Inside College Hockey | WCHA Playoff Capsules

March 12, 2010

By Jess Myers

No. 10 Michigan Tech at No. 1 Denver
MTU: 5-28-1 (4-24-0 WCHA)
DU: 25-7-4 (19-5-4 WCHA)
Season Series: Denver, 2-0-0
Husky Fact: Tech scored exactly half as many goals as their opponents, both in conference and overall play. In WCHA games, the Huskies had 59 goals and gave up 118. Overall it was 71 for, 142 against.
Pioneer Fact: The last time Denver hosted the Huskies in the WCHA playoffs was in 2005, when the Pioneers swept Tech en route to winning the Broadmoor Trophy and the NCAA title.
How Michigan Tech Wins: Score goals, and lots of them. The Huskies goaltending has not been a strong suit at any point this season, which puts them in the unenviable position of having to try to outscore an opponent that has Marc Cheverie between the pipes.
How Denver Wins: Same formula they’ve used all season: get a lead (even a small one), and hold it. Some think it’s a sign of vulnerability that the Pioneers have rarely blown out opponents. We think that learning to hold leads in close games may pay off big-time in March.

No. 9 Alaska Anchorage at No. 2 Wisconsin
UAA: 11-21-2 (9-17-2 WCHA)
UW: 22-9-4 (17-8-3 WCHA)
Season Series: Wisconsin, 2-0-0
Seawolf Fact: Alaska Anchorage’s last win in Madison was in a WCHA playoff game, a 2-1 victory on March 12, 2005. The Seawolves only trip to the WCHA Final Five came in 2004 when they upset the Badgers on the road.
Badger Fact: The 17-8-3 conference record by Wisconsin gave the Badgers sole possession of second place in the WCHA, which was their best finish since Mike Eaves took over the program in 2002. They tied for second in 2006, before winning the NCAA title.
How Alaska Anchorage Wins: Use your skilled lines, and shoot the puck. The Badgers are amazing at scoring goals and playing defense, but their goaltending is pedestrian. Put pucks on the net, and your odds go up dramatically.
How Wisconsin Wins: It all starts with the most talented blue line crew in college hockey. Let the defensemen control the play, and score goals like the Badgers have done all season.

No. 8 Minnesota State at No. 3 St. Cloud State
MSU: 15-18-3 (9-17-2 WCHA)
SCSU: 20-11-5 (15-9-4 WCHA)
Season Series: Minnesota State, 1-0-1
Maverick Fact: History tells us the two-hour bus ride to St. Cloud should be no burden for the Mavs, who are 7-1-1 in their last nine trips to the National Hockey Center.
Husky Fact: This will be the first playoff encounter between the Huskies and Mavericks. Since joining the WCHA in 1991, St. Cloud State has previously faced every conference team except Minnesota State in the league playoffs.
How Minnesota State Wins: Play the game with your head first, and your legs second. The Mavericks rival just about anyone in the WCHA in terms of experience, but mental mistakes have doomed them this season. Play a thinking man’s game.
How St. Cloud State Wins: Get the puck to the hot hands. Drew LeBlanc ended the regular season with 11 points in his last 10 games, while Ryan Lasch needs just five point to become the program’s all-time leading scorer. It starts with them.

No. 7 Minnesota at No. 4 North Dakota
UM: 17-17-2 (12-14-2 WCHA)
UND: 20-11-5 (15-10-3 WCHA)
Season Series: Tied, 1-1-2
Golden Gopher Fact: The last time Minnesota had a WCHA playoff game in Grand Forks was 1987, which was the last year all of the league playoff games were held at campus sites. The Gophers were also memorably upset by Holy Cross there in the 2006 NCAA playoffs.
Fighting Sioux Fact: North Dakota enters the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak, during which the Sioux are averaging 4.5 goals per game.
How Minnesota Wins: Play with heart. There’s never been a question about the Gophers talent, especially at forward, but they’ve played too many games lacking the fire that separates winners from also-rans. Facing a rival in the post-season, they’ll need passion.
How North Dakota Wins: Stay hot and hungry. After an ugly, injury-riddled stretch in January and early February, the Sioux have gotten healthier and forgotten how to lose. This is no time to remember.

No. 6 Colorado College at No. 5 Minnesota Duluth
CC: 18-15-3 (12-13-3 WCHA)
UMD: 20-15-1 (16-11-1 WCHA)
Season Series: Minnesota Duluth, 3-1-0
Tiger Fact: Colorado College has previously faced Minnesota Duluth 10 times in the playoffs, with five of the games going to overtime. This is the first time in the past 17 seasons that the Tigers have had to leave Colorado for the first round of the playoffs.
Bulldog Fact: Each of the last three WCHA playoff series hosted by the Bulldogs (in 1998, 2003 and 2004) has gone to a third game, with UMD winning each time.
How Colorado College Wins: Find new faces. The Tigers enter the playoffs ice cold and somewhat banged up, with goalie Joe Howe and others fighting the injury bug. Sounds like the perfect time for lesser-known Tigers with something to prove to step up.
How Minnesota Duluth Wins: Shrink the game. These will be the last playoff games on the DECC’s Lilliputian ice sheet. If the Bulldogs can make things uncomfortable for a team used to Olympic-size ice, they can advance to defend their WCHA Final Five title.