February's First Games (Sioux 7)

Here are the current standings.


1 Denver...................12-6-2...26
2 North Dakota...........11-6-3...25
3 Wisconsin...............11-7-2...24
4 Minnesota................9-6-3...21
4 Colorado College........9-8-3...21
4 Minnesota-Duluth.......8-7-5...21
7 Minnesota State........9-11-2...20
8 St. Cloud State.........9-10-1...19
9 Alaska-Anchorage........6-10-4..16
10 Michigan Tech.......1-14-5....7

* Games played MSUM 22, UM 18, and everyone else 20.


#16 Wisconsin at #9 Minnesota
The Badgers invade Mariucci arena this weekend in round two of the border battle. The first round in Madison this year saw the Gophers take 3-pts. But, the Gophers are a different team now, and so are the Badgers. Currently UW hold a 3-pt edge over UM in the standings, except UM has two games in hand UW. That means the Badgers need at least a split this weekend to try and stay "comfortably" ahead of the Gophers. UM is 2-4-0 in their last six games and 5-5-0 in their last ten, UW is 4-2-0 in their last six games and 5-4-1 and their last ten. With a sweep UW could be a top the WCHA come Saturday night, get swept and they could slip as far as 6th place. I'm going to go with UW on Friday, and UM on Saturday night.


#6 Denver at #17 Minnesota-Duluth
This is a very important series for both teams, DU trying to stay a top the WCHA, and UMD is trying to knock them off the top. The first meetings this season in Denver resulted in a Pioneers sweep. The Bulldogs really want to return the favor this weekend to the Pioneers. If UMD sweeps DU they would be only 1-pt behind DU in the standings and really help their chances of locking up a home ice playoff spot. Duluth goalie Alex Stalock has gotten 2 shut-outs in the past 4-games. DU suffered a loss to UAA last Saturday, giving up a short-handed goal late in the 3rd to tie it, and then lost in OT. The Bulldogs are tough at home, garnering a 9-1-3 record at the DECC, and DU is a respectable 4-4-1 away from Magness Arena. The Bulldogs are the hotter team right now and DU is struggling a bit (3-3-2 in the last 8-games). If Duluth wins on Friday, will DU official hit the panic button. Can UMD score more than 1 goal per game, than they did last week at UW. I'm thinking this could turn into a goalie duel one evening, and a shoot out the next. SPLIT.


#18 Colorado College at Michigan Tech
The Tigers are trying sink their claws into a top five finish and the Huskies are tying to save some face and get their second league win. The Huskies of MTU are usually tough to beat in Houghton, especially during the Winter Carnival, which is this weekend. CC is 1-3-1 in their last 5-games, not good going into the stretch run. The early season match-up, back in October led to a Tiger sweep in Colorado Springs. MTU is 0-2-3 in their last 5-games, and have only scored 31 goals in 20 league games this season, that is 1.55 gpg, which is why they haven't won to many games. The last few Winter Carnivals MTU has gotten at least 1-pt, and here is too that streak continuing. Tigers on Friday, Huskies on Saturday.


St. Cloud State at Alaska-Anchorage
Normally you think a late season match-up between the 8th and 9th place teams would not mean much, but this year both teams still have a chance to get home ice in the playoffs. SCSU has the better chance being only 2-pts behind the three 4th place teams. A Huskies sweep would throw them into the dog fight (couldn't help myself) for home ice and put the Seawolves further behind the pack :) Both teams got splits last weekend against the number two and one place teams in the conference. That shows how strong the WCHA is from top to bottom. It is the standard long trip to Alaska, or is it, there are rumbling in them mountains, as there might be a volcanic eruption... The Seawolves are hoping for an eruption in goals this weekend, as they are 2-2-2 in their last 6-games, and SCSU is 2-3-1. I don't see either team sweeping, so here is to a SPLIT.


#13 North Dakota and MSU-Mankato are on a bye week.