I'll start with the Gophers game last night. Top to bottom the CCHA isn't nearly as good as the WCHA. The Gophers looked good in the first two periods, dominating the neutral zone, dominating possession and peppering the OSU goalie. All of the forwards can fly and have good noses for the puck. Ohio State was outmatched by the U in every facet of the game, the game was never really in question. An alarming tendency (at least to Gophers fans) is that as the games go on, the often physically outmatched (in size that is, OSU looked alot bigger) Gophers tend to be on their heels for the third period. The key to beating them is to weather the initial storm and grind it out, this is why I think a team like Duluth could cause them fits. Enough about the Gophers...
The Bulldogs travel to Denver, a gut check series early in the season. Can Alex Stalock withstand the offensive effort that the Pioneers are sure to give in their home opener? Will they be able to score enough goals to keep up? One thing is for sure, they want to avoid a fast paced, up-and-down game. If Stalock can live up to the hype he had when he came to the school from South St. Paul (which he didn't last year, eventually getting benched for then-senior Johnson) then the Bulldogs can move up into the "Upper-Class" of the league.
St. Cloud State takes on Bemidji State at home. This should prove as a good opportunity for the Huskies to lick their wounds after the beating Duluth gave the last weekend.
The game of the weekend is North Dakota and Michigan Tech. Tech finished strong last year, goaltender Teslak had alot to do with that. Teslak is the type of goalie that can keep an overmatched (everyone in college hockey is overmatched when playing NoDak) Tech team in games. Look for low scoring games decided in overtime or the third period. The Huskies home crowd should be rowdy, considering that this is the biggest series played there in years.
Quick note: In last night's Bruins/Blackhawks game Phil Kessell (that's a swear word in Madison) scored two goals to tally the win over Jonathan Towes' (NoDak stud, scored Chicago's only goal) Blackhawks. Two WCHA kids turning around struggling original 6 teams.
Should be a fun weekend, go Huskies (the red and black ones)!!!
Tell me your thoughts by emailing me at TheMinnesotaSportsGuy@gmail.com
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