Gopher Hockey vs. Denver Preview

(promoted by PJS .... thanks for the preview!)

The newly #1 ranked Minnesota Men's Hockey team faces off this weekend at #10 ranked Denver University.  For the past 4 weekends the Gophers have tied the first game of the series and then won the second game giving them 3 points each time.  This weekend's games are -

• Friday 8:37pm - FSN
• Saturday 8:07pm - FSN

The Gophers lead the all-time series against DU 90-63-12 but went 0-4-1 against them last year which included a loss to Denver in the WCHA Playoffs Championship game.

• The Star Tribune preview makes note of the recent trend of tie-win to point out that the Gophers aren't perfect - Gophers Hardly Perfect
• The always interesting WCHA Blog over on USCHO has a short blurb on UM Goalie Alex Kangas winning the Co-Defensive Player of the Week last week with his first collegiate shutout.  The 2 writers go with predictions of UM sweep and split - USCHO - WCHA Weekend Preview
• After a disappointing sweep at the hands of SCSU last weekend Denver coach George Gwozdecky talked about his teams consistency as part of a Lets Go DU Blog interview - Gwozdecky Interview

In other non-DU related news:

• The Gophers signed 6 future hockey players to LOI's during the early signing period.  Information on them as well as some details on the potential of having Bemidji State enter the WCHA can be found on Roman Augustoviz's Star Tribune Blog - The New Gophers Are ...
• Finally the WCHA Blog does a good job of reporting on the ongoing saga at Wisconsin with their decommitments.  Brock Montpetit refused to sign his LOI making him the 4th player to back out to the Badgers after giving a verbal commitment.  The discussion continues about how coach Mike Eaves "over recruits" and the resulting fall out - Wisconsin Decommit #4

While it might be prudent to predict a tie-win again I have a feeling the Gophers will lose at least 1 game this weekend in the mile high air of Denver.  Since they seem to play better on the back half of the weekend I'll go with a Friday loss followed by a Saturday win.