The weekend before Thanksgiving will be highlighted with several playoff-like matchups, with St. Norbert facing off against Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Meanwhile, in the MIAC Augsburg will look to stay unbeaten.
Check out the latest weekend picks below.
Friday, Nov. 17
Lawrence at Wisconsin-Stout
The Vikings have won two of their first four games, and Nick Felan is the team’s best offensive threat, racking up four points, including two off goals. Lawrence has scored 11 goals as a team. The Blue Devils have lost three of four. Mathias Ahman is the leading scorer with two goals and five assists. Lawrence 5-3
Marian at No. 5 Wis.-Stevens Point
The Sabres face one of their biggest challenges of the season and need to be on top of their game on both ends of the ice. Derek Thorogood and Brade Crone have scored three goals apiece. The Pointers are on a roll, winning three in a row, and they have cranked out 25 goals, including six from Tanner Karty. Wis.-Stevens Point 5-2
No. 1 St. Norbert at No. 14 Wis.-Eau Claire
It’s a playoff game in November. Perfect through four games and ranked No. 1, the Green Knights have been fueled by the play of Tanner Froese and T. J. Black, who has 83 saves and a 1.48 goals-against average. The Blugolds are 2-0 at home and have outscored the opposition 24-15, with four players scoring four or more goals. St. Norbert 4-3
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18
No. 3 Augsburg vs. Saint Mary’s
The Auggies are still perfect and look to keep it that way in a home-and-home series with the Cardinals tonight and Saturday. Three of the top five scorers in the league are from Augsburg in Drew Anderson, Nate Flynn, and Luke Dietsch. Anderson leads the way with nine points. The Cardinals have lost their last two and are eager to get back on track. Goalie Aaron Davis will be tested, but appears up to the challenge, having tallied 178 saves. Saint Mary’s 3-2, Augsburg 5-2
Gustavus Adolphus vs. Hamline (home-and-home)
This is a matchup of two teams with a lot of potential, and the they will battle tonight and Saturday. Gustavus is a game under .500, and Hamline is a game over the mark. Both teams are fairly even offensively, scoring 14 and 13 goals, respectively. Caleb Anderson has paced the Gusties this season, punching in two goals to go along with three assists. Tied for the league-lead in goals, Mitch McPherson gives the Pipers a chance to win every time they play. Hamline 4-3, Gustavus 2-1
Saint John’s vs. St. Olaf (home-and-home)
After five consecutive wins, the Johnnies lost their first game last weekend, but have a chance to get a new win streak going when this two-game series begins tonight. Brady Heppner is having quite a year, striking for three goals and dishing out six assists to fuel an offense that isn’t easy to slow down. The Oles haven’t been bad offensively either, scoring 20 goals, only two fewer than the Johnnies have scored, and Drew Otto is tough to contain, having scored four goals already. Saint John’s 4-3, 5-2
Saturday, Nov. 18
No. 1 St. Norbert at No. 5 Wis.-Stevens Point
The Green Knights face a second straight test on the road and hope to have their offense clicking on all cylinders. St. Norbert has scored 17 goals as a team. The Pointers are a high-scoring team as well. This game could go either way, turning into a shootout or a defensive struggle. Wis.-Stevens Point 5-4
Northland at Wisconsin-River Falls
The Lumberjacks are looking to snap a two-game losing streak and have yet to win a road game in three tries. Lucas DeBenedet is one of the top scorers in the NCHA (seven points) and A.J. Smith has started every game in goal, saving 91 percent of the shots he has faced. The Falcons are still looking for their first win. Getting the offense going is key for Wis.-River Falls, which has managed only 13 goals. It has given up 22. Northland 3-2
