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I am writing this before the USA-Canada game on Thursday, but there’s a good chance you’ll read it after. If you are, I hope you in the future have good news to deliver me.

In related news, this is going to be a shorter preview. It’s been a busy week for me, as my fiancee and I have been lucky enough to attend each of the Four Nations games in Boston (along with the final), and I made my ball hockey goaltending debut last night.

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Pressed for time? Click here to jump to the Pick ‘Em.

Weekly Previews

#6 Ohio State and #3 Minnesota meet for a rubber match of their split

These two teams met last month in Columbus for a series where they traded blowouts.

On paper, Minnesota outplayed Ohio State, but holding this high-flying Gopher offense to just 1 goal in any game is a feat worth celebrating for the Buckeyes.

Their job will be a lot harder this week, as the series moves to Mariucci Arena. At home, Minnesota has been solid, posting a record of 12-2-2. This positive trend is in stark contrast with another more grim one for the Gophers though… their performance in 2025.

Since conference play restarted after the Holiday Break, the Gophers are just 4-4-2, including an ugly loss to Michigan State, an OT loss to Notre Dame, and a winless weekend at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines.

I don’t see things getting easier for them against Ohio State, who has without a doubt, shook the paper tiger question mark that was next to them to open the year.

The men’s team seems to finally have embraced the women’s team’s “Transfer Portal U” label, with transfers Gunnarwolfe Fontaine and Damien Carfagna leading the way.

Mr. Beanpot is now Mr. Every Night for the Buckeyes

OSU still plays a fairly conservative game in the neutral zone as I’ve mentioned a few times in their previews, their offense has become the crowning piece of their game.

Damien Carfagna is excellent at creating from the point and joining the rush, and the whole team is playing selfless hockey in the offensive zone. So many of their goals are coming off multiple passes, disorienting goaltenders and creating havoc for defenses.

So — can a Minnesota team that’s been slipping get their footing against an Ohio State team that’s playing some of the best team hockey in the nation?

And can this possession-focused offense from the Buckeyes outgun the raw fire power that the Gophers have?

I don’t know on either… but that’s why they play the games.

#4 Maine and #9 UConn each look to improve their post in a big Hockey East match-up

Based on some brief chats, it seemed like Maine fans were apprehensive about their offense going into this past week’s games vs UNH.

Game 1 might not have done them any good, but I’m sure the 5-2 win on Saturday made a lot of people feel better (that is if they weren’t watching USA vs Canada).

UConn is built similarly to Maine. They forecheck hard (usually with 2 deep forwards), have experience at every position, and don’t depend on any one player for their offensive production.

This is slightly more impressive for UConn though because coming into the season they lost three of their marquee players — Matthew Wood, Samu Salminen, and Arsennii Sergeev — to the transfer portal,

This isn’t quite Northern Michigan levels of decimation… but it’s a shock to the system for any team to lose its marquee offensive player and major supporting cast members like this. The step forward they took is nothing short of impressive.

One of my biggest questions for the Huskies though: in a one-off game against one of the best teams in college hockey, who do you start in net?

UNH transfer Tyler Muszelik has been solid since the new year, but freshman Callum Tung has been more of a steady hand since the season kicked off.

There is some room for error here with the Huskies almost guaranteed a tournament spot (99% chance per CHN), but a win here could help them work towards a #2 seed, with the potential to give them better placement in an upcoming regional.

Series of the Week

#15 Arizona State and #5 Western Michigan battle for inside track in the NCHC 1-seed race

I don’t have time to cover this series tonight — and I do apologize for this — but luckily has been covering every Arizona State series this season. So please go support their work! Their preview of this weekend’s action can be found here.

Without further adieu, here’s the Pick ‘Em.