Lakeville South has hit a bit of a rough patch heading into the Lumberjack Cup, going 0-3-1 after back-to-back wins over Rosemount and Farmington. Four of the Cougars' five wins this season have come by two goals or less. 

With a little help from a pair of ties, Mahtomedi enters the weekend unbeaten in five games, posting a 3-0-2 record in that span. Mahtomedi has two wins this season against a fellow Pool A foe, defeating Lakeville South 4-1 on Nov. 3 and 5-3 on Dec. 7. 

Fresh off a championship run at last weekend's Spirit of Duluth, Osseo-Maple Grove is riding a nine-game winning streak. With a record of 18-3-1, all three of the Leafbirds' losses have been by a margin of three goals or less. The Leafbirds have defeated the other prohibitive favorite in the pool, White Bear Lake, before this weekend. OMG topped the Bears 3-1 on Nov. 25. 

Outside of a 4-2 loss to Moorhead and a 3-1 loss to Osseo-Maple Grove, White Bear Lake has been perfect this season, winning 18 of 20 games so far. A championship win at the Big Pumpkin and a strong showing at Spirit of Duluth bodes well for the Bears going into the Lumberjack Cup. 

Since consecutive losses to Park Cottage Grove and Woodbury, Rochester hasn't lost in five games, winning three and tying twice. Rochester tied Pool A rival Mahtomedi 2-2 on Dec. 6 after drawing with another Pool A opponent, Lakeville South, 4-4 on Dec. 1.