Well the two weeks are in the books. I noticed that there were 4 shut outs this past weekend quite a few considering that's out of 10 league games. Could this be the year of the goalies in the WCHA, we will have to wait and see. This week we only have three WCHA match ups.
Here are the current WCHA standings
TEAM................... GP...W-L-T...PTS
1 Colorado College........4...3-0-1.....7
2 Minnesota-Duluth.......4...2-1-1.....5
2 North Dakota............4...2-1-1.....5
4 Denver...................2...2-0-0.....4
5 St. Cloud State..........2...1-0-1.....3
5 Wisconsin................4...1-2-1.....3
7 Alaska-Anchorage.......2...1-1-0.....2
7 Minnesota State.........4...1-3-0.....2
9 Minnesota................4...0-3-1.....1
10 Michigan Tech..........2...0-2-0.....0
WCHA
St. Cloud State at Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Huskies from SCSU took 3-pts from the visiting Bulldogs of UMD, and the Huskies from MTU were sweep at World Arena by the CC Tigers.
SCSU got some PPG's and 2 SHG's against UMD to take three points. The shocking part is that Lasch got one goal and Roe had two assist on the weekend. SCSU needs to have scoring from their other lines to win, and that is what they did. If their top line gets it going, and the other lines continue to produce, they could really start burning up the ice. The boys from MTU scored once on Friday, but five times on Saturday. They held a 4-3 lead on Saturday after 40-minutee, and then the skis came off the sled, giving up 5 goals in the third. MTU has given up 18 goals in 4 games, that's 4.5 GAA for the team. MTU needs to stop the bleeding if they want to win some games and get out of the graveyard. I'm going to say the Huskies from SCSU take 3-pts this weekend.
Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota
Last weekend the Seawolves split at home against the Sioux and the Gophers were swept at home by the Pioneers.
I watched both UAA-UND games last weekend, and both UM-DU games too. I have to say that the ref's did a great job in the Friday night UAA-UND series, hats off to Tim Walsh and Scott Bakol (not so good on Saturday). Also props go to the UAA announcer Kurt Haiyder (spelling?) he does an excellent job with the play by play, fun size candy bars go to Kurt. The Sioux skated circles around UAA on Friday, but the Seawolves responded on Saturday. UAA held the Sioux to 3 shots in the second period and gave them very few quality scoring chances all game. If the Seawolves play defense the way they did on Saturday the Gophers may not get any treats this weekend. The Gophers have now been shut out in 3 of their last 4 games, ouch, thus it' no surprise they haven't scored a power play goal either. UM played with good solid efforts both nights but didn't have many quality scoring chances, credit DU's defense and goalie with that effort. The shots on goal were 34-30 DU, and 30-26 UM respectively last weekend. Those numbers considered, things might be on the up tick for both the offense and defense at the U of M. The Gopher-ville faithful still have reason to be spooked, with the obvious lack of scoring. Their question is "when will we score a goal?" I say they will score this weekend. I'm going with a SPLIT.
Minnesota State at #2 Denver
Last weekend the Mavericks split at home against the Badgers and the Pioneers swept the Gophers in Minneapolis.
Denver looked really good for a team that was suffering from the flu last weekend. The Mavericks rebounded after getting waxed 6-0 on Friday, with a 3-2 win Saturday. The Mavericks will have to be even better this weekend if they want to get some points at Magness Arena. MSUM has given up 16 goals in 4 league games, they have to play better in their own end and stay out of the penalty box. DU will look to keep their shut out streak intact when they return home. DU had given up 14 goals in 4 non-conference games. I think the Pioneers might worry about a let down this weekend after a road sweep. I'm going to call a SPLIT, MSUM Friday, DU Saturday.
NON-CONFERENCE
New Hampshire at #19 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Wildcats beat fellow Hockey East teams Northeastern and Maine, and the Badgers split a pair at MSU-Mankato.
The Badgers sprung to life with a 6-0 drubbing of Mankato last Friday. They may have gotten more points on the weekend if not for two 5-minute major penalties in the 3rd period of Saturday's game. Now that UW is up to speed, having played 4 WCHA games, they are ready to massacre a Hockey East team. I haven't seen or know much about UNH, they are 2-2-1 on the season with a lose and a tie versus Miami (OH). This series could help the WCHA as a whole if the Badgers sweep the Wildcats.
We ALL have to cheer for our WCHA brothers in non-conference play. Badgers SWEEP and the Wildcats end up going home with only some candy bars.
Clarkson at Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Golden Knights (ECAC) beat St. Lawrence (ECAC) 4-1, and the Bulldogs got one point from a visit to St. Cloud.
CU is 3-2-0 this season, with the wins coming at home and the loses on the road. CU is a small school, about 3000 students located in Potsdam, NY. CU was picked to finish 11th in the 12 team ECAC in their preseason coach's poll. Again I haven't seen CU play and I'm not that familiar with them. I'm going with the Bulldogs in this series, given recent success at home in the DECC and CU hasn't won on the road yet. Again we ALL need to cheer for our WCHA friends especially in non-conference games, Bulldogs SWEEP, CU weeps.
OFF - Bye Week
#3 North Dakota
#15 Colorado College
We here at GOONS WORLD wish everyone a save and Happy Halloween weekend, and hopefully your team gets the treats and not the tricks!
You want to put a beer on the UAA and UMN series, Gophers sweep.
ReplyDeleteYou're on, I think UAA will get a point out of UM this weekend.
ReplyDeleteAlso I will bet cha that UNH takes at least a point or three from Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteI stand by my comment that UAA is a big slow lumbering team, that is bookended by two sieves.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Anchorage will take at least a point out of their road series at MN. Anchorage isn't as bad as most think they are. If they can slow the game to a crawl, keep the offense to a minimum, and get decent goaltending, they can win a pile of close, low-scoring games. I do also think that St Cloud will sweep Tech. Tech has looked putrid thus far this season and SCSU has a ton of offense. I also say that this weekend in non-conference Wisconsin and Duluth get sweeps.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree, UAA is not as good as some would like to believe or dream of them being. They have one player that has been drafted on their roster. That tells me they aren't getting a lot of "A" talent or even “B” talent for the matter.
ReplyDeleteI have watched UAA get blown out in 2 out of their 3 games against two of the better teams in division one hockey, North Dakota and Michigan. "If" the refs call the game like the NCAA mandates and I expect the games to be called tight this weekend when the Gophers and the Seawolves play I think they are going to get swept. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind Minnesota being 0-5-1 after six games; I don’t think it’s going to happen.
First on the hockey stuff...any word on who will be the refs for the UAA/UM series. I've seen a lot of variance in who calls the obstruction/interference. If the Seawolves get a lax ref, they'll be able to get away with more clutching/grabbing and slow the gophers down.
ReplyDeleteSecond, Lush, what the heck is a "marketing engineer"?
Well I cannot say that I've seen the Seawolves play this season thus far, but that is what they have to do to compete against the rest of the league: slow the game to a crawl. Keep the shot totals to under 25 for each team, and take their chances on a power play goal winner in the third period for a one-goal victory. Clearly on paper Goldy is better, but the better team doesn't always win. Look at what happened to the Sioux last weekend. The game turned into a fast-paced skill game and they won 5-0, but when the game is played a snail's pace, it favors the Seawolves.
ReplyDelete