Inside College Hockey

Thought bubble: Four teams for three spots. That's the dilemma I encountered when putting together this week's 4x4. Obviously, the vacancies in question were the last three at-large bids in our faux field. The four teams vying for those berths — Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. If the tournament started today, the computer rankings indicate that the Badgers would be on the outside. But with the way they're playing, does anyone foresee Bucky not making the tournament? I think UNH will do just enough to make it in; they won't get swept in upcoming series against Boston College and Vermont.

That leaves Minnesota and UMD. The two teams play in Minneapolis to close out the month of February. Logic dictates that one never picks against the Gophers. But my gut instinct has me holding a shovel, ready to start throwing dirt on their chances. Bulldogs, please reward me for my confidence in you. — Mike Eidelbes

1.
Northeastern

Good news for Huskies' fans heading into the weekend's showdown with BU: Northeastern, which was beaten by UMass last Saturday, hasn't lost back-to-back games all season.

1.
Boston University

Not only is the Terriers' Ratings Percentage Index two-hundredths better than the next closest team, but their record against teams under consideration is 16-3-2. Translation: that's real good.

2.
Vermont

With games against TUC teams UMass Lowell, Maine, and New Hampshire remaining, the Catamounts can really solidify their position in the upper half of the tournament field.

2.
Princeton

The Tigers trail Yale in the ECAC Hockey standings, but they're our pick to win the league's playoff title. Hence, they're a two seed, while the Bulldogs get a no. 3.

3.
Yale

Two huge games loom on the horizon for the seemingly indestructible Elis — Saturday at Princeton and Feb. 27 at Cornell.

3.
New Hampshire

Two wins against Boston College this weekend won't necessarily cement the Wildcats' tourney hopes, but it will certainly stick a fork in the Eagles' chances.

4.
Wisconsin

The Badgers have a goal differential of plus-23 at the Kohl Center — site of the weekend's series with Denver — and minus-1 on the road.

4.
Niagara

The CHA regular-season title will likely be decided this weekend in western New York as the second-place Purps host league-leading Bemidji State

1.
Michigan

The weekend sweep of Nebraska-Omaha gave the Wolverines 23 wins this season. They've won no fewer than 21 games in each of the last 22 seasons under Red Berenson.

1.
Notre Dame

The Irish are as good as a road team as you'll find at 11-2-1. This week, they're in Omaha to face a UNO team that is 1-9-4 in its last 14 games.

2.
Miami

Trying to see which way these guys are trending? Good luck. The RedHawks opened at 4-3-3, won eight in a row, then lost five straight, and are currently 6-0-1 in their last seven.

2.
North Dakota

The Sioux are our pick to win the WCHA tournament. With one loss since Jan. 1 and their destiny in their own hands, they're looking more and more like the choice to win the regular-season crown, too.

3.
Denver

Since Jan. 1, the Pioneers are 4-4-3 and three of those wins came at Magness Arena against WCHA cellar dwellers Michigan Tech and Alaska Anchorage.

3.
Cornell

After a 13-1-3 start, the Big Red has gone 2-5-1 over their last eight games. With Union and Rensselaer visiting Ithaca this weekend, it's a good chance to halt the slide.

4.
Air Force

We've vascillated between Air Force and RIT for three weeks, but third-place Mercyhurst and fourth-place Bentley are the hottest teams in Atlantic Hockey.

4.
Minnesota Duluth

Welcome to the show, 'Dogs. To hang around, however, you'll have to do something about that 3-6-3 road record ... especially next weekend at Minnesota.

Last two in: Minnesota Duluth, New Hampshire First two out: Minnesota, Ohio State
Stock rising: Miami, Yale Stock falling: Cornell, Denver
INCH's projected auto-bids: Atlantic Hockey-Air Force; CCHA-Michigan; College Hockey America-Niagara;
ECAC Hockey-Princeton; Hockey East-Boston University; WCHA-North Dakota