Hickey and McDonagh don't disapoint in second round

Playing St. Paul Johnson in the State Fair Coliseum for the right to play in the sectional finals is never an easy task. Unless you have Chris Hickey and Ryan McDonagh.

I was able to catch the game last night and didn't leave disappointed. McDonagh was his usual self. No mistakes, always fluid, tape to tape, cannon from the point. But last night I was more impressed with Hickey. It looks like he's really turned his game up since the last time I saw him in the Elite League. Hickey had 2 goals and 4 assists in the game. McDonagh had a goal and an assist. And while the points are nice, it was the goals he didn't score that were more impressive than what shows on the score sheet. I couldn't count the number of times he turned Johnson defenders inside out. The way he gets himself into position to shoot is amazing. The only thing I might have been slightly disappointed in was that he had a couple more opportunities to finish and didn't.

I was skeptical after his injury that he couldn't come back and step in at UW next season like some are expecting. After watching him tonight, if Skille goes pro...which he will, Chris Hickey better be in Madison.