This week we almost have a full schedule, we have five WCHA series. This is the second to last weekend of the regular season. Also we pretty much assured of a new WCHA champion, UND would need lots of luck to keep the cup in Grand Forks.
Here is a list of who has won the most MacNaughton Cups (regular season championships):
15 – North Dakota
13 – Denver
11 – Minnesota
10 – Colorado College
7 – Michigan Tech
3 – Minnesota-Duluth
3 – Wisconsin
I’m going to say that the current top six will remain in the top six and host the first round of the playoffs. I know it isn’t that big of a stretch, but hey, why not make some predictions.
WCHA STANDINGS
Team………………………W-L-T………Points
1. Minnesota………………17-7-0…..……34
2. Minnesota-Duluth……..14-6-4….…….32
3. Denver…………..………13-7-4………..30
4. Colorado College ……..13-10-1……….27
4. North Dakota.……….….13-10-1….……27
4. Nebraska-Omaha………11-8-5………..27
7. Michigan Tech………….10-10-4………24
8. St. Cloud St……………. 10-11-3………23
9. Bemidji State….…………9-12-3…….….21
10. Wisconsin……………..8-14-2…..……18
10. Minnesota State………8-16-2………..18
12. Alaska-Anchorage…...5-20-1………..11
WCHA Games (#’s are current Pair Wise Rankings)
Wisconsin @ #23 Bemidji State
Last weekend the Badgers split with the Pioneers in Madison and the Beavers were swept by the Gophers in Minneapolis.
Both the Badgers and the Beavers are locked into the bottom half of the bracket. However, both still want to win and avoid going to a top three team in the first round of the playoffs. The Badgers have been downright awful, away from the Kohl Center, going 1-8-1 on the road. The Beavers have been rolling at home going 11-4-1, in the Sanford Center, or should we call it the Lodge? After only putting up a lone goal last weekend BSU needs to get the offense back on track. If BSU can get some timely goals they could move up the standings a spot, or two. BEAVERS SWEEP.
#14 North Dakota @ #11 Denver
Last weekend the Sioux took three points from the MTU Huskies in Grand Forks and the Pioneers split with the Badgers in Madison.
The Pioneers are three points ahead of the Sioux and trail league leader Minnesota by four points. DU is almost locked into home ice and UND needs a couple more points too, to secure a home ice spot. The last time these played was in the NCAA tourney with UND winning 6-1 and before that was the WCHA Final 5 and UND won that 3-2 in overtime. The Sioux need to keep the offense going and put some pucks in the net, if they want to leave the mile high city with some points in tow. Denver just needs to play their game and not get into the physical stuff, which these teams have had in the past. SPLIT
#25 St. Cloud State @ Michigan Tech
Last weekend the SCSU Huskies split with the Seawolves in St. Cloud and MTU Huskies got a point from the Sioux in Grand Forks.
These sets of Huskies are only separated by a lone point in the standing. Both still have a chance to get home ice in two weeks. But both really need a sweep this weekend to bolster their chances of that happening. MTU is winless in their last four games, and have only won twice in their last nine games, going 2-4-3 over that span. SCSU has won three of their last four games; with the one lose coming in overtime. It appears that one dog is going up and the other going down. SCSU 3-PTS
#19 Colorado College @ #5 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend Tigers split with UNO Mavericks in Colorado Springs and the Bulldogs took three points from the MSUM Mavericks in Mankato.
The Tigers have been sliding down only winning twice in their last seven games, going 2-4-1. CC now finds themselves in a three way tie for fourth place. Also of note the Tigers have not won back to back games in 2012. The Bulldogs are 3-3-1 in their last seven games and are unbeaten in their last three games, 2-0-1. The Bulldogs are only two points off the lead of UM and the McNaughton Cup. The last time UMD hoisted the prestigious cup was the 1992-93 season. BULLDOGS 3-pts
#8 Minnesota @ #23 Nebraska-Omaha
Last weekend the Gophers swept the Beavers in Minneapolis and the Mavericks split with the Tigers in Colorado Springs.
This is the first meeting this season between these teams. Last season they played Oct. 15-16, 2010 in Minneapolis, the Mavericks won both of those games. This will be the Gophers first visit to Omaha, as a conference game. The Mavericks are 7-4-3 at home and the Gophers are 7-6-1 on the road this season. UNO plays on a NHL sized rink, which is smaller than the Olympic size the UM plays on. The Mavericks have been scoring about 4gpg in their last couple of series. If UNO can keep that scoring up they should be able to beat the Gophers this weekend. The Gophers have also been scoring at a good pace as of late. If one goalie is able to step up and dominate a sweep could happen, for either team. But with the season winding down, desperation starts to become a big factor too. SPLIT
GOVERNOR’S CUP
Alaska (11-17-4) vs Alaska-Anchorage (8-20-2)
Last weekend the Seawolves split with the SCSU Huskies in St. Cloud and the Nanooks were swept by Michigan State in East Lansing.
Friday’s game is in Anchorage and Saturday’s rematch is in Fairbanks. Last season’s GC ended with both teams winning at home, I’m thinking it might be the same result again this year. SPLIT
BYE WEEK
Minnesota State
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