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2021 NCAA Championship: No. 1 Northeastern Huskies vs. No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers
- Thread starter D2D
- Start date
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
I can't root for the Nordeasterbunnies...But the sinners? Oy vay!
Very conflicted about this one.
UMD put pressure on the bunnies but they are not as deep and fast as the sinners.
Very conflicted about this one.
UMD put pressure on the bunnies but they are not as deep and fast as the sinners.
TitleIXHockey
Golden Knight
Mark Johnson has a poor track record against top teams in the national title game. Got a bit of it off with the last one but historically when Wisconsin is much better than their finals opponent, they win. When they're even or worse, they don't.
Other than the first half of the first period, I was very impressed with Northeastern, the way they came back and dominated UMD in Periods 2 and 3.
I think the Huskies have the same kind of depth throughout their lineup as WisconSIN, so I expect a great, hard-fought championship game.
But I'll stay with my original prediction of a Badgers victory, one that likely will go down to the wire.
4-2 with an empty netter in the final seconds.
Offsides Guy
Active member
Couple of thoughts.....Northeastern will have less jitters and be ready for the speed of the WCHA (not the whole first period to adjust)....both teams have the talent level to be composed when their time arises....both teams know & play their systems to a T, yet can react to given opportunities...who will take what is there rather than force a play......Frankel won’t be as nervous as she was yesterday (imho, giving up the first goal)....both teams will pace themselves for a hard fought game....
For me, the difference will be Fontaine!
For me, the difference will be Fontaine!
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
While Fontaine is more of a threat to score, to be sure, players like LaMantia and Bowlby can ignite offense for Wisconsin. The Badgers don't need their D to score when all three of their forward lines can finish.
To me, Northeastern's biggest advantage is in goal. Blair has been a solid goalie in her career, but she has never maintained the level that Frankel has for the last three seasons. Sure, that's also the team in front of her, but they'll be in front of her again tomorrow. And the level of competition, but it doesn't support my point, so I'll ignore it! In most years, UW would be tighter defensively by tournament time, but I haven't seen that yet this year, likely due to fewer games and practices to nail everything down. Teams typically don't rally from 3-0 down to UW. Yes, they still won, but I'm more used to seeing those games end up 5-0 than, essentially, 3-2.
TitleIXHockey
Golden Knight
Agreed that Northeastern likely won't need a period to adjust to the pace of play or the physicality without getting calls. Wisconsin had 8 games this season where they were called for 1 or 0 penalties so they'll need to be on it at even strength.
Only 2 weeks ago Duluth couldn’t handle the speed of Ohio state and lost 7-1 Wisconsin is another gear faster than Duluth
badgers 3 lines is like 3 first lines NE needs to score first and must put 3 or 4 on the board Wisconsin is capable of putting 40 shots more They are like the Alabama of hockey
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
7-2 to be accurate. Love me some Western elitism but...Wisconsin doesn't have a monopoly on talent.
The bunnies have quite a bit of talent as well.
Thank you Fiveholefrenzy! My sixth grade science teacher always said to consider the source! 
Seriously, I’m with you.....HE has talent...just ask the National team coach’s some of them play for....as was clearly evident in the 1st period vs UMD, it was the speed with some jitters (“coach Flint”) that put them back on their heels....maybe it will be the same tomorrow night but not for as long! It’ll be a great game of quality teams and players.....we should just enjoy it as such!
Seriously, I’m with you.....HE has talent...just ask the National team coach’s some of them play for....as was clearly evident in the 1st period vs UMD, it was the speed with some jitters (“coach Flint”) that put them back on their heels....maybe it will be the same tomorrow night but not for as long! It’ll be a great game of quality teams and players.....we should just enjoy it as such!TitleIXHockey
Golden Knight
To be fair, Northeastern can pile up shots as well. When these two played last season they put 40 on Wisconsin, I believe the most in the Mark Johnson era. Granted Wisconsin put up 55...
I think this is a better Northeastern team than that one but we'll see.
FredsDeadFriend
New member
UMD was only the 4th best team in the WCHA. Northeastern is lucky Minnesota got left out and that they didn't have to play either OSU or UW until the Title game. This gives them a scratch off like chance to pull off a victory. Meaning, not impossible, but highly unlikely. When inter-league play returns, thankfully we won't see a team like Northeastern with the #1 seed again. They may still get to a Title game as a #2-#6 seed, but no way they were the best team in the country this year. I guess the value of my publicly expressed opinion will be able to be judged come tomorrow night, and sure, there is the slight chance I'll be proven wrong, but I'm pretty confident a team I cheer against 99% of the time, will end up victorious. Heck, I might even end up cheering for frigging Northeastern, as it's against my religion to cheer for any Wisconsin teams, but conf pride will keep me conflicted. Then again, it's about time a HE team finally wins a title and makes things more interesting going forward, so GO NORTHEASTERN!!! Fun to cheer for the underdog, lol.
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
Call me crazy but I have a feeling because NU has a very good goaltender like Ohio State I think Wisconsin will work the same game plan, attack the net hard and work the puck to the open side.
And if the refs put the whistles away again NU better watch out for Curl, she'll go from incidental contact to outright checking if she thinks she can get away with it.
And if the refs put the whistles away again NU better watch out for Curl, she'll go from incidental contact to outright checking if she thinks she can get away with it.
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
Yeah, I hear you. I want to root for my conference but when it's the team that sent you home? Plus there's something compellingly underdog about NU with never winning it all before.
Yep. Tried to make this point last week and it was construed by someone else as an attack on Minnesota recruiting. Lots of talent out there. Two very talented teams today.
I'm not a huge women's hockey guy but I cannot believe it's taken this long for ESPN to show the FF. I will definitely have it on as the kids go to bed and I clean up etc. I know the ratings are miniscule but it's a start. Much, much better than having it online on a Sunday afternoon or whatever the hell has been done over the years.
I love Championship day. Feels like such a happy day.