A couple of things about the upcoming series.

I thought that you might want to see what the other side has to say about this weekend's series. Funny how the SCSU hockey beat writer basically said the same thing that I did on how the Huskies had not played the most impressing schedule in their last 12 games. I am not saying that the Huskies are not a good hockey team, I am just saying their wins weren’t that impressive.

Amid all the 'will-UND-get-revenge-on-Aaron-Marvin' hoopla this week (that's the subject of Friday's preview story), perhaps a little of the lustre of an otherwise classic matchup is lost. Fourth-ranked St. Cloud State playing host to No. 11 North Dakota could be one of the best series of the season, regardless of whether the Huskies and Sioux mix it up with anything other than shots and goals, saves and skating.

SCSU needs the series to stay in the MacNaughton Cup race, to keep the pressure on other teams for a top-three finish and strong position in the WCHA playoff picture, and better firm up a high seed for the NCAA Tournament. North Dakota, two years removed from a fourth straight Frozen Four appearance and less than 12 months since the Sioux last hoisted the Cup, are staring a road playoff series in the face for the first time since 2002 unless they perhaps sweep this weekend.

“I haven’t watched a whole lot on St. Cloud, to be honest with you,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “I know their personnel well enough. They’ve got a couple of high-end guys up front but they’ve got a bunch of good, offensively skilled players and, obviously, they’re finding good chemistry and finding ways to win a lot of games, especially over the last two months.”

The Huskies enter the series 10-1-1 in their last 12, but most of those opponents weren't of this caliber -- and SCSU is 3-6-1 all season when facing teams ranked No. 11 or better.

"We know we're going to get North Dakota's best," Huskies coach Bob Motzko said. "They're in a spot they're not used to and that's a prideful program. They're well-coached and a good hockey team. We're going to have our hands full. They play with the pedal to the floor. Their goal is to push you through the back wall. We try to play the same way. You're going to get knocked over when you play them. It's how you get up and go from there that's important."

North Dakota has the top scoring defense in the WCHA (2.21 goals against). And SCSU's goalies are both in the top five in save percentage. So don't be surprised if both games are nail-biters that live up to billing.[Pucks and Bats]