Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

There were a few surprises last weekend that I didn’t see coming at all.  The biggest was Wisconsin taking three points from the Pioneers in Denver.  If you would bet on that in Vegas you would be having a very Merry Christmas this year.  The other was UMD taking three from the Huskies in Houghton; looks like Coach Sandelin might have his dogs working together now. 

WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

1. Denver…………..………7-2-1………....15
2. St. Cloud St………….…6-4-0………….12
2. Minnesota………………5-3-2………….12
4. Nebraska-Omaha………5-2-1……........11
5. Colorado College ……..5-3-0..….……..10
5. North Dakota.………..…4-2-2…..……...10
5. Minnesota State………..5-5-0.…...……10
8. Michigan Tech………….3-6-1………….7
8. Minnesota-Duluth….…..2-5-3…………..7
8. Wisconsin…....…………2-5-3………......7
11. Bemidji State……..…..2-6-2.…….........6
12. Alaska-Anchorage…....1-4-3…...….…..5

WCHA Games

#4 Minnesota @ #19 Colorado College

Last weekend the Gophers split (2-3, 3-2) with the UNO Mavericks in Minneapolis and the Tigers split (5-3, 2-3ot) with NoDak in Colorado Springs.

The Tigers trail the Gophers by only 2 points in the standings and have played 2 fewer games to boot.  The Gophers are 4-2-1 away from Minneapolis this season and the Tigers are 5-4-1 at home in World Arena.  Both teams are a +4 in goal differential this year in the WCHA, UM is 28-24 and CC is 31-27.  The Gophers have scored almost half of their goals on the power play, so if the Tigers want to increase their odds of winning, they need to stay out of the sin bin.  CC has to be looking to take out a little frustration after Saturday’s loss to NoDak, since they gave up the tying goal with 13 seconds left and gave up the winner 51 seconds into overtime.  SPLIT

Alaska-Anchorage @ Minnesota State

Last weekend the Seawolves split (3-4ot, 3-1) with the SCSU Huskies in Anchorage and the Mavericks swept (3-0, 6-1) the Beavers in Mankato.

The Seawolves notched their first WCHA win last weekend to erase the goose egg in the win column.  The Mavericks notched their second sweep in as many weekends, is now on a 4 game winning streak in the conference.  The Mavericks now find themselves with an even record and are looking to secure a winning record heading into the Christmas break (they play at UNO before the break too).  MSUM is hot right now and UAA is, well, not.  MAVERICKS SWEEP

#14 Nebraska-Omaha @ #17 St. Could St. 

Last weekend the Mavericks split (3-2, 2-3) with the Gophers in Minneapolis and the Huskies split (4-3ot, 1-3) with the Seawolves in Anchorage.

The Mavericks just had their 7 game win streak snapped on Saturday night and are looking to start a new streak this weekend.  The Huskies are 4-4-0 over their last eight games, all WCHA games.  This should be an evenly matched series, with the teams separated by a lone point in the standings.  When the dust settles this weekend from these tilts, I think the one point margin will still exist.  SPLIT

Bemidji St. @ Minnesota-Duluth

Last weekend the Beavers were swept (3-0, 6-1) by the MSUM Mavericks in Mankato and the Bulldogs took 3-points (7-3, 4-4ot) from the MTU Huskies in Houghton.

The Bulldogs are 2-2-2 over their last six games (UND, SCSU, MTU) and the Beavers are 1-4-1 (MTU, UAA, MSUM) over that same span.  UMD lead the BSU by a point in the standings, but both teams are feeling the pinch with Christmas break just around the corner.  If the Bulldogs can get a sweep this weekend at home they will almost even their record and further themselves from the Beavers.  I’m in the mindset that UMD has gotten their game back on track after a dismal start.  BULLDOGS SWEEP

#6 Denver @ #9 North Dakota

Last weekend the Pioneers got a point (1-1ot, 1-3) from the Badgers in Denver and NoDak split (3-5, 3-2ot) with the Tigers in Colorado Springs.

The Pioneers come to Grand Forks sitting atop the WCHA standings, five points ahead of NoDak; however NoDak has two games in hand on Denver.  The last time these teams met was the Final Five Championship game, which NoDak won 4-0. They met last season for a pair of games in late February in Denver, with the teams trading wins, UND 4-3 in the opener, and DU 5-3 in the rematch.  There has been some animosity between these two teams for a good decade now, it started back up with UND’s Robbie Bina getting checked from behind and suffering a broken neck.  Since then the dislike and contempt for each other has festered.  The most shocking moment was back on January 24, 2009, when DU coach Gwozdecky walked across the ice after being ejected from the game.  Anyway, back to this weekend, both teams fell a little flat last weekend and will obviously be trying to right the wrongs.  DU will be looking to find its scoring touch, after only scoring two goals last weekend.  UND is the opposite, they need to cut down on their opponents scoring chances and shoring up their defensive zone.  SPLIT

Michigan Tech @ Wisconsin

Last weekend the Huskies got a point (3-7, 4-4ot) from the Bulldogs in Houghton and on Tuesday night they lost to Northern Michigan (2-1) and the Badgers took 3-points (1-1ot, 3-1) from the Pioneers in Denver, last weekend.

It might be too early to say the Badgers have turned the corner, but after last weekend’s effort in Denver, fans in Madison have something to be merry about.  Meanwhile the Huskies have just two wins in their last ten games, 2-7-1, over that span. Of course, UW’s win last Saturday was their first October 26^th against UMD, and the Badgers have yet to win at home in the Kohl Center this season.  These two are currently tied in the standings with seven points apiece and I have a feeling they will still be tied come Sunday.  SPLIT