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It's Sioux-Gopher week and the teams couldn't have had more different starts to their seasons. Minnesota is 7-1-0, outscoring opponents 43-14. North Dakota is 3-4-1, being outscored 28-22.
Since the 2007-08 season, North Dakota has dominated the series with Minnesota with an 8-4-3 record, outscoring the Gophers 51-32 in those 15 meetings.
All of those numbers mean very little, however, coming into this weekend with North Dakota losing six of its top seven scorers from last season. Minnesota lost a number of its top scorers from last year but other players have stepped up.
The Gophers also returned senior netminder Kent Patterson, who has a save percentage of .939 and a 7-1-0 record this season.
Coming into the season the Sioux were thought to have a great problem with goaltenders Aaron Dell and Brad Eidsness both returning and both considered top-notch goalies. Dell has been a bottom-notch goalie with a dreadful save percentage of .843 in seven games. Eidsness has been serviceable with a .895 save percentage in three games but not nearly as effective as he has shown in the past.
For the Sioux to earn a split this weekend it will be up to the veterans. Danny Kristo, Corban Knight and Brock Nelson will need to score. All the North Dakota freshman have to do is play physical and not shy away from the intense series in a hostile arena. North Dakota can't expect its freshman to score. If they do it will be a bonus, but Kristo, Knight and Nelson have to get on the board.
For Minnesota, all it has to do is get solid goaltending from Patterson. If he can hold North Dakota to two, maybe three goals, Minnesota will win. The Gophers will score and have proven they can. They have scored against some pretty solid goalies this season in UAA's Gunderson and Kamal and UMD's Reiter.
With what North Dakota has done so far this season, I have to pick Minnesota to sweep. The Gophers have not faced very good competition so far but they are winning and that's all that matters.
Weekend Wars
Other than the North Dakota-Minnesota series, one to keep an eye on is Colorado College at Nebraska Omaha. The Tigers are ranked no. 2 in both polls but have only played just four games this season. This weekend will be a good test against a Mavericks team that can score goals. I could see a split here.
USCHO.com Poll
Oct. 31, 2011
1. Boston College
2. Colorado College
3. Michigan
4. Western Michigan
5. Minnesota
6. Notre Dame
7. Merrimack
8. Denver
9. Yale
10. Ferris State
11. Lake Superior State
12. Boston University
13. Union
14. Minnesota Duluth
15. North Dakota
16. Michigan Tech
17. Northern Michigan
18. Colgate
19. Quinnipiac
20. Maine
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
Oct. 31, 2011
1. Boston College
2. Colorado College
3. Michigan
4. Notre Dame
5. Minnesota
6. Western Michigan
7. Merrimack
8. Denver
9. Yale
10. Ferris State
11. Union
12. Boston University
13. Lake Superior State
14. Minnesota Duluth
15. North Dakota
Minnesota over North Dakota, Friday
Colorado College over Nebraska Omaha, Friday
Denver over Minnesota Duluth, Friday
Minnesota over North Dakota, Saturday
Wisconsin over St. Cloud State, Saturday
Denver over Minnesota Duluth, Saturday
My prediction record last week: 2-4
My career prediction record: 72-59
Friday, November 4
Bemidji State @ Lake Superior, 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota State @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
North Dakota @ Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT
Colorado College @ Nebraska Omaha, 7:37 pm CT
Wisconsin @ St. Cloud State, 7:37 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Denver, 7:37 pm MT
Saturday, November 5
Bemidji State @ Lake Superior, 7:05 pm ET
Minnesota State @ Michigan Tech, 7:07 pm ET
Colorado College @ Nebraska Omaha, 7:07 pm CT
Wisconsin @ St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT
North Dakota @ Minnesota, 7:37 pm CT
Minnesota Duluth @ Denver, 7:07 pm MT
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.
