22 games on the schedule tonight. Here we go…
St. Cloud vs Buffalo
Neither team has great depth. If I were either one of coaches the strategy would be to do your best in shutting down the other team’s best player. In this case it is Gabbie Rud for St. Cloud and Jada Habisch for Buffalo. And hope that the others can step up. In a game with this strategy I give the edge to Buffalo.
Buffalo 3. St. Cloud 2.
Shakopee vs Eastview
Eastview opens the season hosting Shakopee. Eastview lost their top three scorers from last season to graduation. Can youngsters Nora Stepan and Mikayla Kelley step up to provide some much needed scoring?
Lakeville North showed up at Shakopee’s rink last week and a soccer match broke out. It ended up being a low scoring affair with Shakopee eking out a 1-0 victory. Shakopee needs to feed the puck to Mackenzie Bachelor and Holly Eckers at the point and Paige McNeil and Emily Roder need to get to the net to clean up rebounds.
Shakopee 4. Eastview 2.
Rochester Lourdes vs Eden Prairie
Lourdes is traveling to the metro to get some Class AA action. Lourdes has Emma Schmitz. EP has Sydney Langseth. Each of them can create instant offense. But I think EP neutralizes Schmitz in this one. EP will be looking to spring Byrnes behind the D of Lourdes.
EP 4. Lourdes 2.
Eagan vs Lakeville South
Eagan is still feeling the sting of the season opening loss to Wayzata. Hopefully Lakeville South got their special teams buttoned up this week after giving up 2 power play goals and 2 shorties in a loss to Eden Prairie.
Eagan wins this one 3-1.
Chaska/Chan vs Wayzata
Wayzata opened last season with a loss to Chaska/Chan. Wayzata has scored 16 goals in it’s first two games to start this season. They will not allow a repeat of last year’s match up. Garvis, Wisnewski, and the older Hackley hold Spear and Roberts in check and Branton, Ocel, Matthews, McCollins and Urban will do their thing.
Wayzata 6. Chaska/Chan 1.
Mounds View vs Hill Murray
Mounds View took one on the chin in the opener vs. Wayzata. It doesn’t get any easier tonight when they travel to Hill Murray. I expect Teagan Johnson to have a better night but she will certainly see shots. Hill Murray likes to shoot the puck averaging 35 shots per game.
Hill Murray wins this one 4-1.
Bemidji vs Thief River Falls
TRF has some really nice players in junior D Khloe Lund, sophomore F Shelby Breiland, and sophomore goalie Gabby Steele. TRF hosts Bemidji in their season opener. This will be Bemidji’s third tough test in a row to start the season. They opened with a 0-2 loss to East Grand Forks and followed that up with a 2-10 loss against a very talented Grand Rapids/Greenway team. Tonight won’t be any easier for the Lumberjacks.
TRF 5. Bemidji 1.
Sota Girls Hockey 