Come back each week for a breakdown of the most interesting upcoming games, how to watch or listen to them, and some thoughts on the movers and shakers of the previous week.
Here are the games to watch this weekend:
(1) Wisconsin at (3) Minnesota-Duluth
Friday at 7:00 PM CT; Saturday at 4:00 PM CT
Watch: Games are available to stream for $7.95 each here.
This will be No. 1 Wisconsin's toughest test of the season. The Bulldogs have been one of the biggest surprises in the country, and they continue to prove that they are a force to reckon with this season.
Minnesota-Duluth is averaging more than three goals a game and will go up against Wisconsin's vaunted goalie and defense, who are allowing just 0.75 goals per game. Despite the prowess shown by Lara Stalder, Ashleigh Brykaliuk, and the rest of Duluth, it would probably be foolish to pick against Ann-Renée Desbiens.
I expect Wisconsin to sweep the weekend, but the Bulldogs won't make it easy for them.
(2) Minnesota at (9) North Dakota
Friday at 7:00 PM CT; Saturday at 4:00 PM CT
Watch: Games are available to stream for $9.95 for a one-month pass via North Dakota here. Free audio is also available at that link if you sign up for an account.
North Dakota is the only program that's given Minnesota regular fits over the past few seasons. For whatever reason, regardless of how they fare against other squads, the Fighting Hawks have the ability to frustrate the Gophers.
NoDak has been getting scoring from a few different spots, and may have the better of the match ups on lines two and three. If Halli Krzyzaniak and the rest of the North Dakota defense can dampen Sarah Potomak, Dani Cameranesi, and Kelly Pannek at all, they've got a shot.
(6) Boston College at (10) Northeastern
Sunday at 2:00 PM ET
Watch: It appears that both video and audio will be available for free here.
These two meet up on Sunday and then again a week later. We'll either have one team with a pretty significant two-game lead on the conference, or we'll have no clearer picture about who might win Hockey East.
It's most likely that the teams will split the two meetings. If Northeastern wants to prove that they're for real this season and have a legitimate chance at winning the conference, they have to win at least one of these games.
Also worth a look:
- (5) Colgate at (8) Quinnipiac -- 3:00 PM ET Saturday
- Cornell at Princeton -- 3:00 PM ET Saturday
Stick Taps and Snark
↑Minnesota's top line -- Sarah Potomak, Kelly Pannek, and Dani Cameranesi each have 22 points, and are tied for second in the country in scoring.
↑Unbeaten streaks -- Wisconsin and Colgate have each started the season with 13-game unbeaten streaks. St. Lawrence's streak is at 12 games and Clarkson has won in eight straight games. Robert Morris is also making a run at the CHA with a seven-game unbeaten streak.
↓Princeton -- The Tigers were a surprise to many at the end of last season, but they've started this one 4-3-1. They've felt the impact of the graduation of goalie Kimberly Newell more than most thought they would.
↑Dartmouth -- The Big Green got their first win of the season in a big way, upsetting 10th-ranked Princeton 3-2 in overtime.
↓Winless teams -- Lindenwood is the lone winless team left.
