Forget the
round ball.
 |
| Game times: All games on CBS Sports Friday Semifinal #1, UND vs. SCSU, 4:08 p.m. Semifinal #2, Miami vs. Denver, 7:38 p.m Saturday Third place game, 3:38 p.m. Championship game, 7:38 p.m. |
This is the
real March Madness.
Four teams
have ascended upon the Target Center in Minneapolis for this weekend’s National
Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff tournament and all will be looking
to grab some hardware on the way to next weekend’s NCAA tournament.
For the
nation’s toughest conference, there’s no better way to end a season than to
watch four highly-touted teams duke it out for the right to hoist the NCHC
tournament trophy.
Let’s take a
look at who’s left standing and who will take home the tourney title in this
weekend’s “Who? What? How?” Frozen Faceoff preview.
The Teams
1. North
Dakota, 27-7-3
(16-6-2-0)
Players to watch: Jr. F, Drake Caggiula (16 goals, 17
assists), Sr. F, Michael Parks (12 G, 20 A), Jr. D, Jordan Schmaltz (4 G, 23 A)
Jr. G, Zane McIntyre (27-7-3, 1.97 GAA, .932
save percentage)
Standout
Stats: 3.38 goals per game (8th in NCAA), 2.14 goals against per
game (7th in NCAA), 19-1-3 when scoring first, 23-0-2 when leading
after two periods.
How
they got to Minneapolis: Swept Colorado College, 5-1, 3-2 in Grand Forks.
About UND: For the Green and White, the 2014-15
campaign really boils down to two things: Depth and Zane McIntyre.
Scoring
has come from every line for UND as they bring eight players with at least 20
points and 16 with at least 10 into the Frozen Faceoff. From the fourth line to
the top line, North Dakota has found different players chipping in on a nightly
basis.
Leading
the charge of late, senior assistant captain Connor Gaarder’s 5 goals in 6
games, with four game winners in that span, is a heckuva testament to this
team’s depth.
And
in the pipes, consistency in the form of McIntyre has reigned. The newly-donned
NCHC goaltender of the year and Hobey Baker finalist has been this team’s unquestioned
MVP.
UND will continue to be hard to beat if these
two pieces continue their stellar play.
2. Miami, 23-13-1
(14-9-1-1)
Players to watch: Sr. F, Austin Czarnik (8 G, 32 A), Jr.
F, Riley Barber (19 G, 18 A), Sr. F, Blake Coleman (17 G, 16 A)
Jr.
G, Jay Williams (17-8-0, 1.84 GAA, .924 save percentage)
Standout
Stats: +25 in the second period, +280 in shots on goal.
How
they got to Minneapolis: Won series in three games vs. WMU in Oxford, Ohio, 5-3
W, 7-5 L, 4-0 W
About the RedHawks: Much like UND, Miami has relied heavily
on its depth and goaltending this year. The RedHawks bring seven 20-point
scorers to Minneapolis and feature a high-flying, energy attack.
Jay
Williams looks like the main difference from last season’s last place NCHC finish.
The junior netminder has played well all season and that consistency has
allowed Miami to often play with a lead with a dangerous offensive attack.
4. Denver, 22-12-2
(13-10-1-1)
Players to watch: Fr. F, Danton Heinen (16 G, 28 A), So.
F, Trevor Moore (20 G, 20 A), Sr. D, Joey LaLeggia (13 G, 25 A)
Fr.
G, Tanner Jaillet (13-6-0, 2.42 GAA, .917 save percentage)
Standout
Stats: 3.25 goals per game (10th in NCAA), 15-3-0 when scoring
first, 18-0-0 when leading after two periods.
How
they got to Minneapolis: Swept Minnesota Duluth in Denver, 4-3, 4-0
About the Pioneers: Denver has been here before, albeit
under slightly different circumstances. The defending Frozen Faceoff champions
took home the inaugural tournament title last season to pace an improbably run
to the NCAA tournament.
But,
no mistaking, this year’s squad is much different, featuring league MVP and
Hobey Baker finalist Joey LaLeggia and unanimous NCHC rookie of the year Danton
Heinen. Freshman goaltender Tanner Jalliet has become a mainstay in net for DU
and continues a long line of outstanding netminders for Denver.
The
Pioneers special teams have certainly been special this season as their power play
is clipping at a solid 21.6%.
While
the Pios are all but a lock for the NCAA tournament, repeating as Frozen
Faceoff champions is surely high on their to-do list.
6. St. Cloud
State, 18-17-1
(11-12-1-0)
Players to watch: Jr. F, Jonny
Brodzinski (19 G, 16 A), Jr. F, Joey Benik (14 G, 21 A), Jr. F, David Morley
(16 G, 11 A)
So.
F, Charlie Lindgren (17-16-1, 2.27 GAA, .920 save percentage)
Standout
stats: 24.1% power play (4th in NCAA), -1 in third period, 0-12-0
when trailing after two periods.
How
they got to Minneapolis: Swept UNO in Omaha, 2-1 (2OT), 3-1
About the Huskies: St. Cloud State might be the team with
the most to play for this weekend, as their NCAA tournament picture isn’t as
clear as the other three teams in Minneapolis. Sitting at No. 11 in the
Pairwise rankings, the Huskies look well on their way to a tourney berth, but
it isn’t yet etched in stone.
A
win against PWR No. 1 UND on Friday would assure a bid into the big tourney.
However, two losses will eliminate them from the NCAA tournament as a below
.500 record cannot get them in as an at-large per NCAA rules.
While their record doesn’t leap off the page, the Huskies are
certainly capable of doing major damage this weekend. Junior forward Jonny
Brodzinski paces a Husky attack that loves to play with the extra man. Coming
into the Frozen Faceoff, the Huskies are clipping at a phenomenal 24.1% on the
power play.
The Picks
Who will hoist the Frozen Faceoff trophy?
UND vs. St. Cloud State
The Huskies look to be the team with more to play for in the early
semifinal, but UND’s focus this season in big-time games has been second to
none.
The Green and White swept SCSU in Grand Forks in late February pacing
UND’s run to the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular season champion.
This should be a heck of a game on Friday featuring two teams who know
each other very well.
As it did in the season series, DDC expects UND’s defense to play a
huge role. Keeping Jonny Brodzinksi at bay has been objective No. 1 for North
Dakota against the Huskies. While SCSU may be the more desperate team in this
one, the Target Center is sure to feature a highly-partisan UND flavor and that
should help lift the Green and White.
UND WINS, 4-2
Denver vs. Miami
This could be fun.
These are two teams that love to push the tempo and fly all over the
ice. Both are playing for momentum going into the NCAA tournament, but DDC
gives the slight edge to Miami.
DDC has seen Miami a lot this season and has really been impressed by
their goalie play. Couple that with a dynamic offense that comes at teams in
waves, expect to see the RedHawks find a way to outscore the Pioneers.
MIAMI WINS, 5-3
Third place game: SCSU vs. Denver
This will truly be desperation time for the Huskies. If SCSU falls to
the third place game, it will be win or hit the golf course for the Summer.
Nothing against the Pioneers, whatsoever, but St. Cloud gets a big win
and punches their ticket to the big dance.
SCSU WINS, 3-2
Championship game: UND vs. Miami
UND has just simply found a way to win games in big spots this season.
Whether it be huge late rallies early in the season against Air Force
and Lake Superior State, a gritty, hard-fought OT win in Omaha the night after
dropping a heart-breaker in OT, a Penrose Cup clinching performance on the back
of their netminder in Oxford, or a clutch, game-winning goal from a third-line
senior, the Green and White just keep getting it done and getting it done in
any way possible.
This focus on the brightest of stages is what sets UND apart from the
pack.
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