Friday morning skate (updated)

The Mavericks are back at home for a week and will face the surging Michigan Tech Huskies, who only took three of four points and scored nine unanswered goals a week ago at No. 1 Minnesota Duluth. The two teams split in an early November series in Houghton, Mich. This is the first team MSU is facing for a second time.

Minnesota State is in the midst of a three-week stretch against teams that will remain in the WCHA in two years (Bemidji State, Tech and Alaska Anchorage). That got me thinking about how all of those teams currently rate. Here's a look at what the mythical '13-14 WCHA standings look like, based on current record against those teams. Games in hand is based off Alaska, Tech and Bowling Green each playing 10 "league" games this season.

Very unscientific, I know, and probably something I should have avoided since I criticized the NCHC for pumping up its teams in a press release earlier this season. Perhaps the difference here is that many fans (in Mankato, anyway) admittedly know little about the programs that will be in the WCHA in a little over a year.

Anyway, on to this weekend's series: The Mavericks will try for that elusive Friday night victory with the same lineup that won Saturday at Bemidji State. Senior defenseman Cameron Cooper remains out with an injury suffered on that check from behind last Friday. The only difference in the lineup is that goalie Austin Lee will dress and be available after being cleared to come back from his injury, but Phil Cook is the likely starter. Read more about the series here.

Speaking of defense, MSU will have three freshman D in the lineup tonight, and that group includes Zach Palmquist, who is quietly having a very nice year. He came into the season told he'd be playing the Kurt Davis role, and, well, so far so good. I say Palmquist is quietly having a nice year because the Mavericks actually have several forwards among the team point leaders, unlike the last few when Davis and Ben Youds were leading the way from the blue line.

As for Michigan Tech, look for more on the Daily Mining Gazette's site later today. For now, though, the Huskies are still basking in the afterglow of their stunning weekend in Duluth.

UPDATE: Here is Stephen Anderson's latest piece from the DMG, on Tech's need to take care of business against the Mavs if wants to climb into the upper half of the standings.

Going around the rest of the (current) WCHA ...

Bemidji State at Nebraska Omaha: In a matchup of two teams who last played against MSU, the Beavers are feeling nervous about not scoring goals — especially on the power play — after scoring four goals last weekend. As for the red Mavericks, they're trying to cling to a spot in the upper half of the league (they're in sixth, one point ahead of seventh-place Tech). There is some good news for Omaha, though, as goalie Ryan Massa could play this weekend, two weeks after leaving the Mankato rink on a stretcher.

Denver vs./at Colorado College: The Gold Pan series continues with this home-and-home series, and there's "a lot of hatred," according to CC's Nick Dineen. But there's much more than a traveling trophy at stake, as the two rivals sit just a point apart in the WCHA standings.

St. Cloud State at Wisconsin: This is a matchup of two lower-division teams, neither of which is marching forward right now. With St. Cloud players dropping like flies, the Huskies have to be happy, at least, about the return of goalie Mike Lee, who allowed two goals a week ago against Minnesota. However, now coach Bob Motzko has some decisions to make in goal. The Badgers, meanwhile, are starting to realize that chances for home ice are fading away.

Minnesota Duluth at Alaska Anchorage: The No. 1 Bulldogs head north hoping to regain the form they had before their miserable home weekend against Michigan Tech a week ago. Perhaps the Seawolves will be the cure for what ails them. Anchorage is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, its longest since 2006.

Minnesota is idle this weekend, but there are big happenings over at the U, where athletic director Joel Maturi is out.

Read more WCHA coverage at USCHO, INCH and College Hockey News.