With the light schedule due to Thanksgiving, the Irish Seer took last week off, saving his best picks for the leftover turkey carcass. Judging by the dreadful 6-11 season prognostication record, though, one might wonder who is the real turkey. Here is a post-gobbler look at the upcoming slate.
Dec. 3-4
Marian vs. Lawrence
This home-and-home Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association match-up features two teams that need to make a statement that they are better than their record or last performance indicates. In Lawrence’s case, it’s the latter, as the Vikings were summarily humbled by No. 2 St. Norbert, 5-0, on Nov. 27. The Vikes (6-2, 4-0) were riding a five-game winning streak before being dismantled by the Green Knights, who unleashed 46 shots on goalie Evan Johnson. After starting out 5-1, which included a victory over nemesis No. 9 Adrian, Marian (5-5. 3-3) has dropped its last four games. The Sabres’ last loss came in a 6-5 OT setback to St. Scholastica on Nov. 27. A split would suit both teams.
Lawrence 4-2, Marian 5-1
Wisconsin-Eau Claire vs. Wisconsin-Stout
This suddenly tantalizing Northern Collegiate Hockey Association home-and-home encounter has No. 13 UW-Stout (7-3, 4-2) facing an upstart UW-Eau Claire squad, which received a major shot of confidence after knocking off No. 9 Adrian and No. 10 SUNY Geneseo in the Adrian College Hackett Builders Showcase last weekend. Sophomore goalie Brandon Stephenson capped off the Blugolds’ sterling performance by shutting out the Knights, 2-0. The Blue Devils are on a six-game winning streak, which included a two-game sweep over Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Nov. 19-20. UW-Stout is also unbeaten at home and, as proven against UW-Stevens Point, is capable of winning on the road. The Blue Devils also have a finely calibrated power play (12 of 51 for 23.5 percent), which should see them complete the sweep.
UW-Stout 5-3, 6-1
Gustavus Adolphus vs. St. Thomas
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s marquee game pits a pair of teams with some recent history. Last season, St. Thomas upset top-seed Gustavus in the MIAC championship game to earn an automatic NCAA tournament bid. Unphased, the Gusties got an at-large invite and then paid back the Tommies by knocking them out in the NCAA’s first round. Since then, No. 6 Gustavus (6-2-1, 2-1-1) has retooled with 11 freshmen and is vying with St. Thomas (6-3, 3-1) for the MIAC’s top spot. This should be a defensive battle as both teams feature solid goaltenders in the Gusties’ Josh Swartout (2-1-1, 2.81 goals-against average, .900 save-percentage) and Tyler Venne (3-0, 1.00 GAA, .958 save pct.) as well as the Tommies’ Geoff Sadjadi (5-3, 2.39 GAA, .903 save pct.). The edge goes to the host team in this home-and-home series.
Gustavus 3-1, St. Thomas 4-2
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