The national tournament is the ultimate ranking
system, but as we head into that event we'd still like to
offer our two cents. Our top three teams won titles this weekend,
and now begin the chase for college hockey's biggest prize.
Here's how the Inside College Hockey editors
and staff rank the nation's top teams (along with a note for
each team).
| No. |
Team |
|
Of
Note |
| 1. |
 Notre
Dame |
— |
The Irish enter the NCAA Tournament not having allowed
more than a goal in their last five games. |
| 31-6-3 (21-4-3
CCHA) LAST WEEK:W vs. Lake Superior State, 3-0; W vs.
Michigan, 2-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Alabama-Huntsville. |
| 2. |
 Minnesota |
— |
Blake Wheeler's big goal had 20,000 views on
youtube.com within 24 hours of it finding the back
of the net. |
| 30-9-3 (18-7-3
WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Wisconsin, 4-2; W vs. North Dakota,
3-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Air Force. |
| 3. |
 Clarkson |
 1 |
The Golden Knights make their first tourney appearance
since 1999, seeking their first win on the national stage
since '96. |
| 25-8-5 (13-5-4
ECACHL) LAST WEEK: W vs. Dartmouth, 5-4; W vs. Quinnipiac,
4-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Massachusetts. |
| 4. |
 North
Dakota |
1 |
Sioux fans have a right to be miffed at a possible Gopher
rematch so soon, but they can take solace in Ryan Duncan's
approach: he can't wait for the chance to play them again. |
| 22-13-5 (13-10-5
WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. St. Cloud State, 6-2; L vs. Minnesota,
3-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Michigan. |
| 5. |
 Boston
College |
2 |
Freshman Ben Smith had two goals and three assists while
centering the top line in Hockey East tourney in lieu
of Brian Boyle, who now plays defense. |
| 26-11-1 (18-8-1
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W vs. Boston University, 6-2;
W vs. New Hampshire, 5-2. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Lawrence. |
| 6. |
 New
Hampshire |
— |
If they can get past Miami, the Wildcats might be the
biggest St. Lawrence fans on the planet Saturday afternoon. |
| 26-10-2 (18-7-2
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W vs. Massachusetts, 3-2 2ot;
L vs. Boston College, 5-2. THIS WEEK: vs. Miami. |
| 7. |
 St.
Cloud State |
 4 |
If you don't like third-place games, consider second-line
center Nate Raduns' injury another exhibit in your case. |
| 22-10-7 (14-7-7
WCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. North Dakota, 6-2; L vs. Wisconsin,
4-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Maine. |
| 8. |
 Michigan |
1 |
Three of the Power Rankings' top eight in one regional?
No, it doesn't look good for Air Force. |
| 26-13-1 (18-9-1
CCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan State, 5-2; L vs. Notre
Dame, 2-1. THIS WEEK: vs. North Dakota. |
| 9. |
 Boston
University |
1 |
John Curry’s Hobey chances went by the wayside
when Jack Parker pulled him during the second intermission
in the Hockey East semifinals. |
| 20-9-9 (13-6-8
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: L vs. Boston College, 6-2. THIS
WEEK: vs. Michigan State. |
| 10. |
 St.
Lawrence |
— |
The Saints, just 1-3-1 against Hockey East this year,
face that league's playoff champs in round one. |
| 23-13-2 (16-5-1
ECACHL) LAST WEEK: L vs. Quinnipiac, 4-0; W vs. Dartmouth,
5-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Boston College. |
| 11. |
 Michigan
State |
— |
The Spartans head down the road to Grand Rapids, hoping
for their first shot at Notre Dame since a 2-0 win in
November. |
| 22-13-3 (15-10-3
CCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. Michigan, 5-2; W vs. Lake Superior
State, 7-6 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Boston University. |
| 12. |
 Massachusetts |
1 |
The Minutemen are the most dangerous four-seed in the
tournament. |
| 20-12-5 (15-9-3
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: L vs. New Hampshire, 3-2 2ot.
THIS WEEK: vs. Clarkson. |
| 13. |
 Miami |
1 |
A refresher, since we haven't seen the RedHawks in a
couple weeks: Nathan Davis and Ryan Jones are damn good,
and they've got the No. 2 PK in the nation. |
| 23-13-4 (16-8-4
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. New Hampshire. |
| 14. |
 Denver |
— |
At 1-6-2 in their last nine, if the Pioneers had made
the tournament, they'd have entered with a pronounced
limp. |
| 21-15-4 (13-11-4
WCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. |
| 15. |
 Quinnipiac |
1 |
For a while there it looked like we might have a Bud
in St. Louis, until Fisher's fortunes faded in the third
period of the title game. |
| 21-14-5 (10-8-4
ECACHL) LAST WEEK: W vs. St. Lawrence, 4-0; L vs. Clarkson,
4-2. |
| 16. |
 Maine |
1 |
The Black Bears probably didn’t like
their chances to earn a tourney bid last weekend when
they were swept in Amherst. Now, they’re a third
seed. |
| 21-14-2 (14-12-1
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Cloud
State. |
| 17. |
 Dartmouth |
2 |
The Big Green boasted an outstanding junior class, which
bodes well for 2007-08 – as long as they all come
back. |
| 18-12-3 (12-7-3
ECACHL) LAST WEEK: L vs. Clarkson, 5-4; L vs. St. Lawrence,
5-3. |
| 18. |
 Wisconsin |
NR |
The Badgers earned their way back into the Power Rankings
with the kind of never-say-die effort you'd expect from
a defending champ. |
| 19-18-4 (12-13-3 WCHA) LAST
WEEK: W vs. Michigan Tech, 4-0; L vs. Minnesota, 4-2;
W vs. St. Cloud State, 4-3 ot. |
| 19. |
 RIT |
— |
Air Force's visit to Rochester certainly turned out
better than when RIT swept the Falcons a little over a
month ago, 5-4 and 2-1. |
| 21-11-2 (20-7-1
Atlantic Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. |
| 20. |
 Michigan
Tech |
2 |
The fact that Tech was over .500 with the nation's 53rd-ranked
offense is nothing short of remarkable. |
| 18-17-5 (11-12-5
WCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. Wisconsin, 4-0. |