Minnesota (5-8-1, 3-6-1 WCHA) at Minnesota State (6-7-1, 4-7-1 WCHA)
7:07 p.m., Friday, Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis; 7:07 p.m., Saturday, Verizon Wireless Center
RECAP: This weekend's series is a battle between two teams who, for the time being, are heading in different directions. The Mavericks are 3-1 the past two series after sweeping Michigan Tech at home last weekend. The Gophers got trampled 6-0 at Michigan Friday - worst loss in Minnesota history - but Mike Carman scored a late goal to lift Minnesota over Michigan State, Saturday. Before snipping the Spartans the U had lost four straight games.
HISTORY: MSU is looking for its sixth win against Minnesota in the program's history. The Gophers lead the all-time series 28-5-6 but the Mavericks swept last season's series (6-1 & 3-1) in late January.
MSU NOTES: Although MSU has won three of its last four games the wins came against the league's annual bottom-tier teams - Alaska-Anchorage and Michigan Tech. The good news for the Mavs is that Minnesota is not playing any better than bottom-tier hockey. Two points separate these teams - MSU in sixth place with nine points and Minnesota in eighth with seven. Jerad Stewart (6-6-12) and Zach Harrison (4-8-12) lead the Mavericks scoring. Stewart has scored all six of his goals in the last four games and Zach Harrison grabbed WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors after posting five points against Tech. Geoff Irwin has provided a spark to the offense with two points and three assists since returning from injury. Austin Lee should have the battle for the starting goalie spot locked up. He started all three of MSU's recent wins and Kevin Murdock took the loss in the second Anchorage game. Lee owns a 2.54 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. Tyler Pitlick will not leave Mankato to play for the Team USA U20 in the World Junior Championships later this month. He was a finalist to make the tryout team, but was not selected when the team was announced, Wednesday. MSU has never had a player play on USA's WJC team.
MINNESOTA NOTES: Minnesota is in an unfamiliar spot right now - ninth place and the Gophers would like nothing more to get out of the WCHA's cellar. To do that, they have to start finding the net. The Gophers average just 2.29 goals per game. Tony Lucia leads the Gophers in scoring (4-7-11), Mike Hoeffel leads the team in goals with six and WCHA Preseason Player of Year Jordan Schroeder is off to a slow start with just three goals. Alex Kangas has 2.82 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.
KEY: With the exception of a win against Bemidji State, Minnesota has lost every game in which it didn't score the first goal. Get an early goal on Kangas and he along with his defense crumbles. MSU has more first period goals than anyone in the WCHA. The first 20 minutes of each game could tell a lot about the outcome.
PREDICTION: Both teams are hard to read and makes a prediction a tall task. The U has its worst loss in history and beats the No. 7 team in the country. MSU is rolling, but hasn't faced a .500 team since Colorado College three weeks ago. Lets just say both teams win their home game and we'll see what happens. After MSU ties Minnesota in a low-scoring game Friday in the Cities, the Mavericks win 3-1 Saturday in Mankato.
LITTLE TIDBIT: Brian Schaack has only played in five games this season (he played against Michigan) but if Don Lucia puts him in the lineup this weekend it could get interesting. MSU defenseman Channing Boe hasn't forgotten what happened in January. Schaack jumped on a defenseless Boe and buried his face in the ice. Boe broke his leg in the process, ending his season.
Tyler Buckentine is a Reporter staff writer
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