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What are your thoughts?

This is Eagan's last chance to make a statement prove they belong among the elite in the state. This may be the first time I'd ever favor Eagan over HM, especially at Aldrich, but if they can play a solid game I think Eagan can beat Hill-Murray tonight.

gopherpuck516 wrote:This is Eagan's last chance to make a statement prove they belong among the elite in the state. This may be the first time I'd ever favor Eagan over HM, especially at Aldrich, but if they can play a solid game I think Eagan can beat Hill-Murray tonight.

It's the first time that you've ever had the chance to favor Eagan over HM, since this is (as far as I know) the first time that they've played each other.

I think that, so long as there aren't any more stepped-on pucks or colliding defensemen, that the Cats win 6-3 (with an empty netter).

I also predict that this win will immediately be discounted, especially after it drops H-M out of the top 10 in the next set of polls. Folks will continue to argue that Eagan is 0-2 against "Top Ten" teams, and claim that their team (EP/Edina/MG/Spuds) is more deserving of both a higher ranking and a State seed (assuming of course, that they all get there).

And the Wildcats will continue to ignore the White Noise.

almostashappy wrote:

I also predict that this win will immediately be discounted, especially after it drops H-M out of the top 10 in the next set of polls. Folks will continue to argue that Eagan is 0-2 against "Top Ten" teams, and claim that their team (EP/Edina/MG/Spuds) is more deserving of both a higher ranking and a State seed (assuming of course, that they all get there).

And the Wildcats will continue to ignore the White Noise.

My opinion is that HM shouldn't drop from the top 10 with a loss tonight. I have never understood the rational for dropping a team for losing to a team thought of as better than them.

That said, I would substitute East for Spuds of those 4 teams; Eagan is 5/6 in my book right now. If East, Edina, MG and Tonka/EP all make state, I don't think Eagan should be seeded.

HShockeywatcher wrote: If East, Edina, MG and Tonka/EP all make state, I don't think Eagan should be seeded.

Regardless of how any of these teams perform over the last couple weeks of the regular season? In a different thread I think you were using a hypothetical in which Edina and Eagan both win out the rest of their games.

gopherpuck516 wrote:This is Eagan's last chance to make a statement prove they belong among the elite in the state. This may be the first time I'd ever favor Eagan over HM, especially at Aldrich, but if they can play a solid game I think Eagan can beat Hill-Murray tonight.

I think you got that backwards, it should read, with a solid effort Hillmurray might have a chance to knock off Eagan...Eagan deserves its ranking despite their 2 losses. They lost 2-1 to EP and the winning goal came on a 3 on 0 breakaway when an Eagan defensemen stepped on the puck at the blue line while trying to play it with his skate and went down causing the breakaway. 2 stupid plays on one power play against Tonka caused the other loss, 1st was the colliding Eagan defensemen creating another breakaway and the poor decision by the goaltender with a errant pass and doesnt get back to the net in time. I am not actually making excuses only pointing out that in both losses Eagan basically beat themselves...just sayin

almostashappy wrote:

HShockeywatcher wrote: If East, Edina, MG and Tonka/EP all make state, I don't think Eagan should be seeded.

Regardless of how any of these teams perform over the last couple weeks of the regular season? In a different thread I think you were using a hypothetical in which Edina and Eagan both win out the rest of their games.

No, not regardless. With them doing as good as they are now and assuming that stays the same. It also assumes Eagan continues to do well...and wins tonight.

I really wish Eagan had won one or both of those games, but they didn't. Tonight they'll get a top 10 win [hopefully] but unless one of the others falters, it is my opinion that Eagan shouldn't be ranked.

That being said, I could see the argument to be ahead of Eden Prairie because of non-top 5 losses (Wayzata shutout, Moorhead loss), but they additionally have a win over the other team that beat Eagan and if they made it to state, would presumably have at least one more win over Tonka.

HM will win with either a goal or beautiful assist by Guentzel. Guentzel has had Eagan's number ever since Squirts and he will carry them again, even with less of a team.

mulesrbest wrote:HM will win with either a goal or beautiful assist by Guentzel. Guentzel has had Eagan's number ever since Squirts and he will carry them again, even with less of a team.

Guentzel's past personal success against Eagan may not be a reliable predictor for tonight's game, given that the large, overprotective linemate that he skated with from Squirts to Bantams was left behind in Woodbury.

Unless somebody named "Spring" or "Summer" has stepped into that role at H-M?

is this streaming anywhere?

I think Eagan should get this one. 4-2.

Sachishi4, OTSN appears to be streaming this one live tonight.

Eagan will jump ahead with an early goal and then hold off for a 4-3 win is my prediction.

It is sad to see the arena so empty

Eagan Hasnt had much tough competition and I think that will come back and bite them tonight. I like Hill Murray in this one 4-2

AFTER ONE--

Eagan- 1
Hill Murray- 0

SHOTS--

Eagan-11
Hill Murray- 5

Sats you nailed it! quite impressive

Eagan 4 H-M 2

tonkafan77 wrote:It is sad to see the arena so empty

Probably looked that way because both of the cameras were on Eagan's side. Wildcat fans easily outnumbered Hill-Murray's.

This is Hill team is nothing special. There has been no improvement over the course of the season. Lines continue to change, the quality of play does not.

I had not seen Eagan yet, and expected more. Even with Hill's inability to break out or complete two passes in a row, they were in the game until the last minute. An average Hill team beats this Eagan squad 5-2, and doesn't give up goal during a 5 minute major. (No need to call a few minor even-up penalties after that one). Eagan should have no problems in it's section, but I don't see them as being a threat to win the state tournament.

Guentzel played well, but he can't do it alone. Others need to step it up.

Hill-Murray full of grace. What are we doing in second place?

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:Hill-Murray full of grace. What are we doing in second place?

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote:This is Hill team is nothing special. There has been no improvement over the course of the season. Lines continue to change, the quality of play does not.

I had not seen Eagan yet, and expected more. Even with Hill's inability to break out or complete two passes in a row, they were in the game until the last minute. An average Hill team beats this Eagan squad 5-2, and doesn't give up goal during a 5 minute major. (No need to call a few minor even-up penalties after that one). Eagan should have no problems in it's section, but I don't see them as being a threat to win the state tournament.

Guentzel played well, but he can't do it alone. Others need to step it up.

Hill-Murray full of grace. What are we doing in second place?

Your a joke....Eagan totally out played and out classed Hill, Guetzel is a little baby, nice cheap shot after the 4th goal, thats some real leadership..lol..Eagan deserves there high ranking and shouldnt move down unless they lose a game in final weeks coming up...dont be such a sore loser

Happy you just have a way of rubbing folks the wrong way. It was simply one mans opinion. Really no need to go off on the guy. 4-2 hardly seems to indicate outplayed and out classed. As for Jake there is not a single team in the state that wouldn't love to have the kid on their team. He competes every shift no matter what. Your Wildcats are good, possibly very good, but they have a tendency to let teams hang around longer than they should. They will get the chance to prove just how good they can be when they get to the X.

keepyourheadup wrote:Happy you just have a way of rubbing folks the wrong way. It was simply one mans opinion. Really no need to go off on the guy. 4-2 hardly seems to indicate outplayed and out classed. As for Jake there is not a single team in the state that wouldn't love to have the kid on their team. He competes every shift no matter what. Your Wildcats are good, possibly very good, but they have a tendency to let teams hang around longer than they should. They will get the chance to prove just how good they can be when they get to the X.

He comes off as a sore loser, I dont care for that, he basically completely blames the loss on Hill not being very good and they couldnt break out or complete two passes and give no credit to Eagan being a top team in the state. The reason Hill couldnt breakout or complete those passes is because there were always Eagan players in the way. The short handed goal was a great effort on Merchants part to fight for the puck along the boards and create the breakaway and finished it with a snipe in the upper corner. Hill is a decent team but Eagan is better and he hates that so I am gonna call him out. As for Jake, yeah he is a great player but he lacks class after a post goal cheap shot late in the game. Puts himself in the penalty box when his team needed him on the ice, thats not good leadership. Thats my opinion.

I would second that Guentzel is a fine player, very smart..but did show a lack of poise and composure after Eagan's 4th goal....

I thought Eagan was clearly much better 5 on 5, no contest there...Hill only got the vast majority of their chances on the PP. Zajac was a beast and his line was in the attack zone basically all night regardless of who Hill had out there.