WCHA FINAL STANDINGS
2012-2013
Team………………………W-L-T………Points
1. St. Cloud St……………18-9-1.……….372. Minnesota……………...16-7-2……..…37
3. North Dakota.………….14-7-7………..35
4. Denver…………..……..14-9-5..….......33
5. Wisconsin…....………..13-8-7………...33
6. Minnesota State………16-11-1....…….33
7. Nebraska-Omaha…......14-12-2…....…30
8. Colorado College …….11-13-4..….….26
9. Minnesota-Duluth….….10-13-5……….25
10. Michigan Tech………..8-16-4…..…..20
11. Bemidji State……..…..6-15-7......…..17
12. Alaska-Anchorage…....2-20-6.....…..10
The # numbers below are now the PAIRWISE
rankings.
Thursday
Games
Colorado
College @ #6 North Dakota
Last weekend NoDak ended MTU’s season in three
games (5-3W, 2-1L, 6-0W) in Grand Forks and the Tigers beat their archrival Pioneers
in three games (5-3L, 2-1W, 4-3W) in Denver.
2012-13 series – Tied wins 2-2-0
The first series was in Colorado Springs
Nov30/Dec1 with the Tigers winning the first game (5-3) and UND winning the
second in overtime (3-2). They met for
the second series in Grand Forks in mid-January with the Tigers again winning
the opening game (4-3) and UND winning the finale (5-3).
UND has a chance to be the first four-peat
champion this weekend and it starts with a stiff test in CC. The Tigers have the offensive power to
compete with anyone in the league; the big question is their defense and goaltending. The same could be said about UND, they too
have has some blips in their own zone too.
Both have a short week after playing three games (Fri/Sat/Sun) and then
a short rest and travel before this Thursday night game. The Tigers need to keep winning to extend
their season, UND could lose and still make the NCAA tournament. I’m going with UND in this game, since they
have been getting more consistent play in the net. NODAK
WINS
(I also want them to win so we all get to see
another UND/UM game.)
#9 Minnesota
State @ #16 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Mavericks took out the UNO
Mavericks in three games (4-3Wot, 2-1L, 3-1W) in Mankato and the Badgers ended
the UMD Bulldogs season by sweeping them (3-1, 4-1) in Madison.
2012-13 series – Tied 2-2-0
The first series was in Madison on Nov23/24
with the Mavericks sweeping the series (4-2, 4-2). They met for the second series in Mankato in
mid-January with the Badgers returning the favor in dramatic fashion, by
sweeping the Mavericks in overtime in both games (4-3ot, 2-1ot).
The Badgers have clawed their way back in the
NCAA tournament picture, now they are firmly on the bubble with their #16
rank. The Mavericks would be in the NCAA
tournament if it started this weekend, but if get some wins this weekend they
can move up the rankings and improve their seeding.
This game I’m not sure about who is going to
win, I don’t have a feeling right away for one team or the other. Both are playing well and need/want to
advance to Friday’s game against SCSU.
Even with UW being the “home” team in this game, I’m going to go with
the “visitors” for the win, in overtime.
MAVERICKS WIN
Friday
Games
#12 St.
Could St.
Last weekend the Huskies swept the Seawolves (6-1,
5-1) in St. Cloud.Season Series
vs MSUM – SCSU wins 2-0-0
vs UW – Tied 1-1-0
Since the Huskies are the top seed they will “host”
the winner from Thursday’s MSUM/UW play-in game.
If my prediction from Thursday hold true, the
Huskies will be facing in-state foe Mankato for the right to advance to the
championship game. SCSU had to settle
for “sharing” the MacNaughton Cup and now will want the Broadmoor Trophy all to
themselves. The Huskies have not
captured the playoff title since 2001 and the Mavericks have never hoisted
either piece of hardware. HUSKIES WIN
#2 Minnesota
Last weekend the Gophers swept the Beavers (2-1ot,
4-3) in Minneapolis.
Since the Gophers are the second seed they will
“host” the winner of the CC/UND from Thursday’s play-in game.
Season Series
vs UND – UM wins 1-0-1vs CC – UM wins 1-0-1
Again, if my Thursday predictions hold true,
the Gophers will face long, long, time rival UND in the evening tilt at the
Xcel Center. Last year these team
clashed in a semi-final game, remember… the Gophers staked themselves to a 3-0
lead, UND called a time out, and then rattled off 6 unanswered goals for a 6-3
win. (Then UM and UND met a week later again
at the Xcel Center in the NCAA tournament with the UM winning.) I don’t think we will get that kind of game
this time around, but who knows, that’s why they play the games. I’m inclined this time around to give the nod
to the Gophers in this game, to set-up a rubber match with the Huskies. GOPHERS
WIN
Saturday
- CHAMPIONSHIP Game
Well this as far as I’m allowed to stretch my
predictions. We’ll know by the end of Friday
if I’m even close to correct. But if I am,
it’s a SCSU/UM game for the Broadmoor trophy, a title that cannot be shared,
and the auto-bid for the NCAA tournament.
I’m thinking the Gophers might be spent emotionally if they beat UND the
evening before. The Gophers are a pretty
solid lock on a number one seed, whereas the Huskies could use another quality
win to solidify their spot in the tourney.
HUSKIES WIN
