Thursday, December 1, 2011

Weekend Breakout: Dec. 2-3

Weekend Breakout: Dec. 2-3

Rivalry night – We’d typically highlight one must-watch matchup in this space, but when two of the sport’s top rivalries are being played back-to-back on the same network, allow us to expand a bit. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, Boston College hosts Boston University and Colorado College hosts Denver, two games featuring teams that are heated rivals, and national title contenders. BC and BU met three weeks ago, also on CBS, a surprising 5-0 Terrier romp. Denver hosted CC for a game that weekend as well, a 5-4 Pioneer win.

Also On TV – Friday: Minnesota State at Minnesota (8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North Alt.). Saturday: Minnesota State at Minnesota (8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North).

Grand (Rapids) rivalry – The state of Michigan hosts some great college hockey rivalries, from Michigan-Michigan State to the three Upper Peninsula teams. Overlooked, at times, is the Ferris State-Western Michigan feud that can divide the Grand Rapids side of the state, particularly in seasons when both programs are rolling. That’s definitely the case this year, as both teams are in the nation’s top 12 in the polls. Ewigleben Ice Arena (Friday) and Lawson Ice Arena (Saturday) will be rocking for this CCHA set.

Future watch – San Jose may have found a seventh-round steal in 2010 when it scooped up Ohio State sophomore forward Chris Crane, who leads the Buckeyes with seven goals and 15 points in 14 games. Crane and the Buckeyes are 8-0-1 in their last nine entering a home series with Lake Superior State, the same team that snapped Notre Dame’s 11-game unbeaten streak last Saturday. Crane is one of five NHL draft picks on the Buckeyes while goaltender Cal Heeter, among others, is sure to garner attention as an undrafted free agent.

In the show – Saturday’s NHL Network afternoon tilt – featuring Los Angeles and Montreal – is full of college storylines, from the emergence of Canadiens rookie Louis Leblanc (Harvard) to the recent dominance of Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (UMass). Clarkson fans will want to keep an eye out for any collisions between Montreal’s Erik Cole and LA’s Willie Mitchell, two of the five Golden Knight alums in the league this season. Cole and Mitchell were the leaders of the 1999 Clarkson team that won the ECAC regular-season and playoff championships.