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EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

Jefferson has no answer for Rau. He walked around the D the last 2 times up the ice and won the faceoff and got the intial shot toward the goal on the 5th goal with .9 left in period.

karl(east) wrote:EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

He is pretty good. Does he have any offers? Don better get on that soon..

GopherHockey wrote:

karl(east) wrote:EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

He is pretty good. Does he have any offers? Don better get on that soon..

He better get on this whole junior class. Molenaar, Rau's, Rath's, Ford, McCartan - They work very well together.

Jags pull goalie woodley and put in sophomore eric fabano.

4 and change left in the 3rd, still 5-2

5-3 Final. Jefferson scores a garbage goal at the end, Eagles solidify themselves among the state's elite.

Jefferson still can't seem to figure out. EP was definitely the better team tonight

GopherHockey wrote:

karl(east) wrote:EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

He is pretty good. Does he have any offers? Don better get on that soon..

He was in attendence at the game.

theoneandonly1 wrote:

GopherHockey wrote:

karl(east) wrote:EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

He is pretty good. Does he have any offers? Don better get on that soon..

He was in attendence at the game.

And so was a Maple Leafs scout I heard.

I thought Jags dominated a lot of the play in the 2nd and 3rd. Penalties and goaltending hurt them a lot tonight. I thought they looked better than what the final score indicates. We'll see the shots. They were reported 25-24 EP after 2 and I would think that Jefferson wins the shot battle in the end. I don't know what to make of the game, but I didn't think Jefferson looked bad at all. In my opinion the score could've been even, but in the end a loss is a loss and a win a win. EP looked good and the Jags shot themselves in the foot.

for those who watched - from the sounds of it it sounds like Rau was the difference maker. Big difference talent wise? Thoughts on the game?

schwang17 wrote:for those who watched - from the sounds of it it sounds like Rau was the difference maker. Big difference talent wise? Thoughts on the game?

Yea he is starting to control almost every game the Eagles play and he is the best player on the ice every time out. I'm sticking with my argument (if you remember) earlier in the season that he is a better hs player than Bjugstad. Maybe we'll see a rematch at state of the semi's from last year if the Eagles find a way past Tonka at the Target Center?

schwang17 wrote:for those who watched - from the sounds of it it sounds like Rau was the difference maker. Big difference talent wise? Thoughts on the game?

Rau definitely was the star, yes. The EP PP might be the best I've seen all year, and though they gave up a few when shorthanded, I liked what I saw out of the PK, too. Their special teams are brilliant. The top line does do the vast majority of their scoring, but the other lines more than hold their own when they're out there. There were a few defensive breakdowns, though, and Ford needs to work on controlling some of the rebounds he gives up.

Jefferson looked better as the game went on, though I never really felt that EP was in jeopardy. When Pauluk and Faust step up into the attack they really cause a lot of problems. Herbert had a very nice goal too. Their real problem in this one was the awful start to the game; not quite sure where the blame should go for that...maybe it was mental unpreparedness, maybe it was the goaltending, maybe the chippiness.

I do think EP is the better team, but not so much better that the re-match will be a foregone conclusion.

I can't remember a player any more important to his team than Kyle Rau. The kid is simply the best player in high school hockey. Every night every opponent knows the key to slowing down EP is number 7 and he just keeps filling the stat sheet. Smartest high school player I've seen since Broten.

keepyourheadup wrote:I can't remember a player any more important to his team than Kyle Rau. The kid is simply the best player in high school hockey. Every night every opponent knows the key to slowing down EP is number 7 and he just keeps filling the stat sheet. Smartest high school player I've seen since Broten.

I remember this one guy...Nick Leddy

In my opinion Rau's play at state last year was on par with Leddy's. $ state championships in a row...don't bet against a 5th.

keepyourheadup wrote:In my opinion Rau's play at state last year was on par with Leddy's. $ state championships in a row...don't bet against a 5th.

Trust me, if he stays I'm not betting against a 6th

Amen to that Hockeymn1

karl(east) wrote:EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

About time someone outside of Eden Prairie figured that out.

deanertronterry wrote:5-2 with .9 sec left

killed all jaguar momentum

Herbert with the dumb penalty

Congrats to Rau on an excellent game. Unfortunately for the Jags, the penalties continue to be their undoing. Especially with the strength of EP's PP, stupid to take penalties unless absolutely necessary.

The Kyle Rau kid is a true finisher at EP. If the Don at the U of M doesn't recruit this kid, it is sad for the Minnesota program to let this kid get playing a tough schedule in the LAKE scoring goals and assists to let him get away to a Wis. CC, St. Cloud, Bemidji or Duluth programs is really bad. The Don, didn't recruit the older brother being Chad Rau, that lit up scoring his senior year at CC. This kid needs to be in maroon and gold. This kid is a pure goal scorer. He is better than Bjustad, Benick and so on to make others on his line better.

karl(east) wrote:

schwang17 wrote:for those who watched - from the sounds of it it sounds like Rau was the difference maker. Big difference talent wise? Thoughts on the game?

Rau definitely was the star, yes. The EP PP might be the best I've seen all year, and though they gave up a few when shorthanded, I liked what I saw out of the PK, too. Their special teams are brilliant. The top line does do the vast majority of their scoring, but the other lines more than hold their own when they're out there. There were a few defensive breakdowns, though, and Ford needs to work on controlling some of the rebounds he gives up.

Jefferson looked better as the game went on, though I never really felt that EP was in jeopardy. When Pauluk and Faust step up into the attack they really cause a lot of problems. Herbert had a very nice goal too. Their real problem in this one was the awful start to the game; not quite sure where the blame should go for that...maybe it was mental unpreparedness, maybe it was the goaltending, maybe the chippiness.

I do think EP is the better team, but not so much better that the re-match will be a foregone conclusion.

Personally, this section final comes down to Ford at EP vs Krueger at Tonka. Both teams can score goals. i give a slight edge to EP.

gerryodrowski wrote:

karl(east) wrote:EP's special teams are fun to watch. Jefferson built a little momentum for a while there but it faded at the end, and that goal with .9 might be a back-breaker.

Bjugstad may be a better pro prospect, but after watching Rau's performance tonight, I just might argue that he's the best player in the state.

About time someone outside of Eden Prairie figured that out.

toptitty96 wrote:I thought Jags dominated a lot of the play in the 2nd and 3rd. Penalties and goaltending hurt them a lot tonight. I thought they looked better than what the final score indicates. We'll see the shots. They were reported 25-24 EP after 2 and I would think that Jefferson wins the shot battle in the end. I don't know what to make of the game, but I didn't think Jefferson looked bad at all. In my opinion the score could've been even, but in the end a loss is a loss and a win a win. EP looked good and the Jags shot themselves in the foot.

I agree..........
It was the goaltending that made the difference more than one EP player. Although, give the player credit. The Jags are lacking in this position.

sog?