Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

Western Collegiate Hockey Association logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I think it is time to do a top ten list, since I haven’t done with this season, so here it goes.

10 – Number of league games most teams have left
9 – Teams that realistically have a chance at home ice
8 – Games BSU has gone without a win currently
7 – Weeks left in the regular WCHA season
6 – WCHA Teams in the USA Today College Hockey Poll
5 – Number of tie games both UND and UW have
4 – Home games left for MSUM
3 – Periods per hockey game
2 – Outdoor games for the WCHA this season
       (UND/UNO, Feb-9 & UM/UW, Feb-17)
1 – Where SCSU sets to start February

WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

1. St. Cloud St……………12-6-0…….….25
2. Minnesota……………...10-4-4……..…24
2. Nebraska-Omaha…......11-5-2…....….24
4. Minnesota State……….10-9-1.…...….21
4. North Dakota.………..…8-5-5…….…..21
4. Wisconsin…....…………8-5-5………...21
7. Denver…………..……...8-6-4…….......20
8. Minnesota-Duluth….…..8-7-3…………19
9. Colorado College ……..7-10-1..…..….15
10. Bemidji State……..…..4-10-4......……12
11. Michigan Tech………..4-10-4…..……12
12. Alaska-Anchorage…....1-15-4…...……5

WCHA Games

#12 St. Could St.  @ Bemidji St.

Last weekend the Huskies took three points from NoDak (3-1, 2-2ot) in Grand Forks and the Beavers were swept by the UNO Mavericks (5-3, 2-1) in Bemidji.

The Huskies are on a four game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) entering this weekend and the Beavers on a eight game winless streak (0-6-2).  SCSU can put the on official notice that they are in the driver’s seat for the McNaughton Cup with a sweep of the Beavers this weekend.  However, BSU would like nothing better than to play the spoiler to one of their in-state rivals.  The Beavers need to get some timely scoring and stay out of the box, if they want a chance to beat SCSU.  But in the end, the Huskies will leave Bemidji with the points.  HUSKIES SWEEP

Colorado College @ Alaska-Anchorage

Last weekend the Tigers were on a bye and the Seawolves were swept by the Badgers (5-2, 2-1) in Madison.

The Tigers need to get a sweep this weekend if they want to have any chance of getting into the top half of the standings before the regular season ends.  The Seawolves appear to already be mathematically eliminated from home ice, sorry UAA.  The Tigers are 4-8-0 this year away from Colorado Springs, and the Seawolves are 2-7-3 at home in Sullivan Arena.  The Tigers might be a rusty after a weekend off, so look for the Seawolves to come out guns a blazing and try to put CC away early.  The Tigers have the firepower to put up goals, however they are giving up the lion’s share of goals too.  SPLIT

#10 Denver @ Minnesota-Duluth

Last weekend the Pioneers were on a bye and the Bulldogs beat the US U-18 team (3-1) in Duluth.

The Pioneers are on a three game winless streak now, and have been streaking all year, going on two 4 game win streaks, a 5 game win streak, and an 8 game winless streak.  DU has not won a road game since Nov-16 at Colorado Springs.  The Bulldogs have been playing five hundred hockey all season, winning some, losing some.  But looking a little deeper, the wins are against teams lower than them and the losses are against the teams above them.  This is a tough series to predict give the ups and downs of DU and UMD struggles against good teams.  SPLIT

#19 Wisconsin @ #7 North Dakota
Last weekend the Badgers swept the Seawolves (5-2, 2-1) in Madison and NoDak got a point from the SCSU Huskies (3-1, 2-2ot) in Grand Forks.

The Badgers have 1 loss in their last 14 games, going 10-1-3, since Nov-30.  However, in that stretch they have 4 wins versus UAA, 2 wins over Huntsville, and tied MTU twice, so it hasn’t been the toughest competition.  Meanwhile, NoDak is winless in their last four games, going 0-2-2 against UM and SCSU.  If UND wants to keep in the hunt for the last WCHA title as we know it they need wins this weekend.  If NoDak can get the ship righted and some timely saves, they can take the points they need to have.  The Badgers should be confident heading into this weekend give their current winning ways, but their confidence or over-confidence could be their undoing in Grand Forks. 

NORTH DAKOTA SWEEP

Michigan Tech @ #14 Nebraska-Omaha

Last weekend the Huskies were on a bye and the Mavericks swept the Beavers (5-3, 2-1) in Bemidji.

These teams met back in November, with the Mavericks sweeping the Huskies in Houghton by scores of 2-1 and 5-3.  UNO has gone 4-1-1 in their past six league games, and MTU is 3-2-1 over that same span.  The Huskies have just two wins on the road in WCHA play this year and those came at the expense of BSU.  The Mavericks are 8-3-1 at home this season and haven’t lost at home since Dec-14 to the other Mavericks.  The numbers point to the Mavericks which is what I’m looking at to predict this series. 

MAVERICKS SWEEP

BYE WEEK

#1 Minnesota
#15 Minnesota State

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

We are now 7, that’s seven weeks into the college hockey season.  I noticed a few key zeros in the standings, as in, the Tigers are the only undefeated team in league play, and the Bulldogs and Seawolves are the only winless teams in the league.

WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

1. Denver…………..………5-1-0………...11
2. Nebraska-Omaha………4-1-1…….......9
3. Colorado College ……..4-0-0..….…….8
4. St. Cloud St………….…4-2-0………….8
5. Minnesota………………3-2-1………….7
6. North Dakota.………..…2-1-1…..……..5
7. Bemidji State……..…….1-2-1.……......3
7. Wisconsin…....…………1-2-1………....3
9. Alaska-Anchorage…......0-2-2….…..….2
9. Michigan Tech………….1-5-0…………2
9. Minnesota State………..1-5-0.….……..2
12. Minnesota-Duluth….….0-3-1…..…….1

WCHA Games

Michigan Tech @ Bemidji St.

Last weekend the Huskies had the weekend off and the Beavers were swept by the Tigers, 3-2 and 6-3, in Colorado Springs.

The Beavers have a chance this weekend to even their record or go above it.  The Beavers at 1-1-0 at the Sanford center this year, and the Huskies are 0-3-0 on road this year.  MTU started off winning two of three, but have since lost 5 in a row.  The Beavers haven’t played a home game in almost a month now, so I’m sure their fans are excited to see them return.  The Huskies have given up 5 goals in 3 of their last 4 games.  MTU needs to clamp down on the defensive zone and get some timely saves, if the hope to leave Bemidji with some points.  SPLIT

#2 Denver  vs  #14 Colorado College (home and home series)

Last weekend the Pioneers swept the MSUM Mavericks, 4-3 and 3-2, in Mankato and the Tigers swept the Beavers, 3-2 and 6-3, in Colorado Springs.

The quest for the Gold Pan starts this weekend in Colorado.  The Tigers will look to remain perfect in league play and take the top spot from their arch-rival Pioneers.  Meanwhile, DU will look to keep their counterparts below them in the standings and retain the top spot this weekend.  Also of note, CC is in the mist of playing 8 of 9 home games, before they enter a 8 of 10 on the road.  I know players’ emotions and fans feeling will be full of adrenaline this pre-Thanksgiving weekend.  I’m going with each home team winning.  SPLIT

Wisconsin @ #3 Minnesota

Last weekend the Badgers were resting up on a bye weekend and the Gophers took three points from the Seawolves, 4-0 and 2-2, in Anchorage.

The Badgers are undefeated on the road this year at 1-0-1 and the Gophers are undefeated at home 4-0-0, so something has to give, well unless they tie twice.  UW has scored just 11 goals in 5 total games, so just barely over 2gpg, whilst the Gophers have scored 31 goals in 9 games for a 3.4gpg.  If the Badgers want to get back across the border bootlegging some points they are going to have to either play perfect defense or get some timely/frequent goals.  SPLIT

Minnesota-Duluth @ #6 North Dakota

Last weekend the Bulldogs were swept by the UNO Mavericks, 3-2 and 6-3, in Omaha and NoDak split with the SCSU Huskies, 3-0 and 2-5, in St. Cloud.

The Bulldogs have been the surprise team so far in the league and not for the right reasons.  I didn’t think they would be at the bottom of the standings after four games.  UMD has scored only 7 goals in those 4 WCHA contests, and surrender only 13 goals against.  NoDak has scored 12 goals in their 4 league games and only given up 9.  The guys from Grand Forks have not lost a Friday night game this year, so they have given themselves chances for sweeps, but haven’t been able to cash in on Saturday night.  I say that changes this weekend.  NoDak Sweep

BYE WEEK

Alaska-Anchorage
Minnesota State
#18 Nebraska-Omaha
#15 St. Could St 

Sioux and Beavers Series Preview

 Cross Posted at Inside Hockey. The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux resume play this weekend when they travel to Bemidji, Minnesota to play the Bemidji State University Beavers in a WCHA series Saturday 7:07 PM CT and Sunday 7:07 PM CT.
Image via Wikipedia

If you were to look at the WCHA standings you will see that the Beavers are currently ninth in the WCHA standings three points ahead of the Fighting Sioux.  The Sioux currently occupy 11^th place in the WCHA standings.

Since the 2002-03 season the Fighting Sioux have an almost perfect 14-0-1 record against the BSU Beavers.

The games will be on Lakeland Public Television  Bemidji, Minnesota. Play-by-play announcer Scott Williams and color commentator former BSU Beaver Eric Monsrud call the games for the Beavers.

Radio: The games can be heard at 96.1 the Fox.

Internet: Americaone [click to view]

 Records and Rankings:

UND – 3-6-1 overall, 1-5-0 WCHA; unranked in both polls. The Fighting Sioux were idle last week.
BSU – 4-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 WCHA; unranked in both polls. The Beavers tied 3-3 and lost 5-1 to the UNO Mavericks.

Players to Watch:  

For the Fighting Sioux junior forward Danny Kristo 4g-8a—12pts is the leading scorer. On the other side of the ice senior defenseman Brady Hunt 2g-9a—10 pts is the leading scorer or the Beavers.

Junior goalie Aaron Dell is the top goaltender for the Fighting Sioux. Dell has a 2-5-1 record with a 3.20 goals against average and a .875 save percentage.

Senior goalie Dan Bakala is the top goaltender for the Beavers. Bakala has a 2-4-1 record with a .302 goals against average with a .898 save percentage.

Key Numbers:

3 – The Beavers are ranked third in the WCHA on the penalty kill in the WCHA; the Beavers have killed 43/52 of their opponent’s power plays.

4 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked fourth on the penalty kill in the WCHA; the Fighting Sioux have killed 38/46 of their opponent’s power plays.

7 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked seventh in the WCHA in penalty minutes.

8 – The Fighting Sioux power play is ranked eighth in the WCHA going 9/51

9 – The Beavers power play is ranked ninth in the WCHA going 7/40

9 – The Beavers are ranked ninth in the WCHA in scoring.

10 – The Beavers are ranked 10^th in the WCHA in penalty minutes.

10 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked 10^th in the WCHA in scoring.

12 – The Fighting Sioux have scored 12 goals in six WCHA games.

14 – Aaron Dell is ranked 14^th in goals against average in the WCHA.

16 – Aaron Dell is ranked 16^th in save percentage in the WCHA.

Other games in the WCHA: Nebraska Omaha at Denver; Minnesota at Saint Cloud on Friday, Saint Cloud at Minnesota on Saturday; Michigan Tech at Alaska-Anchorage; Wisconsin at Colorado College; Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth.