Since we only have two WCHA series this week, how about a TOP TEN list?
10. The number of tie league games this season
9. Teams that still have a chance at home ice this season
8. What I did to my popcorn at the game
7. NCAA titles North Dakota and Denver each have
6. WCHA teams in the USCHO top ten poll
5. Is how many teams will be in St. Paul come March 18
4 . Out of the 5 WCHA series ended in splits last weekend
3. How many league wins MTU now has this season
2. Waved off goals from last weekend’s DU-UND series
1. Where DU is sitting in this week’s WCHA standings
CURRENT WCHA STANDINGS
TEAM………………….GP….W-L-T….PTS
1 Denver……………… 20….12-4-4….28
2 Minnesota-Duluth…..20….13-6-1….27
3 St. Cloud State……...20….12-6-2….26
4 Wisconsin………….. 20….11-6-3…. 25
4 Colorado College…..22….11-8-3….25
6 North Dakota………..20…..8-9-3.….19
7 Minnesota…………...20…..8-10-2 …18
8 Alaska-Anchorage…22…..8-13-1….17
9 Minnesota State…….20…..6-13-1….13
10 Michigan Tech…….20…..3-17-0….6
WCHA
Alaska-Anchorage at #4 St. Cloud State
Last weekend the Seawolves split with Minnesota in Anchorage and the Huskies split with Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
Earlier this season the Huskies swept the Seawolves in Anchorage. The Seawolves continue to split their home series, loss on Friday and then win on Saturday, but this weekend they are traveling to SCSU. UAA has a 3-6-1 road record and SCSU has a 8-2-3 home record this season. The Huskies have a chance to take over 1st place in the league with a sweep of UAA. Coach Motzko has a hot team right now, winning 9 in a row before losing on Saturday. I’m sure the Husky faithful are hoping that was just a blip on the radar and not a cooling off sign. It will help the Husky cause to start a new win streak by hosting the 8th place Seawolves. I see SCSU starting a new streak this weekend. HUSKIES SWEEP
#6 Minnesota-Duluth at Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Bulldogs split with Wisconsin in Duluth and the Huskies split with Minnesota State in Houghton.
Earlier this season when these designated league rivals met in Duluth the Bulldogs split with the Huskies. And with MTU having their Winter Carnival this weekend it won’t be easy for the Bulldogs to try and grab four points. The Huskies are now official playing the spoilers, since they cannot get home ice in the playoffs. However, MTU can damage other teams’ chances of getting the WCHA regular season title. If Tech wants get some points they will need to score some goals, which they have had trouble doing this season. But I think the Huskies will damage UMD’s chances of a league title this weekend. SPLIT.
Non-Conference
Friday, February 5
Air Force (12-10-6 overall) at #10 Colorado College (15-10-3 overall)
Last weekend the Tigers split at home against St. Cloud State. Currently the AFA Falcons sit in 2nd place in Atlantic Hockey.
I’m betting this in-town rivals will be playing in front of a sold out arena. I haven’t followed Air Force, but they are 4-4-2 since the calendar changed to 2010. The Tigers haven’t fared much better since January 1, they have a 3-5-0 record. So I will stick with the WCHA in this battle. CC WIN.
Mercyhurst (12-14-2 overall) at #2 Denver (16-6-4 overall)
Last weekend the Pioneers swept North Dakota in Grand Forks. Currently the Lakers sit in 3rd place in Atlantic Hockey.
The Lakers have a 3-5-0 record in 2010, with one of those losses to UMD by a 6-0 score. The Pioneers are owners of a 5-1-2 record in this New Year. This game should be a DU blow-out. But, if DU is still thinking about their recent sweep of UND, they could get beat, not likely though. DU WIN
Saturday, February 6
Mercyhurst at #10 Colorado College
Have to stick with the WCHA in this game. CC WIN
#2 Denver at Air Force
I’m sticking with the dub in this game too. DU WIN
Camp Randal Hockey Classic
#19 Michigan (15-12-1 overall) at #3 Wisconsin (15-7-4 overall)
Last weekend the Badgers split in Duluth with the Bulldogs, and the Wolverines split with arch-rival Michigan State during a home-and-home series.
Earlier this year these teams met in the College Hockey Showcase over Thanksgiving and the UM beat UW by a score of 3-2 in Ann Arbor. UW has not lost back-to-back games this season, and they lost on Saturday. This game will played outside at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. So weather could be a factor in this game, the forecast for Saturday is flurries with a high in the mid 20’s. I’m going with the home team in this outdoor contest. BADGERS WIN.
BYE WEEK – OFF
#9 North Dakota
Minnesota
Minnesota State – Mankato
Excellent. You know how I feel about you predicting tUMD sweeps.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I like the top 10 list! Very creative.
I am still looking and waiting for official confirmation, but if my memory serves me correctly, Anchorage has never won at the NHC in St Cloud. They are something like 0-24-4. Kind of a soft schedule for the league this weekend in terms of conference play and non-conference competition. Seems fair after the battles between the top 6 last weekend I guess though...
ReplyDeleteDonn there is no way that MTU gets points this weekend. Sweep for the Dogs.
ReplyDeleteWCHA, I hope the Seawolves come in and show you what a physical game of hockey is. I hope they punk your team this weekend and get points.
ReplyDeleteRWD,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments.
I didn't have any hockey ideas for number 8... of well, it works out in the end.
Top 10 List is great! If there is such a thing as puck luck and the hockey gods are smiling DU will give you a #8, better than popcorn. :-}
ReplyDeleteLast time Sioux7 predicted a split and Goon said the EXACT same thing in the comments?
ReplyDeletetUMD swept!!! Yes!!
I don't see TECH which I love by the way beating the Bulldogs this weekend. It's just not going to happen. I am not morally opposed to it. I also hope the Huskies get punked this weekend by UAA. The Husky fans are getting a little to big for their britches.
ReplyDelete0-24-4 has got to be broken eventually and UAA has beaten some good teams on Saturday nights also the refs will have one night where they over look the hooking and the holding all under the guise of parity.
I have officially confirmed that SCSU's all-time record against UAA at home in the D-1 era is 27-0-3, not 24-0-4. And you're right, it easily could be snapped this weekend. Unlikely, but very possible.
ReplyDeleteWell Donn I blew that one didn't I? I don't how the hell MTU beat UMD?
ReplyDelete