This is an unusual week in the WCHA. Two teams are idle, Denver and Bemidi State. And two teams play nonconference opponents, Minnesota Duluth and Michigan Tech.
That means there are only four conference series, and the best one is Colorado College at the Gophers. Both teams have speed and can score. Between them, they average nearly eight goals per game. So don't expect any shutouts or 2-1 scores.
Here is a look at this week's games involving WCHA teams, starting close to home:
Colorado College at the Gophers: The Tigers have five super-charged Minnesotans on their roster, including D-man Gabe Guentzel, Mike's middle son. Team's second line of Alexander Krushelnyski, Nick Dineen and Scott Winkler had five of team's eight goals in split with St. Cloud State last weekend. Both Schwartz brothers, Rylan and Jaden, are most dangerous forwards. ... The Gophers are coming off a split at North Dakota; Saturday's 6-2 win ended a three-game losing streak, team's longest of the season. D-men have 70 points, which ranks second among all blue line corps. Gophers are No. 2 in one major poll, No. 4 in another; CC is No. 11 in both and can catch Gophers in conference with a sweep. U can't let that happen. Prediction: Gophers win and tie
North Dakota at St. Cloud State: These teams really don't like each other much.UND comes to the Granite City in seventh place, one point ahead of the home team and one point behind Michigan Tech. North Dakota is still hurting. Six players have missed 68 games so far. Coach Dave Hakstol has 199 career wins. UND is 8-2-1 in its last 11 games. ... Huskies split with UND in late Oct., winning 4-0 on Ryan Faragher's shutout, then losing 3-1. Faragher has made 18 starts in a row and has a 2.83 GAA. Huskies have scored power play goals in six consecutive games. Prediction: UND sweep
Nebraska Omaha at Minnesota State: Matt White leads the red Mavericks in scoring with 29 points on 11 goals and 18 assists. Last weekend UNO split with No. 1-rated UMD, losing opener 6-2 then winning second game 3-1, despite being outshot 44-15. Loss broke Bulldogs' 17-game win streak. Frosh Ryan Massa was in nets for UNO and should have gotten first, second and third star award. ... The purple Mavs lost 4-0 to Wisconsin last weekend, then won 3-0. Go figure. Freshman forward Jean-Paul Lafontaine leads MSU with 11 goals and 19 points but has been scoreless last three games. Team needs him. Prediction: Red Mavericks sweep.
Alaska Anchorage at Wisconsin: These are two of bottom teams in WCHA. UAA is tied for 11th, Badgers for ninth. The last time the Seawolves won at the Kohl Center was 2-1 in March 2005. ... The Badgers are 12-1-1 in their last 14 meetings against UAA. Forward Mark Zengerle's 20-game scoring streak ended last Saturday in Wisconsin's 3-0 loss to Minnesota State. Prediction: Badgers sweep
Alabama Huntsville at Minnesota Duluth: Second worst team in country -- Sacred Heart has one victory -- against best in first meeting ever. One glimmer of hope for visitors; UAH's two wins are over Nebraska Omaha and Denver, two WCHA teams. Prediction: UMD sweep
Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech (one game Saturday): Michigan Tech swept Alaska Anchorage 6-2, 6-4 last weekend. But the opposition is tougher this weekend. NMU beat Tech 4-1 in Marquette a month ago. CCHA teams hold a 13-10-1 edge over WCHA this season. Prediction: Tech wins
gophers/ncaa
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