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WCHA Thread III

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Re: WCHA Thread III

Final From Saturday, February 11th
Minnesota 7
Ohio State 4

Senior Day Fireworks​

It was a Wild time at the OSU Ice Rink on Saturday. I'm telling you Mac, it was way more than a Spoon-ful of fun. An absolute goal Fest(e). Any Yank, Canuck or Brit would have loved it.

In the end the Gophers had more firepower and prevailed. But with the OSU Pep Band in the house and the players on both teams putting on a fine show, a good time was had by all.


3 Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial and Just For Fun ​

Honorable Mention: The Senior Class of The Ohio State Buckeyes
Best. Senior. Class. Ever.


#3 Star: Sarah Erickson, Minnesota
Erickson may not be the biggest name on the Gopher roster, but she's certainly a star in every sense of the word, including in today's game. Saturday's production was 1 goal and 3 assists. Her four point total was matched only by the top star. The goal came at a pivotal time, knotting the score at 1-1. It got Minnesota back into the game very nicely, just when it was starting to feel like Senior Day magic might propel the Buckeyes to victory.


#2 Star: Sarah Davis, Minnesota
Like linemate Erickson, Davis makes you appreciate the depth and quality of the Gophers. Davis came up huge in the middle of the second period, scoring twice in a two minute span. Those goals broke a 2-2 tie, giving Minnesota a lead they never surrendered.


#1 Star: Natalie Spooner, Ohio State
Yes, Ohio State lost the game. So giving a Buckeye the #1 Star is a little unorthodox. But in what likely is her final performance at the OSU Ice Rink, Natalie gave us yet another tour-de-force. She found her way onto the scoresheet in four distinctly different ways. First, she started the play that started the scoring, earning the second assist. Next, she found the twine down low in traffic. The third goal came on an endline to endline rush. Last but not least, a brilliant pass to Ally Tarr allowed the wide-open Tarr to steer the puck into the net with great authority. On the Tarr tally it should be noted that the play began with Sara Schmitt winning a battle along the left wing boards.

After the game, it was fun to see the large Spooner delegation pose for a portrait. No doubt it will be suitable for framing. Natalie Spooner's Buckeye career certainly is.

In bagging top honors, Spooner naturally represents the entire Senior Class. Guys, it can't be said enough: All five of you will be greatly missed. A million thanks for choosing Ohio State. Never forget you'll always be Buckeyes.


Up Next: Buckeyes conclude the WCHA Regular Season with a road trip to Wisconsin.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

pgb-ohio said:
So giving a Buckeye the #1 Star is a little unorthodox. But in what likely is her final performance at the OSU Ice Rink, Natalie gave us yet another tour-de-force.
Click to expand...
Unorthodox doesn't mean undeserved. I'm sure the Gophers are happy to have survived #5 on Senior Day. Hopefully, she can bring that level and more to the quarterfinal where her career is on the line.
 
Gophers impressive. No weaknesses. Spooner only offensive threat for OSU. Doesn't help when OSU pp gives up two shorties. May have to rethink strategy of two forwards on point.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

So with one week left in regular season, here's how things are shaking out for the WCHA quarterfinals...

North Dakota will be the #3 seed and host #6-seed Bemidji State. UND is 3-1 vs. the Beavers this year, but this repeat of last year's WCHA quarterfinals could again go three games, particularly if Ms. Tomcikova is on her game.

Minnesota-Duluth will play Ohio State, but location is still TBD. The Bulldogs have a 3-point lead and currently both the second and third tiebreakers over OSU. Plus UMD hosts Minnesota State this coming weekend while the Buckeyes will be on the road at Wisconsin. Despite all that, the two teams split regular-season series at each location, so this is a very intriguing matchup.

The #1-#8 and #2-#7 matchups are still in a state of flux. Wisconsin will likely clinch the WCHA regular-season title (they only need one point against OSU to do so), giving Minnesota the #2-seed, but St. Cloud State only leads Minnesota State by 2 points for the #7 spot coming into the final weekend. The Gophers and Badgers are a combined 16-0-0 against the Huskies and Mavericks, though the Gophers may like the St. Cloud State as their potential opponent after winning their season series by a combined score of 29-1. St. Cloud State will host Bemidji State this weekend, while MSU heads to Duluth.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

play-by-play guy said:
Not trying to look too far ahead, but does anyone know what the biggest first-round upset in the WCHA has been? Just curious.
Click to expand...
There have been several times where #5 seeds have knocked off #4 seeds. The most surprising of those was two years ago (2010) when #5 Ohio State went to #4 Wisconsin and won two straight in OT. That same year, #6 seed BSU went to #3 seed SCSU and won in three games. That is the biggest upset by the numbers; I'll leave it to you decide which was a bigger upset overall.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

play-by-play guy said:
Not trying to look too far ahead, but does anyone know what the biggest first-round upset in the WCHA has been? Just curious.
Click to expand...
ARM said:
There have been several times where #5 seeds have knocked off #4 seeds. The most surprising of those was two years ago (2010) when #5 Ohio State went to #4 Wisconsin and won two straight in OT. That same year, #6 seed BSU went to #3 seed SCSU and won in three games. That is the biggest upset by the numbers; I'll leave it to you decide which was a bigger upset overall.
Click to expand...
I will claim that SCSU getting the #3 seed over Wisconsin was the upset there.

Other than that OSU-UW series, I only found one other time when the #5 seed defeated the #4 since the WCHA went to the best-of-3 quarterfinal format in 2005-2006; that was in 2009 when MSU knocked off SCSU in three games. But the #4 seed has needed a third game to advance two other times (SCSU over OSU in 2008 and UND over BSU in 2011). Only in 2006 (SCSU over OSU) and 2007 (OSU over MSU) did the #4 seed get a sweep in the quarterfinal round.
 
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Re: WCHA Thread III

pgb-ohio said:
Final From Saturday, February 11th
Minnesota 7
Ohio State 4

Senior Day Fireworks​

It was a Wild time at the OSU Ice Rink on Saturday. I'm telling you Mac, it was way more than a Spoon-ful of fun. An absolute goal Fest(e). Any Yank, Canuck or Brit would have loved it.

In the end the Gophers had more firepower and prevailed. But with the OSU Pep Band in the house and the players on both teams putting on a fine show, a good time was had by all.


3 Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial and Just For Fun ​

Honorable Mention: The Senior Class of The Ohio State Buckeyes
Best. Senior. Class. Ever.


#3 Star: Sarah Erickson, Minnesota
Erickson may not be the biggest name on the Gopher roster, but she's certainly a star in every sense of the word, including in today's game. Saturday's production was 1 goal and 3 assists. Her four point total was matched only by the top star. The goal came at a pivotal time, knotting the score at 1-1. It got Minnesota back into the game very nicely, just when it was starting to feel like Senior Day magic might propel the Buckeyes to victory.


#2 Star: Sarah Davis, Minnesota
Like linemate Erickson, Davis makes you appreciate the depth and quality of the Gophers. Davis came up huge in the middle of the second period, scoring twice in a two minute span. Those goals broke a 2-2 tie, giving Minnesota a lead they never surrendered.


#1 Star: Natalie Spooner, Ohio State
Yes, Ohio State lost the game. So giving a Buckeye the #1 Star is a little unorthodox. But in what likely is her final performance at the OSU Ice Rink, Natalie gave us yet another tour-de-force. She found her way onto the scoresheet in four distinctly different ways. First, she started the play that started the scoring, earning the second assist. Next, she found the twine down low in traffic. The third goal came on an endline to endline rush. Last but not least, a brilliant pass to Ally Tarr allowed the wide-open Tarr to steer the puck into the net with great authority. On the Tarr tally it should be noted that the play began with Sara Schmitt winning a battle along the left wing boards.

After the game, it was fun to see the large Spooner delegation pose for a portrait. No doubt it will be suitable for framing. Natalie Spooner's Buckeye career certainly is.

In bagging top honors, Spooner naturally represents the entire Senior Class. Guys, it can't be said enough: All five of you will be greatly missed. A million thanks for choosing Ohio State. Never forget you'll always be Buckeyes.


Up Next: Buckeyes conclude the WCHA Regular Season with a road trip to Wisconsin.
Click to expand...

Pgb, another masterpiece. Those seniors will be sorely missed. Hard to believe that was likely the last time I will get to see them playing in the OSU Ice Rink.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

ARM said:
There have been several times where #5 seeds have knocked off #4 seeds. The most surprising of those was two years ago (2010) when #5 Ohio State went to #4 Wisconsin and won two straight in OT. That same year, #6 seed BSU went to #3 seed SCSU and won in three games. That is the biggest upset by the numbers; I'll leave it to you decide which was a bigger upset overall.
Click to expand...

keep in mind that there were no Olympians in the mix that year, so a lot more parity.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

Is 2001 Minnesota, which lost to #4 OSU and then #3 Wisconsin in the consolation, the only top seed to lose prior to the final? I can't recall any other examples off the top of my head.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

dave1381 said:
Is 2001 Minnesota, which lost to #4 OSU and then #3 Wisconsin in the consolation, the only top seed to lose prior to the final? I can't recall any other examples off the top of my head.
Click to expand...
Yes. Years in which the top seed lost at all are rare. The only other one that I can recall is 2009 when #2 UW beat #1 UM in the final.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

Another question for all you hockey-heads: Do you think that this year the five and six-seed have a good chance as any other year to upset the higher seeds in the first round? I think #1 and #2 are fairly safe, but ND and UMD I think have to be a little concerned.
Thoughts anyone?
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

play-by-play guy said:
Another question for all you hockey-heads: Do you think that this year the five and six-seed have a good chance as any other year to upset the higher seeds in the first round? I think #1 and #2 are fairly safe, but ND and UMD I think have to be a little concerned.
Thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...
BSU and UND will be a tough series, but I think that NoDak is a better team than they were last season, and the Sioux survived the Beavers then, although with nothing to spare. A good series, but I think UND advances.

In the other one, I haven't had a read on UMD all season, and I still don't. If they work hard, the Bulldogs probably win, but at times, they don't seem that interested.
 
play-by-play guy said:
Another question for all you hockey-heads: Do you think that this year the five and six-seed have a good chance as any other year to upset the higher seeds in the first round? I think #1 and #2 are fairly safe, but ND and UMD I think have to be a little concerned.
Thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...

With Bemidji's goalie, I think every team is concerned when playing BSU. UND swept the most recent series handily after BSU played 4 straight superb games agianst #1 & #2 in the nation. But these teams always play great games. Advantage: UND..but anything can happen
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

osualum86 said:
Pgb, another masterpiece. Those seniors will be sorely missed...
Click to expand...
Too generous, but much appreciated. Thanks.

I always try to do justice to the game, and to both teams. But I'll admit that Senior Day 2012 was special, and that I gave a little extra to that particular post.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

CrazyDave said:
Minnesota-Duluth will play Ohio State, but location is still TBD. The Bulldogs have a 3-point lead and currently both the second and third tiebreakers over OSU. Plus UMD hosts Minnesota State this coming weekend while the Buckeyes will be on the road at Wisconsin. Despite all that, the two teams split regular-season series at each location, so this is a very intriguing matchup.

The #1-#8 and #2-#7 matchups are still in a state of flux. Wisconsin will likely clinch the WCHA regular-season title (they only need one point against OSU to do so), giving Minnesota the #2-seed, but St. Cloud State only leads Minnesota State by 2 points for the #7 spot coming into the final weekend. The Gophers and Badgers are a combined 16-0-0 against the Huskies and Mavericks, though the Gophers may like the St. Cloud State as their potential opponent after winning their season series by a combined score of 29-1. St. Cloud State will host Bemidji State this weekend, while MSU heads to Duluth.
Click to expand...
UMD's win combined with OSU's loss today locks in home ice for the Bulldogs when the two teams play next weekend. But it should still be an interesting series.

With SCSU and MSU both losing, we're still sitting at the same point we were yesterday. MSU can move out of the cellar with a win (regulation or overtime) at Duluth and another Husky loss to Bemidji, but that's the only way as SCSU holds the tiebreaker based on their 3-1 season series record against the Mavs.
 
Re: WCHA Thread III

WCHA Tournament

First round match ups...here we go.

Bemidji State at North Dakota

Ohio State at Minnesota Duluth

St. Cloud State at Minnesota

Minnesota State at Wisconsin
 
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