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.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Friday, November 18, 2016
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.
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.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, November 4, 2016
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
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.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Friday, October 14, 2016
Friday, October 7, 2016
Bulldogs Take to the Road for Test in Massachusetts
Second Straight Weekend of Ranked Opponent for UMD
It is early in the college hockey season. This is the earliest start for UMD hockey and the first 2-0-0 start since 2001-02 (Maverick Stampede Tournament) and the first sweep of one opponent to start the season since 1995-96 (Ferris State).
There have only been five total NCAA games played, but already UMD is making a statement with their sweep over Michigan Tech. Now the stakes are higher with a fellow top ten ranked opponent in UML and playing them on the road.
Like UMD, UML ended their season last year in the NCAA Regional Finals and roster nine freshman this season. It will be a matchup that will give a broader view of the prospects of both teams even though we are not in double digits of October.
StatPack. Full StatPack next week, but of note now:
It is early in the college hockey season. This is the earliest start for UMD hockey and the first 2-0-0 start since 2001-02 (Maverick Stampede Tournament) and the first sweep of one opponent to start the season since 1995-96 (Ferris State).
There have only been five total NCAA games played, but already UMD is making a statement with their sweep over Michigan Tech. Now the stakes are higher with a fellow top ten ranked opponent in UML and playing them on the road.
Like UMD, UML ended their season last year in the NCAA Regional Finals and roster nine freshman this season. It will be a matchup that will give a broader view of the prospects of both teams even though we are not in double digits of October.
StatPack. Full StatPack next week, but of note now:
- Bulldogs have a perfect 10 for 10 on penalty kill with one shorthanded goal.
- UMD is currently clicking at 33% for power play.
Picks by @afiskness. One week is in the books for UMD who looked great against Michigan Tech in the 6-0 shutout Saturday night and the gutty come from behind win. This week the Bulldogs go out east to take on the highly ranked River Hawks of U-Mass Lowell. It will be two highly entertaining games with these two good teams.
Picks
Ferris State vs. Western Michigan: This is a home and home home series and I just don't see the Bulldogs starting the season 0-4. I will pick the home teams winning resulting in a split.
Miami @ Providence: This is a good test for the Redhawks going out eat to play a ranked foe. The Redhawks should be a good team this season, I will pick a split.
Colorado College @ UMass: The Minutemen had eight wins last year to trump the Tigers six wins. Two evenly match teams playing two games often end in a split.
Minnesota Duluth @ Massachusetts Lowell: The Bulldogs are red hot after one week of play. This should be two great games that will result in a split.
Canisius @ North Dakota: The reigning nation champion Fighting Hawks will have little trouble earning a sweep on home ice this weekend.
Icebreaker Tournament
Ohio State vs. Denver: The Pioneers will advance to the championship game.
Denver vs. Air Force or Boston College: I am going to say BC will advance to play Denver and Denver will get the big win for the tournament title.
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