New conference begins
with one of hockey's greatest rivalries: The Gophers finally begin play in
the new Big Ten Hockey Conference this weekend and they face it off with
Wisconsin. It could not be otherwise. The Gophers-Badgers tilts are the first
of a four-game clutch of Big Ten contests. Minnesota travels to Michigan State
for the first time in decades the following weekend.
The Badgers come in 4-3-1 overall. They've won only once
away from Mad Town and sport a 1-3-0 road record. Wisconsin has lost only once
in its last four games, however. They were shut out 2-0 at Miami last Friday
before bouncing back for a 3-2 win Saturday. The previous weekend, they won and
tied at home against Lake Superior State.
Still #1 – Believe it
or not: Last weekend was not
Minnesota's finest. Special teams still needs a lot of attention (four of
Minnesota-Duluth's Saturday red-lighters came on the power play, another
shorthanded) and the Gophers needed a few contributions from UM-D to produce a
split at Mariucci Arena. After walloping the Bulldogs 6-1 Friday night,
Minnesota reversed fortune on Saturday and was skinned to the tune of 6-2.
Still…
The Gophers are ranked number one in the nation in both
major national polls. St. Cloud State is number two in both and therein lies a
tale of how these polls are put together. The coaches and media who vote do so
on a points basis. The Gophers received 21 first place votes in the USA Today
poll, St. Cloud State 12. However, in the USCHO coaches poll, the Huskies
actually snared more first place votes than Minnesota, 27 to 22.
How, then, can the local hockey team still rank atop the
pile? The votes are weighted, each vote for each spot earning points.
Here's how close it
was at the top of that coaches' poll:
MINNESOTA: 963 points
(22 first place votes)
St. Cloud St.: 962
points (27 first place votes)
One point. That's as close as the Huskies could come to
topping the poll.
Here are the latest
rankings, which are identical for both polls, at least at the top:
1. MINNESOTA
2. St. Cloud State
3. Michigan
4. Providence
5. Quinnipiac
But where's Bucky?
The Badgers are ranked 12th in the USCHO poll, 13th by USA
Today's panel.
Everyone be calm:
the Friday game is on – just not in the usual places.
It's at 4:00 PM and Fox Sports North doesn't get that one.
We'll be on hand for the Saturday game against Wisconsin, but the Gophers and
Badgers will face off Friday night on ESPN-U. You might have to dig around to
find it.
Another note about
that Saturday game: It's at 5:00 PM. And I repeat: THAT one is on Fox
Sports North, with Gophers Live starting at 4:30. Casey Hankinson and I will
follow (one turkey and one ham, take your pick) as the Gophers-Badges rivalry
ignites once more.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
DOUG McLEOD is the
original voice of Golden Gopher hockey. Join him for play-by-play action all
season long on Fox Sports North!
