Fighting Sioux 23
New member
Re: North Dakota at Minnesota 1/18-1/19 - Just Ring The F*ing Bell You Pansy
As for this series, it is definitely one of the top 3-4 series of the year for me. This year, these two squads are both loaded with talent and championship contenders. Home ice will be big for Minnesota, as North Dakota has struggled on the big ice sheet this season, losing to Alaska, SCSU, Notre Dame (200x90), and CC, going 3-4-0 on the road on the big ice. Conversely, the Gophers are 15-2-3 on the big ice (Vermont 200x90) and 11-1-1 at home. Minnesota also appears to be playing better hockey than North Dakota at the moment, especially after destroying Notre Dame and BC in the last couple weeks. North Dakota has struggled in their last 3 games, but did manage to win 2 of them. I would imagine a very physical series, yet clean series, as both teams are in the bottom half in penalty minutes, but have plenty of bruisers throughout each lineup.
My breakdown:
Offense: Push
North Dakota has the better top end scoring, featuring Danny Kristo and Corban Knight, each of whom are in the top 3 nationally scoring. However, Minnesota has more depth, and can certainly match North Dakota's talent player for player and line for line. Minnesota currently has the top goals/game in college hockey at 3.82, but North Dakota is no slouch there either, putting up an average of 3.45 goals/game. In conference, North Dakota averages a league best 3.71 goals/game, while Minnesota notches a solid 3.36 goals/game against WCHA foes.
Defense: Slight Edge Minnesota
The Gophers have a very strong blue line, featuring a mix of 8 players that can start on any given day. Their depth and quality have paid dividends, as Minnesota has allowed only 1.82 goals/game. North Dakota has a strong group as well, featuring 7 players that can start on any given day. However, UND has allowed an average of 2.50 goals/game. Both teams are susceptible to getting caught up ice and making defensive miscues. In WCHA play, Minnesota allows only 2.42 goals/game, while North Dakota allows only 2.64 goals/game. Both teams have very strong blue lines, and both teams' blue lines are capable of lighting the lamp. Minnesota's 8 blue liners have combined for 59 points (10-49-59), while North Dakota's 7 blue liners have combined for 60 points (13-47-60). All together, it is a very close matchup, but I give the slight edge to Minnesota for their overall numbers.
Goaltending: Slight Edge Minnesota
Adam Wilcox has been phenomenal thus far this season. Overall, he leads the WCHA with a 1.65 GAA. However, he has been far more human in conference play, posting a 2.13 GAA. Meanwhile, Clarke Saunders has done a solid job in net for North Dakota, posting a 2.28 GAA overall and 2.69 GAA in conference games. It might seem that Minnesota has a clear edge here, but when comparing Save % numbers (arguably more indicative of how good a goalie is than GAA), Saunders has a .911 save % in WCHA play compared to Wilcox's .903. Overall, Wilcox has a .925 save % compared to Saunders .919. However, it can be argued that Saunders has faced more difficult competition than Wilcox (North Dakota has the 12th most difficult SOS compared to the Gophers 26th according to KRACH). Both goalies have been prone to the occasional softie, but at this point in the season, I feel that Wilcox has been just slightly more consistent in net than Saunders, thus the slight edge to the Gophers.
Special Teams: Edge Minnesota
The Gophers have the 2nd best Powerplay (25%) and 6th best PK (90.5%). North Dakota has the 13th best Powerplay (21.11%) and 37th ranked PK (81.7%). While UND's powerplay numbers have improved over the past two weekends, Minnesota has arguably the best special teams in all of college hockey. In this area, the Gophers have a decided advantage. The caveat here is that neither team takes all that many penalties. However, in what should be a tight game, special teams will likely make a big difference.
Intangibles: Edge Minnesota
As stated above, Minnesota dominates on the big ice, while North Dakota struggles. If this series were in Grand Forks as opposed to Mariucci, I would be inclined to say a big edge exists for North Dakota (the Gophers have only played 2 games on NHL ice going 1-1-0 against Michigan Tech). It will certainly be a big series for both teams, as each looks to gain ground on the other in the race for the MacNaughton, but it is difficult to come to any other conclusion than Minnesota has a big edge at home over North Dakota. Further, Minnesota has played very well of late (minus the game on Friday), and has beaten some very difficult competition in the last few weeks.
Series Prediction:
The games will be close. I certainly don't see either game getting out of control. Both teams are very talented, and if the series were played at the Ralph, I might be inclined to give North Dakota the edge. However, it is at Mariucci, and this just might be the Gophers year to win a whole lot of hardware. Minnesota sweeps 4-3, 5-3.
As for this series, it is definitely one of the top 3-4 series of the year for me. This year, these two squads are both loaded with talent and championship contenders. Home ice will be big for Minnesota, as North Dakota has struggled on the big ice sheet this season, losing to Alaska, SCSU, Notre Dame (200x90), and CC, going 3-4-0 on the road on the big ice. Conversely, the Gophers are 15-2-3 on the big ice (Vermont 200x90) and 11-1-1 at home. Minnesota also appears to be playing better hockey than North Dakota at the moment, especially after destroying Notre Dame and BC in the last couple weeks. North Dakota has struggled in their last 3 games, but did manage to win 2 of them. I would imagine a very physical series, yet clean series, as both teams are in the bottom half in penalty minutes, but have plenty of bruisers throughout each lineup.
My breakdown:
Offense: Push
North Dakota has the better top end scoring, featuring Danny Kristo and Corban Knight, each of whom are in the top 3 nationally scoring. However, Minnesota has more depth, and can certainly match North Dakota's talent player for player and line for line. Minnesota currently has the top goals/game in college hockey at 3.82, but North Dakota is no slouch there either, putting up an average of 3.45 goals/game. In conference, North Dakota averages a league best 3.71 goals/game, while Minnesota notches a solid 3.36 goals/game against WCHA foes.
Defense: Slight Edge Minnesota
The Gophers have a very strong blue line, featuring a mix of 8 players that can start on any given day. Their depth and quality have paid dividends, as Minnesota has allowed only 1.82 goals/game. North Dakota has a strong group as well, featuring 7 players that can start on any given day. However, UND has allowed an average of 2.50 goals/game. Both teams are susceptible to getting caught up ice and making defensive miscues. In WCHA play, Minnesota allows only 2.42 goals/game, while North Dakota allows only 2.64 goals/game. Both teams have very strong blue lines, and both teams' blue lines are capable of lighting the lamp. Minnesota's 8 blue liners have combined for 59 points (10-49-59), while North Dakota's 7 blue liners have combined for 60 points (13-47-60). All together, it is a very close matchup, but I give the slight edge to Minnesota for their overall numbers.
Goaltending: Slight Edge Minnesota
Adam Wilcox has been phenomenal thus far this season. Overall, he leads the WCHA with a 1.65 GAA. However, he has been far more human in conference play, posting a 2.13 GAA. Meanwhile, Clarke Saunders has done a solid job in net for North Dakota, posting a 2.28 GAA overall and 2.69 GAA in conference games. It might seem that Minnesota has a clear edge here, but when comparing Save % numbers (arguably more indicative of how good a goalie is than GAA), Saunders has a .911 save % in WCHA play compared to Wilcox's .903. Overall, Wilcox has a .925 save % compared to Saunders .919. However, it can be argued that Saunders has faced more difficult competition than Wilcox (North Dakota has the 12th most difficult SOS compared to the Gophers 26th according to KRACH). Both goalies have been prone to the occasional softie, but at this point in the season, I feel that Wilcox has been just slightly more consistent in net than Saunders, thus the slight edge to the Gophers.
Special Teams: Edge Minnesota
The Gophers have the 2nd best Powerplay (25%) and 6th best PK (90.5%). North Dakota has the 13th best Powerplay (21.11%) and 37th ranked PK (81.7%). While UND's powerplay numbers have improved over the past two weekends, Minnesota has arguably the best special teams in all of college hockey. In this area, the Gophers have a decided advantage. The caveat here is that neither team takes all that many penalties. However, in what should be a tight game, special teams will likely make a big difference.
Intangibles: Edge Minnesota
As stated above, Minnesota dominates on the big ice, while North Dakota struggles. If this series were in Grand Forks as opposed to Mariucci, I would be inclined to say a big edge exists for North Dakota (the Gophers have only played 2 games on NHL ice going 1-1-0 against Michigan Tech). It will certainly be a big series for both teams, as each looks to gain ground on the other in the race for the MacNaughton, but it is difficult to come to any other conclusion than Minnesota has a big edge at home over North Dakota. Further, Minnesota has played very well of late (minus the game on Friday), and has beaten some very difficult competition in the last few weeks.
Series Prediction:
The games will be close. I certainly don't see either game getting out of control. Both teams are very talented, and if the series were played at the Ralph, I might be inclined to give North Dakota the edge. However, it is at Mariucci, and this just might be the Gophers year to win a whole lot of hardware. Minnesota sweeps 4-3, 5-3.
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