For the second year in a row, Minnesota State is hosting a WCHA first-round playoff series, this time as the second seed hosting seventh-place Northern Michigan. The starts at 7:07 p.m. tonight.
If last week was any indication of how the playoffs will go, expect a close, tight-checking affair between a pair of teams a lot closer than the difference in their spot in the final standings might show.
If that's the case, the Mavericks will need contributions all throughout their lineup, just as they have over the course of their nine-game unbeaten streak. That includes the fourth line where junior forward Max Gaede has accepted and owned an important role. Gaede may not be the goal scorer he thought he might be (although the biggest of his six career goals came in last season's playoffs), but scoring doesn't have to define his game.
"You won't see me stickhandling over the blue line," he said in a quote not used in the story. "I'm just going t throw it behind the D and make them sweat when I come in on them. I just gotta be the best at that, and that' pretty much what (coach Mike Hastings) wants from me. It's not too bad. I don't mind it anymore. I used to."
As for the series itself, MSU went 3-1 against Northern Michigan this season in their first-ever meetings with each other. Read more about the matchup in today's gameday preview.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, have a group of seniors that has not yet won a playoff series and hopes to check that off its list before graduation.
In the other first-round matchups ...
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska: The series got underway Thursday night in Fairbanks with the host Nanooks winning 3-2 in overtime. Colton Beck scored the game-winner 3:40 into OT. Alaska, which boasts WCHA player of the year Cody Kunyk (good choice) trailed twice in the game, including a 2-1 deficit in the third period, but now has the edge in the series.
Michigan Tech at Bowling Green: This could be a good one in Ohio. Tech went 2-1-1 against the Falcons this season, including a road sweep. Bowling Green hasn't hosted a playoff series since 2008 and hope to capitalize on the comforts of home as the Huskies go on the road for the 21st time in a row.
Bemidji State State at Ferris State: The champions and WCHA coach of the year Bob Daniels host the Beavers in what could also be a better series than a 1-8 matchup should be (the Bulldogs aren't playing Alabama Huntsville, after all). Still, Ferris' players aren't feeling too much pressure. As for Bemidji, it may have squeaked into the playoffs but there's an upset win over the Bulldogs from Feb. 15 that's pretty fresh in the Beavers' minds.
My and Matt Wellens' WCHA playoff preview can be found here, and our playoff picks can be found here. More from College Hockey News here.
Also from College Hockey News, Adam Wodon takes a closer look at the Lake Superior State situation following the ouster of coach Jim Roque.
One of the complaints I've heard about college hockey's realignment this year has been how little each conference pays attention to the others. So, in case you missed it, here's what else is happening in college hockey land ...
The Big Ten is in its final weekend of regular season play.
The NCHC is in first-round action. Nebraska Omaha beat Denver in the first of their three-game series last night, while the other matchups are Miami at St. Cloud State, Colorado College at North Dakota and Western Michigan at Minnesota Duluth.
In the Hockey East quarterfinals, Northeastern is at New Hampshire, Maine plays at Providence, Vermont goes to UMass-Lowell and Notre Dame plays at Boston College.
In the ECAC, Clarkson goes to Cornell, Yale plays at Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence is at Colgate and Dartmouth is at Union.
In Atlantic Hockey, Robert Morris plays at UConn, Canisius goes to Bentley, Holy Cross is at Mercyhurst and Niagara is at Air Force.
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