I got some grief for my prediction last weekend of a UM sweep over CC, and now that it happened, I’m feeling pretty good about myself. Even a Sioux fan gets lucky sometimes.
The playoff picture is just about set, DU and SCSU have locked up home ice. UW looks to be a sure bet as well for home ice, and UMD is also looking like they will get home ice. The big question is who will get the 5th and final spot, CC or UND, or will the UM shock everyone. I like UND’s odds, after their clash this weekend with CC, they return home to host last place MTU, while CC faces DU, and UM faces UW in the last weekend of the regular season. The only other spots that are for sure are UAA, MSUM, and MTU will be on the road for the first round of playoffs. Here are my predictions for the 1st round of WCHA playoffs…
10 MTU @ 1 DU
9 MSUM @ 2 UW
8 UAA @ 3 SCSU
7 UM @ 4 UMD
6 CC @ 5 UND
CURRENT WCHA STANGINGS
TEAM………………..GP….W-L-T….PTS
1 Denver…………….....24….16-4-4….36
2 St. Cloud State……26….15-8-3….33
3 Wisconsin…………....24….14-7-3….31
4 Minnesota-Duluth…24….14-9-1….29
5 Colorado College…..24….11-10-3…25
5 North Dakota………..24….11-10-3…25
7 Minnesota…………....24….10-12-2…22
8 Alaska-Anchorage...26…..8-16-2….18
9 Minnesota State…..24…..8-15-1….17
10 Michigan Tech…...24…..4-20-0…..8
WCHA
#3 Wisconsin at Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Badgers split with the SCSU Huskies in Madison and the MTU Huskies were swept by the Pioneers in Denver.
Earlier this year these teams met in Madison with the Badgers crushing the Huskies, 8-2 and 6-0 in that series. Look at the stats and these teams are at opposite ends, UW has scored a league leading 95 goals, MTU has given up a league worst 100 goals. The Badgers are an average road team this season with a 6-5-1 record, but this is Tech, they only have 5 wins all season. If the Badgers get a sweep this weekend, they will pass up SCSU and be into second place. BADGERS SWEEP.
#8 North Dakota at #13 Colorado College
Last weekend the Sioux swept the Bulldogs in Grand Forks and the Tigers were swept by the Gophers in Minneapolis.
This is a big series for both teams, since they are tied for the 5th and final home ice spot. It looks as if the Sioux have started their second half run, a little later this year compared to seasons past. The Tigers are headed in the other direction, losing 4 out of their last 5 WCHA games. The boys from CC need to focus on this weekend and not look forward to the following weekend, when they face their rivals DU for the Gold Pan. The Sioux have now won 3 in a row, scoring 18 goals over those games. I think UND can grab the 5th spot if they split with the Tigers, because they host MTU the following weekend. However, if the Sioux sweep the Tigers, they will have the tie breaker on them, with head-to-head, and would only need a point against MTU to possible hold of the Gophers (if UM wins its final 4 games). SIOUX SWEEP.
Minnesota at #10 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Gophers were at home and swept the visiting Tigers of CC, the Bulldogs went to Grand Forks and were swept by the Sioux.
Earlier this season the Bulldogs swept the Gophers in Minneapolis, with two come from behind wins, one of them in overtime. The Bulldogs need some points to try and get 3rd place and possible avoid the Final 5 play-in game. Of course, last year they won the play-in game and the Final 5 Broadmoor Trophy. The Gophers still have hopes of home ice, but they need some help. They trail CC-UND by 3 points, but the Gophers own the tie breaker with CC. The Gophers would need CC-UND to split this weekend to keep both of them within striking distance. That being said the UM needs to help themselves again by getting 4-points out of Duluth. In what will be the last regular season home games at the DECC (next year they open their new arena). The Bulldogs have been sliding as of late going 2-4-0 in their last 6 WCHA and are 2-6-0 in their last 8 games (2 loses to Bemidji St.). The Gophers just got their 2nd WCHA sweep of the season; their first was way back on Halloween weekend against UAA. I’m going to “wimp out” on this series and go with a SPLIT.
#1 Denver at Minnesota State
Last weekend the Pioneers swept the MTU Huskies at Magness and the Mavericks swept the Seawolves in Mankato.
The Pioneers can win the MacNaughton Cup this weekend with a sweep over the Mavericks. The Mavericks can pass up UAA this weekend and take over 8th place, if they can get a win. I’m sure all the UW and SCSU fans will be pulling hard for the Mavericks to knock off the Pioneers, and give the Badgers and Huskies another shot at the title. The Mavericks are 5-6-1 overall on the road this season and the Pioneers are 13-2-3 at home this season. This looks to be some more easy points for the Pioneers, but they can afford a loss with their cushion, and possibly looking ahead to next week’s showdown with CC. I’m going to go with an upset in this series. SPLIT.
NON-CONFERENCE
Alaska at Alaska-Anchorage (Governor's Cup)
Last weekend the Seawolves (10-18-2 overall) were swept by the Mavericks in Mankato. The Nanooks (14-9-9 overall) swept Lake Superior State in Fairbanks.
This will be the first meetings of the teams from the Last Frontier this season. Last season the Seawolves swept the Nanooks. I think the Seawolves will be angry and looking for some revenge after losing two games last weekend. I have to go with the WCHA, the best league in college hockey, in this series. SEAWOLVES SWEEP.
BYE WEEK
#4 St. Cloud State University
I'll give you some props for calling that UMN sweep over CC last weekend. That was ballzy and it actually happened. That series between UND/CC this weekend is absolutely monumental. CC appeared to have 5th locked up a few weeks ago, but coupled with some losses and a few UND wins, the tables have turned. CC needs to show up with some desperation this weekend, otherwise they're going to finish in 6th and have to play at Grand Forks. I got Goldy in a sweep at the DECC this weekend. The Dogs have been playing terrible.
ReplyDeleteI think it was luck by Sioux7. :)
ReplyDeleteUW is an "average team"? They are the number three team in the country! Give some credit where credit is due, even if its not for your team.
ReplyDeleteI agree with HPaul27. I'm not sure where a) the "average" team definition of the Badgers came from and b) where their 6-5-1 record is about? Is that there road record? Badgers are far from an average team, that's for sure. I was more impressed with them than DU. I'm curious how they will do without Geoffrion this weekend though... or longer, but I hope it doesn't come to that.
ReplyDeleteI was calling them an average road team, in that they are 6-5-1 on the road this season.
ReplyDeleteBy no means are they and average team, I think the Badgers on one of the top teams in the country.
Donn, I hope you didn't give UND the kiss of death this weekend with you sweep prediction. C.C. hasn't been swept for a while by UND in the Springs. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteIt will also be interesting to see how UMD responds after getting blown out in Grand Forks last weekend. Although I think its safe to say that the Dogs will have home ice in the first round, they need to right the ship soon. This is not the time of year you want to be in slump. If CC does not get at least 3 points against UND at home this weekend, they are in trouble next weekend against DU. 6-5-1 is a pretty good road record in the WCHA - anything .500 or better is very solid in this league.
ReplyDelete