Pickin’ the Big Ten: March 6-7

It’s the penultimate week of the regular season. Yes, I wait all year to be able to use that word. Last week Drew Claussen: 2-4-0 (.333) Paula Weston: 4-2-0 (.666) Season Drew: 71-61-10 (.535) Paula: 63-66-11 (.496) I can still hold out some hope for hitting .500 before the regular season ends. And poor Drew … Read more

Three things as the regular season wanes

Two of my observations this week come from a single post-game press conference. 1. Red Berenson thinks that this Michigan team has potential — as in postseason potential. The Michigan coach never said as much outright, but the way he talked about his squad after the Wolverines completed their sweep of the Badgers Saturday evening … Read more

Three things as the regular season wanes

Two of my observations this week come from a single post-game press conference. 1. Red Berenson thinks that this Michigan team has potential — as in postseason potential. The Michigan coach never said as much outright, but the way he talked about his squad after the Wolverines completed their sweep of the Badgers Saturday evening … Read more

Compher’s hat trick leads Michigan to sweep of Wisconsin

With JT Compher’s hat trick, two goals from Justin Selman, and 26 saves from Steve Racine, Michigan beat Wisconsin, 5-2, to sweep the Badgers and gain sole possession of the first place in the Big Ten standings with just two weeks of regular-season play to go. “It’s been a work in progress,” said Michigan coach … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 26-28

Big Ten play begins tonight, but first a look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing with the picks. Last week Drew: 2-4-0 (.333) Paula: 4-2-0 (.666) Season Drew: 69-57-10 (.544) Paula: 61-64-11 (.489) This week There are three weekends left in regular-season Big Ten play, and there are three conference series each weekend. … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 26-28

Big Ten play begins tonight, but first a look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing with the picks. Last week Drew: 2-4-0 (.333) Paula: 4-2-0 (.666) Season Drew: 69-57-10 (.544) Paula: 61-64-11 (.489) This week There are three weekends left in regular-season Big Ten play, and there are three conference series each weekend. … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 20-22

As the regular season winds down, we have a full weekend of Big Ten conference play. First, a look at how Drew Claussen and I are doing with the picks. Last week Drew: 5-1-0 (.833) Paula: 4-2-0 (.666) Season Drew: 67-53-10 (.554) Paula: 57-62-11 (.481) I am grateful for any week in which I am … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 13-14

Happy Valentine’s Day! Last week Drew Claussen: 5-0-0 (1.000) Paula Weston: 5-0-0 (1.000) Season Drew: 62-52-10 (.540) Paula: 53-60-11 (.472) That’s what I call love. This week Everyone plays. Every series is two games, Friday-Saturday, and it’s all conference action. Michigan at Minnesota Drew: I stated that the “Gophers looked like the Gophers again” in … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 13-14

Happy Valentine’s Day! Last week Drew Claussen: 5-0-0 (1.000) Paula Weston: 5-0-0 (1.000) Season Drew: 62-52-10 (.540) Paula: 53-60-11 (.472) That’s what I call love. This week Everyone plays. Every series is two games, Friday-Saturday, and it’s all conference action. Michigan at Minnesota Drew: I stated that the “Gophers looked like the Gophers again” in … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 6-7

Everyone plays this week and it’s all conference play. First, our picks record. Last week Drew Claussen: 2-1-1 (.625) Paula Weston: 1-2-1 (.375) Season Drew: 57-52-10 (.521) Paula: 48-60-11 (.450) This week There are two Friday-Saturday series this week plus a single game between Michigan and Michigan State Saturday night at Chicago’s Soldier Field for … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Feb. 6-7

Everyone plays this week and it’s all conference play. First, our picks record. Last week Drew Claussen: 2-1-1 (.625) Paula Weston: 1-2-1 (.375) Season Drew: 57-52-10 (.521) Paula: 48-60-11 (.450) This week There are two Friday-Saturday series this week plus a single game between Michigan and Michigan State Saturday night at Chicago’s Soldier Field for … Read more

Goaltending, goal scoring and finishing strong

It seems that every weekend of Big Ten play is interesting. Honestly, who would have predicted that Michigan State and Penn State would be tied for second place — behind the Wolverines — at the beginning of February? Here are three things from this past weekend that stand out to me. 1. Goaltending isn’t the … Read more

Hildebrand stops 29 as Michigan State upsets Michigan

With goals from Villiam Haag and Matt DeBlouw, Michigan State upset No. 13 Michigan, 2-1, in front of a sold out crowd in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena. “I thought we played real hard,” said Michigan State coach Tom Anastos. “I thought we played from the start of the game until the end of the game. … Read more

Pickin’ the Big Ten: Jan. 30-31

It’s a light schedule this weekend, with two games being played in NHL arenas. First, our picks records. Last week Drew Claussen: 4-5-1 (.450) Paula Weston: 5-4-1 (.550) Season Drew: 55-51-9 (.517) Paula: 47-58-10 (.452) I would’ve been fine … had I had any sense regarding the North Star College Cup. This week The three … Read more