Two games remain in the WCHA and the MacNaughton Cup race favors St. Cloud State (with a two-point lead), but defending champion Minnesota and North Dakota are within realistic reach following Saturday’s results. Michigan Tech clobbered St. Cloud State, while North Dakota tied at home with Bemidji State and Minnesota won at home against Denver.
Minnesota Duluth finished a nonleague home sweep of Alabama-Huntsville and appears all but cemented into ninth place. The Bulldogs, home with Nebraska-Omaha this weekend, will be on the road to open the WCHA and could end up anywhere from Mankato, to Wisconsin, to Denver, to Omaha.
A recap from Saturday at Amsoil Arena from the News Tribune here and the UMD sports information office here.
The UMD women ended their season Saturday in the first round of the WCHA playoffs in a 3-0 loss to Ohio State. The News Tribune has a recap here.
Up-to-the-minute NCAA Bracketology from U.S. College Hockey Online is here.
At Grand Forks, N.D., Jordan Schmaltz scored on a power play 8:37 into the third period as No. 6 North Dakota rallied to tie Bemidji State 2-2 in overtime.North Dakota led 30-18 in shots. Andrew Walsh made 28 saves in goal for the Beavers. North Dakota is 5-1-3 the last nine games. Attendance 12,177. From the Grand Forks Herald here and Bemidji Pioneer here.
At Minneapolis, four third-period goals, two in 80 seconds, lifted No. 2 Minnesota past No. 10 Denver 5-1 for a series split. Denver led 1-0 just 3:34 into the game. Justin Holl and Sam Warning had the quick third-period goals. Sam Brittain (4-6) was in goal for Denver. Minnesota led in shots 43-32. Attendance 10,124. From the Minneapolis Star Tribune here, St. Paul Pioneer Press here and Denver Post here.
At St. Cloud, Minn., Michigan Tech scored three goals in the game’s first five minutes in beating No. 7 St. Cloud state 5-1. Tanner Kero, Jujhar Khaira and Riley Sweeney started the Tech Huskies off, the last two goals in 32 seconds. Ryan Faragher was replaced in the St. Cloud State goal in the second period. Jamie Phillips was in net for Tech. St. Cloud State led in shots 37-27. Attendance 5,037. From the St. Cloud Times here.
At Omaha, Neb., four second-period goals sparked No. 16 Wisconsin over No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha 6-2 for a road sweep. The game was 1-1 after one period. Michael Mersch (20) had two goals for Wisconsin. The Badgers led in shots 34-29. Attendance 12,146. From the Omaha World Herald here and the Wisconsin State Journal here.
At Colorado Springs, Colo., five second-period goals powered No. 9 Minnesota State-Mankato past Colorado College 7-2 for a series split. After a 0-0 first period, the Purple Mavs scored three goals in 50 seconds while on a major power play. Matt Leitner (15) had three goals for Mankato, all in the second period. The Mavericks were 4 of 13 on power plays. CC goalie Joe Howe was replaced. Mankato led 45-28 in shots. Attendance 4,858. From the Colorado Springs Gazette here and Mankato Free Press here.
In Anchorage, Alaska, Colton Beck scored 9 seconds into the game and Alaska Fairbanks went on to beat Alaska Anchoprage 3-1 to claim the Governor’s Cup. Bobby Murphy scored for Anchorage. The Seawovles are 1-17-3 the last 21 games. Anchorage led in shots 20-19. Attendance 4,858.
WCHA Standings and Summaries Courtesy of College Hockey Stats.net
1 St. Cloud State 35 26 17- 8- 1 .673 88- 61 34 20-13- 1 .603 113- 86 2 Minnesota 33 26 14- 7- 5 .635 85- 61 34 22- 7- 5 .721 122- 67 North Dakota 33 26 13- 6- 7 .635 88- 66 34 18- 9- 7 .632 112- 84 4 Minnesota State 31 26 15-10- 1 .596 85- 63 34 21-10- 3 .662 112- 77 Wisconsin 31 26 12- 7- 7 .596 64- 58 34 16-11- 7 .574 85- 70 6 Nebraska Omaha 30 26 14-10- 2 .577 88- 80 34 18-14- 2 .559 117- 98 7 Denver 29 26 12- 9- 5 .558 79- 79 33 17-11- 5 .591 107- 92 8 Colorado College 24 26 10-12- 4 .462 84- 93 34 13-16- 5 .456 112-121 9 Minnesota Duluth 21 26 8-13- 5 .404 64- 79 34 12-17- 5 .426 86- 98 10 Michigan Tech 18 26 7-15- 4 .346 70- 88 32 11-17- 4 .406 97-100 11 Bemidji State 17 26 5-14- 7 .327 54- 78 32 6-18- 8 .312 66- 95 12 Alaska Anchorage 10 26 2-18- 6 .192 50- 93 32 4-21- 7 .234 63-109
Alab-Huntsville 0 at Minnesota Duluth 4 Box Bemidji State 2 at North Dakota 2, tie Box Denver 1 at Minnesota 5 Box Michigan Tech 5 at St. Cloud State 1 Box Wisconsin 6 at Nebraska Omaha 2 Box Minnesota State 7 at Colorado College 2 Box Alaska 3 at Alaska Anchorage 1 Box
