We have Thursday night hockey again, another CCHA-esque match-up as Ferris State travels to Michigan for two. As always, though, we start with how Drew Claussen and I are doing with the picks so far.<\/p>\n
Last week<\/strong><\/p>\n Drew: 5-7-0 (.417) This season<\/strong><\/p>\n Drew: 23-20-3 (.533) Drew has a knack for knowing which series will split; this week, however, he was bitten once again by the wrong-way splits. My turn is coming soon, I’m sure.<\/p>\n This week, we have two B1G series and a primo nonconference series between two top-10 teams. Everyone plays. All times are local.<\/p>\n Ferris State at Michigan<\/b><\/p>\n Drew:<\/strong> Michigan played well against Penn State on the road last weekend and maybe the Wolverines can carry some momentum into this home series against an in-state rival. Mel Pearson should have a good scouting report on the Bulldogs from his time at Michigan Tech. I want to pick the Wolverines to sweep, but I have a feeling that Ferris State will sneak out a win in Thursday’s game.<\/p>\n Paula:<\/strong> There’s a lot of history between these two teams, with Michigan leading this all-time series 70-30-4. The Wolverines and Bulldogs last met Oct. 15, 2016, a 2-1 win for Michigan in Big Rapids. Michigan’s 11-0-2 versus Ferris State in their last 13 meetings in Ann Arbor. Ferris State is struggling this season, with a record of 2-5-1, having tied and lost to Bemidji State last weekend. Everyone who knows me knows that I have a soft spot for the Bulldogs, but I’m not calling them to win this weekend. The games begin at 7:35 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Thursday’s game is carried by the Big Ten Network! Hooray!<\/p>\n Drew’s picks:<\/strong> Ferris State 4-3, Michigan 4-1. Michigan State at No. 5 Minnesota<\/strong><\/p>\n Drew:<\/strong> The Gophers showed flashes of the team I thought they were last weekend during the sweep of Clarkson. The next step would be to sweep a lower-tier conference side like the Spartans. Minnesota should sweep at home.<\/p>\n Paula:<\/strong> Both the Gophers and the Spartans swept last weekend, so both should be primed for a good series in Mariucci. Minnesota is 139-124-14 all-time against Michigan State, and starting goaltender Eric Schierhorn is 6-1-1 versus the Spartans. Last season, the Gophers were 3-0-1 against Michigan State. I think Michigan State will give Minnesota all the Gophers can handle and the Spartans will still come out on the losing side of things. Friday’s game begins at 7:07 p.m. and is carried by both Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Detroit Plus; Saturday’s game is a 4:07 p.m. matinee and is also televised by Fox Sports North.<\/p>\n Drew’s picks:<\/strong> Minnesota 4-2, 4-1. No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 16 Ohio State<\/b><\/p>\n Drew<\/strong>: Ohio State is looking good, coming off of back-to-back sweeps. That’s a tough thing to do these days, regardless of who the opponents are. Notre Dame has gotten into a habit of splitting weekends lately, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens again. A sweep by either side would give them a leg up in establishing themselves as a top-tier team in the conference, however.<\/p>\n Paula:<\/strong> I am so excited to see this rivalry renewed, as I’m sure many Ohio State fans are as well. Those who have been among the Buckeye faithful for a long time remember the last-ever men’s regular-season hockey played in the old OSU Ice Rink, a two-game series against the Irish that Ohio State handled, as they didn’t lose a game that calendar year in the old barn. I distinctly remember Aniket Dhadphale — one of my all-time favorite Notre Dame players — tossing his stick down the ice in frustration and earning a penalty and Chris Richards — one of my all-time favorite Ohio State players — waving to Dhadphale as he headed to the penalty box. The 1,200 or so fans in attendance went wild. But I digress.<\/p>\n The Buckeyes have a slight edge in this all-time series, 35-32-10, leading Notre Dame 18-15-6 in Columbus. The last time these two teams met was in the 2014 Shillelagh Tournament when OSU won 5-1. I see a split here, too. I’ll probably call it wrong. Games begin at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and the Big Ten Network is carrying Friday’s contest.<\/p>\n Drew’s picks<\/strong>: Ohio State 4-3, Notre Dame 3-1. Mercyhurst at No. 17 Penn State<\/b><\/p>\n Drew:<\/strong> After surrendering its home-ice advantage during Saturday’s game against Michigan, the Nittany Lions get another shot at home this weekend. I see this as another instance where Penn State will try and outgun its opponent. Mercyhurst could get a great goaltending performance and steal a game, but I’m picking a sweep.<\/p>\n Paula:<\/b> The Nittany Lions and Lakers met early last season in Erie, a 7-0 win for Penn State. Mercyhurst is 2-2-2 on the season so far, having split a pair of road games with Bentley last weekend. Games begin at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday and neither is televised.<\/p>\n Drew’s picks:<\/strong> Penn State 5-2, 4-1 No. 4 North Dakota at No. 7 Wisconsin<\/b><\/p>\n Drew:<\/strong> Wisconsin’s win at Boston College earlier this season was the Badgers telling everyone that the past couple seasons, excluding last season, were defiantly in the past. A couple good results against North Dakota this weekend would let all of college hockey know that the Badgers will be a team that is going to be in the mix this season. I’m going to play it safe and predict a split.<\/p>\n Paula:<\/b> Each of these teams split a pair of games last weekend, both in series that each team probably should have swept. The Fighting Hawks come into Madison with a win, while the Badgers will want to recover from that 6-3 loss to St. Lawrence. The Badgers lead this all-time series 87-69-12, but North Dakota is 3-1-0 in the the last four meetings from the last two seasons, and the Fighting Hawks are 7-1-1 versus Wisconsin in their last nine games. I’m going way out on a limb with this one and calling a Wisconsin sweep, just because. Friday’s game is carried by Fox Sports West Plus, Saturday’s game is televised by Fox Sports West, and both games begin at 7:07 p.m.<\/p>\n Drew’s picks:<\/strong> Wisconsin 4-3, North Dakota 4-2. I’ll be at Yost Ice Arena Friday night covering Ferris State and Michigan — and I can’t wait! Find me on Twitter (paulacweston) and I’ll shout back at you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We have Thursday night hockey again, another CCHA-esque match-up as Ferris State travels to Michigan for two. As always, though, we start with how Drew Claussen and I are doing with the picks so far. Last week Drew: 5-7-0 (.417) Paula: 8-4-0 (.667) This season Drew: 23-20-3 (.533) Paula: 30-13-3 (.685) Drew has a knack […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1425,934],"tags":[1391,1509,1192,1510,1193,1511],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nPaula: 8-4-0 (.667)<\/p>\n
\nPaula: 30-13-3 (.685)<\/p>\nThis week<\/h4>\n
\nPaula’s picks:<\/strong> Michigan 3-2, 3-2.<\/p>\n
\nPaula’s picks:<\/strong> Minnesota 3-2, 3-1.<\/p>\n
\nPaula’s picks:<\/strong> Ohio State 3-2, Notre Dame 3-2.<\/p>\n
\nPaula’s picks:<\/strong> Penn State 4-2, 3-1.<\/p>\n
\nPaula’s picks:<\/strong> Wisconsin 4-3, 4-3.<\/p>\nTwitter time!<\/h4>\n