Down goes Denver.
by wearendhockey (2019-11-10 10:36:36)
Post Reply Return to Lefty's Rink

Duluth handed the Pioneers their first loss on the season (8-1-1). Friday night the Bulldogs put a stop to Denver's season opening 8 game winning streak, coming back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to forge a 3-all tie.

Just about the entirety of the college hockey world thought Denver and Duluth were 1 and 1A as far as the teams to beat this season but Duluth struggled a bit out of the gate, losing a season opening exhibition match to a Canadian college and dropping 2 games at Wisconsin, getting blown out by 4 goals in the first game. Denver played a similar schedule to ours to open the season, racking up 6 wins against teams that won't be anywhere near the PWR top-16 when the season is over (although in fairness to their schedule, they did travel to Lake State and Alaska).

In the early going only 3 teams are now left without a loss, Notre Dame, Harvard and Cornell. Ivy League schools start much later than the rest of college hockey and Notre Dame has played more games so far than Cornell and Harvard combined.

They both still terrify me
by DakotaDomer  (2019-11-10 17:58:02)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Duluth is going to play uninspired for awhile until it matters and so will the other favorites to a lesser extent.


Our team paid the price last year for taking the early season easy. They’re not making that mistake this year.
Coming off their 2018 title
by wearendhockey  (2019-11-11 11:18:16)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Duluth opened last season 8-1-1, including a sweep of Notre Dame in South Bend. Maybe a second straight title dampened their enthusiasm for the early going this time around, but I doubt it.

UMD and Denver have owned us *
by Nodakirish  (2019-11-10 22:41:44)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Michigan State and Michigan used to own us.
by wearendhockey  (2019-11-10 23:51:03)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Since Jackson arrived though we are 5-1 against UM in games that matter most (3 CCHA title games all wins and a 2-1 record in NCAA games, all in heart-stopping action) and beat MSU to secure that first FF. We don't need to wait around for UMD and DU to fall on lean times. We just need to beat them in the NCAAs the next time we get the chance.

Likes! *
by TWO  (2019-11-11 16:51:56)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Meanwhile we're a solid no. 3 in the PWR ...
by BIGSKYND  (2019-11-10 16:10:38)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

which, as we know, is what really matters.