(12-4-2) Benilde-St. Margaret's vs. Eden Prairie (10-5-1)

[hshockeyfan8]

Game that could, for the time being, decide the number #3 seed in 6AA. Predictions?

[SuperStar]

Tough to call - really not sure who to take in this one, so I will go with my gut - EP 5-4

[Sats81]

EP 5-3 with ENG

[mnhockey30]

EP wins 6-5 in OT

[Nuts&Bolts]

Good to see the BSM defensive struggles are back.

[SWPrez]

Tough to call - really not sure who to take in this one, so I will go with my gut - EP 5-4

Close...6-5 in OT....EP

Good game, lead changed back and forth several times. EP with over 50 shots to BSM's approximate 30 --- some of this was due to BSM spending a lot of time in the box - unnecessary major for five resulted in two goals (though BSM had a shortie to counter). BSM had a bench penalty for too many men that hurt them late in the third when they were ahead.

Both goalies played well in a higher scoring game with lots of shots.

[Nuts&Bolts]

With the ER departure it makes me wonder if any BSM guys are planning a trip to Vancouver to check out the dub. 'Tis that time of the year and appears BSM will be a 3, 4 or even 5 seed.

[SuperStar]

Tough to call - really not sure who to take in this one, so I will go with my gut - EP 5-4

Close...6-5 in OT....EP

Good game, lead changed back and forth several times. EP with over 50 shots to BSM's approximate 30 --- some of this was due to BSM spending a lot of time in the box - unnecessary major for five resulted in two goals (though BSM had a shortie to counter). BSM had a bench penalty for too many men that hurt them late in the third when they were ahead.

Both goalies played well in a higher scoring game with lots of shots.

Sounded like a great game - Wasn't there to see it...

[blueblood]

My current 6AA standings:

1) Wayzata
2) HF
3) EP
4) BSM
5) Hopkins
6) Tonka

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

My current 6AA standings:

1) Wayzata
2) HF
3) EP
4) BSM
5) Hopkins
6) Tonka

I question the 2 and 3 seed. If you look at head to head match ups, both beat Benilde and Tonka. EP beat Maple Grove, HF lost to them. Both lost by a goal to Wayzata. When looking at HF I see two victories over top teams.....EP beat those same two teams plus Maple Grove and Elk River....EP did lose one game to Benilde by a wide margin, but HF also lost to Edina by an even wider margin, and EP was atleast competitive in their loss to Edina......bottom line.....it's easier to get through a season when you play 3 or 4 ranked teams sandwiched between a bunch of cup cakes.

[SuperStar]

My current 6AA standings:

1) Wayzata
2) HF
3) EP
4) BSM
5) Hopkins
6) Tonka

I question the 2 and 3 seed. If you look at head to head match ups, both beat Benilde and Tonka. EP beat Maple Grove, HF lost to them. Both lost by a goal to Wayzata. When looking at HF I see two victories over top teams.....EP beat those same two teams plus Maple Grove and Elk River....EP did lose one game to Benilde by a wide margin, but HF also lost to Edina by an even wider margin, and EP was atleast competitive in their loss to Edina......bottom line.....it's easier to get through a season when you play 3 or 4 ranked teams sandwiched between a bunch of cup cakes.

Should be interesting to see how they rank the 2 -4 seeds..Even though EP got crushed by Lakeville North 7-0 - a team that was ranked behind them at the time and Benidle beat them pretty handly last time. Squeaked by Cloquet 4-2 and had a close game with Rosemount 5-4. And didn't score a goalie in the lost to Wayzata and barely beat BSM in OT last night - Thanks to questionable 5 min major - Also sneaked out a OT win against Maple Grove which had 4 missing starting players and the goalie. EP did take care of buisness with Osseo
Lakeville South, though, so that might help there cause. It might be a tough toss up where to rank the 2-4 seeds.

HF schedule is what it is and they can't change that - But they are taking care of business with whats given to them. Some more games coming up with EP vs Wayzata & Benidle for section games and a unpredictable Tonka team. HF has Roseau, Moorhead, St. Thomas, Eastview for AA teams left - that you could possibly use to "measure" in a sense. Either way it should make for some intersting match -ups.

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

My current 6AA standings:

1) Wayzata
2) HF
3) EP
4) BSM
5) Hopkins
6) Tonka

I question the 2 and 3 seed. If you look at head to head match ups, both beat Benilde and Tonka. EP beat Maple Grove, HF lost to them. Both lost by a goal to Wayzata. When looking at HF I see two victories over top teams.....EP beat those same two teams plus Maple Grove and Elk River....EP did lose one game to Benilde by a wide margin, but HF also lost to Edina by an even wider margin, and EP was atleast competitive in their loss to Edina......bottom line.....it's easier to get through a season when you play 3 or 4 ranked teams sandwiched between a bunch of cup cakes.

Should be interesting to see how they rank the 2 -4 seeds..Even though EP got crushed by Lakeville North 7-0 - a team that was ranked behind them at the time and Benidle beat them pretty handly last time. Squeaked by Cloquet 4-2 and had a close game with Rosemount 5-4. And didn't score a goalie in the lost to Wayzata and barely beat BSM in OT last night - Thanks to questionable 5 min major - Also sneaked out a OT win against Maple Grove which had 4 missing starting players and the goalie. EP did take care of buisness with Osseo
Lakeville South, though, so that might help there cause. It might be a tough toss up where to rank the 2-4 seeds.

HF schedule is what it is and they can't change that - But they are taking care of business with whats given to them. Some more games coming up with EP vs Wayzata & Benidle for section games and a unpredictable Tonka team. HF has Roseau, Moorhead, St. Thomas, Eastview for AA teams left - that you could possibly use to "measure" in a sense. Either way it should make for some intersting match -ups.

Not questioning your line of thinking here, but you bring up a lot of negatives for the EP team...and deserved, but I would say the 7-0 loss to North (which I believe was the wake up call for EP and HS hockey in general) that maybe North is good......so North is ranked low at the start of the year because of years of history says they should be that low....and you are playing up that loss because at the time North was so low? Looking at who North has played and beaten.....you think North really should have started the season that low? The game that jumps out at me is Edina 8 HF 0. And, if I remember correctly, EP was missing 3 players after the first game played in the Benilde tournament, and are still missing a top line player.....not sure when he will be back.

[hshockeyfan8]

If Eden Prairie beats BSM again, and doesn't lose to Tonka or Hopkins, I see them grabbing the 2nd seed. Wayzata pretty much has 1 locked up, unless they lose to EP and drop one to Hopkins or Tonka. The way I see the top 6 as of now:
1. Wayzata
2. Eden Prairie
3. Holy Family
4. BSM
5. Hopkins
6. Minnetonka

[SuperStar]

I question the 2 and 3 seed. If you look at head to head match ups, both beat Benilde and Tonka. EP beat Maple Grove, HF lost to them. Both lost by a goal to Wayzata. When looking at HF I see two victories over top teams.....EP beat those same two teams plus Maple Grove and Elk River....EP did lose one game to Benilde by a wide margin, but HF also lost to Edina by an even wider margin, and EP was atleast competitive in their loss to Edina......bottom line.....it's easier to get through a season when you play 3 or 4 ranked teams sandwiched between a bunch of cup cakes.

Should be interesting to see how they rank the 2 -4 seeds..Even though EP got crushed by Lakeville North 7-0 - a team that was ranked behind them at the time and Benidle beat them pretty handly last time. Squeaked by Cloquet 4-2 and had a close game with Rosemount 5-4. And didn't score a goalie in the lost to Wayzata and barely beat BSM in OT last night - Thanks to questionable 5 min major - Also sneaked out a OT win against Maple Grove which had 4 missing starting players and the goalie. EP did take care of buisness with Osseo
Lakeville South, though, so that might help there cause. It might be a tough toss up where to rank the 2-4 seeds.

HF schedule is what it is and they can't change that - But they are taking care of business with whats given to them. Some more games coming up with EP vs Wayzata & Benidle for section games and a unpredictable Tonka team. HF has Roseau, Moorhead, St. Thomas, Eastview for AA teams left - that you could possibly use to "measure" in a sense. Either way it should make for some intersting match -ups.

Not questioning your line of thinking here, but you bring up a lot of negatives for the EP team...and deserved, but I would say the 7-0 loss to North (which I believe was the wake up call for EP and HS hockey in general) that maybe North is good......so North is ranked low at the start of the year because of years of history says they should be that low....and you are playing up that loss because at the time North was so low? Looking at who North has played and beaten.....you think North really should have started the season that low? The game that jumps out at me is Edina 8 HF 0. And, if I remember correctly, EP was missing 3 players after the first game played in the Benilde tournament, and are still missing a top line player.....not sure when he will be back.

Yeah - alot of teams lose players here and there for whatever reason...The HF vs Edina was a debacle game - But it was the 1st game of the year and it was a wake up call for HF to get the thier hind ends moving along too.. and since then, they have

But I think the 7-0 loss by EP to LN was much more of a shocker to people in general than the HF loss to Edina. The edina game was 1-0 halfway through the game and then the wheels came off for whatever reason. EP vs LN was over in the first 5mins and Especially when a pernially power house like EP gets beat like that 9 games into the season.

Do I think LN should have started the season that low?? Yeah, based on History - But they are a great team no doubt - I think they should be #1 now. But no other team lost to them by more than 7 - except Rochester Century - So that makes the EP loss look even worse - IMO

Edina hasn't beaten anybody by 8 either outside of HF, so that looks bad too. But it was the first game of the year and a huge learning lesson HF too and they have taken care of business in games they are supposed to - regardless if they are weaker and they have beaten teams ranked a head of them as well.. EP has not taken care of business in games they probably should have, given the history, numbers and talent of the squad and program.

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

Should be interesting to see how they rank the 2 -4 seeds..Even though EP got crushed by Lakeville North 7-0 - a team that was ranked behind them at the time and Benidle beat them pretty handly last time. Squeaked by Cloquet 4-2 and had a close game with Rosemount 5-4. And didn't score a goalie in the lost to Wayzata and barely beat BSM in OT last night - Thanks to questionable 5 min major - Also sneaked out a OT win against Maple Grove which had 4 missing starting players and the goalie. EP did take care of buisness with Osseo
Lakeville South, though, so that might help there cause. It might be a tough toss up where to rank the 2-4 seeds.

HF schedule is what it is and they can't change that - But they are taking care of business with whats given to them. Some more games coming up with EP vs Wayzata & Benidle for section games and a unpredictable Tonka team. HF has Roseau, Moorhead, St. Thomas, Eastview for AA teams left - that you could possibly use to "measure" in a sense. Either way it should make for some intersting match -ups.

Not questioning your line of thinking here, but you bring up a lot of negatives for the EP team...and deserved, but I would say the 7-0 loss to North (which I believe was the wake up call for EP and HS hockey in general) that maybe North is good......so North is ranked low at the start of the year because of years of history says they should be that low....and you are playing up that loss because at the time North was so low? Looking at who North has played and beaten.....you think North really should have started the season that low? The game that jumps out at me is Edina 8 HF 0. And, if I remember correctly, EP was missing 3 players after the first game played in the Benilde tournament, and are still missing a top line player.....not sure when he will be back.

Yeah - alot of teams lose players here and there for whatever reason...The HF vs Edina was a debacle game - But it was the 1st game of the year and it was a wake up call for HF to get the thier hind ends moving along too.. and since then, they have

But I think the 7-0 loss by EP to LN was much more of a shocker to people in general than the HF loss to Edina. The edina game was 1-0 halfway through the game and then the wheels came off for whatever reason. EP vs LN was over in the first 5mins and Especially when a pernially power house like EP gets beat like that 9 games into the season.

Do I think LN should have started the season that low?? Yeah, based on History - But they are a great team no doubt - I think they should be #1 now. But no other team lost to them by more than 7 - except Rochester Century - So that makes the EP loss look even worse - IMO

Edina hasn't beaten anybody by 8 either outside of HF, so that looks bad too. But it was the first game of the year and a huge learning lesson HF too and they have taken care of business in games they are supposed to - regardless if they are weaker and they have beaten teams ranked a head of them as well.. EP has not taken care of business in games they probably should have, given the history, numbers and talent of the squad and program.

And what I am saying is that the EP/Lakeville game was a learning lessen for not only EP, but the entire state. They might have caught EP looking past them, but after that game, teams became aware that you could no longer do that.....but you go and pick and choose what info you use to make your calculations....It's a little different to take care of business when you have 18 tough games compared to 8. But as you said, the schedule is what it is.

[karl(east)]

It really should come down to the last EP-BSM game. If BSM wins, in-section records make it pretty clear:

1. Wayzata
2. HFC
3. BSM
4. EP

If EP wins, BSM is #4 and it comes down to this EP/HFC argument we're having for 2 vs. 3. Yes, they'd likely face each other in the semis, but the 2-seed will have a noticeably easier quarterfinal.

EP can really help its cause by winning a game or two against Edina, Burnsville, and Wayzata, and also avoiding a section loss to Tonka or Hopkins. HFC's game with St. Thomas really is huge. If they lose that one, given their lack of other high-quality wins, it becomes pretty easy to dismiss the win over BSM as a bit fluky and drop them. If they win it and EP doesn't do anything else significant, they'll be in good shape for the 2-seed.

[SuperStar]

I would beg to differ on the 18 tough games vs 8. More along the lines of 14 to 11 - Tough opponents...(our definition of who is "tough" or not might vary) Being in the Lake Conference does help the strength of schedule, but I could slice and dice opponents all day long. Who plays who. Who beat who, who lost to who - that beat so and so - ect, ect... Holy Family is getting better with the schedule every year.

EP and HF both have one ugly,ugly loss - Which is probably something we can agree on? But in the ugly loss category - EP wins, they lost uglier..

Like we said before, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out and I am looking forward to some match-ups.

[gitter]

It really should come down to the last EP-BSM game. If BSM wins, in-section records make it pretty clear:

1. Wayzata
2. HFC
3. BSM
4. EP

If EP wins, BSM is #4 and it comes down to this EP/HFC argument we're having for 2 vs. 3. Yes, they'd likely face each other in the semis, but the 2-seed will have a noticeably easier quarterfinal.

EP can really help its cause by winning a game or two against Edina, Burnsville, and Wayzata, and also avoiding a section loss to Tonka or Hopkins. HFC's game with St. Thomas really is huge. If they lose that one, given their lack of other high-quality wins, it becomes pretty easy to dismiss the win over BSM as a bit fluky and drop them. If they win it and EP doesn't do anything else significant, they'll be in good shape for the 2-seed.

I think HF is getting more credit than the deserve. They really have no quality wins with the exception of the BSM game. Even though it was a routing on the scoreboard (7-3) the shots were a backwards routing (53-27 in favor of BSM). To me that win would be more impressive had they outshot BSM 53-27, and clearly was not an indication of them carrying play so to speak. Same thing with their one goal loss to Wayzata. Wayzata carried play with a 42-28 shot advantage. They only have one more chance at a quality win to finish out the season and that is against STA. I suppose the Moorhead game could have some implications for HF, as BSM has routed Moorhead 9-1 and 4-2 this year.

BSM has Burnsville, EP and STA for the current quality wins, with possibilities for ER and EP remaining still (along with SSM perhaps). EP has quality wins over ER, BSM (perhaps GR), with huge games remaining vs Burnsville, Edina (twice), Wayzata and BSM. Even 1 win out of 5 and they are above HF in my opinion.

I just don't see coaches putting HF ahead of either EP or BSM at this point, despite the record or the head-to-head, which to me was an outlier. I think they are the solid #4 in 6AA.

[green4]

It really should come down to the last EP-BSM game. If BSM wins, in-section records make it pretty clear:

1. Wayzata
2. HFC
3. BSM
4. EP

If EP wins, BSM is #4 and it comes down to this EP/HFC argument we're having for 2 vs. 3. Yes, they'd likely face each other in the semis, but the 2-seed will have a noticeably easier quarterfinal.

EP can really help its cause by winning a game or two against Edina, Burnsville, and Wayzata, and also avoiding a section loss to Tonka or Hopkins. HFC's game with St. Thomas really is huge. If they lose that one, given their lack of other high-quality wins, it becomes pretty easy to dismiss the win over BSM as a bit fluky and drop them. If they win it and EP doesn't do anything else significant, they'll be in good shape for the 2-seed.

I think HF is getting more credit than the deserve. They really have no quality wins with the exception of the BSM game. Even though it was a routing on the scoreboard (7-3) the shots were a backwards routing (53-27 in favor of BSM). To me that win would be more impressive had they outshot BSM 53-27, and clearly was not an indication of them carrying play so to speak. Same thing with their one goal loss to Wayzata. Wayzata carried play with a 42-28 shot advantage. They only have one more chance at a quality win to finish out the season and that is against STA. I suppose the Moorhead game could have some implications for HF, as BSM has routed Moorhead 9-1 and 4-2 this year.

BSM has Burnsville, EP and STA for the current quality wins, with possibilities for ER and EP remaining still (along with SSM perhaps). EP has quality wins over ER, BSM (perhaps GR), with huge games remaining vs Burnsville, Edina (twice), Wayzata and BSM. Even 1 win out of 5 and they are above HF in my opinion.

I just don't see coaches putting HF ahead of either EP or BSM at this point, despite the record or the head-to-head, which to me was an outlier. I think they are the solid #4 in 6AA.

I can see your point with how the coaches could seed EP over Holy family and I don't disagree but I also think that EP has to win more than 1 of those final 5 big games.
EP has 8 games left, the other 3 are tonka and Hopkins twice. Now lets say they win those 3 plus one of the big 5 games remaining, That will put them at 15-9-1 which is not exactly a world class record not to mention they would only have 3 or 4 quality wins while losing 9 times to good teams. That would show to me that they would be struggling with top end teams.
I think for Eden prairie to get above holy family they have to beat BSM, and at least one more against Wayzata, Edina or Burnsville maybe even 2

[karl(east)]

I think HF is getting more credit than the deserve. They really have no quality wins with the exception of the BSM game. Even though it was a routing on the scoreboard (7-3) the shots were a backwards routing (53-27 in favor of BSM). To me that win would be more impressive had they outshot BSM 53-27, and clearly was not an indication of them carrying play so to speak. Same thing with their one goal loss to Wayzata. Wayzata carried play with a 42-28 shot advantage. They only have one more chance at a quality win to finish out the season and that is against STA. I suppose the Moorhead game could have some implications for HF, as BSM has routed Moorhead 9-1 and 4-2 this year.

BSM has Burnsville, EP and STA for the current quality wins, with possibilities for ER and EP remaining still (along with SSM perhaps). EP has quality wins over ER, BSM (perhaps GR), with huge games remaining vs Burnsville, Edina (twice), Wayzata and BSM. Even 1 win out of 5 and they are above HF in my opinion.

I just don't see coaches putting HF ahead of either EP or BSM at this point, despite the record or the head-to-head, which to me was an outlier. I think they are the solid #4 in 6AA.

I can see your point with how the coaches could seed EP over Holy family and I don't disagree but I also think that EP has to win more than 1 of those final 5 big games.
EP has 8 games left, the other 3 are tonka and Hopkins twice. Now lets say they win those 3 plus one of the big 5 games remaining, That will put them at 15-9-1 which is not exactly a world class record not to mention they would only have 3 or 4 quality wins while losing 9 times to good teams. That would show to me that they would be struggling with top end teams.
I think for Eden prairie to get above holy family they have to beat BSM, and at least one more against Wayzata, Edina or Burnsville maybe even 2

I think one win from that group would do it for me, but otherwise I'd agree.

I'm not entirely sold on HF either, but their worst loss was a last-second affair with Maple Grove; the other two are both to top 5 teams. They're just hard to compare to anyone because of their schedule, so the few games they do play against top-end teams are very important--namely, the STA game. Their two games against the 8AA frontrunners are worth watching, too.