SEC Thursday Night 2/3
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:21 am
The top three teams in the standings are playing the bottom three; will there be an upset in one of the three meetings?
Hastings at Cretin 7:30 PM
The biggest game of the evening with a Section 3AA seeding possibly at stake, a Hastings win could make things interesting for the number three spot. Two very similar teams, both can score and have players littered in the top of the SEC scoring chase. Both teams have a top line that’s as good as any in the league and are dangerous every shift. Both teams also give up a lot of goals, neither team’s starting goalie is in the top 10 in GAA or save %. To no surprise last meeting was an eleven goal affair with Cretin on the winning side. Hastings takes too many penalties and that will hurt them against Cretin’s top guns. Cretin wins on home ice in a high scoring game.
Woodbury at Forest Lake 7:30 PM
After three straight games on the road last week Forest Lake finally gets to stay home and play. The Rangers found enough energy on Saturday to skate to a 3-3 tie with Stillwater. Scoring three goals on the Ponies of late should be considered a successful offensive night. Forest Lake’s top two players are making some noise and racking up some points of late, they will need to keep it up against the improved defense and goaltending that Woodbury has been displaying. The Royals are coming off a nice win against what was a surging team in Cretin last Saturday night. They bring some momentum with them but I like the way Forest Lake’s top players are coming around and see the Rangers winning at home in a close battle.
East Ridge at Roseville 7:30 PM
Roseville is in the midst of a six game stretch with opponents that are below them in the standings, so far they have win over Park and a disappointing tie with Mounds View. The Raiders have an opportunity in these games to put some distance between them and the middle of the pack. The key will be to produce more goals; they must start to muck it up more and capitalize on their scoring chances. East Ridge is on a four game losing streak but they finally found some defense in a physical OT loss to White Bear on Saturday. The Raiders are the better team with three quick lines, solid D and goaltending, however they better come ready to play and not fall into the style East Ridge likes to play or we could see an upset.
Mounds View at White Bear Lake 7:30 PM
I expect the Bears to win this game handily, I also expected them to win a few more games with ease but that hasn’t happened so I don’t know what to expect, other than another Bear victory. Doesn’t matter how you win, just win should be White Bear’s motto his season. Mounds View gave the Bears their only blemish in SEC play earlier with a come from behind late 3-3 tie. The Mustangs continue to play everyone close, this game could be an exception, Bears top line and goaltending will be too much for Mounds View to overcome.
Park at Stillwater 7:30 PM
With a date against White Bear Lake this Saturday the Ponies might be playing the perfect team tonight, Park shouldn’t pose much of threat even if Stillwater lacks a little focus. Still stinging from their tie with Forest Lake that knocked them further back in their race to catch WBL, the Ponies will look to get back on track against the Wolfpack. Park played the Ponies tough their last meeting losing a one goal game but since has lost their leading scorer and are finding it hard to replace his scoring and leadership.
Standings:
White Bear Lake 13-4-1 Overall
Stillwater 11-4-1
Roseville 9-5-5
Hastings 9-9-1
Forest Lake 7-8-4
Woodbury 11-9-0
Cretin 9-8-3
Mounds View 6-9-4
East Ridge 7-12-0
Park 5-12-2
Points Leaders
Nelson (Hastings) 41
Kinne (Cretin) 38
O’Brien (Cretin) 35
Wahlin (WBL) 35
Barbato (Cretin) 33
Save Percentage Leaders (min 5 games played)
Moore (Woodbury) .932
Lehr (Roseville) .931
Comiskey (Roseville) .927
Cates (Stillwater) .918
Erickson (Woodbury) .913
Goals per Game
White Bear Lake 4.06
Goals against
White Bear Lake 2.06
Power Play Leader
Cretin 30.88 %
Penalty Kill Leader
Roseville 86.84 %
Hastings at Cretin 7:30 PM
The biggest game of the evening with a Section 3AA seeding possibly at stake, a Hastings win could make things interesting for the number three spot. Two very similar teams, both can score and have players littered in the top of the SEC scoring chase. Both teams have a top line that’s as good as any in the league and are dangerous every shift. Both teams also give up a lot of goals, neither team’s starting goalie is in the top 10 in GAA or save %. To no surprise last meeting was an eleven goal affair with Cretin on the winning side. Hastings takes too many penalties and that will hurt them against Cretin’s top guns. Cretin wins on home ice in a high scoring game.
Woodbury at Forest Lake 7:30 PM
After three straight games on the road last week Forest Lake finally gets to stay home and play. The Rangers found enough energy on Saturday to skate to a 3-3 tie with Stillwater. Scoring three goals on the Ponies of late should be considered a successful offensive night. Forest Lake’s top two players are making some noise and racking up some points of late, they will need to keep it up against the improved defense and goaltending that Woodbury has been displaying. The Royals are coming off a nice win against what was a surging team in Cretin last Saturday night. They bring some momentum with them but I like the way Forest Lake’s top players are coming around and see the Rangers winning at home in a close battle.
East Ridge at Roseville 7:30 PM
Roseville is in the midst of a six game stretch with opponents that are below them in the standings, so far they have win over Park and a disappointing tie with Mounds View. The Raiders have an opportunity in these games to put some distance between them and the middle of the pack. The key will be to produce more goals; they must start to muck it up more and capitalize on their scoring chances. East Ridge is on a four game losing streak but they finally found some defense in a physical OT loss to White Bear on Saturday. The Raiders are the better team with three quick lines, solid D and goaltending, however they better come ready to play and not fall into the style East Ridge likes to play or we could see an upset.
Mounds View at White Bear Lake 7:30 PM
I expect the Bears to win this game handily, I also expected them to win a few more games with ease but that hasn’t happened so I don’t know what to expect, other than another Bear victory. Doesn’t matter how you win, just win should be White Bear’s motto his season. Mounds View gave the Bears their only blemish in SEC play earlier with a come from behind late 3-3 tie. The Mustangs continue to play everyone close, this game could be an exception, Bears top line and goaltending will be too much for Mounds View to overcome.
Park at Stillwater 7:30 PM
With a date against White Bear Lake this Saturday the Ponies might be playing the perfect team tonight, Park shouldn’t pose much of threat even if Stillwater lacks a little focus. Still stinging from their tie with Forest Lake that knocked them further back in their race to catch WBL, the Ponies will look to get back on track against the Wolfpack. Park played the Ponies tough their last meeting losing a one goal game but since has lost their leading scorer and are finding it hard to replace his scoring and leadership.
Standings:
White Bear Lake 13-4-1 Overall
Stillwater 11-4-1
Roseville 9-5-5
Hastings 9-9-1
Forest Lake 7-8-4
Woodbury 11-9-0
Cretin 9-8-3
Mounds View 6-9-4
East Ridge 7-12-0
Park 5-12-2
Points Leaders
Nelson (Hastings) 41
Kinne (Cretin) 38
O’Brien (Cretin) 35
Wahlin (WBL) 35
Barbato (Cretin) 33
Save Percentage Leaders (min 5 games played)
Moore (Woodbury) .932
Lehr (Roseville) .931
Comiskey (Roseville) .927
Cates (Stillwater) .918
Erickson (Woodbury) .913
Goals per Game
White Bear Lake 4.06
Goals against
White Bear Lake 2.06
Power Play Leader
Cretin 30.88 %
Penalty Kill Leader
Roseville 86.84 %