Tuesday, November 20, 2007

CC-DU Week In Motion

For those who missed it, CC is back up to No. 4 in the polls, tying the highest poll position the Tigers have held this season.

Third-ranked Denver, this weekend's opponent, will be the sixth ranked opponent in a row for CC.

This is how CC's schedule thus far stacks up according to this week's polls (with USA Today rank listed first, then USCHO.com rank):
No. 15/No. 13 Minnesota (10/19-20) W, W
No. 8/No. 8 New Hampshire (10/26-27) L, L
No. 5/No. 6 North Dakota (11/2-3) L, W
No. 12/No. 15 Minnesota-Duluth (11/9-10) W, W
No. 14/No. 12 Wisconsin (11/16-17) W, W
No. 3/No. 3 Denver (11/23-24)

And because everything this week is about how CC compares to Denver, here's how the Pioneers' schedule looks:
NR Maine (10/12-13) W, W
No. 9/No. 9 Notre Dame (10/18-19) L, W
No. 12/No.15 Minnesota-Duluth (10/26-27) W, L
No. 15/No. 13 Minnesota (11/2-3) W, W
NR Minnesota State (11/16-17) W, W
No. 4/No.4 CC (11/23-24)

First-place CC, with two games in hand, holds a four-point advantage over second-place Denver in the conference rankings.

What do you think about Denver's strength of schedule so far, as compared with CC's? Does it even matter with a rivalry like this?

--
Tiger Tracks:
  • The Calgary Flames (NHL) recalled former CC goaltender Curtis McElhinney Monday
  • Thanks to Matt for this link to an interview with Brett Sterling on Hockey's Future. Sterling says he learned he could play at the NHL level during his brief stint with the Atlanta Thrashers, he's just refining his skills with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and hoping for another chances.
  • Trevor Frischmon made his stay with the Charlotte Checkers (ECHL) brief. Frischmon was called up to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) Monday.

2 comments:

CCtig said...

Clearly CC's schedule has been stronger then DU's. But I don't believe it matters at all when DU and CC play each other, at least not this season. To me it is more about execution and controlled emotion that will determine the outcome of this big two game series.

Will you be at the game Saturday at Magness?

Kate Crandall said...

Wouldn't miss it for the world. These are my favorite games of the season.