North Dakota vs. Colorado College: Notes & Links

• North Dakota: 6-4-2 Overall (3-1-2 WCHA)
• Colorado College: 7-6-1 Overall (4-2-0 WCHA)
• Gametime: Friday 8:37 CST/Saturday 8:07 CST
• Both games will be broadcast across the UND Radio Network, and as always, here's the standard broadcast information. While neither game of this series will be on TV, both games will be available for viewing via CC's Tiger Vision webcast. Cost is $6.95 per game, or you can buy a monthly pass for $10.95 and get both games at a discount.
• Series Notes (PDF): North Dakota and Colorado College
• For all of the GF Herald stories, check out Brad Schlossman's Friday Morning Reading.
• Colorado Springs Gazette: CC Needs to Snap Out of Funk vs. #7 North Dakota
• The Catalyst: CC-DU Hockey Fight Raises Questions, Issues Off the Ice
• The Catalyst: Ice of the Tiger
• UND Sports: Men's Hockey Travel Blog
• Paisley Hockey: Friday Reading
• Series Numbers: North Dakota leads the all-time series 137-76-10, with Colorado College holding a 47-56-4 edge at home. However, in the last 10 meetings in Colorado Springs, UND has a 6-4-0 advantage. The Tigers have won just one time in the last eight meetings, with North Dakota holding a 7-1-0 advantage over that stretch. Their last meeting came just over one year ago (Thanksgiving weekend of 2011), with North Dakota earning a sweep in what was a wildly entertaining series at Engelstad Arena.  All-time, UND has recorded 137 victories at the Tiger's expense, second-most in program history to its 145 wins over Michigan Tech, and the Fighting Sioux have scored more goals (1,045) against CC than any other team.
• North Dakota forward Danny Kristo is averaging 1.40 points per game, good for ninth nationally and third in the conference, while goaltender Clarke Saunders is T-12th in the nation with his WCHA-leading .934 save percentage. 
• This is the last weekend for Team USA World Junior Championship candidates to make an impression on USA Hockey staff, as the preliminary roster is set to be released next week. Rocco Grimaldi would seem to be a virtual lock, but Jordan Schmaltz is a fringe player who could could tip the scale in his favor with a strong weekend in Colorado Springs, which is the home of USA Hockey headquarters.
• Special teams effectiveness could very well be a difference-maker this weekend. CC boasts the WCHA's top power play, converting at a 24.4% clip, but they've killed off just 73.5% of short-handed situations, second-worst in the conference and third-worst in the nation. UND, on the other hand, has been effective on the kill (85.7%, 3rd in WCHA), while cashing in on just 15.2% of its power plays, third worst in the WCHA.
• The defense and goaltending of Colorado College has been very porous this season. The Tigers allow 3.50 goals per game, second worst in the conference to Michigan Tech's 3.60 GPG and 54th out of the nation's 59 teams. Their goaltenders, Josh Thorimbert (3.38) and Joe Howe (3.48), rank 16th and 18th respectively in GAA among the 19 WCHA netminders who qualify statistically, and they've really struggled at home. In games played in Colorado Springs, Howe has a 3.66 GAA to go along with his .894 Save % while Thorimbert has a 4.00 GAA and .854 Save %.
• At the other end of the ice, Colorado College boasts a potent offensive attack, scoring 3.71 goals per game (3rd most in the WCHA, 5th most in the nation). They have seven of the top 22 point producers in the WCHA, with senior forwards Rylan Schwartz and William Rapuzzi tied for the league lead with 17 points each. Schwartz in particular has been a thorn in North Dakota's side. In his last three games against UND, Schwartz has scored eight of CC's twelve goals, including two hat tricks last year in Grand Forks.
• UND forward Michael Parks will not play this weekend. Two weeks ago against Minnesota-Duluth he aggravated the lower body injury he suffered in the exhibition game against Manitoba and he has not played since. His status is considered to be week-to-week. 
• Four Colorado College Tigers are NHL draft picks, while 14 North Dakota players have heard their names called by NHL clubs.
• USCHO's This Week in the WCHA
• USCHO's Three WCHA Observations
• USCHO's Weekend Picks
• CHN's Tale of the Tape
• CHN's WCHA Power Rankings
• WCHB Weekly WCHA Preview
• WCHA Weekly Press Release
• The Hockey Writer's Combine: UND vs. Colorado College Series Notes
• Sioux Sports Series Preview