This week marks the first full weekend of WCHA play. All ten teams will be in action against one another, and if we learned anything from last season’s tight conference race, it’s that every game matters in this league.

The slate is highlighted by the Michigan Tech-Minnesota State match-up in Houghton. The Huskies and Mavericks come in as the top two teams in both the WCHA and the early edition of the Pairwise rankings. The Pairwise doesn’t mean much this early in the season, but it adds a little extra excitement to an already highly-anticipated series — one the WCHA hopes will bring the league attention nationally.

While it is early, you can see the WCHA race beginning to take shape now that most teams have played six conference games. It’s looking like a three-way race at the top between Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and Bowling Green, but Northern Michigan could put itself in the conversation as well. Ferris State’s offensive outburst last weekend has restored hope for its season, while both Alaska teams – who were expected to be in the thick of things this year – have struggled recently.

(After the jump: A look at this week’s slate of games.)

Match-up of the Week: No. 9 Minnesota State (7-3-0, 5-1-0 WCHA) at No. 1 Michigan Tech (10-0-0, 8-0-0)

The marquee match-up in the WCHA, and possibly nationwide, is in the U.P. this weekend as Michigan Tech hosts Minnesota State in a showdown of top-10 ranked teams and the top two teams in the conference.

At 10-0-0, the Huskies are off to the best start in program history and sit atop the national polls for the first time since 1976. They passed their first major test of the season last weekend in Bemidji, sweeping the Beavers despite being badly outshot, but Minnesota State is a whole other animal.

The Mavericks boast arguably the WCHA’s deepest group of forwards. Five of Minnesota State’s top-six forward group rank in the top-16 in the conference in scoring. Leading the way is junior forward Bryce Gervais, who is tied atop the national goal-scoring leaderboard with nine in 10 games to go along with 14 points. Gervais, junior Teddy Blueger (6+10), and freshman C.J. Franklin (2+6) form a dangerous top line for the Mavericks.

MSU’s second line boasts two career 100-point scorers in seniors Matt Leitner and Jean-Paul LaFontaine. Leitner, the preseason WCHA Player of the Year, is coming off a five point weekend two weeks ago against Bemidji State.

That offense will go up against a Michigan Tech defensive core that ranks No. 2 both in the WCHA and nationally. The Huskies give up an average of just 1.20 goals per game and haven’t allowed more than two in a game since their season opener back on Oct. 4 at Lake Superior State. The Mavericks have only won one game this season when scoring three goals or less.

Despite its 7-3-0 record, Minnesota State is allowing three goals per game this season, so there is room for Michigan Tech’s own potent offense (3.40 goals per game), led by seniors Tanner Kero, Blake Pietila, and David Johnstone, to exploit the Mavericks blue line.

If the Huskies can get early leads, lockdown on defense and force Minnesota State to play catch up all weekend they’ll be in good shape, but they will want to avoid shootouts. The Mavericks’ seven wins this season have averaged just under seven total goals per game.

Player to Watch: Alex Petan, Michigan Tech junior forward

The Delta, British Colombia, native is on a three-game goal scoring streak and, more importantly, is picking the rights times to score them. Petan’s last three goals have all been game-winners.

He leads Michigan Tech with five goals on the season and ranks second behind his line mate Kero in points, with 12.

Around the League:

No. 17 Northern Michigan (6-1-1, 3-1-0) at Alaska Anchorage (4-6-2, 1-5-0)

Alaska Anchorage is coming off of a disastrous weekend at Ferris State in which they allowed 14 goals. That series was coming at the end of a 10-day long road trip for the Seawolves, so maybe being back home can help halt their recent woes. UAA has lost five-straight and have won just once in its last eight games after going unbeaten through its first four. The Seawolves have won three of four at home this season.

Anchorage’s offense has been at least part to blame for the team’s recent struggles. In UAA’s current five game slide, the team has averaged just one goal per contest. They’ll get no help in that regard this weekend as they welcome Northern Michigan, the nation’s top defensive team (0.75 goals allowed per game), to town. That success for the Wildcats has been in huge part thanks to sophomore goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom, who leads the country in both save percentage (.970) and goals against average (.742).

Bemidji State (3-7-0, 2-4-0) at No. 18 Bowling Green (8-3-1, 5-1-0)

Few teams in the country have had as daunting a start to the season as Bemidji State. The Beavers have faced a ranked opponent every weekend so far this season, which continues with a trip to No. 18 Bowling Green.

You could make the argument that, because of its competition, Bemidji State is a better team than its three win record indicates. The Beavers have shown they can light up the scoreboard, averaging three goals per game, and have played well against the top competition they’ve faced. BSU gave No. 1 Michigan Tech all it could handle last weekend.

Bowling Green has looked like an NCAA Tournament threat, but, as with any young team, they are searching for consistency. No player exemplifies that better than BGSU sophomore forward Kevin Dufour, who netted nine goals in his first eight games, but hasn’t tallied in four-straight. When he does light the lamp, it means good things for the Falcons, who are 5-1-1 this season when Dufour scores.

Alabama Huntsville (2-8-2, 1-5-0) at Ferris State (6-5-0, 3-3-0)

Ferris State is hoping that last weekend’s 14-goal outburst against Anchorage wasn’t a fluke as the reigning WCHA champions look to get their season back on track. The Bulldogs should find room to create chances against an Alabama Huntsville team that gives up three goals per game.

While the FSU offense has tried to figure things out, the defense and senior goaltender C.J. Motte have been spectacular. Ferris State allows under two goals per game and Motte has backed that up with a .948 save percentage and 1.58 goals against average. The Bulldogs back end has kept the team in games this season, and if Ferris State’s offense can build off last weekend, it can become a dangerous team again.

The Bulldogs face a Chargers team that is no doubt improving, but still struggles against top teams. UAH is, however, coming off one of its better stretches in recent memory, having won two of its last four games. It’s freshmen class is providing hope for the future of the program, leading all classes on the team with 20 total points this season.

Alaska (5-5-0, 0-4-0) at Lake Superior State (2-10-0, 2-6-0)

Like it’s in-state counterpart, the Nanooks are also in the midst of a five-game skid and will be searching for their first conference win of the season in Sault Ste. Marie against Lake Superior State.

The frustration for Alaska is that it has been in most of the games during its current losing streak. In that stretch, UAF has lost three one goal games. It’s just a matter of getting over that hump. The Nanooks are well-rested coming off of a bye week, which should help, but are travelling a long way to face the Lakers.

For LSSU, junior forward Bryce Schmitt is emerging as the team’s go-to guy on offense. The Lakers have won two of their last three games after starting 0-9-0, and Schmitt has two goals and four points in that stretch. He leads the team with four goals and seven points on the year. LSSU also boasts the reigning WCHA Rookie of the Week in freshman goaltender Gordon Defiel, who registered his first career shutout in a 26-save effort last Friday at Alabama Huntsville. However, he conceded five times to the Chargers on 25 shots in his last outing.

Friday, November 21st, 2014 - 1:48 pm | Blogs, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings, Regular Season, WCHA