Weekend Match-Ups

Some teams now have complete the first quarter of league play and most will achieve that mark this weekend, by playing at least 8 games. The standings are starting to show which teams will still be in contention for the title and home ice. I feel pretty comfortable saying that UAA and BSU are already out of the title race, this early in the season. And I also feel safe saying that MSUM and CC are almost out of the title picture too. I know it’s early, but these teams are averaging less than one point a game, in league play. Like the cliché goes, “You can’t win the title in the first half of the season, but you can lose it.”

WCHA standings

TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....4-1-1…9
2. Nebraska-Omaha…4-0-0…8
2. North Dakota………4-2-0…8
2. Wisconsin…………..3-1-2…8
5. Denver……………...3-2-1…7
6. Minnesota…………..3-4-1…7
7. Minnesota State…...2-4-2…6
8. St. Cloud State….....2-2-0…4
8. Colorado College…..2-4-0…4
10. Michigan Tech……..1-2-1…3
10. Bemidji State……….1-4-1…3
12. Alaska-Anchorage...0-3-1…1

WCHA

Alaska Anchorage @ Bemidji State
Last weekend the Seawolves enjoyed a free weekend and the Beavers split with the SCSU Huskies in St. Cloud.

The Seawolves are in a familiar place, the basement, but they have a new neighbor this year, Bemidji State. The Beavers are off to rough start in their first year of WCHA action. They knew (or should have) that the competition is a bit stiffer here than in the old CHA. However, the good news for the Beavers is they got their first league win last weekend, on the road. Now all BSU has to do is get a win in their brand new arena. If BSU can get a sweep this weekend it will almost even their league record, the same can be said for UAA. The Seawolves have two games in hand on most of the conference, including BSU, so they have some more games to get points in. BSU has played two of the top league teams in UND and UMD this season, and got only one point. The Seawolves like the Beavers need points every weekend if they want to stay in the middle of the pack. SPLIT.

Minnesota State @ #15 Denver
Last weekend the MSUM Mavericks were swept by the UNO Mavericks in Omaha and the Pioneers split with the Tigers in a home-away series.

The Mavericks in the Pioneers are separated by only a point in the standings this week, but DU has two games in hand. The Pioneers were embarrassed on Saturday by arch-rival CC. I’m not sure if there is a wood shed out back of CC’s world arena, but DU definitely got a whoopin’ to the tune of 9 to 2. I’m sure DU boss Gwozdecky will have his team ready for this weekend. The Mavericks find themselves in the middle of the pack, after playing 8 out of their 28 league games. MSUM will almost be at the half-way point of the season come Sunday and I’m sure they would be happy to have a five hundred record at that point. The Pioneers might be showing signs of playing a tough schedule to start the year (BC, UND, UW, CC). Another hard series to predict this weekend, SPLIT.

#6 Nebraska-Omaha @ St. Cloud State
Last weekend the Mavericks swept the MSUM Mavericks in Omaha and the Huskies split with the Beavers in St. Cloud.

The Dean Blais led UNO Mavericks are now the only team to have a spotless record in the WCHA. The Mavericks will be playing a ranked team this weekend for the first time in league play. The Huskies have been a little bit unpredictable this season; they have split both their league series. If SCSU wants to live up the preseason hype, a couple of wins this weekend would definitely put them back on the radar. I’m going to go out on a limb here and go with the Huskies 3-pts.

Michigan Tech @ #2 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Huskies enjoyed a free weekend and the Bulldogs split with the Sioux in Grand Forks.

The Huskies are off to a mediocre start this season through four league games, and the Bulldogs are off to excellent start through six games. A few bounces here and there for UMD have gotten them overtime wins, some bad bounces and UMD would be in the middle of the pack. The Huskies need to continue to get points week in and week out to stay out of the bottom third of the league. The Bulldogs need to take points from the bottom teams, if they want to stay on top of the standing, because there are better teams on the horizon. SPLIT.

#10 North Dakota @ #13 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Sioux split with the Bulldogs in Grand Forks and the Badgers took 3-pts from the Gophers in Minneapolis.

The Badgers get to play their two biggest rivals, UM and UND, on back to back weekends. I watched the Friday UW-UM game and the 6-0 Badger win was not that impressive. It could be said that the UM defense needs to get better, and they were/are the problem in Minneapolis. (Kangas stopped a penalty shot that game too.) The Badgers lost a bunch of talent from last year and it is starting to show now. The Sioux played well on Friday and looked a little sluggish on Saturday. UND got a split for the second weekend in a row. The Sioux also got a 5-minute major and game misconduct for the second weekend in a row too. The Badgers have done well against the Sioux the last couple of years, but times, they are a changing. SPLIT.

Non-Conference

#3 Yale @ Colorado College (Friday only)
Last weekend the Yale Bulldogs beat Princeton (Fri) and Quinnipiac (Sat) and the Tigers split a pair with rival Denver.

Two weeks ago the Tigers had 9 goals hung on them and last weekend they hung a 9 on rival DU. The question is, will another 9 show up this weekend at the World Arena scoreboard? Tigers win.

BYE WEEK
#19 University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) – Golden Gophers