View Full Version : WCHA - Official Playoff Thread
WHKY blogger
02-17-2007, 08:02 PM
Now that the match ups are decided I thought it would be a good time for people to start making some predictions and maybe a little trash talk. Lets try and stick to the first round with predictions for now. However it would be nice to here who people think is the favorite to win it all and who the dark horse may be if there is one.
Heres the Schedule from the WCHA Web Site
#8 North Dakota @ #1 Wisconsin
Host: Verona WI (Eagle's Nest)
Friday, Feb. 23: 7:07 pm CT
Saturday, Feb. 24: 7:37 pm CT
Sunday, Feb. 25, 7:07 pm CT
#7 St. Cloud State @ #2 Minnesota Duluth
Host: Duluth, MN (DECC)
Friday, Feb. 23: 3:37 pm CT
Saturday, Feb. 24: 4:07 pm CT
Sunday, Feb. 25: 3:37 pm CT
[note: DECC may be hosting high school playoffs on 2/24]
#6 Bemidji State @ #3 Minnesota
Host: Minneapolis, MN (Ridder Arena)
Friday, Feb. 23: 7:07 pm CT
Saturday, Feb. 24: 6:07 pm CT
Sunday, Feb. 25, 6:07 pm CT
#5 Minnesota State - Mankato @ #4 The Ohio State
Host: Columbus, OH (OSU Ice Rink)
Friday, Feb. 23: 7:07 pm ET
Saturday, Feb. 24: 4:07 pm ET
Sunday, Feb. 25: 4:07 pm ET
brookyone
02-18-2007, 12:32 AM
Now that the match ups are decided I thought it would be a good time for people to start making some predictions and maybe a little trash talk. Lets try and stick to the first round with predictions for now. However it would be nice to here who people think is the favorite to win it all and who the dark horse may be if there is one.
Heres the Schedule from the WCHA Web Site
#8 North Dakota @ #1 Wisconsin
UND in two...kidding...Badgers in two.
#7 St. Cloud State @ #2 Minnesota Duluth
UMD in two...not challenged to any severe degree.
#6 Bemidji State @ #3 Minnesota
This was a tough, hard fought series just a short time ago. It will be again. Brookshaw scares me...she's tough to score on. Gophers...in three.
#5 Minnesota State - Mankato @ #4 The Ohio State
This is still kind of a tough call in my view. I'll go with OSU in three. Best, most balanced and overall talented Buckeye team I've seen personally. MSU should definitely be in all games and could surprise. Kehler can definitely steal one...at least.
My first round picks.
The UMD series will be for sure now 3:37 Friday 4:07 Saturday and 3:37 Sunday(not necessary though after the sweep).. as mentioned, because of the high school boys section semi-finals Saturday morning/afternoon.
The Gopher series will definitely be a 3 game series, can Brookshaw pull off 2 wins in a 3 game series against them?
I think OSU takes Mankato in 2 games... one of the games probably a multiple overtime game or something of that type...
The Wisconsin series.. nah.. I doubt it's worth commenting on.
didn't see the 'darkhorse' comment at first.. but .. OSU is the obvious darkhorse in the playoffs. You only need to win once against the teams once you make it to Ridder Arena. OSU has split the season with Minnesota, lost 3 2-3 games to Wisconsin, and beat and tied UMD.
If they get a good week of practice and sweep Mankato like I think they will, they could get on a roll come their trip to Minneapolis.
If you want to look at it like other sports, the "Magic Number" is now 7. IF any WCHA team wins 7 straight (ok, you could lose 1 of the best of 3) games they are the national champion.
The playoffs are the best time of year.... especially when there's no doubts as to the UMD players being on the same page.
The Gopher series will definitely be a 3 game series, can Brookshaw pull off 2 wins in a 3 game series against them?I don't buy that. I think either team that wins game 1 is just as likely to win again the next night, rather than needing a 3rd game on Sunday.
binnyrus
02-19-2007, 02:38 PM
How does this usually work? If the top 4 seeds win, WI, UMD, MN, OSU then who plays who in the semifinal? WI v OSU, UMD v MN????
How does this usually work? If the top 4 seeds win, WI, UMD, MN, OSU then who plays who in the semifinal? WI v OSU, UMD v MN????Yes. I'm not sure, but I think that they reseed after the quarters. So if the winners were WI, UMD, BSU, and OSU, I think that the semis would be WI vs BSU, UMD vs OSU. Not sure because last year was the first year of this format, and all of the top seeds won.
I don't buy that. I think either team that wins game 1 is just as likely to win again the next night, rather than needing a 3rd game on Sunday.
Do you think Minnesota then, can't come out Saturday and defend their Arena (if they lose Friday)?
That's why it's best 2 of 3 games rather than the older WCHA format of a 2 game 'total goals' series. Teams would split the 2 games and the team that blew the other out in their win won the 'series.'
I still think that Minnesota/Bemidji will be playing Sunday.
brookyone
02-19-2007, 05:04 PM
I still think that Minnesota/Bemidji will be playing Sunday.
It's completely possible for sure. If it's decided in two...I'll go out on the limb and say Minnesota advances. It's fair to say I have no sound evidence to base such a prediction on...just my continuing belief the team is quite capable of coming out and perhaps inexplicably, playing well. I'll hold to that theory based on the talent there until their season's over. Go ahead and call it a homer pick. Again, Emily Brookshaw and her ability to play big is my biggest concern.
So if the winners were WI, UMD, BSU, and OSU, I think that the semis would be WI vs BSU, UMD vs OSU.
Have to ask, is this a typo? :confused:
Have to ask, is this a typo?Binnyrus already discussed the scenario where all of the top seeds advance. So if I was going to throw out a scenario where the pairings would be different if teams are left in brackets vs. reseeded, I needed to have either UMD or UM lose. It is all hypothetical.
Do you think Minnesota then, can't come out Saturday and defend their Arena (if they lose Friday)?I think the team that wins on Friday is more likely to win on Saturday than not. And your original post said the "series will definitely be a 3 game series".
pgb-ohio
02-20-2007, 02:55 AM
#5 Minnesota State - Mankato @ #4 The Ohio State
Host: Columbus, OH (OSU Ice Rink)
Friday, Feb. 23: 7:07 pm ET
Saturday, Feb. 24: 4:07 pm ET
Sunday, Feb. 25...If our series goes the distance, my understanding is that the Sunday game will face-off at 1:07 P.M. ET. It's now listed this way on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Whether you're thinking of attending the game or just following from afar, be sure to "check-in" at the earlier timeslot.
Evidently travel and traffic concerns caused both teams to favor the earlier start time...
wihobserver
02-20-2007, 04:46 AM
i'm going to go with Duluth
banditbun
02-20-2007, 02:39 PM
Note the time and location change for the UMD/St.Cloud series.......Friday and Saturday at 7:07pm at Mars Arena, not the DECC. Sunday at 5:37 if needed.
brookyone
02-20-2007, 10:44 PM
http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/022007aab.html
http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/021907aab.html
Note the time and location change for the UMD/St.Cloud series.......Friday and Saturday at 7:07pm at Mars Arena, not the DECC. Sunday at 5:37 if needed.
That makes little sense whoever made the game changes.. but whatever.. I have to miss the women's playoff games myself now for the men's games because of shared tickets this weekend. :mad:
One more note of course.. the PEP BAND had already asked about the playoffs and being able to play at the women's games.. well, obviously THEY won't be up at Mars Lakeview Arena because they have to be at the men's games at the DECC.
If I type any more though about this I'll probably get one of USCHO's short vacations.
On a UMD note, the news tribune had a tiny blurb about Noemie Marin being a Patty Kaz top 10 finalist and UMDBulldogs.com (http://www.umdbulldogs.com/womens/hockey/index.php?sect_rank=2&story_id=3101) has a small article as well.
binnyrus
02-21-2007, 12:48 PM
That makes little sense whoever made the game changes.. but whatever.. I have to miss the women's playoff games myself now for the men's games because of shared tickets this weekend. :mad:
The game is where it is . . . I think for the size of the crowd Mars is a better venue. It's not likely to be as large a crowd - no matter what- as it was for the Gophers. From that point of view, Mars is a much better place to play.
You "have" to miss?? Simply make the women's game your priority!!!! Everythings a choice . . .
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