Because only 11 of the 20 teams in the INCH
Power Rankings in action last weekend, there wasn't a lot
of rearranging since our last update. There is one notable
change, however -- Colorado College swept rival Denver to
earn the WCHA regular-season championship, and moved past
idle Michigan to No. 2, one spot behind league foe North Dakota.
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. |
 North
Dakota |
— |
The Sioux, who extended their unbeaten streak to a school-record
17 games with two ties against St. Cloud State, played
most of Saturday's game without T.J. Oshie. The junior
skated just two shifts in the 2-2 draw |
| 23-8-4 (18-7-3
WCHA) LAST WEEK: T vs. St. Cloud State, 1-1 ot; T vs.
St. Cloud State, 2-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Michigan Tech
(Best of three). |
| 2. |
 Colorado
College |
 1 |
"There's no question in my mind that CC is by far
the premier team in this league," Denver coach George
Gwozdecky told the Colorado Springs Gazette following
the Tigers' 3-1 win over the Pioneers Saturday. |
| 26-9-1 (21-6-1
WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Denver, 5-2; W vs. Denver, 3-1.
THIS WEEK: vs. Alaska-Anchorage (Best of three). |
| 3. |
 Michigan |
 1 |
The Wolverines have allowed a total of 76 goals this
season, 33 of them
coming in the team's last 11 games. |
| 27-5-4 (20-4-4
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Nebraska-Omaha (Best
of three). |
| 4. |
 Miami |
1 |
Bowling Green, the RedHawks' opponent in this week's
CCHA quarterfinals, is one of five teams to have beaten
Miami this season. |
| 29-6-1 (21-6-1
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Bowling Green (Best
of three). |
| 5. |
 New
Hampshire |
1 |
The hard part for voters is choosing Kevin Regan or
Nathan Gerbe as Hockey East Player of the Year. UNH fans
don't think it's that difficult. |
| 23-8-3 (19-5-3
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W vs. Vermont, 3-1; L vs. Vermont,
4-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Massachusetts (Best of three). |
| 6. |
 Michigan
State |
— |
The Spartans host Northern Michigan in a CCHA quarterfinal
series this
weekend. MSU swept the Wildcats at Munn in October, but
were humbled by
NMU in February, losing twice at Marquette. |
| 23-9-5 (19-6-3
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Northern Michigan
(Best of three). |
| 7. |
 Clarkson |
— |
The Golden Knights would like to watch tape of the goals
they've scored against Colgate goalie Mark Dekanich in
the last four years. The problem is, that tape would only
last about 55 seconds. |
| 20-10-4 (15-4-3
ECAC Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Colgate (Best
of three). |
| 8. |
 Denver |
— |
So the Pioneers got swept by Colorado College. The DU
ski team won its 19th NCAA title this past weekend. Question:
Where do you hang the championship banner? |
| 22-13-1 (16-11-1
WCHA) LAST WEEK: L vs. Colorado College, 5-2; L at Colorado
College, 3-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota Duluth (Best of
three). |
| 9. |
 Minnesota
State |
— |
The Mavericks, who entertain Minnesota for a first-round
WCHA playoff series, are opening the postseason on home
ice for the first time since 2003. |
| 18-14-4 (12-12-4
WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Michigan Tech, 5-2; L vs. Michigan
Tech, 3-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota (Best of three). |
| 10. |
 Boston
College |
— |
Safe to say that when the season started,
a fourth-place finish in Hockey East wouldn't be acceptable.
But based on the current roster and the turmoil in the
first half, this team could make a run deep into the postseason. |
| 17-11-8 (11-9-7
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: L vs. Northeastern, 3-2 ot; W
at Northeastern, 4-1. THIS WEEK: vs. Providence (Best
of three). |
| 11. |
 St.
Cloud State |
— |
From the We-Don't-Need-No-Stinkin' Shootout Dept.: "That's
one of the
biggest ties for all of us," said Huskies coach Bob
Motzko after Saturday's draw at North Dakota. There's
a big difference between getting on a bus and going home
now instead of going on the road in the playoffs." |
| 22-12-4 (15-9-4
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Ferris State (Best
of three). |
| 12. |
 Notre
Dame |
1 |
The Fighting Irish draw Ferris State in its CCHA quarterfinal
series. Notre Dame is 1-2-1 against Bulldogs this season
and 5-4-1 in their last 10 games against FSU. |
| 22-12-4 (15-9-4
CCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Ferris State (Best
of three). |
| 13. |
 Wisconsin |
1 |
Maybe the Badgers are cool with opening the playoffs
on the road, given
their opponent. Since the start of the 2004-05 season,
Wisconsin owns a
10-1-2 record against St. Cloud State. |
| 15-14-7 (11-12-5
WCHA) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: at St. Cloud State (Best
of three). |
| 14. |
 Harvard |
— |
Quinnipiac had the second-best scoring offense overall
among ECAC Hockey teams, while Harvard had the second
best scoring defense. |
| 14-11-4 (12-7-3
ECAC Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Quinnipiac
(Best of three). |
| 15. |
 Princeton |
— |
The next incarnation of outdoor hockey should be held
this weekend when ancient rivals Yale and Princeton meet.
We'd love to see an outdoor game or series at the Yale
Bowl, despite Princeton being the higher seed. |
| 17-12-0 (14-8-0
ECAC Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Yale. |
| 16. |
 Union |
1 |
"What did you say?"
"I say who own da Big Red."
"And what did he say?"
"Owns. Owns." |
| 15-12-6 (10-7-5
ECAC Hockey) LAST WEEK: Off. THIS WEEK: vs. Cornell (Best
of three). |
| 17. |
 Boston
University |
1 |
In three games against UMass Lowell this season, Colin
Wilson has at least one point in every game and two goals
and three assists for five points. |
| 17-15-4 (15-9-3
Hockey East) LAST WEEK: W at Providence, 6-0; W vs. Providence,
2-0. THIS WEEK: vs. UMass Lowell (Best of three). |
| 18. |
 Ferris
State |
1 |
The Bulldogs are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, a run
that started with a win at tie at Notre Dame Feb. 8-9.
The Fighting Irish are FSU's opponent in this weekend's
CCHA quarterfinals. |
| 17-15-4 (12-12-4 CCHA) LAST
WEEK: W vs. Western Michigan, 4-3 ot; W vs. Western Michigan,
6-3. THIS WEEK: at Notre Dame (Best of three). |
| 19. |
 Niagara |
3 |
The Purple Eagles are 9-2-3 in their last 14 contests,
but the two losses have been to Alabama-Huntsville and
Wayne State, two teams that have combined for nine league
wins. |
| 20-10-4 (12-6-2
CHA) LAST WEEK: L at Wayne State, 3-2 ot; W at Wayne State,
7-3. THIS WEEK: vs. Robert Morris (CHA semifinal). |
| 20. |
 Army |
— |
The Black Knights head to Rochester for the league's
semifinal and championship. |
| 19-13-4 (17-8-3 Atlantic Hockey)
LAST WEEK: W vs. American International, 4-0; W vs. American
International, 5-2. THIS WEEK: at Atlantic Hockey Final
Five (Rochester, N.Y.) |