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I'm so nervous I can barely function. It's Minnesota-North Dakota rivalry time and UND can't afford to be swept again, while Minnesota needs to find a way to get back on track.
North Dakota has been battling injuries to key players most of the season but it is 7-1-1 in its last nine games.
I attended last Saturday's U.S. College Hockey Classic in Winnipeg where North Dakota defeated Clarkson 3-1. UND did not have a good first period and trailed 1-0 but scored three nice goals in the final two periods to get the win. It played much better in the final two periods and limited Clarkson to very few scoring chances. That victory might do as much for UND as any victory this season because it came at a neutral site in a huge arena. It had the feeling much like an NCAA Tournament game.
If somebody knows what has happened to the Gophers since they swept UND in early November please let me know. It's like they have lost all confidence. Losing to Northeastern at home shouldn't happen. Minnesota was seemingly unstoppable after sweeping North Dakota and has since been mediocre.
UND will continue to be without freshman Rocco Grimaldi, while Corban Knight and Derek Forbort are both game-time decisions.
I think a lot of people forgot how close the series was back in November because the Gophers got the sweep. But in the first game it was scoreless until 7:16 left in the second period with a power play goal. Then Minnesota took a 2-0 lead with 8:43 remaining in the third. It was a tight game all the way. In the Saturday game, the Gophers snuck away with the 3-2 win, scoring with 46 seconds left.
Not surprising, there were a ton of roughing-type penalties in Friday's game. Not so much on Saturday, though. This weekend should be just as intense.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 135-128-14 but that lead has shrunk with Dave Hakstol at the helm of UND.
My series prediction: The Ralph will be rocking.
Weekend Wars
The series I'm second most excited about this weekend is Minnesota Duluth at Nebraska Omaha. A pair of top four teams in the conference going at it. The Mavericks don't score much but they do a great job of clogging up the neutral zone and making life difficult for good teams. Minnesota Duluth scores a ton of goals and has given up the fewest in the WCHA this season. Look for one of the games to go into overtime with Nebraska Omaha pulling it out. In four overtime games this season it has four ties. In Minnesota Duluth's four overtimes this season they have a loss and four ties. I say the teams split with the Mavs pulling it out in overtime on Friday.
USCHO.com Poll
Jan. 9, 2012
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. Boston College
5. Minnesota
6. Boston University
7. Merrimack
8. Colorado College
9. Cornell
10. Western Michigan
11. UMass-Lowell
12. Colgate
13. Ferris State
14. Union
15. Michigan
16. Denver
17. North Dakota
18. Michigan State
19. Lake Superior State
20. Northern Michigan
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
Jan. 9, 2012
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Ohio State
3. Notre Dame
4. Boston College
5. Minnesota
6. Boston University
7. Merrimack
8. Colorado College
9. Cornell
10. UMass-Lowell
11. Western Michigan
12. Ferris State
13. Union
14. Colgate
15. Michigan
Derek's Picks
Colorado College over St. Cloud State, Friday
Nebraska Omaha over Minnesota Duluth, Friday
Denver over Bemidji State, Friday
Colorado College over St. Cloud State, Saturday
Minnesota Duluth over Nebraska Omaha, Saturday
Denver over Bemidji State, Saturday
My prediction record last week: 5-1
My career prediction record: 93-73
Friday, January 13
Alaska Anchorage @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
Minnesota Duluth @ Nebraska Omaha, 6:37 pm CT
Minnesota @ North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Minnesota State, 7:37 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Denver, 7:37 pm MT
St. Cloud State @ Colorado College, 7:37 pm MT
Saturday, January 14
Alaska Anchorage @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
Minnesota @ North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Nebraska Omaha, 7:07 pm CT
Wisconsin @ Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT
Bemidji State @ Denver, 7:07 pm MT
St. Cloud State @ Colorado College, 7:07 pm MT
Also, I will try my very best to have a WCHA Weekly next week.
Derek Martin was born in Crookston, graduated from Crookston High School in 2003 and attended Gustavus Adolphus College before joining the Times. He now lives in Crookston with his wife and children.
