A little late this week… better late than never?
Excitement is certainly in the air. Weather is getting warmer; the regular season is winding down and conference playoffs are ahead. Unfortunately Team USA has been eliminated from the Olympics however, that means college players representing the country will be returning to campus.
Atlantic Hockey:
AIC had their 11-game win streak snapped last weekend, but the Yellow Jackets are still in complete control of the conference. AIC is a point away from their fourth straight regular season championship, which would join Minnesota, Harvard, Minnesota State, and Boston University as the only NCAA Men’s Hockey programs to win four straight regular season conference championships.
Big Ten:
Minnesota’s big sweep of Ohio State makes things very interesting in the Big Ten with two weekends of hockey left to determine a regular season champion. Michigan leads the conference over Minnesota by two points and by three points over Ohio State. The Buckeyes and Wolverines meet this weekend.
CCHA:
Minnesota State and Michigan Tech have locked up home-ice in their respective quarterfinal series of the CCHA playoffs. While Bemidji State is heading in that direction, Lake Superior State is suddenly knocking on Bowling Green’s door for the fourth seed and a home playoff series. Lake Superior and Bowling Green end the season with a pair of games, ones that could ultimately decide who gets home ice in the opening round.
ECAC:
With Quinnipiac holding a one-point lead over Clarkson in the ECAC standings, it appears as if crowning a regular season champion won’t be possible until the conference’s final weekend.
Hockey East:
Winners of the Beanpot, Boston University is absolutely rolling and is going to be a tough out in the Hockey East playoffs. Two points behind UMass-Lowell and Massachusetts, the Hockey East crown is within reach for the Terriers.
NCHC:
The best story of the weekend came from Minnesota-Duluth’s Zach Stejskal. The contest was Stejskal’s first since October. In November, he revealed a diagnosis of testicular cancer. It was a long road back to the ice for Stejskal, but an amazing story of perseverance and determination.
Here are this week’s HockeyBuzz NCAA Top-10 Power Rankings:
Minnesota State 27-5-0 (19-3-0 CCHA) | Last week: 1
The Mavericks had this past weekend off, returning to action this weekend with a set against Bemidji State. The Mavericks are closing in on their fifth straight conference regular season championship and can do so this weekend.
2) Michigan 23-7-1 (14-6-0 Big Ten) | Last week: 3
Even with some of their star power in China for the Olympics, Michigan continues to roll, sweeping Michigan State this weekend with ease. Up next is a massive weekend with Ohio State, one that can severely impact the conference standings and where they end up.
3) Denver 21-6-1 (14-4-0 NCHC) | Last week: 2
The Pioneers are coming off a weekend with Minnesota Duluth where the two split an entertaining set. Denver walked out of Friday with a 5-3 victory before dropping Saturday’s contest 3-2. Denver is as deep as they come in the NCHC with eight scorers already reaching double digits in goals.
4) Quinnipiac 25-3-3 (14-2-1 ECAC) | Last week: 4
I don’t think Quinnipiac gets the credit it deserves nationally in large part due to a weaker ECAC this year. Although they had a tough 3-1 loss to Clarkson this past weekend, they’ve only lost three times in total. What’s been most impressive about the Bobcats this season has been their ability to keep the puck out of their own net. Only three times have they allowed more than two goals in a game.
5) Western Michigan 19-7-1 (11-6-1 NCHC) | Last week: 5
The Broncos faced a little bit of difficulty this past weekend for the first time in a while in their series with Minnesota Duluth. Western Michigan won Friday’s high-scoring contest in the shootout and then dropped Saturday’s contest 4-1.
6) Minnesota 19-11-0 (14-9-0 Big Ten) | Last week: NR
I really wanted to get Minnesota into the rankings last week. After their weekend sweep of Ohio State, here they are, and here they are in the middle of the rankings. To sweep Ohio State is something, to do it without Brock Faber, Ben Meyers and Matthew Knies who are all on their way back from representing Team USA in China is another thing.
7) Ohio State 21-9-2 (13-7-2 Big Ten) | Last week: 6
Although they struggled with their series against Minnesota, the Buckeyes are still a top team in the Big Ten and a legitimate contender for both the regular and postseason championships. Bruins’ prospect Mason Lohrei leads all freshmen defensemen in points with 29.
8) Michigan Tech 18-9-2 (15-6-1 CCHA) | Last week: 8
The Huskies continue to close the gap in the CCHA standings, but it may be too little, too late. Nonetheless, the Huskies continue to roll despite a tough 4-2 loss to Bowling Green on Saturday. It was the Huskies first regulation loss since Dec. 30.
9) Boston University 17-10-3 (11-6-3 Hockey East) | Last week: NR
Fresh off their first Beanpot victory since 2015, the Terriers make their first appearance in the rankings. Since the beginning of December, the Terriers have lost just once in regulation and have now won seven in a row. Things should be getting better for Boston University with the upcoming return of goalie Drew Commesso who is returning from the Olympics.
10) North Dakota 17-11-1 (12-5-1 NCHC) | Last week: NR
The Fighting Hawks are back in rankings. With their weekend sweep of Colorado College, North Dakota finds itself two points behind Minnesota in the NCHC. North Dakota has won five of six and will finish the regular season up with a pair of difficult series against Duluth and Western Michigan.
Previously ranked teams missing the cut: Notre Dame & Massachusetts
Other teams considered: Minnesota Duluth & St. Cloud State
Top-10 Power Rankings:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Prospect Reports:
Nathan Smith - Minnesota State/Jets Prospect
Josh Doan – Arizona State/Coyotes Prospect
Scott Morrow – UMass/Hurricanes Prospect
Mason Lohrei Ohio State/Bruins Prospect
Carter Savoie Denver/Oilers Prospect 
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