Vandelay Industries wrote:
 
> My second annual WCHA prediction is out (guess that means you can sleep
> easy now).  This is how I see the race ending:
>                     W-L-T   Pts
> 1  North Dakota     21-5-2   44
> 2  St. Cloud        20-6-2   42
> 3  Wisconsin        19-7-2   40
> 4  Colorado College 13-10-4  30
> 5  Minnesota-Duluth 11-15-2  24
> 6  Alaska-Anchorage 10-16-2  22
> 7  Michigan Tech     9-17-2  20
> 7  Minnesota         9-17-2  20
> 9  Denver            5-22-1  11
 
I tried to go to the webpage and was told that the object didn't exist, so
I'll have to respond without looking at the decision making process.
 
I think Minnesota may throw a spanner into this order of finish.  Right
now, the Gophers are tied for 7th with Alaska-Anchorage, but they are only
three points out of fifth (and a home-ice playoff berth).  They also have
two games in hand over the other teams they are competing with for that
berth (UAA, MTU, UMD) as well as several other teams above them.  At this
point, I think fifth is a very realistic possibility for them.
 
There are two things working against Minnesota.  They have a very tough
schedule the rest of the way.  Due to the unbalanced WCHA schedule, they
miss series against Denver and Michigan Tech, two of the weaker teams in
the league.  They still have to play all four of the top teams, plus UAA
and Michigan Tech during Winter Carnival.  I haven't checked, but I doubt
any of the others they're fighting for seeding with have that difficult a
road.  The other thing they'll have to overcome is the short bench.  This
weekend, with only sixteen skaters dressed, they really seemed to run out
of gas during the second half of Saturday's game.  Until some of the
injured players return, it's going to be quite a struggle to maintain a
late lead and I don't even want to think about trying to mount a comeback.
 
What Minnesota has going for it is that they are obviously better than a
seventh place team.  After the sweep of UMD, the Gophers have scored only
two fewer goals than they have allowed in league play, despite the 6-10
record.  If the breaks (as well as the broken bones)  are even the rest of
the way, let alone turn in the Gophers favor, This is a team that should
finish strong.  The key, obviously, will be to play like they played this
past weekend.  They were playing well for much of that long losing streak
and look like they've turned the corner.  They did catch a lot of luck the
last two days; UMD had a number of high quality chances that bounced away
from them.  It helps to make up for the freaky loss to Michigan in the
Showcase or outshooting St. Cloud 44-9.  If this continues, look for
Minnesota to be hosting a first round playoff series.
 
J. Michael Neal
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.