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AA Quarterfinal: Centennial vs. #3 Eden Prairie

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:58 pm
by karl(east)
CENTENNIAL VS. #3 EDEN PRAIRIE
-Two large suburban schools meet in the second quarterfinal. Their only recent meeting was in 2012, a 4-3 Eden Prairie win.

Centennial (16-10-2, #23, 3-seed in 5AA)
State appearances: 3 (2 in a row)
State championships: 1 (2004)
Key section wins: 4-0 over #14 Maple Grove, 2-1 over #5 Blaine
-For a second straight year, the Cougars have found their way to St. Paul, and this year’s run was even more impressive, as a team with a mediocre record dispatched of two higher-seeded teams, including vaunted Blaine. Ryner Gorowsky (20) and Connor Lovick (17) lead the attack, and Adam Anderson (27) rounds out the top line. They aren’t going to overwhelm anyone, but they have good depth and balance, and defensively, they’ve bought into coach Ritch Menne’s scheme. Goaltender Blake Miller (1) came up big in the Blaine upset, and will have to do so again to beat Eden Prairie. 5AA is trying to break a four-year winless streak at the Tournament.

Eden Prairie (17-8-3, #10, 2-seed in 6AA)
State appearances: 7 (first since 2011)
State championships: 2 (2009, 2011)
Key section wins: 6-2 over #15 Holy Family, 3-2 (2 OT) over #17 Benilde-St. Margaret’s
-The Eagles have won the past two Tournaments they appeared in, and bring back plenty of talent this time around, including Mr. Hockey finalists Steven Spinner (25) and Luc Snuggerud (4). Sophomore Michael Graham (16) pairs with Spinner to lead the attack up front, while the versatile Snuggerud often moves up from defense to aid in the rush. The Eagles’ challenge this season has been in playing a complete team game—as they do have reasonably good depth—and not relying just on their stars. Veteran Jake Gerdes (31) gets the nod in goal.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:11 pm
by Sats81
Centennial 4-3

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:01 pm
by Nuts&Bolts
Toughest pick of the day IMO. Depends on what shows up from EP - a team playing together on both ends or the Mr. Hockey show. I'm going with the small upset with Centennial winning 3-2.

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:02 pm
by cigar
anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:10 pm
by Vapor
Will be a close game, but EP will be ready.

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:39 pm
by hshockeyfan8
If EP's ready to go, don't think it will be too close, 4-1. If not, could be looking at a few OT's.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 10:59 am
by Doc Holliday
cigar wrote:anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?
Any update?

Just thinking from past players that have had a similar injury, I'm guessing he'll probably be able to go and give some good defensive responsibilities....but offensively may be limited, which is one of his strengths. I think that may be good enough for the quarters, but anything after may be too much.....

Still think EP wins, 4-1, with an empty netter.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:01 pm
by northwoods oldtimer
Doc Holliday wrote:
cigar wrote:anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?
Any update?

Just thinking from past players that have had a similar injury, I'm guessing he'll probably be able to go and give some good defensive responsibilities....but offensively may be limited, which is one of his strengths. I think that may be good enough for the quarters, but anything after may be too much.....

Still think EP wins, 4-1, with an empty netter.
According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams. Go Centennial

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:14 pm
by gitter
northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:19 pm
by WestMetro
Centennial looked hungry and could make this a battle.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:00 pm
by Duluth 4
gitter wrote:
northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.
Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:19 pm
by Sats81
northwoods oldtimer wrote:
Doc Holliday wrote:
cigar wrote:anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?
Any update?

Just thinking from past players that have had a similar injury, I'm guessing he'll probably be able to go and give some good defensive responsibilities....but offensively may be limited, which is one of his strengths. I think that may be good enough for the quarters, but anything after may be too much.....

Still think EP wins, 4-1, with an empty netter.
According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams. Go Centennial
Wouldn't be surprised one bit to see centennial win this game.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:59 pm
by hshockeyfan8
Don't the coaches vote for seedings? Therefor, wouldn't it be tough to argue with them as I'm sure most would rather see East succeed then EP?

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 6:26 pm
by sanryam
Duluth 4 wrote:
gitter wrote:
northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.
Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.
In that case, Centennial beat East, so why aren't the cougars seeded ahead of the Hounds?? Why not think of it as a East-Eden Prairie final? Are East fans already trying to find an excuse for losing?

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 6:28 pm
by shakey
Duluth 4 wrote:
gitter wrote:
northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.
Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.
I'd say you could make an argument on the seeding (always debatable) but a conspiracy to get an EP-Edina final. Really? Really????

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 6:42 pm
by shakey
sanryam wrote:
Duluth 4 wrote:
gitter wrote:
northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.
Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.
In that case, Centennial beat East, so why aren't the cougars seeded ahead of the Hounds?? Why not think of it as a East-Eden Prairie final? Are East fans already trying to find an excuse for losing?
S.O.P.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:04 pm
by cigar
i think EP gets by centennial. but its next game against LN is a big loss….

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:27 pm
by shakey
cigar wrote:i think EP gets by centennial. but its next game against LN is a big loss….
Will that be with both hands tied behind their back or just blindfolded?

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 10:28 pm
by twolinepass
Duluth 4 wrote:
gitter wrote:
northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.
Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.
Wow! Didn't know losing by 2 with an empty net and your backup tendy in between the pipes was a "spanking" now a days! The times really are changing!

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:16 am
by Bleed Maroon and Gold
I would say after watching Centennial in the section play offs they are hungry and they came ready to play both of those games. If Miller is as hot as he was against Blaine I can see Centennial winning this one. Centennial beat both the #2 and #1 seed to get to this point. If you look at the last two games Centennial has had the bigger challenge beating higher ranked teams than EP has. I think Centennial is playing their best hockey at the right time. I am going to say this is going to be a very close game with Centennial winning 4-2 with an empty netter.

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:07 am
by Doc Holliday
shakey wrote:
cigar wrote:i think EP gets by centennial. but its next game against LN is a big loss….
Will that be with both hands tied behind their back or just blindfolded?
Nice! :lol:

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:24 am
by FullPlate0Joe
EP crushes the cougars here. no doubt about it. I would bet my first born on this one.

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:36 am
by Hscout000
If EP scores first this game turns into a blowout. If Centennial scores first will be a tight game and Centennial will set record for number of icings in a game. They are the ultimate one line team that gets up and just goes into ultra prevent mode, very effective for the players they have.

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:07 pm
by FREDFLINTSTONE
FullPlate0Joe wrote:EP crushes the cougars here. no doubt about it. I would bet my first born on this one.
What number is he?

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:08 pm
by Sats81
FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:
FullPlate0Joe wrote:EP crushes the cougars here. no doubt about it. I would bet my first born on this one.
What number is he?
Hilarious!