NCHC Power Rankings (3/4/2015)

For 11 weeks, I have been doing a  National Collegiate Hockey Conference Power Rankings for Inside Hockey. Three of us have contributed to the weekly NCHC Power Rankings during the 2014-15 season.

Without further adieu, here’s my weekly power rankings. (Full Power Rankings at Inside Hockey)

1. North Dakota 24-6-3 USCHO 1 Pairwise 1 Last 10: 8-1-1

This past weekend, the University of North Dakota hockey team swept (3-2 W, 3-1 W) the St. Cloud State Huskies. The win came with a cost as senior forward Mark MacMillan suffered a lower body injury and had surgery on Wednesday. MacMillan is out indefinitely and there’s a good possibly that he’s done for the year. UND has not ruled out a return, though.

This weekend, UND travels to Oxford, Ohio, to take on the Miami University RedHawks in the regular season finale. UND needs a single point to secure the Penrose Cup outright.

Sidebar note: All season long, we’ve heard how UND isn’t as good as their record. That being said, UND has at least a share of the regular-season title in one of the best college hockey conferences in the country.

2. Miami 20-11-1 USCHO 5 Pairwise 4 Last 10: 6-3-1

This past weekend, the Miami University RedHawks split (5-3 W, 2-6 L) their weekend series with the Denver University Pioneers.

This weekend, the RedHawks entertain UND in an important two-game series. If Miami can sweep, they will tie with UND for the top spot in the NCHC standings. I can’t think of a better way to end the regular season, UND vs. Miami.

3. Denver 19-11-2 USCHO 7 Pairwise 8 Last 10: 5-4-1

This past weekend, the Denver University Pioneers split (3-5 W, 6-2 W) their weekend series with the Miami RedHawks.

This weekend, the Pioneers travel to St. Cloud to take on the Huskies at the National Hockey Center. The Pioneers swept the Huskies at home earlier in the season.

3. Duluth 19-12-3 USCHO 6 Pairwise 3 Last 10: 5-3-2

This past weekend, The University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and the University of Nebraska-Omaha played to a pair of 1-1 ties. True to form, the Mavericks won both shootouts and are now 3-0 in the shootout this season.

The good news for the Bulldogs is that the games will officially count as a tie in the Pairwise Rankings.

This weekend, the Bulldogs travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to take on the Western Michigan Broncos in the season finale. The Bulldogs tied and lost the Broncos earlier in the season.

5. Nebraska-Omaha 17-10-5 USCHO 8 Pairwise 5 Last 10: 3-5-2

This past weekend, University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs played to a pair of 1-1 ties. The Mavericks secured the extra point both nights by winning in the shootout.

This season, the Mavericks are 3-0 in the shootout.

This weekend, the Mavericks entertain the Colorado College Tigers at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Ironically, the Mavericks were the first team to lose to the Tigers earlier in the season. After coming out of the gates fast, the Mavericks have kind of tailed off a bit. Currently, the Mavericks are ranked fifth in the Pairwise Rankings, but with a couple of bad losses would drop quickly in the Pairwise Rankings.

6. St. Cloud State 15-16-1 USCHO N/R Pairwise 17 Last 10: 6-4-0

This past weekend, the Huskies were swept (2-3 L, 1-3 L) by North Dakota on the road.

This weekend, the Huskies entertain the Denver Pioneers. The Huskies are in dire need of wins. A couple of wins for the Huskies would put them back in the running for an at-large NCAA bid.

A sweep for the Huskies could give them the momentum going into the NCHC playoffs. Being swept by the Pioneers, would probably torpedo their NCAA tournament hopes.

7. Western Michigan 12-15-5 USCHO N/R Pairwise 27 Last 10: 2-6-2

This past weekend, the Western Michigan Bronco tied and lost (2-2 T, 0-5 L) to the Colorado College Tigers. The Broncos won the shootout on Friday night to secure the extra point.

This weekend, the Bronco’s look to right the ship after experiencing a tough February that saw the Broncos go 1-5-1.

This weekend, the Bronco entertain Minnesota-Duluth. The Broncos beat and tied the Bulldogs earlier in the season.

8. Colorado College 6-23-2 USCHO N/R Pairwise 49 Last 10: 1-8-1

This past weekend, the Colorado College Tigers took four-of-six points from the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos won the shootout on Friday night. The Tigers got their second conference win of the season on Saturday night to get their first series win of the year.

This weekend, the Tigers Travel to Omaha, Nebraska, to take on the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the season finale. The Mavericks had the dubious honor of being the first team to lose to the Tigers.