We have 6 league series this weekend again. The top 4 teams are separated by only 2 points. Also 6th place thru 10th place is only separated by 4 points. It looks like the last home ice playoff spot will come down to the last weekend of play, the way things are going. Just think, in one month (March 17th) the Final Five will be starting in St. Paul. I think it is safe to say the current top 4 teams will be hosting a first round playoff series. UND is the first team to officially lock-up a home playoff series.
I figured it’s that time of year again, conference playoffs are just around the corner and the NCAA tournament is lurking in the background. So, I’m changing my ranking numbers this week. Previously I was going off the USCHO poll, now I’ll be using the PairWise Rankings. Since the PairWise mimics the selection process of who does and doesn’t make the tournament.
WCHA Standings
TEAM……………..…....W-L-T...Pts
1. North Dakota……….16-6-0…32
2. Denver………………14-5-3…31
3. Minnesota-Duluth.....13-5-4…30
3. Nebraska-Omaha…..14-6-2…30
5. Wisconsin……..….…11-9-2…24
6. Colorado College…11-11-0…22
7. Minnesota……..……9-10-3…21
8. Alaska-Anchorage….9-13-2…20
9. St. Cloud State…......8-11-3…19
10. Minnesota State……7-13-4…18
11. Bemidji State……….7-12-3…17
12. Michigan Tech………1-19-2…4
WCHA
#19 Minnesota @ #15 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Badgers were swept by the UNO Mavericks in Omaha and Gophers split with the DU Pioneers in Minneapolis.
These teams met earlier in the season in Minneapolis with the Badgers taking 3-points with a 6-0 win and a 3-3 tie. By going pointless last weekend the Badgers are now in fight for a home ice spot. The Gophers by getting points again last weekend are only a point out of the last home ice spot. The Gophers have played well in 2011 against the upper half teams, so they have hope. The Badgers have not fared well against top teams, but have taken care of business against the lower teams this season. The Badgers are good at the Kohl Center posting a 13-4-1 home record and the Gophers sport a 5-4-1 road record this year. It is interesting that the Gophers have scored more goals in WCHA play than the Badgers, 67 versus 60. But the Badgers are the best defensive team, allowing a league low 49 goals, where the Gophers have let in 64 on the season (middle of the pack). SPLIT
Michigan Tech @ #4 Denver
Last weekend Huskies got a point playing the BSU Beavers in Houghton and the Pioneers split with the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.
The Huskies are closing in a dubious record, that the CC Tigers own, the longest winless streak. MTU is up to 25 games, going abysmal 0-23-2 since October 16th, they only need to go winless in their next 4 games to tie the record. The Pioneers have cooled down, going 2-2-0 in their last four games. The Pioneers need to take MTU seriously and take care of business and not look ahead to their next series, a road trip to Omaha. PIONEERS SWEEP.
#7 Nebraska-Omaha @ Alaska-Anchorage
Last weekend the Mavericks swept the UW Badgers in Omaha and the Seawolves were swept by the UND Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks.
This being the Mavericks first year in WCHA action, has them sniffing at a league title with three weeks to go. UAA has been in the league for over a decade and has yet to finish in the top half. But the Seawolves are in the hunt to host a first round series, just 2 points out of 6th place. This will be the second meeting between UNO and UAA, they played Oct. 14, 2006 in Anchorage (Nye Classic) and tied 2-2. The Mavericks have taken a long plane ride before, when they had to visit Alaska, in Fairbanks, their old CCHA foe. The Mavericks will need points this weekend if they want to keep on the heels of the WCHA leaders. UNO plays their “neighbors” the last two series, DU and UMD. After this weekend, the Seawolves only have 1 WCHA series left, a trip to Mankato, to play the other Mavericks (UAA plays Alaska next weekend). Omaha has dropped some games to teams that they probably shouldn’t have this year, namely BSU, QU, and UAH. The Mavericks are 6-7-1 on the road this year. I don’t think the Seawolves are throwing in the towel this year. I think coach Shyiak will have his team ready this weekend. SPLIT
#3 North Dakota @ St. Cloud St.
Last weekend the Sioux swept the UAA Seawolves in Grand Forks and the Huskies took 3-points from the UMD Bulldogs in Duluth.
These teams met in early December with the Sioux sweeping that series, 3-1 and 6-2 in Grand Forks. The Huskies got their first win over a top half of the league team last weekend. This year SCSU has not lived up to preseason expectations, they started off this year’s campaign ranked #4 and have slid since then. Home ice for the first round is still possible, but not likely, since they need to make up 3 points and play UW and DU after this weekend. The Sioux have officially locked up a home ice spot and are now looking to put a lock on the league’s top spot. UND has an easier schedule then SCSU does down the stretch, the Sioux host BSU and travel to MTU to end the season. The Huskies have squandered a pair of 3-goal leads in two of their past three games. The Sioux will need to continue their style of play this weekend to grab more points. SIOUX 3-POINTS
#18 Colorado College @ Bemidji State
Last weekend the Tigers split with the MSUM Mavericks in Colorado Springs and the Beavers took 3-points for the MTU Huskies in Houghton.
The Tigers are clinging to the last home ice playoff spot by a point, and the Beavers are clinging to hopes of climbing into that spot. BSU still has a chance at home ice, but they need to sweep CC to keep that chance alive. The Tigers control their own fate, put together some wins and they can maintain their spot, drop too many games and, well, others will control their fate. The Beavers have struggled in their first year as a WCHA member, but have been in most of their games. For instance in 2011, the Beavers have played 5 overtime games in their 8 league games. BSU is a more defensive minded team this season, as their numbers show, scoring 47 goals and giving up 56 goals. If the scores remain low this weekend, they have a chance of winning. SPLIT
#6 Minnesota-Duluth @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Bulldogs got 1-point against the SCSU Huskies in Duluth and the Mavericks split with the CC Tigers in Colorado Springs.
The Bulldogs have only 1 win in their last 4 games, going 1-1-2, since their sweep of the hapless (MTU) Huskies. The Mavericks need to sweep this weekend if they want any shot at home ice, since they have only 1 WCHA series after this weekend (UAA Mar.4-5). UMD slipped from a first place tie into a tie for third (with UNO) last weekend, thanks to SCSU making themselves at home in Amsoil arena. The Bulldogs are an impressive 9-2-3 (overall) away from Duluth this season. Both teams know the end of the season is near, and points are becoming expensive, it’s just a matter of which is willing to pay the price. SPLIT.
No comments:
Post a Comment