Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

I Hope everyone is having an awesome Thanksgiving.  Here is a little hockey for you to digest today too.

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

Nebraska-Omaha…………5-1-0…………..15
St. Cloud St……………….4-1-1…………...13
Denver…………………..…3-2-1…………..11
North Dakota………………3-5-0……….….9
Minnesota-Duluth…………2-2-0……….….6
Western Michigan………..2-2-0…………...6 
Miami……………………….2-4-0……….….6
Colorado College………...1-5-2…….….….6

Non-Conference Games

#20 New Hampshire (7-6-1) @ Colorado College (1-8-2)

Last weekend the Tigers managed a point (2-2ot, 6-2L) against the Huskies in St. Cloud and the Wildcats split with the Providence Friars (3-2Wot, 4-2L) in Providence.

In this battle of the felines, I’m going with the visitors from Hockey East.  The CC Tigers could try and borrow the old Exxon commercial saying, “It’s like putting a tiger in your tank.”  Oops, they should change it to, “The Tigers have Tanked.”… WILDCATS SWEEP

#13 Miami (7-6-1) @ Bemidji St. (5-7-2)

Last weekend the RedHawks were swept (6-3, 3-1) by the Mavericks in Omaha and the Beavers split with Lake Superior (3-1L, 2-1Wot) in Bemidji.

The RedHawks have lost three in a row, but the good news is they have BSU this weekend, which is something they should be thankful for.  The Beavers play well at home in the Sanford center, but the RedHawks have too much talent and should overwhelm the Beavers this holiday weekend.  REDHAWK SWEEP

St. Lawrence (7-5-2) at North Dakota (4-6-2)

Last weekend NoDak earned a point (3-1L, 3-3ot) against the Terriers in Boston and the Saints split with RIT (5-3W, 6-4L) in Rochester, NY.

Some background on the Saints – they play in the ECAC, they are located in  Canton, NY, the University was founded in 1856, and they have an enrollment of about 2,000, they play on a NHL sheet and it seats about 3,000 fans.

NoDak is winless in their last three games, and SLU has lost three of their last four games, so both teams should be hungry for some wins this weekend.  Unfortunately I think the visitors are going to leave with an empty tummy.  NODAK SWEEP

Shillelagh Tournament

Western Michigan (5-5-2) vs Northeastern (8-5-0)

Last weekend the Broncos swept (2-0, 4-1) the MSU Spartans in a home-and-home series and the Huskies

The Broncos have been, well, let’s call it streaky so far this year, win a couple, loss a couple.  Same could be said for the Huskies this season.  I don’t have a clue in this one, so I’ll let my magic 8-ball pick it… Broncos Win

The other game is Notre Dame (8-5-1) vs UA-Huntsville (0-12-0), which ND should win.  So it is the winners on Friday play for the title on Saturday and the loser play for third on Saturday.

So with the predictions, that means WMU will play ND and NU will play UAH.  Thus we have the Irish winning the tournament and the Chargers not winning a game.

BYE

Denver

#18 Minnesota-Duluth
#17 Nebraska-Omaha
#2 St. Cloud St.

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Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

Denver…………………..…3-2-1…………..11
Nebraska-Omaha…………3-1-0…………..9
St. Could St……………….3-1-0…………...9
North Dakota………………3-5-0……….….9
Miami……………………….2-2-0……….….6
Minnesota-Duluth…………2-2-0……….….6
Western Michigan………..2-2-0…………...6 
Colorado College………...1-4-1…….….….4

NCHC Games

Colorado College @ # St. Cloud State.

Last weekend the Huskies swept the hapless UAH Chargers in Huntsville (10-0, 4-3) and the Tigers lost to the Falcons (3-1) on Tuesday evening in Colorado Springs.

The Tigers will look to move out of the NCHC basement this weekend with a trip to St. Cloud.  But they will have a tough go of it, against a high caliber Huskies team.  The Huskies will have it a little harder than last weekend’s games in Huntsville.  Still, SCSU has the better team.  HUSKIES SWEEP

# Miami @ Nebraska-Omaha

Last weekend the RedHawks split (2-0W, 3-2L) with the UW Badgers in Oxford and the Mavericks split with Michigan (3-2W, 4-3L) in Omaha.

This is series for Omaha is the end of their gauntlet stretch (NoDak, UMich, UMiami) in November.  If the Mavericks can get another split they will be well deserving of a BIG thanksgiving dinner.  The RedHawks have also split their last two series as well.  I say they both continue on their splitting streaks.  SPLIT

Non-Conference Games

# Minnesota-Duluth @ #1 Minnesota (Fri/Sun)

Last weekend the Bulldogs split (4-2L, 6-3W) with NoDak in Grand Forks and the Gophers swept the Minnesota State Mavericks (4-1, 3-0) in Minneapolis.

The Bulldogs travel south down I-35 for this weekend tilts with in-state foe the Gophers.

This will be UMD’s third weekend in a row on the road; the Bulldogs have split their last four series.  The Gophers have played a couple of quality series (BC, ND) this season, but didn’t sweep those series.  Now after this weekend the number one team in the country has a fairly soft schedule the rest of the season.  I think the Bulldogs will have another split on their record come Sunday evening.  SPLIT

# North Dakota @ Boston University

Last weekend NoDak split the Bulldogs (4-2W, 6-3L) in Grand Forks and the Terriers lost at Maine (7-0) and won at home against Connecticut (4-1).

A year ago the Terries made the trip to Grand Forks and this year NoDak travels to BU for the return games.  If they could this would be a good rivalry to keep going into the future.  Both teams are still trying to find their ways this season, winning some and losing some.  I think it continues on for both in Boston.  SPLIT

Michigan State vs Western Michigan

Last weekend the Broncos were swept by the Pioneers (5-3, 1-0) in Denver, and the Spartans were swept by Michigan Tech (3-0, 3-2ot) in Houghton.

The Broncos are on four game winless streak and will be looking to right the ship this weekend against an in-state foe.  The Spartans are winless on the road, so this home and home series might be what the doctor ordered.  I’m taking the home team, teams.  SPLIT

Air Force vs Denver

Last weekend the Falcons beat the CC Tigers (3-1) and the Pioneers swept the WMU Broncos (5-3, 1-0) in Denver. 

The Pioneer have won three in a row and are undefeated in four games.  Now they start playing a lot more road games, six out of the next seven are away from Magness Arena.

SCSU vs. Miami University

This weekend the NCHC spot light turns to Saint Cloud State vs. Miami University match up. The RedHawks invade the Herb for the first ever NCHC home series in Saint Cloud.

Historically, Miami is 8-3-2 all-time against SCSU Huskies, however, the RedHawks are 0-2-1 in its last three games against the Huskies, including a 4-1 loss, last year, in the NCAA tournament. I think the best result for fans of other NCHC teams would be a series split.

Related articles

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• SCSU bites UND 3-2 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
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• SCSU bites UND 3-2 (insidehockey.com)
• Most Anticipated NCHC Game: North Dakota vs. Miami (thehockeywriters.com)
• Miami's Blasi Inks New 10-Year Contract with Miami (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND Hockey: The Weekend Ahead (11/01-11/02) (insidehockey.com)
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Bryon Paulazzo - Winning Shootout Goal vs Michigan

s/t to Ryan Schaefer for giving me a heads up on this amazing shootout goal. First off, I know a lot of hockey purists are not big fans of the shootout, during the regular season I think it's a great way to settle a hockey game, but I would never want to see game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals settled this way. That being said, nothing pleases me more than watching Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick give up a goal, especially one like this.

KYPOST.COM --- Miami sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo scored the lone goal in the shootout as the RedHawks picked up the extra point after tying the Wolverines, 3-3 at Cady Arena on Saturday.

Paulazzo skated to the top of the crease and appeared ready to fire a wrist shot to the right of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick. Instead he pivoted, went to his backhand and lifted the puck over Hunwick for the shootout-winning top shelf goal.

Paulazzo’s goal came in the fourth round after all three skaters for both teams failed to find the net. After his acrobatic tally, Miami senior goalie Cody Reichard turned aside his fourth straight shot to end the game.