The first round of WCHA playoffs have come and went, with all the home teams winning their series. DU and UW ended their series in 2 games, while SCSU, UND, UMD took 3 games to close out their first round home series. The national picture is looking like all 5 WCHA teams in St. Paul this weekend will also be playing next week in the NCAA tournament.
My predictions last weekend turned out really good, the only thing a missed was UND taking 3 games to dispatch the Gophers, and everything else was dead on. Speaking of that series, I hope, as well as everyone else, that UM defensemen Kevin Wehrs makes a quick recovery from the hit he took on Sunday, as well as UM defensemen Nick Leddy. (I missed Leddy getting hit, but I don’t think anybody missed the Wehrs hit)
Sunday’s Sioux-Gopher hockey game could have been the last of an era. Next season it might be "the team formerly know as the North Dakota Fighting Sioux” versus the Gophers. With that possibility, I took it upon myself to by another Sioux jersey (I got a home white one, in case you’re wondering) Sunday. If they don’t get permission to use the Sioux name, I have the feeling Sioux gear will be flying off the shelves across the region this summer. The powers that be, need to resolve the issue by November.
Speaking of flying the Goon and I will again be attending the Final 5. We are looking forward to meeting some of our old friends and making some new ones.
This will most likely be my last posting for a while. I hope everyone has enjoyed reading my ramblings this hockey season. I might post some predictions for the NCAA tournament...
THURSDAY (Play-in Game 7:07pm)
#11 Minnesota-Duluth vs #5 North Dakota (season series UND wins 3-1-0)
Last weekend the Sioux defeated the Gophers in 3 games in Grand Forks, and the Bulldogs beat the Tigers in 3 games in Duluth.
These teams met last year in the Final 5, with UMD taking that game (3-0) while riding a hot goalie named Stalock to the Broadmoor trophy. This year the Bulldogs don’t have a shut down net minder and have gotten things done offensively. However, a good portion of their goals have come on the power play, and the Sioux have the best defense in the league. UMD really needs to win this game to solidify a spot in the tourney; they’re still on the bubble. The Sioux are still hot going 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, and the Bulldogs are 5-5-0 over their last 10 games. Part of me wants the Sioux to throw this game, so they can rest up for the NCAA tourney and the other part says win this and the Final 5, to get the auto-bid and possibly a number one seed. Whoever wins this game will be playing 6-games in 9-days. SIOUX WIN
FRIDAY (Semi-final game 2pm)
#6 St. Cloud State vs #3 Wisconsin (season series tied 2-2-0)
Last weekend the Seawolves hosted the Bulldogs and split their series, and the Badgers and Gophers split a pair in Minneapolis.
The Badgers have not won more than three games in a row this season, and have not lost consecutive games. And after last weekend, they are now 2-0 heading into the Final 5. I wonder if the Badgers will want to get some measure of revenge against the Huskies Marvin in this game. I know the Sioux still want a piece of Marvin. UW is definitely the deeper team, where SCSU relies heavily on Roe & Lasch for most of their offense. If the Badgers blue-liners can live up to their NHL draft status and shut that line down, I see the Huskies going down. BADGERS WIN
FRIDAY (Semi-final game 7pm)
UND/UMD vs #1 Denver
Last weekend the Pioneers swept the MTU Huskies in Denver.
DU vs Bulldogs (season series tied 1-1-0)
DU vs Sioux (season series DU wins 4-0-0)
I’ll take UND over DU in that match-up. Or if the Bulldogs play DU, I’m going with the Pioneers over the Bulldogs.
SATURDAY (3rd Place game @ 2pm, Championship @ 7pm)
Possible match-ups on Saturday
DU vs UW (season series UW wins 1-0-1)
DU vs SCSU (season series tied 1-1-0)
I’ll take DU over SCSU, or UW over DU, depending on how Friday’s games shakes out.
UND vs UW (season series UW wins 1-0-1)
UND vs SCSU (season series tied 2-2-0)
I’ll take UND over either UW or SCSU.
UMD vs UW (season series --)
UMD vs SCSU (season series --)
I’ll take UW over UMD, or SCSU over UMD
Edit: Sioux7's prediction made the Rink and Run blog that is run by Kevin Pates. Kevin runs a pretty good beat writers hockey blog on UMD hockey.
You seriously think the Sioux will go from the play in game and win the championship? That is a pretty tall order and only Duluth has ever done and that was last year.
ReplyDeleteCharles is right, your predictions have a pretty slim chance of happening how you think they will. Seeing that both the Dogs and Sioux played 3 games last weekend, I don't like either one of their chances to even REACH the championship game, regardless of who is playing Denver. Denver has been perhaps the best team in the country the entire season and has certainly lived up to their pre-season billing. Not to mention they have Cheverie. The only team I could see beating them is Wisconsin. That being said, Duluth is clearly the most desperate team in the tournament and if they lose, they're season precariously hangs by a thread to qualify for the field of 16.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Sioux7, I enjoy reading your predictions this season. Most of them are backed up with real, logical stats, even if you are UND-biased. Keep up the good work.
I would bet that if UND gets past UMD (good chance that it happens) I think UND will finish higher than SCSU in the Final Five. Denver is good but the past two Winners of the MacNaughten Cup have fallen flat on their face in the NCAA playoff and haven't done very well in the WCHA either.That is a historical fact.
ReplyDeleteNEVER underestimate the awesomeness of Sioux Hockey. We could easily take Denver and win the WCHA. No problem.
ReplyDelete