With several intriguing non-conference games again set for this weekend, the NCHC continues to ease into its conference schedule, with only one league series on tap again this week, this time with Minnesota-Duluth hosting surging Miami in a two-game set. It’s a notable series for many reasons and may be especially important for UMD, as the Bulldogs are a) looking for consistency after an up-and-down season that’s seen them alternate wins and losses (wins so far against Notre Dame and Denver), and b) without their senior captain Adam Krause, who’s out until December with a broken wrist.

That’ll mean even more pressure will rest on the shoulder pads of a pair of players honored as NCHC Players of the Week this week — junior forward Austin Farley, who had a pair of goals against Denver last week, and goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo, the Bulldogs’ rookie Finnish goaltender who stopped 29 shots last Saturday in UMD’s 6-1 thrashing of Denver. And of course, there’s Dominic Toninato, whose six goals this season are tied for second best in the nation.

UMD welcomes a Miami team that has played five one-goal games in its first six contests already — winning four of those, the latest a dramatic 2-1 overtime win against St. Lawrence last weekend. 

For the RedHawks, the story — beyond their strong start, effective defensive play, and reliable goaltending — has really been that they’ve been supported by the play of players not named Austin Czarnik and Riley Barber. Sure, those two are arguably the two most talented forwards on Enrico Blasi’s team, but Sean Kuraly (who had the OT winner against the Saints on Saturday), Anthony Louis, and Blake Coleman have stepped up in the season’s early stages. This is Miami’s first trip outside the state of Ohio this season, as its only away games so far have been at Bowling Green and at Ohio State. The RedHawks will look to put a lot of shots on Kaskisuo. Miami is outshooting opponents 157-47 over the past three games.

Prediction: Miami wins Friday, UMD wins Saturday

Non-conference series

Denver hosts Boston College: This is a rematch of a first-round NCAA tournament game this year, although the look and feel of the series will be quite a bit different with the absence of last year’s key BC top line that featured Hobey winner Johnny Gaudreau. The game did end the Pioneers season, of course, and that’ll be a fresh memory. Both teams are 3-1-0 this season, and the key matchup may be between the goaltenders — BC’s Thatcher Demko and Denver’s Evan Cowley have played well in the early part of the season thus far. Prediction: BC wins Friday, Denver wins Saturday.

US Hockey Hall of Fame Game, North Dakota hosts Air Force (Nov 1): This is the first meeting between UND and Air Force since October 2011. North Dakota will be without the injured Mark MacMillan, who has paced UND’s scoring so far this season. Dave Hakstol will rely even more on junior Drake Caggiula, who had a four-point night a week ago today in a 6-1 win against Providence. Air Force heads to Grand Forks after breaking a four game losing streak last week with a 4-3 OT home win against RIT. Prediction: UND wins.

St. Cloud State vs./at. Minnesota: A huge home-and-home series this weekend is among the most anticipated set of games in all of college hockey starting tonight. St. Cloud has had a tough non-conference schedule to the start the season and has had weekend splits against both Colgate and Union. Last weekend, the Huskies ended Union’s 17-game winning streak and 22-game unbeaten streak, beating the defending national champs in Schenectady last Saturday. The last meeting between St. Cloud and Minnesota was in last year’s NCAA West Regional final, which the Gophers won en route to their national title game meeting last April with Union. Minnesota is undefeated so far a the clear favorite nationally to make another Frozen Four run — boasting talent ranging from goaltender Adam Wilcox to forwards Kyle Rau (8 points in 4 games already) and Travis Boyd, and defenseman Mike Reilly. St. Cloud may be without sophomore goaltender Charlie Lindgren after he injured himself against Union last Saturday. Prediction: St. Cloud wins Friday, Minnesota wins Saturday.

Nebraska-Omaha at Cornell: The Big Red open its season against a Mavericks team (3-1-0) that’s coming off a bye week after sweeping Western Michigan two weeks ago. It’s UNO’s first-ever trip to Ithaca, making a return trip after Cornell swept a pair of games against UNO in Omaha last season. UNO’s potent offense — led by Jake Guentzel, Austin Ortega, and Dominic Zombo — will face likely Mitch Gillam, who takes over for Andy Isles in net for Cornell. The goaltending for Omaha, of course, has been much less of a question so far this season, with senior Ryan Massa already undefeated (3-0-0) with a 1.67 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. Prediction: UNO sweeps.

Bye weeks: Colorado College, Western Michigan

Friday, October 31st, 2014 - 4:52 pm | Blogs, NCHC, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings