Hermantown @ Hibbing 2/3

[Jacks10]

Hermantown-2
Hibbing-1

[hawkfan70]

Hermantown-2
Hibbing-1

a new believer

[Jacks10]

Hermantown-2
Hibbing-1

a new believer

well I gotta believe.. have a cousin that plays for Hermantown so I don't mind them

[cooperalls4ever]

After watching Hermantown's games against Denfeld, Marshall, Cloquet...

I'll say that the game against #1 vs. #2 Herm/Marshall that Marshall had a 48-32 adv. in shots or whatever, but I say you can easily take off about 5-10 of those as having any "quality" because they were all "dump-ins" from the redline that happened to go on goal. Marshall did start to wear on Hermantown as the game went on. I thought Hermantown's front line was a bit "out of shape." Lot of tounges draggin' and they were not going every other shift.

TJ from Cloquet is very "slithery". Has speed and works himself open in the neutral ice... transitions very well... tended to hang out past center ice a bit too much, but it still worked very well in providing many very good scoring chances, but HARDY is a better goalie than TJ is a goal scorer.

With odd man rushes, which will happen for Hibbing, they will have a chance... otherwise, Hermantown wins because Hardy seems to come up big in big games. He looked VERY VERY good against Cloquet. I can't emphasis that enuff for those who weren't there!!!

Yeah... a shot is a shot on net... I haven't seen the NoDak/MN goal that Briggs gave up last weekend (heard it was a dandy!). 180'

[shooter57]

Her-town's depth does not compare to Hibbing's. Where was that depth vs Virginia? (a one line team with average to less-than goal tending) Didn't they just squeak out an OT win? The Hibb-machine will roll to a 6-1 victory! maybe 6-0! The game is not being played in their BOGUS rink with their BIAS refs!

[cooperalls4ever]

Yeah... refs don't get anymore bias than the ones on da range!

[cooperalls4ever]

On a serious note...

Is Hibbing finally healthy? anyone still out with mono?

[PuckRanger]

I'm calling this one a sister-kisser. Hibbing will lead early and Hermantown will catch up in the 3rd.

Hibbing 2
Hermantown 2

Just to mess with the seeding process.

Shooter, saying that Hermantown can't compare to Hibbing because of their OT win over Virginia is preposterous. Virginia is not a one-line team and Hibbing didn't exactly blow Virginia out of the water, either. Virginia got poor goaltending in that game and much better goaltending against Hermantown. You can't base this game off of those two. These two teams ARE the class of 7A right now. (although don't count out Virginia if they get healthy). This game will be a battle to the buzzer.

[cooperalls4ever]

I took the post (by shooter) as Hermantown having poor goaltending and no depth past the 1st line. Which if that is the case, then goaltending... that statement is way off base. Hardy is one of the top 3 goaltenders in section 7A, 7AA, and 2A.

[shooter57]

PuckRanger- I really didn't mean to dis Virginia! I was mostly wondering where Her-town's All-star cast was that night. so strong and powerfull as they are blown-up to be? Hibbing has a good bunch of hard working, solid players that compete as a unit. That will be hard to beat...

[bringiton22]

Somebody said Hermantowns depth wont compare to Hibbings. After seeing Hermantown completely dominate the third period and overtime against Cloquet, I don't think Hibbing can match up with them. I don't know if Hibbing has seen a team like Hermantown this year. From top to bottom there is no weak spot on Hermantowns team. They have an incredibly gifted player in LeBlanc, who can single handedly take over a hockey game. Hardy is one of the most dominating goalies in the state, and he seems to shine in big games. If he can shut out Cloquet, I think he can do it against Hibbing. Should be a fun game to watch, but I think Hermantown will just be too much. The Cloquet game was a big test, and they responded very well I thought. Ellingson is a special player, and I don't think many teams in the state could have snuck one by him tonight.

[cooperalls4ever]

Carefull... it has been mentioned that Cloquet was without a few forwards and TJ didn't play the last 8 minutes and OT. By all accounts, Cloquet had much, much better opportunities in the 1st and 2nd with TJ in the game than Hermantown.

My opinion is that Hermantown could go 3 lines with anybody last year, and could spot the 4th. Duluth Marshall last year wasn't close to 3 lines deep. I see Hermantown's team makeup more like Duluth Marshall's last year as far as depth... I think Hermantown is still "younger" and smaller this year than last.

It is getting to be the time of the year where hopefully those 2nd, 3rd, 4th lines have gained some needed experience and maturity. I did see some improvement against Cloquet since the Marshall game. I will say Cloquet has two or three physical players that can set the tone of the game. Hermantown lacks in size.

[fkahckyprofessor20]

Honestly, I think Hermantown needs to lose this game to have a little more fire in their belly's come playoff time. But will they lose? Probably not - Nathan Hardy has shown more than once this year that he is one of the best if not the best goaltender in the state of MN. AND, the best kept secret at that.

[bringiton22]

The game really did change when TJ was gone. It really seemed as though Hermantown was deeper down the stretch though. TJ being gone hurt, but Hermantown began to gain controll in the game and I can't imagine that he would have stopped Hermantown from outshooting them 23-6 in the third and o.t. He is too offensive minded to make a difference defensively in my opinion.

The shooting lanes that were closed earlier in the game were opening up as Hermantown moved the puck very well, and just seemed to have the extra jump in their legs that Cloquet was lacking. Now whether or not it was Cloquet becoming lost out there without their star, Hermantown gaining confidence knowing Cloquet lost a key part of their offence, or if Hermantown just had more gas in the tank down the stretch I really dont know.

I can't comment on Hibbings depth because I havent seen them play, but after seeing how good Hermantown responded during the last half of a game against one of the states best teams, I don't think there is any question where they stand.

[JLS 81]

Hey bringiton post your tripe on the CEC- H-town thread the Bluejackets are going to take your boyz to the woodshed Saturday night and there ain't a thing you can do about it. Yuze clowns need to step up to the 7AA plate along with 'Marshal Dillon', Hibbing-Chisholm-Cotton and restore 7AA back to the north where it belongs. Let Randover, Flake and the Elks hammer out in the north metro clubs.

[bringiton22]

Its just fine in this thread. We are talking about depth JLS 81, I can assure you I wont be attending either teams practices, so comparing how they did against another team is going to have to do, and is completely relevant to this topic.

As far as moving to 7AA I would love to see Hermantown go AA about as much as Hibbing would. They havent played enough games against 7AA opponents to judge whether or not they could consistantly play at that level. But judging by one game against the likely #1 seed in 7AA, they could.

[hshockeyfan53]

Hey JLS 81? Do u seriously think that Hibbing might take H-town to the house? Im not saying that hibbing won't win but come on.... its going to be a close game either way. More and more people are actually saying that it would be good for Hermantown to lose this game. However, i dont think thats going to happen.

[NightRider]

This is going to be One Hell of a Hockey Game, and boblee make that 45 minute Trip, its worth it, but JLS, Hibbing-Chisholm-Cotton? eh just call them what every body does, Hibbing.

[35Hawksfan]

hibbing was AA and still should go back to bein AA problem solved Hawks 2- 1

[nikebauer_07]

I think hibbing will come up fired up for this one. everyone should be back and healthy and having ant decenzo back will make a big difference. he didn't play against rapids or cloquet, but they still played both of them tough. hibbing's defense needs to step up and play a solid game for once if they want to have a shot to win and marchuk will need his best game of the season. hibbing will be the team to hand hermantown their first loss..
Hibbing 5
Hermantown 4 OT

[35Hawksfan]

5 goals on hardy -"please"

[nikebauer_07]

wow, one big game and you hermantown fans sure are cocky. he shuts out cloquet and all of a sudden he is the greatest thing on earth and minnhock is flooded with hermantown fans. hopefully hermantown will come out as cocky as all you fans are on here and hibbing will take em to school..

[PASTRAPIDSFAN]

This is going to be One Hell of a Hockey Game, and boblee make that 45 minute Trip, its worth it, but JLS, Hibbing-Chisholm-Cotton? eh just call them what every body does, Hibbing.

Yes this will be a very good game.I will be there.

[hawkeyfan]

every year this game is rematch of who knocked who out of playoffs. personally i don't think it matters who gets the number one seed because these guys will be playing each other in section finals.

this year hibbing will win the #1 but hermantown will go to state
hibbing 2
hermantown 1

I'll take Hibbing 5 - 3.

The number one seed is huge. They are playing 4 or 5 for a crack at the winner of 2 and 3. #1 should handle 4 or 5 (Falls goalie is the BIG factor if Falls is 4 or 5...the kid is scary). The game between 2 and 3 will be hard fot no matter who the teams are. There is not a lot of rest between the play off games.

personally i'm not so positive i falls is going to be the 4 or 5 seed. If virginia doesn't beat the falls at section seeding meetings don't be surprised if virginia gets the four seed and the falls gets the 3 seed.
not to mention greenway is a dark horse with their young goalie who has been playing through a beat up ankle.

hibbing, hermantown, virginia/I falls, greenway, eveleth, silver bay, two harbors, ely

[NightRider]

if hermantown beats Hibbing, it will show that they're Record isnt a flueke, because if you compare the two schedules, Hermantowns Schedule is way weaker than Hibbings, Hermantown's played teams like Ashland Wisconson? Hibbings Played Teams like Roseau and BSM.