WCHA 2025-26

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Minnesota to date has scored 109 goals in conference games. 41 of them by players away at the Olympics, leaving 68 "at home" to play this weekend.
Ohio State to date has scored 97 goals in conference games. 41 of them by players away at the Olympics, leaving 56 "at home" to play this weekend.

Minnesota has also given 15 more goals in conference games. Home ice and defense may turn into Ohio wins this weekend, but "firepower" is not likely to be the issue.

My posts are mostly in jest and about the only thing that will be true in my post is the poor video production that will be seen. But hey, that is good information you posted. Maybe that can be passed along to one of the other sinners posters who posted about the lack of "firepower" on the sinners.

 

[Timothy A]

Very boring game ones with all the favorites winning, other than MN's PK being 25%. TWSNBN's pp looked very good on person last week. I was sweating bullets every time UW took a penalty.

 

[Lindsay]

I did not realize OSU was favored. Their bench is shorter than everyone else’s and they had fewer points among the group that was left behind for the Olympics right?

And last year since transfer insanity ended they were supposed to have a drop off but didn’t.

She’s easily one of the best coaches in the country. I wonder long term if she’ll end up coaching a national team. Would Canadian hopefuls be wise to start piling up at OSU?

 

[eastcoastgopher]

Minnesota's been outshot in every game since the Olympians left except the first Wisconsin game, where the shots were 27-27.

 

[robertearle]

I did not realize OSU was favored. Their bench is shorter than everyone else’s and they had fewer points among the group that was left behind for the Olympics right?

Home ice seems to be a pretty significant factor in the WCHA. And while the Gophers have scored more this year than Ohio State, they've also given up more goals. Ohio wasn't/isn't a big favorite, but they're a favorite at home vs Minnesota.

As for short bench, Ohio had/has 14 skaters, Minnesota 16. Maybe more of a factor the second game of the weekend?

 

[Lindsay]

Good insight by both of you. Looking forward to reading PGB’s recap as well.

This is fun chaos with the Olympians being out. 14 skaters made me laugh out loud…seems crazy but then I remember NHL EBUGs exist, get ice time and win games. Just a crazy sport.

 

[robertearle]

Good insight by both of you. Looking forward to reading PGB’s recap as well.

This is fun chaos with the Olympians being out. 14 skaters made me laugh out loud…seems crazy but then I remember NHL EBUGs exist, get ice time and win games. Just a crazy sport.

The weekend before against Duluth, Ohio State had only 13 skaters. In between then and the series against Wisconsin, they got Sara Swiderski back from injury.

 

[ARM]

In their minds, I don't think UM ever thinks they are the favorites against tOSU. The Gophs were passing like a HS team, and my apologies to well-coached HS teams, because I don't mean you. Just throw the puck somewhere, anywhere, in the hope that someone might be there. On the tape? Good one. I guess we just credit the Buckeyes for realizing that the game counts just the same, no matter who is/isn't there.

 

[Timothy A]

The game twos were all pretty boring as well. Biggest thing is that St Cloud surged into 5th. They play at the Badgers while Kato goes to St. Thomas in the battle for 5th. If Kato or St. Thomas can sweep they would force St Cloud to split at Wisconsin to retain 5th. Pretty intriguing weekend of hockey coming up.

 

[Hockeybuckeye]

So does everyone get a free pass in the rankings with the Olympians gone? Minnesota is unscathed after getting swept at Ohio State.

 

[robertearle]

So does everyone get a free pass in the rankings with the Olympians gone? Minnesota is unscathed after getting swept at Ohio State.

Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, Penn State had actually passed them into third in the NPI, by something like 0.015. Then a butterfly flapped its wings in Argentina on Sunday, and Minnesota went back into third.

(There were two games played Sunday that had enough of an effect on the NPI.)

 

[ARM]

(There were two games played Sunday that had enough of an effect on the NPI.)

A team UM played twice won over a team PSU played twice. Maybe there were some minor impacts of the other game, but the math is fairly direct, if not hugely impactful, for the first.