Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

We have now hit the home stretch of the schedule; it is pretty much all NCHC games that rest of the way.

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T-SW………Points

St. Cloud St……………….7-3-2-0…………...23
North Dakota………………7-5-0-0……….….21
Denver…………………..…6-4-2-1…………..21
Nebraska-Omaha…………6-4-2-1…………..21
Western Michigan………..6-5-1-1…………...20
Minnesota-Duluth…………5-6-1-1……….….17
Miami………………………3-8-1-1….…….….11
Colorado College……….. 2-7-3-1…….….….10

NCHC Games

Miami @ Colorado College

Last weekend the RedHawks split with the Mavericks (2-2sow, 5-1L) in Oxford and the Tigers tied and lost to the Providence Friars (2-2ot, 7-2) in Colorado Springs.

Who would have thought that Miami would be one point ahead of the last place team in January?  The RedHawks need a sweep this weekend if they want to try and salvage this season.  The Tigers are in the same boat as the RedHawks, they need points, and fast.  This is a chance to get back into a race for home ice in the first round, get swept and uh-oh, you’re all by yourself in the basement.  RedHawks Sweep.

#18 North Dakota @ #16 Denver

Last weekend NoDak tied (in Bemidji) and beat (in Grand Forks) the Beavers (1-1, 4-2) and the Pioneers split with the Bulldogs (3-2Wot, 2-2sol) in Duluth.

These longtime rivals get to renew their acquaintances this weekend in Denver.  But now DU has a new head coach in this series, the first time since Hakstol took over at UND nine years ago.  I don’t predict any “fighting” in this series since they are tied in the standings and no one wants to be suspended for a game.  NoDak is playing well as of late and so is Denver.  SPLIT

Minnesota Cup Tournament

MSU-Mankato (14-10-0) vs UMD (9-9-2)

Last weekend the Mavericks swept the Ferris State Bulldogs (6-2, 4-3) in Mankato and the Bulldogs split with the Pioneers (3-2Lot, 2-2sow) in Duluth.

With this being a tournament and in-state bragging rights it’s safe to say all the teams will be playing to win this thing.  I’m going with the Mavericks, just because they have some momentum in their corner.  MAVERICKS WIN

#5 SCSU (12-4-4) vs #1 Minnesota (17-2-3)

Last weekend the Huskies were swept by the Broncos (5-5sol, 2-1) in St. Cloud and the Gophers swept the Buckeyes (1-0, 4-2) in Minneapolis.

The Huskies will be looking to bounce back this weekend and prove they are one of the elite teams in the country.  And if they knock of the Gophers that will prove they belong in the top five.  HUSKIES WIN

The winners play each other and the losers play each other on Saturday.  So if my Friday night predictions are correct, that would end up with SCSU versus MSU-M for the championship and UMD vs UM for third place.  MSUM wins the title and UM takes third.

Bye Week

Nebraska-Omaha

#19 Western Michigan