After dropping a series last week to No. 6 Gustavus, the College of Saint Benedict hockey team currently sits right on the outside of the cusp of the playoff bubble. They will have a chance to move back inside this weekend, when they play Hamline in a home-and-home series.
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The Schedule:
Thursday: Hamline @ Blazers, 7:15 p.m., Municipal Athletic Complex, St. Cloud, Minn.
Friday: Blazers @ Hamline, 7:00 p.m., Oscar Johnson Arena, St. Paul, Minn.
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The Records:
CSB: 5-9-2 (4-6-2 MIAC)
HU: 3-14-2 (1-9-1 MIAC)
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About the Pipers:
Hamline slides into this weekend coming off a four-game losing streak in which they were swept by both St. Thomas and Concordia. They have posted wins against only two teams this season (Stevenson and St. Olaf) and have been swept in six of the nine series they have played. They are plagued by a defense that is giving up 3.28 goals per game this season and is worst in the MIAC with a 72.2 percent penalty kill.
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Who to Watch:
CSB:
So. F Elli Marvin (Leads the Blazers with seven goals, tied with Stephanie Kirk for team lead with 11 points)
So. F Stephanie Kirk (First on team with five assists, tied with Marvin for team lead with 11 points)
Sr. G Jenna Traut (Only MIAC goaltender with 400+ save (406))
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HU:
Sr. F Jordan Verleye (Leads team with seven goals, seven assists, 14 points)
Jr. F Chelsea Koehn (Close behind Verleye with 13 points and seven assists)
So. G Katie Beckman (Pipers have given up just 2.52 goals per game in games she has started)
Storyline: After being swept by the conference-leading Gusties, can the Blazers respond against a woeful Piper team that is desperate for a win? The Blazers are currently one point away from tying Augsburg for the final MIAC playoff spot. With the Auggies playing Saint Mary's this weekend, the Blazers have a great opportunity to move back on the inside of the playoff bubble with only two series left to play after this weekend.
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Last Year: In 2014, the Blazers and Pipers split the weekend series, with each team winning at the other team's arena. The Blazers dropped the first game 1-4, but then roared back to beat the Pipers 6-0 on their home ice. Kirk scored twice in that game and both Marvin and Siri Berg-Moberg added a goal and an assist to lift the Blazers to victory.
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Last Time Out:
CSB:
Last weekend the Blazers dropped two games at the hands of the Gusties' conference-leading defense. Traut made 65 saves on the weekend series, her second highest total across a two-game series this year.
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HU:
The Pipers dropped two games against St. Thomas, losing the first by a 1-3 score and the second by a 2-6 margin. Koehn was the bright spot on the weekend, as she had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 2-6 loss.
