The undefeated Waseca Bluejays (10-0-1) travel to Prairie Island Arena on Tuesday, January 7, for a Big 9 Conference matchup against the struggling Red Wing Wingers (0-11-2). The puck drops at 7:00 PM.
The Bluejays have been dominant this season, outscoring opponents by a staggering margin of 102-23. Coming off an strong 15-1 victory over Worthington, Waseca is led by head coach Chris Storey, who has built a well-rounded, high-scoring team.
Offensively, Brayden Hesch-Priem (17 goals, 26 points) and Hunter Anderson (33 points) anchor a lineup that is equally dangerous on the power play, converting at 25%. Goaltender Carter Martens has been solid in net, boasting a 1.17 GAA and a .921 save percentage. Waseca’s discipline and efficiency on the penalty kill (84.4% ) makes them a formidable opponent.
Key to Success: Waseca needs to maintain their high-pressure style and capitalize on scoring opportunities early to demoralize their opponent.
It has been a difficult season for the Wingers, who are still searching for their first win under head coach Tony Casci. Despite their record, Red Wing showed resilience in their last game, an overtime 3-2 loss to Winona. The Wingers will look to build on that performance in front of their home crowd.
Offensively, Red Wing has struggled, averaging only 1.46 goals per game. Marshall Turner leads the team with 7 points, while goaltender Mason Chaska has been a bright spot, posting a .896 save percentage despite heavy workloads.
Key to Success: Red Wing must play a disciplined, defensive game and rely on strong goaltending from Chaska to keep the game within reach.
With Waseca firing on all ends of the game and Red Wing still searching for answers, this game heavily favors the Bluejays. Expect Waseca to control the pace and capitalize on their scoring depth.
Prediction: Waseca 8, Red Wing 1.
