Eight of the 10 WCHA teams are involved in league contests this weekend while Alabama-Huntsville heads to Notre Dame and Northern Michigan plays pond hockey during its bye week. Here are the picks.
Alaska at Bowling Green
Matt: I may have called a split for the Nanooks a week ago — though I had the winners flipped — but I was still impressed Alaska was able to take two points from a red-hot Minnesota State. Because of that, I like Hockey Bear’s boys to steal one on the road. Falcons 4-1, Nanooks 3-2
Shane: This is a big weekend for both teams. Bowling Green is trying to keep pace with Ferris State and Minnesota State, despite playing 16 league games already. Alaska, after splitting with MSU, has to feel like it’s better than a bottom-two team. So, yeah, a split. Falcons 4-3, Nanooks 3-2
Michigan Tech at Ferris State
Matt: Colgate the giant killers stole their second win of the season over Ferris State a week ago. That should only fire up, if not anger a Bulldogs team that is set to play in front of a sold-out Ewigleben Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday. Bulldogs 2-1, 3-1
Shane: Like everyone else, I’m curious to see how the Bulldogs bounce back from that rare loss. Suddenly, they have a lot to prove. Being at home in front of those sold-out crowds ought to help. I keep thinking Tech is better than its record, but I’m not sure the Huskies will win this weekend. Bulldogs 4-2, 4-3
Bemidji State at Lake Superior
Matt: LSSU is the last team to lose to the Beavers back on Nov. 23 in Bemidji. Since then, BSU has gone winless in its last eight games, going 0-4-4. It needs a win badly, probably more than the Lakers, who have played more games than the Beavers. Lakers 3-2, Beavers 2-0
Shane: After that strong start, the Lakers have been a steady .500 team. Meanwhile, the Beavers’ scoring seems to have run dry. I’ll take the team with the better goaltending. Lakers 3-1, 2-1
Minnesota State at Alaska Anchorage
Matt: So the Mavericks have become the home team after the Seawolves got stuck in Minneapolis until Thursday night. They don’t get to practice on their own rink until today — game day. I like the Mavericks to take advantage of a weary Seawolves team. Mavericks 4-2, 3-2
Shane: Minnesota State’s Alaska grind certainly doesn’t seem so bad compared to Anchorage’s travel woes. On a normal week, I’d probably pick a split, especially with Anchorage being so good at home. But I like an MSU sweep. Mavericks 5-2, 4-2
Alabama-Huntsville at Notre Dame
Matt: I thought the Chargers did an admirable job against Wisconsin two weeks ago, but took a step back in getting routed by Bowling Green. Fighting Irish 5-1, 4-0
Shane: Huntsville’s going to get another win this year, maybe more than one. As usual, they’ll make it close on Saturday, but I don’t see a win this weekend. Irish 4-0, 3-2
Last week: Shane 9-3; Matt 8-4. Overall: Shane 88-35-17; Matt 80-43-17.
