Is Blaine overrated?

[besthockeyfan]

The last three games they have tied Duluth East (2-2), barely beat Elk River (4-3) and now tied Maple Grove (4-4).

[Goldfishdude]

I believe there was a comment that Blaine has been skating 3 players short. If that's the case, that might have something to do with it, but on the other hand, those are pretty solid clubs Blaine has faced, too.

[besthockeyfan]

I believe there was a comment that Blaine has been skating 3 players short. If that's the case, that might have something to do with it, but on the other hand, those are pretty solid clubs Blaine has faced, too.

Tonka has played pretty solid teams too and they haven't seemed to tie anybody yet. While the teams are solid, they are still outside the top 10 in most polls and a top 3 or 4 team should handle them.

[gretzguy]

[quote="Goldfishdude"]I believe there was a comment that Blaine has been skating 3 players short. quote]

No pushishment given out yet. All three big dogs were there with one getting 4 points which included a hat trick. Interesting timing to serve the minors. Centennial this weekend. Don't skate short until Andover, Coon Rapids, Osseo, and Anoka. My money's on Andover and Osseo to give them a couple losses.

[icedad]

I believe there was a comment that Blaine has been skating 3 players short. /quote]

No pushishment given out yet. All three big dogs were there with one getting 4 points which included a hat trick. Interesting timing to serve the minors. Centennial this weekend. Don't skate short until Andover, Coon Rapids, Osseo, and Anoka. My money's on Andover and Osseo to give them a couple losses.

Tell you what, this was a pretty good game. Three of Blaine's four goals were power play goals versus MG's four even strength goals. Blaine's goalie had a fantastic game and came up huge a number of times. Coming back from a two goal deficit should be a great confidence builder going into Osseo Arena this Saturday.

[Zamman]

Don't you know that when you are a top team you are not allowed to have bad games.....you are supposed to win all games.

Maybe Blaine is in a fink right now, but will pick it up at the end of the season.

I know other teams that have that same issue and people will jump all over them and say they are over-rated. High School kids playing a game, remember!!!

[HShockeywatcher]

Blaine is my #4 team in state right now. Maple Grove is a top 20 team. Only team's they've lost to are top 15 teams; they've shown they can play with anyone. They had a good game, Blaine maybe played down, but in the end, they didn't lose.

Tying a team like Maple Grove isn't bad to the point it shows anyone lower than them is now better than them, imo.

[BodyShots]

If they are rated in the tope 5, then they are over rated.

In my eyes, the top 5 should be:

Tonka
Edina
EP
HM
Eagan

[icedad]

If they are rated in the tope 5, then they are over rated.

In my eyes, the top 5 should be:

Tonka
Edina
EP
HM
Eagan

Agreed

[Fire and Ice]

The NWSC top 1-6 I would put against any conferences top 6. You can expect plenty of one goal and overtime games this year in NWSC.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Too many people get wound up what teams do in the middle of January...the "dog days" of the high school season. Blaine is a very good club & I see them winning the section again and being a major player in the Tourney.

[HShockeywatcher]

If they are rated in the tope 5, then they are over rated.

In my eyes, the top 5 should be:

Tonka
Edina
EP
HM
Eagan

-Blaine beat Hill Murray.
-Eagan has not beat anyone to prove themselves to be a top 5 team yet, imo.

Mine:
Tonka
Edina
EP
Blaine
HM

[besthockeyfan]

Blaine is my #4 team in state right now. Maple Grove is a top 20 team. Only team's they've lost to are top 15 teams; they've shown they can play with anyone. They had a good game, Blaine maybe played down, but in the end, they didn't lose.

Tying a team like Maple Grove isn't bad to the point it shows anyone lower than them is now better than them, imo.

HHW, Its clear you have your favorites and will stick by them. Heck, you have DE #8 and they barely beat Grand rapids who isn't in the top 20.

[EHSHack]

Blaine is my #4 team in state right now. Maple Grove is a top 20 team. Only team's they've lost to are top 15 teams; they've shown they can play with anyone. They had a good game, Blaine maybe played down, but in the end, they didn't lose.

Tying a team like Maple Grove isn't bad to the point it shows anyone lower than them is now better than them, imo.

HHW, Its clear you have your favorites and will stick by them. Heck, you have DE #8 and they barely beat Grand rapids who isn't in the top 20.

If you are going to use that as an argument, A. It is a huge rivalry game so throw records out and B. Easts backup goalie played.

[besthockeyfan]

Blaine is my #4 team in state right now. Maple Grove is a top 20 team. Only team's they've lost to are top 15 teams; they've shown they can play with anyone. They had a good game, Blaine maybe played down, but in the end, they didn't lose.

Tying a team like Maple Grove isn't bad to the point it shows anyone lower than them is now better than them, imo.

HHW, Its clear you have your favorites and will stick by them. Heck, you have DE #8 and they barely beat Grand rapids who isn't in the top 20.

If you are going to use that as an argument, A. It is a huge rivalry game so throw records out and B. Easts backup goalie played.

We may have a difference in opinion as this is a forum. I have seen DE play three games and I have not been impressed. Until they show they can win consistently and actually have a few decisive wins they are not a top ten team.

[Goldfishdude]

If Blaine isn't top 5, then they are 6th... For rankings by Followthepuck..

9-3-2 with the losses to #1 Tonka 4-3 and #3 Edina 1-0 and 3-2

Wins over #7 Roseau 5-4, #8 Osseo, #5 H-M 6-4, #1A St. Thomas 4-1, #18 Elk River 4-3

Ties 2-2 vs #11 East and 4-4 vs #16 Maple Grove.

Although they haven't beaten anyone above them, wins vs 5, 7 and 8 is pretty good, and they haven't lost to anyone below them.

And although Blaine has had several 1-goal wins, they only lost by one goal margins over the #1 and #3 teams, AND Blaine is only one of two teams to score three goals vs Tonka, the most Tonka has given up in a game this year.

[HShockeywatcher]

Blaine is my #4 team in state right now. Maple Grove is a top 20 team. Only team's they've lost to are top 15 teams; they've shown they can play with anyone. They had a good game, Blaine maybe played down, but in the end, they didn't lose.

Tying a team like Maple Grove isn't bad to the point it shows anyone lower than them is now better than them, imo.

HHW, Its clear you have your favorites and will stick by them. Heck, you have DE #8 and they barely beat Grand rapids who isn't in the top 20.

If you are going to use that as an argument, A. It is a huge rivalry game so throw records out and B. Easts backup goalie played.

Besthockeyfan,

Please elaborate. I have one favorite and they aren't even in my top 5. I use my best judgment to use who a team has beaten/lost to to make my rankings. My top 10:
1. Minnetonka
2. Edina
3. Eden Prairie
4. Blaine
5. Hill Murray
6. Eagan
7. St Thomas
8. Duluth East
9. Wayzata
10. Holy Angels

Blaine has only lost to Tonka and Edina. Same with Eden Prairie, but I give them the nod for being defending champs.

As EHSHack said, it's a rivalry game. Plus, a win's a win.

EHSHack,
Confuses me that they would run their back up against a section opponent with such a rivalry attached.

[besthockeyfan]

If Blaine isn't top 5, then they are 6th... For rankings by Followthepuck..

9-3-2 with the losses to #1 Tonka 4-3 and #3 Edina 1-0 and 3-2

Wins over #7 Roseau 5-4, #8 Osseo, #5 H-M 6-4, #1A St. Thomas 4-1, #18 Elk River 4-3

Ties 2-2 vs #11 East and 4-4 vs #16 Maple Grove.

Although they haven't beaten anyone above them, wins vs 5, 7 and 8 is pretty good, and they haven't lost to anyone below them.

And although Blaine has had several 1-goal wins, they only lost by one goal margins over the #1 and #3 teams, AND Blaine is only one of two teams to score three goals vs Tonka, the most Tonka has given up in a game this year.

I agree with your assesment Goldfishdude, they should probably be 6th after yesterdays tie. The thing that worries me about them is teams are supposed to be building toward the end of the season and it seems as though they may be slipping a little bit, although not drastically. Hope thay can turn it around and start playing like they did against HM and STA. They are a definitely a dangerous team when they are playing well.

[observer]

Yes they are. Centennial too. I often look at the recent success of the youth program and Blaine's strongest group is still in the youth program. I will admit the conference is tough.

Eagan, Minnetonka, Burnsville, Lakeville South, Wayzata, OMG have been strong youth programs I've seen in the last few years so their success at high school hasn't been a surprise for me. More to come next year.

[besthockeyfan]

The NWSC top 1-6 I would put against any conferences top 6. You can expect plenty of one goal and overtime games this year in NWSC.

I would put the Lake conference's top 6 against NWSC. EP, Eagan, Jefferson, AV, Burnsville and both Lakeville teams.

[playerplayer1]

If Blaine isn't top 5, then they are 6th... For rankings by Followthepuck..

9-3-2 with the losses to #1 Tonka 4-3 and #3 Edina 1-0 and 3-2

Wins over #7 Roseau 5-4, #8 Osseo, #5 H-M 6-4, #1A St. Thomas 4-1, #18 Elk River 4-3

Ties 2-2 vs #11 East and 4-4 vs #16 Maple Grove.

Although they haven't beaten anyone above them, wins vs 5, 7 and 8 is pretty good, and they haven't lost to anyone below them.

And although Blaine has had several 1-goal wins, they only lost by one goal margins over the #1 and #3 teams, AND Blaine is only one of two teams to score three goals vs Tonka, the most Tonka has given up in a game this year.

I agree with your assesment Goldfishdude, they should probably be 6th after yesterdays tie. The thing that worries me about them is teams are supposed to be building toward the end of the season and it seems as though they may be slipping a little bit, although not drastically. Hope thay can turn it around and start playing like they did against HM and STA. They are a definitely a dangerous team when they are playing well.

I agree Blaine should be about 6th. It concerns me too that they aren't playing as well now as they were earlier in the year.

[karl(east)]

If Blaine isn't top 5, then they are 6th... For rankings by Followthepuck..

9-3-2 with the losses to #1 Tonka 4-3 and #3 Edina 1-0 and 3-2

Wins over #7 Roseau 5-4, #8 Osseo, #5 H-M 6-4, #1A St. Thomas 4-1, #18 Elk River 4-3

Ties 2-2 vs #11 East and 4-4 vs #16 Maple Grove.

Although they haven't beaten anyone above them, wins vs 5, 7 and 8 is pretty good, and they haven't lost to anyone below them.

And although Blaine has had several 1-goal wins, they only lost by one goal margins over the #1 and #3 teams, AND Blaine is only one of two teams to score three goals vs Tonka, the most Tonka has given up in a game this year.

I agree with your assesment Goldfishdude, they should probably be 6th after yesterdays tie. The thing that worries me about them is teams are supposed to be building toward the end of the season and it seems as though they may be slipping a little bit, although not drastically. Hope thay can turn it around and start playing like they did against HM and STA. They are a definitely a dangerous team when they are playing well.

I agree Blaine should be about 6th. It concerns me too that they aren't playing as well now as they were earlier in the year.

Though things may change shortly with Blaine playing Centennial and EP playing Eagan tomorrow, I also agree for now.

Blaine may not be playing their best hockey now, but it wasn't like they were blowing out good opposition at the beginning of the year either, with 1-goal wins over Roseau and Osseo. They're a team that's done quite well against a very tough schedule.

In general, there are very few teams capable of winning big against other good teams. Minnetonka, maybe Hill, maaybe Edina. Jefferson, when they're on, which they have not been lately. Not sure about EP and Eagan yet.

That's the state of AA hockey right now. 1 frontrunner, a short list of teams right behind them, and in back of that, one huge mess. A lot of these teams are in very deep, difficult conferences, which means the losses will mount, despite the talent at hand. It'll be very interesting to sort out this weekend.

[Goldfishdude]

I wouldn't necessarily say they aren't playing well. 1-0-2 last 3 games.

According to the stats, they did outshoot Maple Grove 44-27 (4-4).. Outshot Elk River 28-19 (4-3). It just seems as though Danny Harper hasn't been as sharp, although, I have no idea how the goals were scored. Harper was good in the 2-2 tie w East as East outshot Blaine 29-23.

[my2cents]

Keep in mind that out of 14 games, Blaine has only played 3 on their home ice.

[youngbloodjr3]

my2cents is right they have had only 3 games at home which can do a toll on you.