With the Michigan teams sitting idle this weekend, four teams in the Big Ten each played two games. Here’s how things played out. Minnesota beat Minnesota Duluth 4-3 and defeated RPI 3-0 Wisconsin lost to Alaska 1-0 and was dropped by Alaska Anchorage 4-2. Ohio State took Providence to overtime twice, winning 5-4 on Friday … Read more
Both Drew Claussen and I began the season on a high note, each choosing Ferris State for the win over Michigan last week, so we’re each 1-0-0. This week There are two nonconference series and two tournaments. Four Big Ten teams are playing this weekend. IceBreaker Tournament Notre Dame hosts the 18th annual IceBreaker Tournament … Read more
Hey! There’s hockey this weekend! Once again, Drew Claussen and I will be covering the Big Ten for USCHO.com. Once again, I’m sure that my partner-in-writing will shame me in the picks category. As a reminder, here’s how each of us did during the 2013-14 regular season: Drew: 85-43-14 (.679) Paula: 86-41-16 (.657) This week … Read more
And we do come down to it. Drew Claussen, that upstart, edged ahead of me admirably in the final weekend of regular-season play. Last week Drew: 4-2-0 (.667) Paula: 2-4-0 (.333) That wrong-way split in East Lansing hurts my heart. Season Drew: 85-43-14 (.679) Paula: 86-41-16 (.657) This week This inaugural Big Ten Tournament will … Read more
The regular season is over, and before we all move on to predicting conference tournaments and at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament, let’s take a look back at the last regular season weekend in the Big Ten. 1. Gophers clinch at Yost Junior Kyle Rau netted a goal at the 2:44 mark of overtime in … Read more
It’s the final weekend of regular-season play. Here’s how Drew Claussen and I have done with our picks so far. Last week Drew: 3-2-1 (.583) Paula: 4-1-1 (.750) Season Drew: 81-41-14 (.647) Paula: 84-37-16 (.672) This week All series this weekend are Friday-Saturday. Minnesota at Michigan Drew: Minnesota needs two points to put a bow … Read more
Here’s how Drew Claussen and I are doing with two weeks to go. Last week Drew: 2-1-1 (.625) Paula: 2-1-1 (.625) Season Drew: 78-39-13 (.650) Paula: 80-36-15 (.668) This week In the final two weeks of Big Ten conference play, there are three Friday-Saturday series with each team playing. Michigan State vs. Michigan Drew: Like … Read more
As most of North American continues to experience the Big Freeze of 2014, we can at least take comfort that this first season of Big Ten play has been entertaining. This is how my partner-in-writing, Drew Claussen, and I have called it so far. Last week Drew: 3-1-0 (.750) Paula: 3-1-0 (.750) Season Drew: 76-38-12 … Read more
The schedule’s even lighter than usual this week, with two Friday-Saturday series. Minnesota and Ohio State sit this one out. First, let’s see how Drew Claussen and I are doing. Last week Drew: 3-2-1 (.583) Paula: 4-1-1 (.750) Season Drew: 73-37-12 (.648) Paula: 75-34-14 (.667) This week All four games are televised this week. All … Read more
It was a weekend that produced a sweep for Minnesota, a sort of sweep for Michigan State and a split for the Badgers and Buckeyes. Here are three things that I saw from this weekend’s action in the Big Ten. 1. The Gophers I was really intrigued to see how Minnesota would respond after getting … Read more
The schedule for this season has allowed for few conference-only weekends, all on a Friday-Saturday schedule, but that’s what we have this week in the Big Ten. First, let’s see how Drew Claussen and I are doing with picks this season. Last week Drew: 1-3-2 (.333) Paula: 2-2-2 (.500) Season Drew: 70-35-11 (.651) Paula: 71-33-13 … Read more
What a weekend in the Big Ten. We learned just how evenly matched this league can be — or at least microcosms within this league can be — and we learned that no one is safe. Frankly, it’s the kind of weekend that makes me giddy about the potential for the Big Ten championship tournament. … Read more
Drew Claussen and I are already each 0-1 for this week, each of us having picked last night’s Minnesota-Wisconsin game incorrectly. We posted those picks yesterday and we’ll include our record from that series in next week’s running total. Last week Drew: 4-1-1 (.750) Paula: 4-0-2 (.833) Season Drew: 69-32-9 (.668) Paula: 69-31-11 (.672) This … Read more
Paula: Minnesota and Wisconsin face off tonight for the 267th time, with the Golden Gophers holding a 159-87-21 all-time edge over the Badgers, and Minnesota is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games between the two rivals. Drew: The Badgers are coming off of a weekend where I thought they looked pretty strong. Problem is that … Read more
Hope everyone had a great weekend. Hey, at least the six Big Ten games provided more entertainment value than the Super Bowl. Here are three things I saw. 1. Penn State is still searching for it first conference win I said in my picks on Friday that I wasn’t going to pick Penn State to … Read more
It’s all conference action this weekend. First, let’s see how Drew and I are doing. Last week Drew: 5-4 (.750) Paula: 5-4 (.750) Season Drew: 65-31-8 (.674) Paula: 65-31-9 (.672) Remember that Drew and I both picked the whole field for the North Star College Cup. The picks also include the Michigan-Michigan State series. It’s … Read more
We have the second game of the Michigan-Michigan State series, the new North Star College Cup, Ohio State at Wisconsin and Penn State hosting Boston College for a single game. First, let’s see how Drew and I are doing. We’ll include last night’s game between the Spartans and Wolverines in next week’s results. Last week … Read more
In 2004, for its 50th anniversary edition, Sports Illustrated listed the top sports rivalries by state. The ongoing, on-ice duel between the Spartans and the Wolverines topped the list for Michigan, surprising no one familiar with the storied history between the schools. Michigan State’s Munn Ice Arena and Michigan’s Yost are just about 64 miles … Read more
Another light weekend in terms of conference games this weekend in the Big Ten. The two conference series both produced sweeps. Here are three things that I saw this weekend. 1. Gophers beat Buckeyes outside Minnesota’s second time playing in the Hockey City Classic was better than its first. The Gophers defeated Ohio State 1-0 … Read more
On mornings like this when I look back to the CCHA picks blog — and the league’s 11 participants — I am suddenly digging the six-league Big Ten. And my partner-in-writing, Drew Claussen, is a genius. Last week Drew: 3-1-0 (.750) Paula: 1-2-1 (.375) Season Drew: 57-26-8 (.670) Paula: 57-26-9 (.668) This week Once again, … Read more