We task our reporters with identifying several intriguing games throughout the state to assemble our Top Games of the Week. The matchups are presented in no particular order, and when there are additional games we want to highlight, we’ll include them with brief notes.

Chaska vs. Chanhassen

7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21

It’s the second meeting of the season for these crosstown rivals. Chanhassen, ranked No. 4 in Class 2A in the coaches’ poll released Jan. 10, shut out Chaska 4-0 on Dec. 6 with a pair of goals from junior Tyler Smith (12 goals, 12 assists).

The tables have turned this season in the head-to-head series. Last year Chanhassen lost three times to Chaska, including in the Class 2A, Section 2 quarterfinals.

Chanhassen (14-1) has rolled with 14-straight victories after a season-opening loss to defending state champion Andover. Since Dec. 28, Chanhassen started a run of four-consecutive shutouts on the way to six more victories. The Storm have the best goals-against average and save percentage in the state, allowing exactly one goal a game (15 goals in 15 games played) with a .949 save percentage.

The bulk of the goaltending work goes to junior Kam Hendrickson (11-1-0) with his state-leading 1.00 goals-against average and .950 save percentage (second in state). They’ve allowed two-or-more goals only three times this season.

Junior Gavin Uhlenkamp, last year’s leading goal scorer for the Storm, has six goals and 20 assists (eight on the power play). Junior Jack Christ is second on the team in scoring and has already matched his scoring totals from last season: 11 goals, 13 assists.

With a depleted roster after last season, Chaska, led by former Minnesota Wild player Matt Cooke, sits well below .500 at 4-10-1 entering the week, allowing 4.33 goals per game. The Hawks will also face No. 2-2A Minnetonka this week before this rivalry game.

Senior Ty Broten (seven goals, five assists) and senior defenseman Blake Markwell (five goals, seven assists) lead the team with 12 points each, while Chaska is 10-for-45 (22.2%) on the power play this season; Broten, Markwell and sophomore Ty Smith (five goals, five assists) each have two power-play goals apiece.

Sartell-St. Stephen vs. Fergus Falls

7:15 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19

Two teams out of the Central Lakes face off this week when Class 2A Sartell-St. Stephen travels to No. 11-1A Fergus Falls. The Sabres won an early-season meeting against Fergus Falls, 4-1, with junior Baylor Stebbins (12 goals, 13 assists) factoring on all three of the third-period goals.

Sartell-St. Stephen (9-3-1) is 3-1-1 in its last five games, coming off a tie against Alexandria. With a lot of conference play already done compared to its counterparts, Sartell-St. Stephen sits in first place in the standings with a 6-1-1 record (13 points).

The Sabres are led by junior Anthony Coltatrella (12 goals, 15 assists), Stebbins and senior Elliot Testa (nine goals, 15 assists). Senior Sterling McCabe (one goal, 10 assists) is the team’s top-scoring defenseman and also leads the squad with five power-play assists. Starting goaltender junior Noah Hacker (9-3-1) is back for another season with a 2.79 goals-against average and .913 save percentage with two shutouts.

Fergus Falls (8-3-1) has found its stride lately, winning five of its past six games with the only blemish a 10-4 loss at top-ranked Warroad. The Otters will hope to notch a third straight victory with a win over Sartell-St. Stephen.

Though the Otters lost a lot to graduation from last year, this season’s team features three top returning defensemen in Colin Becker (three goals, seven assists), Leighton Buckmeier (three goals, four assists) and Ethan McGuiness (one goal, five assists).

The trio defensmen help weather the storm in front of returning netminder Ben Swanson (7-3-1, 3.00 goals-against average, .907 save percentage). 

Edina vs. Minnetonka

7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19

A Lake Conference tangle as No. 2-2A Minnetonka hosts No. 5-2A Edina for the first of two regular-season meetings. The Skippers will travel to the Hornets nest on Feb. 11. Last season, Edina was victorious in both meetings.

That three-game skid to start the season is long in the rearview mirror for Edina (10-3-1) as they take an 11-game unbeaten streak into this game against Minnetonka.

The Hornets have some solid depth in their lineup. In their recent win over St. Thomas Academy on Jan. 13, Edina got goals from four different players and 10 players registered a point.

The next day, a 5-2 win over Buffalo saw four Edina players with a goal as well, with junior John Halverson (four goals, four assists) scoring twice with an empty-netter. Junior Bobby Cowan (six goals, four assists) has a goal in each of his last three games. Junior Jackson Nevers (11 goals, three assists) is the team’s leading scorer and committed to the Gophers last week. In goal, the Hornets rely most on senior Robbie Clarkowski (8-3-1) with his 1.48 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Minnetonka (12-2-0) is second-best in the state with its 1.14 goals-against average, allowing only 16 goals in 14 games this season. The effort is backstopped by senior Kaizer Nelson (9-2-0) with his 1.17 goals-against average and .930 save percentage with three shutouts.

The Skippers got right back on track after a loss to top-ranked Wayzata, outscoring opponents 17-1 with a pair of shutouts to Eastview and Buffalo.

They have scoring depth, too, led by junior Hagen Burrows (eight goals, 12 assists), junior Gavin Garry (seven goals, 11 assists) and junior Sam Scheetz (eight goals, 10 assists). Four different players scored goals in a 4-1 victory against Duluth East over the weekend. Seven Skippers scored goals in an 8-0 shutout of Buffalo on Jan. 12, with junior Luke Garry (six goals, three assists) scoring twice.

Orono vs. Providence Academy, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17: Class 1A, Section 2 rivals will meet for the second time this season. Orono won the first decision 3-1. No. 3 Orono is 11-2 this season, coming off a 5-1 victory over another section rival, Delano. No. 7 Providence Academy sits at .500 this season at 7-7, having dropped three of its last four games, starting with that game against Orono.

Wayzata vs. Warroad, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20: The two top-ranked teams in their respective classes face off in this one, with No. 1-2A Wayzata traveling to No. 1-1A Warroad. Wayzata takes a four-game winning streak into the week with only one loss and one tie so far this season. Warroad (14-0) is coming off a big victory over No. 2-1A Hermantown to keep its undefeated record intact.

The MN Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.