This past weekend was the debut of conference play throughout much of the country, and no series had more of the spotlight than the battle of national champs: Minnesota Duluth (reigning) at Denver (2017 champs). Somehow Duluth dodged a sweep when the Bulldogs sophomore D Scott Perunovich tied the game with less than two ticks remaining after a mad scramble.

? Just. In. Time.

Perunovich completes the @UMDMensHockey comeback in the final 2 seconds to force OT#NCHCHockey | #BulldogCountry pic.twitter.com/ijjXT7QwlX

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) November 18, 2018

The gifted Perunovich leads NCAA defensemen with 16 points. 

St. Cloud may have been looking past WCHA foe Bemidji in their opener Friday night; their vaunted offense was shut down most of the game by Tom Serratore’s stifling Beavers. But the Huskies got untracked Saturday, ruining the homecoming of former Husky goalie Zach Driscoll with four goals in 27 minutes, chase Driscoll from the game. 

“From what a couple of the guys in the handshake line said, he looked really down after the game,” said TV pundit Dave Starman. “He wasn’t awful. St. Cloud was really good.” 

Driscoll will get another massive challenge this Saturday, as he faces No. 3 Minnesota State. 

“It’s not going to shock me if this kid stands on his head and gives Minnesota State everything they can handle,” said Starman, who has seen plenty of both schools this year, and does not think next week’s result is a given. Starman is enamored with Bemidji’s top-end defense corps. “Can Bemidji’s top four defensemen handle Mankato’s top two lines? To me, that’s the matchup.”

Another NCHC blockbuster headline came from Grand Forks, as the middling Western Michigan Broncos tore a hole in the confidence of 2016 Natty Champ North Dakota, sweeping the Fighting Hawks by a combined score of 8-2. It had junior captain Colton Poolman taking inventory in the postgame. “We lost our cool,” Poolman said to the Grand Forks Herald. “We turned on each other, got a little selfish. That’s pretty embarrassing, that’s not Sioux hockey.”

Broncos senior Colt Conrad had a career night, lighting up the team formerly known as the Sioux for a goal and four helpers. One NHL scout was not surprised at Western’s lightning strikes. “Conrad and [Hugh] McGing and [Dawson] DiPietro could be three of the fastest players in the conference,” said the scout. “They make plays at high tempo, that’s a huge factor for Western.”

Lake Superior pierced the USCHO’s Div I rankings this week, propelled by yet another weekend upset to the No. 20 spot. This is Lake State’s first national ranking since November 2016. After stunning Michigan two weeks ago, the Lakers knocked off then-No. 10 Bowling Green 5-0 this past Friday. “Burn the tapes” was the headline in BGSU’s Twitter feed. Falcons head coach Chris Bergeron pointed out in his postgame that he and his staff had to figure out the best practice philosophy after return trips from Alaska, a condition unique to the WCHA. Their current strategy “isn’t working.” 

And finally, stick-taps to WCHA media workhorse Matt Hodson. If you don’t read his player of the week releases, you are missing out. This week he found some gold in his WCHA co-rookie of the week—Ashton Calder of LSSU. Calder, top rookie? Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.

Tim Rappleye is the author of "Jack Parker's Wiseguys" and the forthcoming book: "Hobey Baker, Upon Further Review," set for release in November. He can be reached @TeeRaps.