After another weekend of competitive games, this weekend’s slot of games has huge playoff implications. While Augustana and Minnesota State battle for the top seed and the title of regular season champs, Bowling Green and St. Thomas are fighting for the fourth seed and a chance for home-ice advantage.
These potential playoff matchups could shift the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) standings after these key-determining series.
Battle for the top-seed
This series will feel like playoff games as this is a potential playoff matchup between two equally matched teams.
Augustana is now sitting in the top slot in the CCHA standings but that might not last very long, as the hungry Minnesota Mavericks are looking to bounce back after a split weekend against the Tommies. The No. 15 Minnesota State will need to sweep No. 19 Augustana to have the regular season champion title back in their grasp.
Considering how equal these teams are and how much noise both teams have been making in the college hockey realm, this series will be worth a watch.
The Lakers get to breathe for a bit.
After a disappointing weekend at Augustana, the Lakers seem to get a break facing the Northern Michigan Wildcats back at home and the Lakers need one.
Since the Bulldogs aren’t playing this weekend, if the Lakers sweep the Bobcats they could find themselves in a spot competing for home-ice advantage. But if they split the weekend then the situation will remain the same for the Lakers– Playoff limbo. This means they’re not good enough to get a home-ice advantage or to be favored, but not so bad that they miss out on the playoffs completely.
Bemidji State at Michigan Tech
A well-rested Michigan Tech and having rookie of the week, Elias Jansson, on your roster can already do wonders for a team’s confidence, but when facing a swept Bemidji State can help motivate the Huskies even more.
Taking all things into account, the Huskies have a chance to move up in the standings if a sweep against Augustana or Minnesota State occurs. Michigan Tech dancing around potentially achieving second seed will be huge, as the Huskies face the Vikings to following weekend.
Of course, the final top four-seed will not be solidified until this time next month so watching all four teams closely is a must in the next few weeks.
Fourth-seed matchup
A battle for the fourth seed might also feel like a playoff game. After the Tommies caused a slight upset when winning against the #15 Minnesota State Mavericks in a remarkable third-period comeback and the Falcons sweeping the Northern Michigan. This again will be determined by who has more fire.
A Falcon sweep and even a sweep would further solidify their fourth-seed standing. The Tommies however need sweep to prove themselves but also need to fight in their future matchups to earn the fourth seed.
Will a potential winning streak and home-ice advantage be enough to motivate the Falcons to victory? Or will the Tommies finally prove themselves worthy of home-ice advantage in the playoffs?