Minnesota-Duluth has the lone none conference action this weekend of the NCHC teams, while six others have intraconference matchups. Let’s take a look.
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 23-24
Denver at Miami
Candace: The results depend on which Denver team shows up: the one that got swept in Omaha, or the one that swept St. Cloud. The version of Miami is important too. Is it the RedHawks who got swept by St. Cloud or the ones who dominated most of the first half. Split. Denver 3-2, Miami 3-1
Matthew: I’m tempted to go with a sweep for Miami here – with my luck, it’ll happen now – but I have a sneaking suspicion that Denver steals one in Oxford. Denver 4-2, 2-1
Western Michigan at St. Cloud State
Candace: The Broncos have been on a roll of late, while the Huskies have been either hot or cold. I think split. St. Cloud 3-2, Western Michigan 4-2
Matthew: If this series was in Kalamazoo, I’d take Western to sweep. I still like the Broncos to get something from this series, though, so I’ll take them to win one of two. Western Michigan 3-1, St. Cloud 3-1
Colorado College at North Dakota
Candace: The Tigers got their first conference win last weekend against Omaha. Can they take out another top squad? Not at Ralph Engelstad Arena. North Dakota 2-1, 4-1
Matthew: We keep saying that this is a better CC team than its record suggests. That’s true, but I can’t see the Tigers getting anything this weekend on the road against a UND team that has been playing well just about all season. North Dakota 3-1, 2-0
Friday, Jan. 23
Minnesota-Duluth vs. Bemidji State (North Star College Cup)
Candace: The Bulldogs face the Beavers in the first round of the Minnesota college hockey tournament. Look for the Bulldogs to come out on top of a scrappy Beavers team. Minnesota-Duluth 3-1
Matthew: Duluth’s winless streak ends at three games. Minnesota-Duluth 2-1
Saturday, Jan. 24
Minnesota-Duluth vs. Minnesota/Minnesota State
Candace: It all depends on who wins the first round, but I’m going with the league homer pick, regardless of whether the Bulldogs face the Gophers or the Mavericks. Minnesota-Duluth 4-2
Matthew: Minnesota State is most likely the favorite to win this second-year tournament, but Duluth is a better team than Minnesota this season and I think the Bulldogs have what it takes to knock MSU off its No. 1 perch. Minnesota-Duluth 3-1
