This last weekend saw mostly sweeps in the WCHA, CC over UMD, SCSU over MTU, UND over BSU, and UM over UW (3-pts). Those sweeps makes the middle of the pack a dangerous place to be, not knowing who will win home ice in the first round. Here are the current standings in the league.
TEAM........GAMES PLAYED..W-L-T---POINTS
1 Colorado College...24..18-5-1---37
2 North Dakota........24..16-7-1---33
3 Denver.................24..15-8-1---31
4 Wisconsin.............26..10-11-5--25
5 St. Cloud State......24..11-11-2--24
5 Minnesota State.....24..10-10-4--24
7 Minnesota-Duluth...24...8-11-5--21
8 Minnesota..............24...7-11-6--20
9 Michigan Tech........24...7-13-4--18
10 Alaska-Anchorage..26...3-18-5--11
This weekend Alaska and Wisconsin wrap up their final WCHA league games. Alaska is stuck in 10th place, and UW currently sits in 4th, and cannot get any higher, but could fall as far as 9th place.
This weeks match-ups are all BIG as six teams try to get the last home ice playoff spots.
Wisconsin at St. Cloud
This is the biggest match-up, as both teams via for home ice. UW gave up 8 goals last weekend to a UM team that has struggled to score all season... This is it, if UW gives up that many goals this weekend, they can pack there bags for a road trip in the first round. SCSU on the other hand is in the midst of a hot streak, winning 5 in a row. The Huskies have 2 games in hand on UW, but they are against UND. So SCSU knows they need to sweep, to pass the Badgers, and leave Bucky watching and waiting on the rest of league to determine their fate. With both teams needing to win I think this should be a hard fought series, but the Badgers will end up road kill.
THEE CALL - SCSU 3-pts
Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) at Mankato (Tuesday Night Special)
Earlier this season the Red Mavericks beat the Purple Mavericks, 6-3. I say this time the Purple beats the Red. I hope this game doesn't affect this weekend series MSUM has against the Tigers of CC.
Minnesota State Mankato at Colorado College
The Tigers have to feel pretty good about themselves, posting two shut-out wins last weekend at Duluth. That could also have a bad effect on CC too, over confidence. The other thing CC might also be doing is looking ahead to their season finale against Denver, and overlook the Mavericks. SCSU ended CC's home winning streak two weeks ago, and MSUM is on a mission for home ice, winning 7 out of their last 8 games. CC could clinch a share of the league title with a sweep this weekend, or could lose it by getting swept. MSUM could really help their cause to get home ice with a sweep, but it is a tall task, with a short week.
THEE CALL - SPLIT
Minnesota at Alaska Anchorage
With Minnesota taking 3-pts from Wisconsin last weekend it keeps the Gophers hopes alive for home ice in the first round. Mean while, UAA is locked into the bottom spot and will most likely travel to CC (or possibly UND) for the first round. The Gophers need to win, if they don't sweep the Seawolves, they will almost be assured of a road trip. Misery loves company, so they say, and Alaska would like to keep the Gophers around their neighborhood, the bottom half of the league. The trip to Alaska is a long one, so that could be a factor. The bigger question is, can UM keep scoring more than 1 goal per game? (I was lucky last week in my predicts, saying UM would break out of their scoring slump) Alaska if playing for pride now, which they have, so don't stick the harpoon in them just yet.
THEE CALL - SPLIT
Denver at Michigan Tech
Has DU saved their sinking ship, with a couple of wins against UAA? Is MTU's shipped been damaged beyond repair? DU has a 4-6-1 record in its last 11-games, and MTU has a record of 2-7-3 in its last 12-games. Both of these teams stocks have dropped of the second half of the season. The Pioneers need some wins to hold on to the number 3 spot and MTU wants to save their season and grab a top 5 finish. DU has not won a road game in 2008, but MTU has not been all that good at home in 2008 either.
THEE CALL - SPLIT
North Dakota at Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth is at home again this week, and coming off of an embarrassing weekend of getting shut-out at home twice, by CC. Duluth has had problems scoring all year, only 60 goals in 33 games, and now they have to face another top notch goalie in UND's J.P. Lamereoux. Speaking of JPL he finally got a day off on Sunday, UND started Walski in net and he earned a shut-out win against Bemidji State. The Sioux still remain red-hot riding their 13-game unbeaten streak into Duluth. The Bulldogs are still in the middle of a dogfight (bad pun) for home ice with most of the league. UND is trying to continuing its winning ways and keep the pressure on CC. If CC should faulter it would open the door to UND to grab a share of the league title.
THEE CALL - SIOUX SWEEP
I feel that a WCHA Title would be nice, but a Final Five first place finish would be better. A first place finish should give them a #1 seed. I would favor that more.
ReplyDeleteBarring a major collapse of some sort, UND is about locked into a number 1 seed.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to get a share of the MacNoughton Cup. Raise another banner at the Ralph. And see what the league would do with the cup, especially if UND and CC tied for it. Who would skate the cup the last Saturday, UND or CC?