided translation for Panarin off the ice, which earned him the nickname "The Translator."

TVR

On the blue line, the Blackhawks had to be happy with the progress of Trevor Van Riemsdyk. With the departure of Oduya, TVR stepped up in a big way. He logged big minutes for the Blackhawks this year compared to last year. He was barely getting into the game and now he is a top or second line defense men for the future. With Keith and Seabrook getting older, it's nice to know that the Blackhawks have players like TVR on the blue line to fall back on. I hope to see much more of TVR in the future, he will be a great defense men for the Hawks.

In the net, Crawford looked very nice. He led the league with 7 shutouts on the season. Though hampered by injury at the end of the regular season, he kept the Blackhawks close in the series against St. Louis. He is a great goalie, and probably will go down in Hawks history as one of the best goalies that the franchise has ever had. Hopefully, the Hawks can keep him around as long as he stays in the league.

Belfour at North Dakota

The Blackhawks this year also continued their connection with North Dakota. They signed Luke Johnson and Nick Schmaltz, both were big reasons why North Dakota won the NCAA tournament this year. North Dakota has produced Blackhawks greats like Toews and Belfour, so they definitely have a recipe for success up in Grand Forks. It will be nice to get these players in the organization and see what they can do on the ice for the Blackhawks.

So in conclusion, it was not the end that the Blackhawks wanted but there were definitely some bright spots. Hopefully, the players can get some well deserved rest with the time off. It would be silly to think, oh yeah, we are going to win the cup every year. We need to be realistic about things, and move on. The future while filled with uncertainty, there are some very bright spots for the Chicago Blackhawks. I will end this post in three words, LET'S GO HAWKS! LET'S GO HAWKS! LET'S GO HAWKS!

Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame the Blue Jackets This Year

5. They've got Saad on the wrong line. - This kills me. How in good graciousness do you have your highest paid non goalie player, not on the top line? He was on the top line in Chicago in 2015, and they won a little trophy called the Stanley Cup. This makes no sense to me. You can give me the reasons, but I am not listening. He scored 30 plus goals from the second line, and if you put him up on the top line, I guarantee he'll get at least 40 goals. He is too skilled and too fast not to be playing on a better line. This is a real head scratcher for me.

4. Todd Richards put them in a 0-7 hole before he was fired. - The Blue Jackets Front Office waited too long to fire Todd Richards and bring in John Tortorella.  I could see losing four or five games to start the season as being too much, but seven? Come on! Clearly, the players did not respond to the coaching staff. They were the lottery team last year, and if you want to change the culture you need to hold the leash tighter. John Tortorella actually has playoff wins and a Stanley Cup. The Blue Jackets have two playoff wins. This is a no brainer.

Seth Jones

3. Seth Jones did not get a full season with the Blue Jackets. - Ok, lets be real for one moment. Right now Seth Jones is the only top-line defensemen on the team.  A first round draft pick by Nashville, this guy is young and talented. He is exactly who every team wants on their blue line. He shoots, defends and jumps into the play better than anyone else they have. The Blue Jackets are the team paying $4.5 million a year for Fedor Tyutin; what a waste! The Blue Jackets did draft Zach Werenski, and they have him playing with the Lake Erie Monsters - their farm team - so there is hope.

2. Ryan Johansen played like a baby until they traded him to Nashville. - Though he was right that he should of been paid more, Ryan Johansen played selfish until he was traded. He was taking unnecessary penalties and his effort was to be questioned. A great player, no doubt, but he was very immature in how he handled things. Life is not fair, and you have to deal with it. The silver lining, though, is the Blue Jackets picked up Seth Jones in what might be the greatest trade steal since R.J. Unburger for Scott Hartnell.

Korpisalo with the save!

1. With Bobrovsky and McElhinney getting injured every other week, the Blue Jackets were starting minor league goalies for most of the season. - Now I want to give some props here to Korpisalo and Forsberg because they did a hell of a job stepping up for the Blue Jackets. They had to put up with little defensive help until Seth Jones arrived. Its hard to make the jump from minor league to the NHL because the game is so much faster. Clearly, these NHL players are the best in the world, and they prove that night in and night out. So, for the Blue Jackets not to fall apart even worse than they did, much of the credit goes to Korpisalo and Forsberg.

Frozen Four Finale

Championship Game!

Well, it's all over and North Dakota is your champions.  They routed Quinnipiac in the final game of the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament, 5-1. It was a dominating performance by the Fighting Hawks. I have to admit that I did not see this coming. I knew North Dakota had the ability to score but I was expecting Quinnipiac to be up to the task. The Bobcats were a little overmatched and North Dakota opened a can of whoop ass, thanks Stone Cold Steve Austin!

Well how did North Dakota get to the 5-1 victory? They opened the scoring at the 11:56 mark of the first period. The goal was from Shane Gersich, he was assisted by Gage Ausmus and Brock Boeser.  Brock Boeser got on the score sheet again, this time with a short handed goal to make it 2-0.  The goal from Boeser was unassisted. 

North Dakota's first goal!

Quinnipiac did have an answer late in the first period.  The Bobcats' power play goal at 18:53 cut the margin to 2-1. Scoring the goal was Tim Clifton, and he was assisted by Connor Clifton and Travis St. Denis.  The only problem was that it turned out to be the lone goal for the Bobcats in the game.  Though going into the first period intermission things were looking up for Quinnipiac

There was no scoring in the second period so the game remained 2-1 at the next intermission. Shots were equal in the period at nine to nine.  Finally, both teams were called for two penalties so things were definitely pretty even in the second period.

North Dakota wins!

Whatever was said in the North Dakota locker after the second intermission fired up the Fighting Hawks, specifically Drake Caggiula. Caggiula scored two goals in the first four minutes of the third period. The first at 1:21, was assisted by Nick Schmaltz and Brock Boeser. The second goal was at the 3:41 mark, was assisted by Brock Boeser and Paul Ladue. North Dakota's final goal of the game was scored at 10:41 by Austin Poganski.  On the Poganski goal, the assists went to Rhett Gardner and Gage Ausmus. Bottom line: North Dakota 5 - Quinnipiac 1.

So what went wrong for Quinnipiac? First, they had no answer for Brock Boeser. He had a short handed goal and three assists. Secondly, they were only 1 for 4 on the power play. If you have that many chances, you need to cash in more than once. Finally, they got out played in third period. I said that North Dakota had the deeper team, and this clearly showed up in the third period. The Bobcats played well for 40 minutes but in a 60 minute game, that's just not going to cut it.

The team photo after the win!

So hats off to North Dakota for winning the championship. They stayed the course and when they got their opportunities, they made the most of them. They have a lot of talent on the team, and they got great goal tending from Cam Johnson. The scary thing for the rest of college hockey is that the Fighting Hawks are a young team. Cam Johnson and Nick Schmaltz are sophomores, and Brock Boeser is a freshman. These guys are only going to get better, they will probably be back in the Frozen Four next year.

The United Center

I hope that you enjoyed my coverage of the tournament. This was the best I have ever done with my picks from beginning. I got three of the four Frozen Four teams, both teams in the title game, and the champion right. It's going to be a long off season, and I cannot wait for next season to start. The 2017 Frozen Four will be in the United Center in Chicago, Illinois; the home of the Chicago Blackhawks. You better get ready! Have a great night!