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Mayo/Century.....round 3.......Feb 14th 7:30 at the Rec....

Mayo has two eye-popping wins in the last two weeks with Owatonna (7-3) and Albert Lea (4-1). They seem to have overcome their mid-season slump and they can play sharp.

Century can't make it over the hump lately, losing back to back with Owatonna and Mankato West. They have some talent that can win this section (not saying much, with all we know Farmington could end up at the X). However, with the exception of Apple Valley and Mayo in Jan, this team does not have a victory against a quality opponent.

Either team can realistically win this game, and either team can make some real noise with this win, with the winner maybe getting the 3rd or 4th seed (actually, Mayo could even take 2nd at this point). I think this might be one of the biggest games of this rivalry; if it starts getting ugly, it'll get UGLY. I can't even decide yet, neither game played so far gives one side an advantage.

I worry a bit about this game, Century has nothing to lose, they play again Saturday. Mayo has some hotheads and won't play again until sections, likely in a tough game. Century has no real dirty players like the Wilcox's of years past but that doesn't mean they're all church boys either.

I hope the game stays within 2 goals either way which will keep both teams clean and playing hard. If it gets to a 3 or 4 goal margin and gets chippy I hope the refs start handing out 10 minute misconducts like candy so no one ends up sitting the next game. Century gooned it up a bit in their game with Duluth Marshall last year and it cost Marshall a player for their first playoff game.

Mayo is playing well and Century probably played and skated their best game of the year last night so I hope it's a good, clean, hard fought game.