Spittin Chiclets College Hockey Rankings (Week 24 - Conference Playoffs)
1. St. Cloud State
2. Cornell
3. Denver
4. Notre Dame
5. Ohio State
6. Northeastern
7. Minnesota State
8. Clarkson
9. Minnesota Duluth
10. Providence
Tournament time is almost here. So, the top-10 isn’t really seeing many changes. The biggest one is Minnesota State falling from #6 to #7 after falling to Michigan Tech in overtime on Saturday in the WCHA Quarterfinals. Michigan Tech will head to Northern Michigan for the WCHA championship this week, with the winner getting an automatic bid into the tournament.
#2 St. Cloud State had their way with Miami of Ohio in the NCHC quarterfinals. Winning the series 2-1. Winning Friday 5-2, losing Saturday 3-2, and then winning the series in overtime 4-3 on Sunday. The Huskies will welcome the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota to St. Cloud on Friday with a chance to play in the NCHC championship on the line. Not like the game matters for SCSU, they’ll be a one seed regardless, win or lose, going into the tournament. Definitely wouldn’t help a bubble team trying to get in if SCSU loses. Unless Denver wins. Both are dancing regardless.
#3 Denver won their series against Colorado College this past weekend 2-1. Falling 2-0 in the opening game, followed up by a 3-2 win and a 6-1 win. Henrik Borgstrom continued his quest for a Hobey with some highlight goals. Kid is such a stud. The Panthers have a legitimate prospect coming their way. DU will face #9 Minnesota Duluth on Friday, winner get a chance to play in the NCHC title game against the winner of SCSU vs North Dakota.
#4 Notre Dame and #5 Ohio State will meet in the Big10 championship this upcoming weekend after both teams won their semifinal games. #5 Ohio State needed overtime to take down Michigan, who all signs point to getting an automatic bid. But the Buckeyes won 3-2 Saturday night against the Wolverines in OT. Notre Dame took down Penn State 3-2 on Saturday as well with a late goal in the final minute to give them the lead. Penn State is another team who has a good chance at getting an automatic bid. The Big10 was great this year, and they will be well represented in the tournament.
Advertisement
#6 Northeastern and #10 Providence will face off in the Hockey East Semifinals this weekend after both teams swept their Quarterfinals series. Northeastern took down Cale Makar and UMass 3-2 on Friday night then followed up with a 7-2 victory on Saturday. The Huskies right now are my pick to win the Hockey East but they’ll have to go through a tough Providence team first. The Friars swept an underrated UMaine team this weekend winning 4-3 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday. The winner of NU vs PC will play the winner of BU vs BC in the Hockey Easy finals at the TD Garden on Saturday.
GOAL OF THE WEEK:
No question it goes to Harvard’s Ryan Donato. Whether he wins the Hobey Baker or not, he is the best player in college hockey and goals like this prove it. This was unbelievable.
CELLY OF THE WEEK:
Advertisement
There is no celly, like a playoff overtime celly. Shout out to Ohio State and Matthew Weiss. This was a beauty.