Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

I can’t believe how tightly packed the standings are, this late in the season.  Only 6 points separate the top 7 teams.  With CC, DU, ND, and SCSU, on their last bye weeks of the year, the other teams have a chance to gain some ground, and move up the standings.  The Huskies have the inside track on the McNaughton Cup, but don’t have too much room for error with six other teams breathing down their neck.  

WCHA STANDINGS 2012-2013

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

1. St. Cloud St……………15-6-1…….….31
2. North Dakota.………….11-5-6………..28
3. Minnesota……………...11-5-4……..…26
3. Nebraska-Omaha…......12-8-2…....…..26
5. Denver…………..……..10-7-5..….......25
5. Minnesota State……….12-9-1.…...….25
5. Wisconsin…....…………9-6-7………...25
8. Colorado College ……..8-10-4..…..….20
9. Minnesota-Duluth….…..8-11-3……….19
10. Michigan Tech………..6-12-4…..……16
11. Bemidji State……..…..4-13-5......……13
12. Alaska-Anchorage…....2-16-6.....……10

WCHA Games

Minnesota-Duluth @ Bemidji St.

Last weekend the Bulldogs were swept by the MSUM Mavericks in Duluth (4-2, 5-1) and the Beavers got a point from the Badgers (2-2ot, 3-2) in Madison.

The Bulldogs have fallen on hard times, and they have lost five in a row.  But the vet might have what these dogs need, a bone, a big meaty, juicy bone, to chew on.  And that bone comes in the form of a Beaver, from Bemidji.  Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they have the UM and UNO left on the league schedule after this weekend. (They get another bone in between there, when they host Huntsville.)  The Beavers are now officially stuck in the bottom half and will travel in the first round of the playoffs. BSU has not won a game in 2013, their last win was December 15^th versus Denver.  That is winless in 12 games, which includes three ties.  If the Beavers don’t get a win this weekend, they might not win in 2013.  They have two more series after this, at North Dakota, and then they host Minnesota.  SPLIT

Michigan Tech @ #9 Minnesota State

Last weekend the Huskies split with the Seawolves (5-4L, 6-1W) in Houghton and the Mavericks swept the Bulldogs (4-2, 5-1) in Duluth.  On Tuesday the Huskies erupted and put a snowman on the scoreboard against Upper Peninsula foe Northern Michigan, a 8-2 victory for the Huskies.

The Huskies have shown signs of life the last three weekends, going 3-2-1 in their WCHA games.  The Mavericks are winners of four of their last five games.  The Mavs are looking to keep up their winning ways and move up the standings with a pair of wins this weekend at the Verizon Center in Mankato.  MSUM can’t look past this weekend; they need to focus on trampling the Huskies in a stampede of goals.  This is what I’m predicting in this series.  MAVERICKS SWEEP

#16 Nebraska-Omaha @ Alaska-Anchorage  

Last weekend the Mavericks were swept by NoDak (2-1, 5-2) in Omaha and the Seawolves split with the MTU Huskies (5-4W, 6-1L) in Houghton.

The Mavericks need to put last weekend in the past and move on, and move on big, with a big trip to Anchorage.  Omaha has a, we’ll call it, a favorable schedule, after UAA, they host Wisconsin and end the regular season at Duluth.  The Seawolves pick up their second league win last weekend, their first was on December 1^st against SCSU.  The Anchorage faithfully can say that the Seawolves are playing their best hockey of the year currently, going 1-1-2 in their last four games.  Perhaps the Seawolves are gaining some confidence at the right time of the season?  If they can score like they have been as of late they could get another win this weekend.  But the Mavs boast a pretty good bunch of goal scores on their team, so UAA will need some defense and solid goal tending to get some more points.  MAVERICKS 3-PTS

#2 Minnesota @ #18 Wisconsin (Fri/Sun)

Last weekend the Gophers split with the SCSU Huskies (4-2W, 4-3L) in St. Cloud and the Badgers took three points from the Beavers (2-2ot, 3-2) in Madison.

I’m sure the Badgers are looking at the weekend with two goals in mind.  One get a pair of wins, to help them get a good grip on a home spot, and two, cost their rivals a chance at the last McNaughton Cup.  The Badgers have cooled off some the last few weekend going 1-1-2 in their last four WCHA games. However, most of the Badgers wins have come against the teams below them in the standings, and now they are playing a team ahead of them.  The Gophers are 2-2-0 in their last four WCHA games, which are their only two losses since December started.  Sunday’s game will be played outside at Chicago’s Soldier Field, let’s hope they don’t have ice problems like UND-UNO did last Saturday.  If Wisconsin can keep the score low and stay out of the box, they could get themselves some valuable points this weekend.  SPLIT

BYE WEEK

Colorado College
#11 Denver
#7 North Dakota
#8 St. Could State