#15 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (12-12-6) vs #2 North Dakota Hostile and Abusive (21-8-2)

Last Weekend: Colorado College
I don’t have much to say about this series. We got spanked, hard. At home. I hope the result lights a fire under the collective butts of this team. Is CC a good team? Hell yes. I don’t care. Getting blanked at home is not acceptable. I’m not giving up on this team though. They had plenty of opportunities that they just couldn’t capitalize on. Use last weekend as a turning point, Dogs. There is a lot of talent on this team, you just need to capitalize on it.

This Week’s Matchup: North Dakota Fighting Swastikas
The Sue. A team that has taken the word “goon” and made it holy. Despite leading the WCHA in penalty minutes, most of which are for fighting/misconducts, they are on a tear right now going 12-1 in their last 13. Eva Braun’s babies are a highly skilled team, with a terrific goaltender in JPL. (I refuse to spell his entire name) Everyone knows about their past extra curricular activities, from the numerous on ice fights, Oshie marking his territory between floors 4 and 5, Hakstol showing the WCHA refs who’s number 1, and that fine student athlete Joe Finley slashing a mascot. I hear Ogie Olglethorpe is being called up next week. For most teams, these kind of distractions will get a team off their game and spell disaster. Not for Eva Braun’s Babies. They revel in this stuff. And that’s why its important the Bulldogs keep their heads this weekend. Play your game, and when you can, give them a little jab here and there. Not anything flagrant, but enough to get a reaction. Every ref in the league hates these goons by now, and will not hesitate to throw them in the box. But if the Flickertails try anything, skate away. They will get the penalty, and when they do, try to score…please. Against all other predictors in the college hockey world, I don’t think this will be a walk for the Hitler Youth Group. I think last weekend was an off week for the Dogs, and they’ll pick it up and earn some points this week.

Key Players
The Luftwaffe: T.J. Oshie
The Whizzinator is the kind of player every coach wished they could have. He’s tough, fast, and has an amazing skillset to make goalies look drunk. The St. Louis draftpick leads the Bison Bangers with 33 points, and many believe that this season will be his last in the college ranks. The biggest threat that The Tinkler brings is his effort. Every play he moves like a man on a mission, and attempts to stop him are usually not enough. The Bulldogs need to finish their checks on him, especially when the Force of the North are down low in our zone. After delivering the hit, stay on him, hold him on the boards, and keep him out of the play.

University of MN Duluth: Power Play
One Tree Hill gets the most penalties in the NCAA’s, and there’s no doubt in my mind that the refs will be watching them with whistles waiting for when they try to play their game. The Dogs need to take these opportunities and bury them to have any chance of winning this weekend.

Goalie Matchup
North Dakota: Sr. JPL
20-8-2, 1.76 GAA, .931 SV%

University of MN Duluth: So. Alex Stalock
12-12-6, 2.28 GAA, .915 SV%

Prediction:
Last week was a fluke…
Sat: ND wins 4-2
Sun: Dogs win 2-1
These games can go two ways, ND can run wild and go end to end, or the Dogs can slow things down by playing solid D and squeak out wins in low scoring games.

Curling Club Status
I dropped the ball, I forgot to call to see if they’ll be open at TWO IN THE AFTERNOON ON A WEEKEND! THANKS CHANCELLOR MARTIN!

Top Cheers
Some cheers this week were submitted by fellow penalty-boxers, thanks for the help!
1) Hostile and Abusive
2) Oshie’s gotta pee
3) Flick him off (after the Sue get a penalty)
4) It’s still light out (Think Martin will be there to hear it?)
5) We’ve got trees
6) We have pro sports
7) Want some blankets? (Too soon?)
8) Stay classy Hakstol
9) Greg Louganis (After JPL does another dive)
10) Harvard of the Midwest

-Simmerdown