Thanksgiving Weekend Picks

The Bulldogs are currently have the Thanksgiving weekend off, with there next game coming on December 9th against the Pioneers in Denver.  Even though the Bulldogs aren't playing this weekend the picks will continue. 

Picks
#2 Denver @ Air Force:  The Pioneers don't have to travel to far for this single game.  The Pioneers as #2 in the nation should get the road win.

Wisconsin @ Colorado College:  Both teams are much improved over last years teams.  I like the home ice for the Tigers, but I think the Badgers will get a win on the road.

Michigan State @ #5 North Dakota:  The Fighting Hawks finally got the goal tending they were looking for last weekend.  I don't see the Spartans being able to get a win this weekend in Grand Forks.  Fighting Hawks sweep.

Air Force @ Colorado College:  The Tigers will get their home win hosting the Falcons.

Wisconsin @ #2 Denver:  The old WCHA rivals gets renewed.  The Pioneers will continue to show why they are top team in the nations.  Pioneers win.

Duluth at Omaha

Omaha on a Roll Entering Weekend

Three games, six goals in each, three wins. Quite the streak for Omaha, but it was against the likes of Colorado College (one win) and Miami (two wins). And on the flip side, Omaha needed the six because they gave up an average of 3.33 goals in these three games (4,4, and 2 respectively).

So does Omaha have a defensive problem? Maybe as they have no shutouts and give up 3.00 goals per game, 29th in the nation.

But who needs a good defense when your your offense is so good? Enter UMD.

One third of the way through the season and the Bulldogs are right in the thick of the top teams behind a fairly stout, albeit bend but don't break, defense. That defense will be tested this weekend in Omaha.

I expect well played games with lots of speed. And ultimately, it will be a good trip for UMD.

Picks by @afiskness. The Bulldogs split last weekend against resulted in a drop from top ranked team in the nation to number 2 spot.  The second game of the last weekends Bulldog series was a great team effort with fantastic goal tending.  If this continues all season the number one spot will remain within their grasp. 

Picks

Miami at Denver:  The Redhawks don't have any mojo right now and going to Magness Arena to play the Pioneers usually is not the spot to find your mojo.  Pioneers sweep.

North Dakota at St Cloud State:  This should be two great games and we may learn a lot about both teams.  The Fighting Hawks find themselves in the unusually spot for them in 7th place in the NCHC but within reach of moving up to 5th place past the Huskies with a sweep.  Both teams are struggling between the pipes which will they will need to improve to make a push for the top half of the conference.  I am picking a split, but I would be too surprised to see a Husky sweep.  

Minnesota Duluth at Nebraska Omaha:  Baxter Arena, the home of the Mavericks surprisingly has not been overly kind to them this season.  The Mavericks have the ability to put up a bunch of goals which will required the Bulldogs to keep their heads in the game if they want to come out on top.  I am picking a split.  

Air Force at Western Michigan:  The Broncos proved last weekend that they are a good team getting a big win on the road.  This weekend series heading home the Harry W. Lawson Ice Area will be big advantage for this fast skating team.  I expect Air Force will have a tough time keeping the Broncos and Matheson Lacopelli off the scoring sheet.  Broncos sweep.  

Broncos on Streak to Duluth

Tough Test For UMD

This isn't your Western team from years past. But when have they ever been easy for UMD?

WMU has taken many, including this staff, by surprise with a strong start fueled by their increase in scoring. UMD will have to be careful to stay out of the penalty box.

Picks by @afiskness. It is a big weekend for the staff as we take to the woods in search of team building, solitude, and deer. To make it easy, this weekend will be a split-fest as all eight NCHC teams find their way to 3 points on the weekend.

On the Road: UMD to Saint Cloud

Huskies Open NCHC Play Hosting Bulldogs

The parade of ranked teams for UMD to play continues. All opponents the Bulldogs have faced this season were ranked in the top twenty. So what are rankings worth? It is a decent indicator, but this guy relies more on the PWR after Jan. 1 than voters... ever.

That said, SCSU is ranked, but still an unknown. Being swept by Minnesota State Mankato, sweeping UMTC and Alabama Huntsville. Lots of questions with maybe some answers this weekend.

Picks by @afiskness. Now we have moved to November and the college hockey season really starts to heat up with league play. Although, for UMD you could say that happened last weekend by sweeping the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at AMSOIL Arena in their first NCHC games of the season.  Strong goal tending and special teams has put the Bulldogs tied at the top of the NCHC after one week of play.

Picks

Minnesota Duluth @ St. Cloud State:  The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud is always a tough place for visiting teams to win at and this is the first games this year for the Bulldogs on the larger sheet of ice.  I am going to go with a split.  

Colorado College @ Nebraska Omaha:  Until the Tigers show me that they can win on the road in conference games I am not going to pick them to win.  Mavericks sweep.  

Miami @ Western Michigan:  The Broncos played well against the non-conference WCHA foes the first couple weeks of the season but had a tough time of Denver last weekend.  Miami looks like they could be a strong team again this year.  I am going to go with a split since the games are at the Harry W. Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo.

North Dakota @ Minnesota Twin Cities:  After being swept in Duluth last weekend, the games may not get much easier for the Fighting Hawks who go to Mariucci Arena to play the Gophers.  This is the first game between the two teams since the Gophers beat North Dakota 2-1 on April 10, 2014 to advance to the NCAA championship games against Union and the last time the Gophers hosted North Dakota was January 19, 2013, a weekend that ended in a win and a tie for the Gophers. The past is the past. There will be a lot of emotion from players and fans for these two games, I will pick a split.