Each week, Zach Hawkins @Siouxhockey33, Taylor Seibel @taylorseibel and Eric Burton @goon48 will break down the NCHC power rankings at Inside Hockey. Here’s how my National Collegiate Hockey Conference Power Rankings shakeout.
1. North Dakota 20-6-3 Pairwise 2 USCHO 1 Last 10: 7-2-1 (.750)
This past weekend, the University of North Dakota took four-of-six points (4-2 W, 3-3 Tie) from the Denver Pioneers at home.
With about 4:12 remaining in the game, UND thought senior forward Brendan O’Donnell had scored the go-ahead goal. Video in the press box confirmed that the puck was clearly in the net. For some reason, the on-ice officials couldn’t find any video to confirm that the puck was in the net. UND would lose in the shootout 1-0.
Fun fact: Last season, UND did not compete in a single shootout. This season, UND has been in two shootouts and is 0-2. They haven’t scored a goal in two shutouts.
This week, UND travels to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to play the Western Michigan Broncos.
2. Miami 18-9-1 Pairwise 6 USCHO 6 Last 10: 6-3-1 (.650)
This past weekend, Miami swept (3-1 W, 2-1 L) the Colorado College Tigers.
This week, the RedHawks entertain the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in Oxford.
2. Omaha 17-8-3 Pairwise 4 USCHO 5 Last 10: 7-3-0 (.700)
This past weekend, the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks split (1-2 L, 3-1 W) their series with the Western Michigan Broncos in Omaha.
This weekend, the Mavericks travel to St. Cloud to take on the Huskies.
4. UMD 18-11-1 Pairwise 4 USCHO 7 Last 10: 5-4-1 (.550)
This past weekend, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs split (4-2 W, 1-4 L) their weekend series with the St. Cloud State Huskies. The Bulldogs broke a four-game winning streak with the loss on Saturday.
This weekend, the Bulldogs travel to Oxford, Ohio, to play the Miami RedHawks.
5. Denver 16-10-2 Pairwise 9 USCHO 9 Last 10: 5-4-1 (.550)
This past weekend, the Denver Pioneers took two points (2-4 L, 3-3 T) from UND. Denver won the shootout on Saturday night 1-0.
This weekend, the Pioneers play a home-and-home series with their cross-state rivals.
6. St. Cloud 13-14-1 pairwise 19 USCHO N/R Last 10: 5-4-1 (.550)
This past weekend, the St. Cloud State Huskies split (2-4 L, 4-1 W) their weekend series with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
This week, the Huskies entertain the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. Earlier in the season, the Mavericks swept the Huskies in Omaha.
7. Western Michigan 12-12-4 Pairwise 23 USCHO N/R Last 10: 5-3-2 (.600)
TThis past weekend, the Western Michigan Bronco split (2-1 W, 1-3 L) their series against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.
This week, the Broncos entertain UND in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The two teams have yet to meet this season.
8. Colorado College 5-21-1 Pairwise 49 USCHO N/R Last 10: 2-8-0 (.200)
Last weekend, the Colorado College Tigers were swept by the Miami RedHawks in the Colorado Springs. The Tigers fell victim to some poor officiating this past weekend.
A tying score by Tigers junior Cody Bradley with 9:05 left in the third was waved off and No. 7 Miami held on for a road National Collegiate Hockey Conference sweep with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
The score was waved off following a five-minute video review that ruled there was goalie interference when junior Hunter Fejes came in contact with Miami netminder Jay Williams after Fejes’ initial shot left a rebound in front for Bradley (Joe Paisley, The Gazette)
The Tigers have lost eight straight games and have been outscored by the opposition 9 – 32.
This week, the Tigers take on the Denver Pioneers in a home-and-homes series.
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