This past weekend seemingly featured one big series from each of the six conferences with major standings implications in play across the board.
Atlantic Hockey: American International finally suffered its first loss of the calendar year, losing Saturday’s contest with Holy Cross 5-4. RIT had a nice weekend with Bentley, picking up a pair of wins including Sunday’s contest in the shootout.
Big Ten: Penn State and Ohio State split their weekend series with Penn State earning the extra point in the shootout on Saturday. Notre Dame and Minnesota also split their crucial weekend series while Michigan had no issues sweeping a Wisconsin team that continues to struggle.
CCHA: Michigan Tech kept on rolling, earning a pair of wins over Bemidji State. The Huskies have won four straight and now sit second in the conference, trailing Minnesota State in the standings.
ECAC: It was a tough week for Cornell, falling in the shutout to Dartmouth Friday and Harvard Saturday. Cornell has struggled of late with one win in its last five.
Hockey East: With wins over UMass and Providence, the Boston University Terriers continue to turn their season around, winners of three straight and seven of their last eight. The run of late has helped them rise in the Hockey East standings, currently third in the conference.
NCHC: Western Michigan and Minnesota Duluth was the highlight of the weekend and the series certainly did not disappoint. The series was split between the two in two entertaining one-goal games.
Here are this week’s HockeyBuzz NCAA Top-10 Power Rankings:
1) Minnesota State 25-5-0 (17-3-0 CCHA) | Last week: 1
Credit to Arizona State for giving the Mavericks two of their tougher wins of the year this past weekend, but like it has been for most of the season, it was a weekend that featured a Minnesota State. Nathan Smith continued his national dominance with a six-point weekend. Smith leads college hockey with 41 points.
2) Denver 18-5-1 (11-3-0 NCHC) | Last week: 2
With all the talented teams inside the NCHC, it’s difficult to pin one as the top team in the conference. If you had to, however, Denver is probably the best choice. With their weekend sweep of Miami, the Pioneers have won six in a row and have not lost in regulation since Dec. 11, a loss to Minnesota Duluth.
3) Michigan 21-7-1 (12-6-0 Big Ten) | Last week: 5
Without Owen Power and Kent Johnson who both are with Team Canada in preparation for the Olympics, Michigan had no issues with Wisconsin this past weekend, sweeping its set with the Badgers. With Brendan Brisson and Matty Beniers joining Team USA, things are going to become difficult for Michigan. Series with Michigan State, Ohio State and Notre Dame await.
4) Quinnipiac 21-2-3 (10-1-1 ECAC) |Last week: 4
The Bobcats were the winners of the Connecticut Ice Tournament over the weekend, getting to the final with a 3-2 overtime win over Sacred Heart and winning the tournament with a 2-0 shutout of Connecticut. With 10 conference games left on the docket, Quinnipiac holds a slim one point lead over Clarkson.
5) Western Michigan 17-6-0 (9-5-0 NCHC) | Last week: 3
As mentioned above, it was an entertaining weekend between Western Michigan and Minnesota Duluth, an important weekend for both in the conference standings. After their upcoming series with Colorado College, the Broncos host Denver and then head to North Dakota, the two teams currently ahead of them in the conference standings.
6) Ohio State 19-7-2 (11-5-2 Big Ten) | Last week: 10
It’s a massive jump in the rankings for Ohio State, but a well-deserved one. After a shootout loss to Penn State on Friday, the Buckeyes responded with a 6-0 shutout on Saturday and have not lost in regulation since Dec. 10. With all the star players Michigan will have in China over the next few weeks, Ohio State could be sitting atop the Big Ten standings this time next week.
7) St. Cloud State 14-7-1 (6-5-1 NCHC) | Last week: 6
It was a tough weekend for the Huskies in a much anticipated matchup with North Dakota. After a lopsided 7-1 loss Friday night to the Fighting Hawks, the Huskies bounced back Saturday but it still was not enough, eventually losing in the shootout. Friday’s loss snapped the Huskies’ four game win streak.
8) Notre Dame 18-8-0 (10-6-0 Big Ten) | Last week: 7
The Irish split their weekend series with Minnesota, needing overtime for the win on Saturday. After four straight wins in early January, Notre Dame has cooled off a bit, splitting wins and losses in their last four.
9) Michigan Tech 14-8-1 (11-5-0 CCHA) | Last week: NR
Welcome to the rankings, Michigan Tech. The Huskies continued their climb in the CCHA standings, leapfrogging Bemidji State who they swept this past weekend. It was another stellar weekend between the pipes for Blake Pietila whose been one of the better goalies in all of college hockey.
10) UMass 13-8-2 (10-4-2 Hockey East) | Last week: 9
The Minutemen barely hold onto a spot in the rankings which means they’ll have a dominate week ahead and jump several spots. After losses to Boston University and Providence, the defending national champions responded with a big bounce back win over UMass-Lowell, saving their week. Next up is a home non-conference set with Long Island.
Previously ranked teams missing the cut: Cornell
Other teams considered: Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota North Dakota & Boston University
Top-10 Power Rankings:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Prospect Reports:
Nathan Smith - Minnesota State/Jets Prospect
Josh Doan – Arizona State/Coyotes Prospect
Scott Morrow – UMass/Hurricanes Prospect
Mason Lohrei Ohio State/Bruins Prospect
Carter Savoie Denver/Oilers Prospect 
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