Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)



Remember this is the weekend to sit down with family and friends and reminisce about everything you have to be thankful for.  Also it’s a time to reflect on the start of our great country and the traditional meal between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims.  And of course, it’s the time to eat as much turkey and pumpkin pie as you can.


WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013
Team………………………W-L-T………Points
1. Denver…………..………7-1-0………...14
2. Minnesota………………4-2-2………….10
3. Nebraska-Omaha………4-1-1…….......9
4. Colorado College ……..4-2-0..….…….8
4. North Dakota.………..…3-1-2…..……..8
4. St. Cloud St………….…4-2-0………….8
7. Michigan Tech………….3-5-0…………6
8. Wisconsin…....…………1-3-2………....4
9. Bemidji State……..…….1-4-1.……......3
10. Alaska-Anchorage…......0-2-2….…….2
10. Minnesota State………..1-5-0.….……2
10. Minnesota-Duluth….….0-4-2…..…….2


WCHA Games

Alaska-Anchorage @ Bemidji St.
Last weekend the Seawolves enjoyed a weekend off and the Beavers were swept by the MTU Huskies, 5-4ot and 2-1ot, in Bemidji.

The Seawolves trail the Beavers by a lone point in the standings, but have two games in hand on BSU.  If UAA can pull off a sweep they will have evened their record this thanksgiving weekend, if they sweep.  BSU has to be concerned about get swept at home in the Sanford Center last weekend.  The Beavers can’t go many weekends without points if they hope to finish in the top half of the ledger.  SPLIT

#12 St. Could St. @ Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Huskies had a bye weekend and the Bulldogs earn 1 point against NoDak, 4-4ot and 3-4ot, in Grand Forks.

Is it too early in season to say that if the Huskies sweep the Bulldogs this weekend, UMD is almost assured of a bottom half finish?  The Bulldogs played well at UND last weekend and only left Grand Forks with a solitary point.  If UMD can keep their heads up and believe in themselves, they can comeback.  The Huskies however would like nothing better than to squash any hopes of a comeback by Duluth.  This should be a very interesting series to watch, and sooner or later UMD will win a conference game.  SPLIT

Minnesota State @ Wisconsin
Last weekend the Mavericks were resting up and the Badgers got a point from the Gophers, 2-2ot and 1-3, in Minneapolis.

The Badgers are winless at the Kohl Center this year, UW is 0-2-0 at home.  Since the Badgers are averaging just under 2goals per game, they need to either score more or play stellar defensively.  The Mavericks are scoring just under 3goals per game, so they are putting the puck into the net.  If the Badgers can gobble up a pair of wins this weekend they can even their WCHA record.  The Mavericks can’t afford back to back weekend with no points, if they want to keep in the hunt for a top half finish.  SPLIT

Non Conference Games

#3 New Hampshire @ #14 Colorado College (Fri) – Yale @ CC (Sat)
Last weekend the UNH Wildcats beat UMass-Lowell, 3-0, on the road on Friday and beat BU, 3-1, on Sunday in Boston and the Tigers were swept by their rivals Denver, 5-6 and 2-6, in a home and home series.

The Wildcats have been on tear to start this year, going an impressive 8-1-1 to date, and their only loss was in overtime.  The Tigers will be looking to get back on track this weekend, but that isn’t going to be easy, against a good UNH team.  I’m taking the visiting felines in this game. UNH WINS

On Saturday the Bulldogs of Yale will take the ice in World Arena against the Tigers.  I’ll the felines over the canines in this one.  TIGERS WIN


Yale @ #2 Denver (Fri) – #3 UNH @ #2 DU (Sat)
Last weekend the Yale Bulldogs had a bye and the Pioneers swept the Tigers, 6-5 and 6-2, in a home and home series.

The Bulldogs enter this weekend with a 3-2-1 overall record, and the Pioneers are 9-1-0 overall.  I don’t think much else needs to be said, does it?  Okay, one caveat, if DU is suffering from post sweep happiness they might get a wakeup call.  Still PIONEERS WIN

In what should be the match-up of the this holiday weekend the #2 and #3 teams in country do battle.  Both teams look to fairly even on paper, so it is hard to pick a winner or a loser in this game.  TIE

#7 North Dakota @ #6 Notre Dame
Last weekend NoDak took 3 points from the Bulldogs in Grand Forks, 4-4ot and 4-3ot, and the Irish swept the Michigan Wolverines, 3-1 and 4-1, in Ann Arbor.

The guys from NoDak got off to a slow start in both games last weekend and managed to come back in those games.  However, they are playing a much better team in Notre Dame, than UMD this weekend.  UND needs to get on the board first and take the crowd factor out of the game, if they want to succeed this weekend in South Bend.  Another couple of slow starts could have NoDak’s record heading south after the Thanksgiving weekend.  Let’s hope the Irish are in the giving spirit this weekend.  SPLIT

Alabama-Huntsville @ #15 Nebraska-Omaha
Last weekend the Chargers split with the CCHA’s Lake Superior State, 2-1 win and 4-0 loss, in Ste. Saint Marias and the Mavericks enjoyed a free weekend.

The Chargers are 1-10-1 this year, last year UAH only mustard 2 wins, but one was against the UNO Mavericks (the other was over Denver).  If the Mavericks take these games seriously they should walk away with a pair of wins.  MAVERICKS SWEEP

#4 Minnesota @ Vermont
Last weekend the Gophers took three points from the Badgers in Minneapolis, 2-2ot and 3-1, and the UV Catamounts lost to BU, 6-2, on Friday and beat Northeastern, 3-2, on Sunday, both at home, and then lost to UMass on Tuesday 3-1, on the road.

Some info on Vermont is, they are located in Burlington, the University was founded in 1791, has an enrollment of 8,100, their colors are Green and Gold, and their rink is the Gutterson Fieldhouse, which is NHL size and seats 4,000 spectators. The Catamounts are off to a sluggish start, they are owners of a 2-5-2 overall record, which is also their Hockey East record.  The Gophers have tied two of their last three games, against what might be called weaker teams.  UM is 2-2-1 away from Minneapolis this season.  Being the Thanksgiving weekend, we’ll see if the Gophers and Catamounts are in the giving spirit… SPLIT


BYE WEEK
Michigan Tech

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