The NCAA hockey regular season is nearing a close, but that only makes the remaining games even more crucial. Saturday’s schedule features a number of key matchups, including a few crucial conference tournament games.
2013 NCAA Hockey schedule: Postseason implications high on Saturday
With the NCAA hockey regular season winding down, the stakes are high as teams attempt to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes. Saturday’s schedule includes several games which could have a major impact on the postseason, including a few key conference tournament games.
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In the AHA Tournament, Robert Morris will attempt to remain a team under consideration as it continues its series with Sacred Heart. The Colonials knocked off Sacred Heart 4-1 on Friday and could benefit from another win on Saturday. Robert Morris is one of several teams under consideration in action on Saturday.
Alaska may be playing for its postseason life on Saturday when the Nanooks host Michigan State in the CCHA Tournament. As USCHO’s Jayson Moy wrote in his latest bracketology blog, elimination from the CCHA Tournament could doom Alaska’s chances at an at-large bid. Alaska isn’t the only team playing for its postseason life in the CCHA Tournament. After losing to Michigan on Friday, Northern Michigan could be facing a must-win on Saturday.
Saturday’s schedule in the ECAC Tournament features multiple games with postseason implications. Brown and Cornell both notched wins on Friday and each could use another win on Saturday to remain a team under consideration. Brown will face Clarkson on Saturday while Cornell will square off against Princeton. St. Lawrence will attempt to win a second straight game against Colgate as the Saints attempt to stay in consideration. After losing on Friday, Dartmouth’s game against Harvard on Saturday may be a must-win as well.
Teams from Hockey East and the WCHA are yet to begin their conference tournaments, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be important matchups on Saturday. Saturday’s WCHA schedule will include a top-10 matchup as No. 5 North Dakota and No. 10 Minnesota State square off. No. 14 Wisconsin will also be in action as the Badgers take on No. 8 St. Cloud State.
No. 4 New Hampshire, No. 6 Boston College, No. 7 Massachusetts-Lowell and No. 19 Boston University aren’t on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but all four teams will attempt to improve their resumes on Saturday. New Hampshire will host Maine with Boston University traveling to Northeastern, Boston College on the road against Vermont and Massachusetts-Lowell hosting Providence.
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