Benilde-St. Margaret's at Wayzata
7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11

While Benilde-St. Margaret’s has been the best and most consistent team this season, Wayzata enters this week as one of the metro’s hottest squads.

The No. 7-2A Trojans recorded consecutive victories over No. 10-2A Edina, No. 5-2A Minnetonka, No. 13-2A Grand Rapids, Hopkins, No. 4-2A Eden Prairie and the Hornets again before the Skippers ended the streak Saturday night with a 7-3 victory at Plymouth Ice Center.

During that span, Wayzata (15-7-1) allowed an average of just over one goal per game while scoring nearly four.

The Red Knights provide the last big test for the Trojans before both head into the Class 2A, Section 6 playoffs.

Benilde-St. Margaret's has been ranked No. 1 since early December and enters the regular season's final week unbeaten with only a 4-4 tie with year’s Class 2A state champs Lakeville North 4-4 on Dec. 28 as the lone "blemish."

The Red Knights (22-0-1) are widely believed to be the state's best team heading into the playoffs, and the stats support that argument. They are scoring 5.48 goals per game and allow 2.04, their penalty kill is at 86 percent, and have a power play operating at 27 percent efficiency.

Perhaps the biggest attribute Benilde-St. Margaret's employs is its incredible, well-balanced depth.

Mr. Hockey finalist Cade Gleekel leads the Red Knights with 22 goals and 58 points, though seniors Auggie Moore (16-24-40), Zach Risteau (15-24-39), Nick Austin (10-23-33) and Jacob Holmers (15-15-30) have all eclipsed 30 points for the season.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s has likely all but secured a top seed for the section playoffs, but a Wayzata victory could help elevate or secure the Trojans the No. 2 seed ahead of the Hornets.