Archive for March, 2007
03-19-2007
Let’s skate!!!!
So, this weekend I’ll be at the Pepsi Center here in Denver with US College Hockey Online, covering the West regional. Denver, unfortunately, missed the playoffs for the second straight year. It came down to a dismal record down the stretch, and even that almost wasn’t enough to keep them out, but Wisconsin beat St. Cloud in the third place game of the WCHA Final Five and St. Lawrence beat Dartmouth.
So, there are some interesting matchups in the first round this year. Here in Denver, Minnesota plays Air Force and North Dakota plays Michigan. Like last year, I think the Sioux will knock off the Wolverines. They are one of the strongest teams in the country right now, and their sophomore line of Ryan Duncan, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews is, in the words of Pioneers’ coach George Gwozdecky, “an NHL caliber line.” I’ll take the Gophers over Air Force in the other matchup; I don’t see Minnesota getting upset again like last year by Holy Cross.
In the other regionals, I figure Notre Dame will beat up on Huntsville. Michigan State-BU is tough to call, so I’ll pass. The Terries have one of the best goalies in the country in Curry, but the Spartans have a solid offensive attack; it should be interesting. Out in Rochester, Clarkson gets UMass, a streaky team down the stretch, and St. Cloud gets Maine, who folded down the stretch. If Maine can regain their early season form, they could come out of that region, but otherwise St. Cloud will probably play Clarkson. And in Manchester, BC gets St. Lawrence and UNH gets Miami. Those two game should be barnbarners.
Can’t wait to see who advances to St. Louis and the Frozen Four. There should be some multiple OT games this weekend somewhere.
Posted by Candace in Hockey | No Comments »
03-05-2007
Denver vs. Wisconsin
Well, the Pioneers ended their season on a down note, losing at home 3-0 to their archrivals CC, then just managing a tie with them on the road the next night, scoring 2 goals in 36 seconds.
The Pioneers finished 4th in the WCHA, but drew defending national champs Wisconsin in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. They get to play at home, which should help, but unless they rediscover their power play and start to play tighter defense, I fear that the Badgers might knock them down. The two losses to CC really hurt DU in the Pairwise, and might end their chances at the postseason, which would suck, since DU hosts the first round of the Western regional this year at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Posted by Candace in Hockey | No Comments »