Usually I don't do this, but I am splitting up my picks this week. This post takes a look at the four WCHA series this weekend. Another post on Friday morning will analyze the three nonconference series involving WCHA teams this weekend: Vermont at the Gophers, UMD at Providence and New Hampshire. Colorado College, the 12th WCHA team, is idle this weekend.
I was 4-2 picking WCHA games the first weekend of conference play. Something to build on perhaps.
Here are the WCHA matchups:
North Dakota (2-1-1, 0-0-0) at Wisconsin (1-3-0, 0-2-0): The No. 5/6-ranked Fighting SIoux swept the Badgers 1-0 and 4-2 last November in Madison and are 6-3 in their last nine games at the Kohl Center. North Dakota also has been a good road team recently, going 14-2-1 in its last 17 conference games away. The SIoux are coming off a 3-1 win and a 3-3 tie with visiting Maine. Junior center Corban Knight (3-3--6) is on a four-game points streak for UND. ... WIsconsin has three losses already, all in overtime. Last weekend the Badgers lost at Michigan Tech 2-1 and 3-2. Opponents have scored the first goal in every game. Sophomore Tyler Barnes has a goal in each of the past three games. Freshmen Landon Peterson and Joel Rumpel split games in the net at Houghton. This weekend Sioux will SWEEP
Alaska Anchorage (3-0-1, 0-0-0) at Nebraska Omaha (1-3-0): UAA beat UNO 3-0 on Oct. 14 in a preseason tournament in Fairbanks. It was a notable game because neither team was called for a penalty. Sophomore Rob Gunderson got the shutout and an assist. Alaska Anchorage has a 2-1-1 all-time edge over the Mavericks. The Seawolves are averaging 38 shots per game and staying out of the penalty box. ... After losing to UAA with goalie John Faulkner making a school record 43rd consecutive start, the Mavericks lost to Alaska Fairbanks 4-1 the next night with freshman Ryan Massa in the nets. Terry Broadhurst had the only goal for UNO in those two games. The Mavericks were 10-3-1 in WCHA home games last season. This weekend the two teams SPLIT.
P.S. The Gopher travel to UAA next weekend, so the Seawolves are a team to watch.
Michigan Tech (4-0-0, 2-0-0) at Bemidji State (1-3-0, 0-2-0): The Beavers started the season at then-No. 1 ranked Miami and at Colorado College, one of the conference favorites. Last weekend they lost to CC 3-1 and 6-4 despite scoring three power play goals the second night. Now they face surprising Tech, under new coach Mel Pearson. The Huskies beat Wisconsin 2-1 and 3-2 last weekend in two overtime games to equal their conference win total in 2010-11. One reason for Tech's fast start is goalie Jordan George; he is 3-0 with a 1.31 goals-against average. Last season Bemidji State traveled to Houghton and tied the Huskies 2-2 in one game and one the other 1-0 on Jordan George's goal with 1:33 left. Expect another low-scoring series and a SPLIT
Minnesota State Mankato (1-3-0, 0-0-0) at Denver (1-1-0, 0-0-0): The Pioneers went out East and beat then-No. 1 Boston College 4-2, but lost to then-No. 8 Boston University 4-3. Adam Murray was in nets both games for DU because Sam Brittain is out the first half of the season after knee surgery while freshman Juho Olkinuora was serving a three-game suspension which is over Saturday. Freshman forward Matt Tabrum is back after a four-game suspension which included two exhibition games. DU is 10-0-2 against the Mavericks in their last 12 meetings. But the Pios' pp needs work it was 0 for 10 in two games in Boston and BU scored two short-handed goals. ... MSU opened the season with a split against RPI, winning 1-4, losing 4-1, then was swept by Mass-Lowell 4-1, 4-2. Mavericks have scored only five goals in four games and their pp is 0 for 17. ... So what will happen? Coach George Gwozdecky has 10 NHL draft picks on his roster and needs one win for 400 at DU. The No. 3-rated Pios will SWEEP.
