Here is what we know heading into the final week of regular season play:
MINNESOTA - Likely the #1 seed and hosting Anchorage. This isn't a foregone conclusion, but certainly the most likely scenario. Interesting rematch from last year when the Seawolves ended the Gophers' season at Mariucci.
DULUTH - Likely the #2 seed and hosting Mankato. Again, they could catch the Gophers, but they will have to make up 3 pts to do it (MN holds the tie-breaker). Denver can't catch the Bulldogs as Duluth holds the tie-breaker.
DU, UND - Denver has the upper hand here with a 3pt lead over UND, but considering the opponents this final week (DU @ UNO and UND hosting Mankato) it's not necessarily a sure thing. What we do know is that almost certainly these teams will be finishing in 3rd/4th and hosting either Wisconsin or Bemidji.
CC, UNO, TECH - This is where it gets interesting. What is nearly certain is that Tech will play either CC, UNO or *possibly* SCSU; but whether Tech hosts or goes on the road is still up in the air. If Tech can take 3pts at CC this coming weekend, they will get to host a WCHA play-off series for the first time in...well...pause while I go look this up...**** it, I don't have the patience. A really long time. UNO has a tough go of it with Denver coming in, so even if Tech splits they might sneak into the top half. UNO holds the tie-break should the two teams end with equal points. At any rate, it will be some intense games this coming weekend in Colorado Springs and Omaha, and that play-off series between the 6th and 7th seed is likely to be a barn-burner.
ST. CLOUD - Almost certainly will finish in 7th or 8th. An outside chance they could sneak into home ice for the first round, but they have to catch 2 teams to do it, and with the #1 team in the PWR coming into their barn that will be a difficult task. SCSU will go on the road to Houghton, Omaha or Colorado Springs. Despite the Huskies bottom-half finish this season, this is going to be a scary team to host in the first round.
WISCONSIN - Most likely the 9 seed, although they could fall to #10 (Wisco travels to conference leaders MN and Bemidji, right on Wisco's heels, goes to last place Anchorage). There is an outside chance UW creeps up to 8th but that is extremely unlikely, as they would have to sweep MN in Minneapolis and hope St. Cloud fails to earn a point at home. Wisconsin will be traveling to either DU or UND for the first round, which should make for some rough and tumble WCHA play-off games
BEMIDJI - Will finish in either 9th or 10th and face either DU or UND away in the first round. Mankato could theoretically catch the Beavers, but seeing as the Mavericks head to Grand Forks next weekend and BSU to Anchorage, that seems highly unlikely.
MANKATO - UAA can't catch them, and they almost certainly won't catch Bemidji. Looks like the Purple Mavericks will go to Duluth for the first round.
ANCHORAGE - Destined to finish in 12th. Most likely will travel to Minneapolis to try to duplicate their post-season upset of the Gophers of last year.
That's where we currently stand....
MINNESOTA - Likely the #1 seed and hosting Anchorage. This isn't a foregone conclusion, but certainly the most likely scenario. Interesting rematch from last year when the Seawolves ended the Gophers' season at Mariucci.
DULUTH - Likely the #2 seed and hosting Mankato. Again, they could catch the Gophers, but they will have to make up 3 pts to do it (MN holds the tie-breaker). Denver can't catch the Bulldogs as Duluth holds the tie-breaker.
DU, UND - Denver has the upper hand here with a 3pt lead over UND, but considering the opponents this final week (DU @ UNO and UND hosting Mankato) it's not necessarily a sure thing. What we do know is that almost certainly these teams will be finishing in 3rd/4th and hosting either Wisconsin or Bemidji.
CC, UNO, TECH - This is where it gets interesting. What is nearly certain is that Tech will play either CC, UNO or *possibly* SCSU; but whether Tech hosts or goes on the road is still up in the air. If Tech can take 3pts at CC this coming weekend, they will get to host a WCHA play-off series for the first time in...well...pause while I go look this up...**** it, I don't have the patience. A really long time. UNO has a tough go of it with Denver coming in, so even if Tech splits they might sneak into the top half. UNO holds the tie-break should the two teams end with equal points. At any rate, it will be some intense games this coming weekend in Colorado Springs and Omaha, and that play-off series between the 6th and 7th seed is likely to be a barn-burner.
ST. CLOUD - Almost certainly will finish in 7th or 8th. An outside chance they could sneak into home ice for the first round, but they have to catch 2 teams to do it, and with the #1 team in the PWR coming into their barn that will be a difficult task. SCSU will go on the road to Houghton, Omaha or Colorado Springs. Despite the Huskies bottom-half finish this season, this is going to be a scary team to host in the first round.
WISCONSIN - Most likely the 9 seed, although they could fall to #10 (Wisco travels to conference leaders MN and Bemidji, right on Wisco's heels, goes to last place Anchorage). There is an outside chance UW creeps up to 8th but that is extremely unlikely, as they would have to sweep MN in Minneapolis and hope St. Cloud fails to earn a point at home. Wisconsin will be traveling to either DU or UND for the first round, which should make for some rough and tumble WCHA play-off games
BEMIDJI - Will finish in either 9th or 10th and face either DU or UND away in the first round. Mankato could theoretically catch the Beavers, but seeing as the Mavericks head to Grand Forks next weekend and BSU to Anchorage, that seems highly unlikely.
MANKATO - UAA can't catch them, and they almost certainly won't catch Bemidji. Looks like the Purple Mavericks will go to Duluth for the first round.
ANCHORAGE - Destined to finish in 12th. Most likely will travel to Minneapolis to try to duplicate their post-season upset of the Gophers of last year.
That's where we currently stand....
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