A Look at the Suburban East 2/10

[WHAFightingSaints]

All 7:30 PM starts.

White Bear Lake (14-5-1) (12-1-1, SEC, 25 points) at Cretin-Derham Hall (11-8-3) (7-6-2, SEC, 16 points)
The Bears loss to the Ponies snapped a nine game unbeaten streak and saddled them with their first loss since late December. The SEC Title is still the Bears to win, but the task got a little tougher with Saturdays loss to Stillwater, and the schedule gets a little pesky starting with tonight’s matchup against the Raiders. Cretin has seemed to righted the ship defensively, only giving up eleven goals in their last five games which was a must if they want to do anything come section playoffs. Statistically White Bear Lake is the better team, but Cretin is playing much better of late so I expect a great game, especially with many of the top SEC players on the ice for both teams. I have to go with White Bear, I believe their defense and goaltending are stronger and will propel them to a victory.
Last meeting: White Bear Lake 7 Cretin 1

Stillwater (14-4-2) (12-2-2, SEC, 26 points) at Mounds View (6-11-4) (3-8-4, SEC, 10 points)
The Ponies ride into the icebox on a 9 game unbeaten streak and sitting atop the SEC, but they still need help to win or share the title. A busy week for Stillwater as they defeated East Ridge on Tuesday, play the Mustangs tonight and then travel to Cloquet for a non conference game on Saturday. Mounds View comes in without a win in their last five games including back to back losses giving up six goals in each game. The Ponies are the better team and will come away with a win, though should not overlook the Mustangs as they must win to keep their title hopes realistic.
Last meeting: Stillwater 6 Mounds View 3

Forest Lake (8-8-4) (6-5-4, SEC, 16 points) at Roseville (10-6-5) (8-5-2, SEC, 18 points)
Roseville’s lack of scoring is keeping them from separating themselves from a group of three team’s just two points behind them, and kept them from staying close to Stillwater and White Bear Lake. I hate to beat a dead horse, but they are in need of averaging just one more goal a game to be a very tough team to play late in the year. Until they prove they can put the puck in the net more often they will struggle with teams like Forest Lake, who can jump into a tie for 4th place with a win. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, Roseville was beaten by more than two goals for the first time this season by Hastings and Forest Lake was shutout by East Ridge. The Rangers top line is more dangerous than any line Roseville has put out so far, but the Raiders defense and goaltending should prove to be the difference in a low scoring battle.
Last meeting: Roseville 2 Forest Lake 1

Park-Cottage Grove (5-14-2) (0-13-1, SEC, 1 point) at Hastings (10-10-1) (8-7-0, SEC, 16 points)
Hastings has four wins in their last five outings to climb into a three way tie for 4th place. They’ve done it by giving up fewer goals and having the top point getter in the SEC pile up the points. Hastings top line can play with anyone in the conference, but they lack offense on the other lines. Park is looking for anything positive at the moment, the only thing I can come up with is they scored a goal last game in the final seconds to snap a two game scoreless streak. The Raiders win at home with some ease.
Last meeting: Hastings 4 Park-Cottage Grove 1

Woodbury (12-10-0) (7-8-0, SEC, 14 points) at East Ridge (8-14-0, SEC, 8 points)
Woodbury continues to give up a lot of shots on goal, and their scoring has dropped off, averaging less than 3 a game. Goaltending is keeping this team above the .500 mark and is the backbone of this team, a bad game by the goalie will result in a sure loss. East Ridge has found some defense only giving up an average of two goals per game in their last four contests which has resulted in only one win but they have been in those games including close losses to WBL and Roseville. I look for the Raptors to win a low scoring one goal game at home.
Last meeting: Woodbury 6 East Ridge 3

Goal Differential Per Game Leaders
1 White Bear Lake +2.05
2 Stillwater +1.10
3 Roseville +0.57
3 Hastings +0.57
5 Cretin +0.32
6 Woodbury +0.05
7 East Ridge -0.32
8 Forest Lake -0.39
9 Mounds View -0.86
10 Park-Cottage Grove -0.66

Shots on Goal Differential Per Game Leaders
1 White Bear Lake +11.3
2 Cretin +6.27
3 Stillwater +3.20
4 Roseville + 1.14
5 Hastings -0.05
6 Mounds View -0.24
7 East Ridge -1.00
8 Forest Lake -1.19
9 Park-Cottage Grove -1.26
10 Woodbury -9.36

[Big Daddy]

Woodbury (12-10-0) (7-8-0, SEC, 14 points) at East Ridge (8-14-0, SEC, 8 points)
Woodbury continues to give up a lot of shots on goal, and their scoring has dropped off, averaging less than 3 a game. Goaltending is keeping this team above the .500 mark and is the backbone of this team, a bad game by the goalie will result in a sure loss. East Ridge has found some defense only giving up an average of two goals per game in their last four contests which has resulted in only one win but they have been in those games including close losses to WBL and Roseville. I look for the Raptors to win a low scoring one goal game at home.
Last meeting: Woodbury 6 East Ridge 3


East Ridge 5 Woodbury 2

[WHAFightingSaints]

Finals
Cretin 4
WBL 4
(Tie helps Stillwater)

Roseville 6
Forest Lake 0
(Roseville finds some offense, beats Rangers in running time)

Hastings 4
Park-Cottage Grove 3
Wolfpack put up a fight)

East Ridge 5
Woodbury 2
(Nice win for the Raptors)

Stillwater at Mounds View
(Imagine that, no score reported yet from Mounds View)

[WHAFightingSaints]

Woodbury (12-10-0) (7-8-0, SEC, 14 points) at East Ridge (8-14-0, SEC, 8 points)
Woodbury continues to give up a lot of shots on goal, and their scoring has dropped off, averaging less than 3 a game. Goaltending is keeping this team above the .500 mark and is the backbone of this team, a bad game by the goalie will result in a sure loss. East Ridge has found some defense only giving up an average of two goals per game in their last four contests which has resulted in only one win but they have been in those games including close losses to WBL and Roseville. I look for the Raptors to win a low scoring one goal game at home.
Last meeting: Woodbury 6 East Ridge 3


East Ridge 5 Woodbury 2

Raptors score 5 in the 3rd. Woodbury outshot again by double digits.

[WBLHockeyfan04]

Finals
Cretin 4
WBL 4
(Tie helps Stillwater)

Roseville 6
Forest Lake 0
(Roseville finds some offense, beats Rangers in running time)

Hastings 4
Park-Cottage Grove 3
Wolfpack put up a fight)

East Ridge 5
Woodbury 2
(Nice win for the Raptors)

Stillwater at Mounds View
(Imagine that, no score reported yet from Mounds View)

Stillwater squeaks by Moundsview 2-1

[Hankya]

Told everybody White Bear took a beating by Stillwater and that Cretin would put up a good fight. White Bear now has three more tough games. I say they lose at least one more.

Roseville just wont go away either. Great pounding of FL. That is what makes the SEC great. Anybody can win, always good hockey.

Take that your rotten Pioneers.

[formerlybackofnet]

If I read the schedule right, WBL has 3 conf. games remaining, and Stillwater has 1. this will make it tough for Stillwater to win the conf, unless WBL goes in the tank.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Hanky,

"....always good hockey'? Flake played good hockey last night?....Park played good hockey? Stillwater wins 2-1 over MV....good hockey?? Let's see how many of these teams from the "great SEC" play in the State tourney. I have to imagine all this tough competition will have them prepared to beat up on the rusty Pioneers who don't seem play anyone. I'm hoping the Pioneers can somehow pull off an upset or two.

[MrBoDangles]

All 7:30 PM starts.

White Bear Lake (14-5-1) (12-1-1, SEC, 25 points) at Cretin-Derham Hall (11-8-3) (7-6-2, SEC, 16 points)
The Bears loss to the Ponies snapped a nine game unbeaten streak and saddled them with their first loss since late December. The SEC Title is still the Bears to win, but the task got a little tougher with Saturdays loss to Stillwater, and the schedule gets a little pesky starting with tonight’s matchup against the Raiders. Cretin has seemed to righted the ship defensively, only giving up eleven goals in their last five games which was a must if they want to do anything come section playoffs. Statistically White Bear Lake is the better team, but Cretin is playing much better of late so I expect a great game, especially with many of the top SEC players on the ice for both teams. I have to go with White Bear, I believe their defense and goaltending are stronger and will propel them to a victory.
Last meeting: White Bear Lake 7 Cretin 1

Stillwater (14-4-2) (12-2-2, SEC, 26 points) at Mounds View (6-11-4) (3-8-4, SEC, 10 points)
The Ponies ride into the icebox on a 9 game unbeaten streak and sitting atop the SEC, but they still need help to win or share the title. A busy week for Stillwater as they defeated East Ridge on Tuesday, play the Mustangs tonight and then travel to Cloquet for a non conference game on Saturday. Mounds View comes in without a win in their last five games including back to back losses giving up six goals in each game. The Ponies are the better team and will come away with a win, though should not overlook the Mustangs as they must win to keep their title hopes realistic.
Last meeting: Stillwater 6 Mounds View 3

Forest Lake (8-8-4) (6-5-4, SEC, 16 points) at Roseville (10-6-5) (8-5-2, SEC, 18 points)
Roseville’s lack of scoring is keeping them from separating themselves from a group of three team’s just two points behind them, and kept them from staying close to Stillwater and White Bear Lake. I hate to beat a dead horse, but they are in need of averaging just one more goal a game to be a very tough team to play late in the year. Until they prove they can put the puck in the net more often they will struggle with teams like Forest Lake, who can jump into a tie for 4th place with a win. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, Roseville was beaten by more than two goals for the first time this season by Hastings and Forest Lake was shutout by East Ridge. The Rangers top line is more dangerous than any line Roseville has put out so far, but the Raiders defense and goaltending should prove to be the difference in a low scoring battle.
Last meeting: Roseville 2 Forest Lake 1

Park-Cottage Grove (5-14-2) (0-13-1, SEC, 1 point) at Hastings (10-10-1) (8-7-0, SEC, 16 points)
Hastings has four wins in their last five outings to climb into a three way tie for 4th place. They’ve done it by giving up fewer goals and having the top point getter in the SEC pile up the points. Hastings top line can play with anyone in the conference, but they lack offense on the other lines. Park is looking for anything positive at the moment, the only thing I can come up with is they scored a goal last game in the final seconds to snap a two game scoreless streak. The Raiders win at home with some ease.
Last meeting: Hastings 4 Park-Cottage Grove 1

Woodbury (12-10-0) (7-8-0, SEC, 14 points) at East Ridge (8-14-0, SEC, 8 points)
Woodbury continues to give up a lot of shots on goal, and their scoring has dropped off, averaging less than 3 a game. Goaltending is keeping this team above the .500 mark and is the backbone of this team, a bad game by the goalie will result in a sure loss. East Ridge has found some defense only giving up an average of two goals per game in their last four contests which has resulted in only one win but they have been in those games including close losses to WBL and Roseville. I look for the Raptors to win a low scoring one goal game at home.
Last meeting: Woodbury 6 East Ridge 3

Goal Differential Per Game Leaders
1 White Bear Lake +2.05
2 Stillwater +1.10
3 Roseville +0.57
3 Hastings +0.57
5 Cretin +0.32
6 Woodbury +0.05
7 East Ridge -0.32
8 Forest Lake -0.39
9 Mounds View -0.86
10 Park-Cottage Grove -0.66

Shots on Goal Differential Per Game Leaders
1 White Bear Lake +11.3
2 Cretin +6.27
3 Stillwater +3.20
4 Roseville + 1.14
5 Hastings -0.05
6 Mounds View -0.24
7 East Ridge -1.00
8 Forest Lake -1.19
9 Park-Cottage Grove -1.26
10 Woodbury -9.36

Nice write up!

[TestTubeHockey]

What is wrong with a 3-0 win or 2-1 win.............and why is this not good hockey in the eyes of Abandoneerpride guy? Low scoring defensive battles can be very intense.

[Pioneerprideguy]

3-0...2-1 type wins are fine as long as they are against good teams. MV is not a good team. I would put them below average. But then again, I would put Stillwater at slightly above average, so I guess this score makes sense.

[WHAFightingSaints]

Hanky,

"....always good hockey'? Flake played good hockey last night?....Park played good hockey? Stillwater wins 2-1 over MV....good hockey?? Let's see how many of these teams from the "great SEC" play in the State tourney. I have to imagine all this tough competition will have them prepared to beat up on the rusty Pioneers who don't seem play anyone. I'm hoping the Pioneers can somehow pull off an upset or two.

I take nothing away from the Pioneers, they are a very good team, same with STA, although not the same caliber as Hill and I know niether controls their conference schedule so they have to play the Simley's, Sibley's, Ricchfield's etc..., but don't you get bored watching blowout after blowout with your Pioneer squad? A 6-2 win over the Packers has been the best game you've had in awhile, a four goal win in the SEC would be considered a blowout, a four goal win in the CSC is a barnburner. Just my biased SEC thoughts though

[TestTubeHockey]

Very True Pioneerprideguy....I think the goalie for stillwater keeps them in many games.