Faceoff Factor

NCAA Power Rankings - Week of 2/5 (Special Beanpot Recap Inside)

Andrew Chiappazzi | College/NCAA

Feb 5, 09:34 PM | Hype this story!

Instead of some pithy remarks about another set of jumbled rankings, here’s a quick recap of the first round of the Beanpot.

It’s a symbol of how fall Boston has fallen this year. They will not be in the Beanpot final next Monday for the first time in 14 years, falling to Boston College 4-3 in overtime. It should not have been that close for the Eagles, but the oft-maligned Nathan Gerbe came through with two crucial goals to first tie and then win the game for BC. Boston had appeared in 23 of the past 24 Beanpot Finals, but they’ll play the early game against Northeastern next Monday.

The Huskies had no answer for Harvard, which is the first time the Crimson will be playing late on Monday since 1998. Harvard outshot Northeastern 33-19 and built up a 3-0 first period lead before winning 3-1.

The consolation game is at 5:00 at the TD Banknorth Fleet Center, while Boston College and Harvard will play at 8:00 on NESN.

Meanwhile, The Top 20:
1. (1) Miami of Ohio (25-3-0) – CCHA
Only the Friday game versus Michigan is on CSTV – the other is FSN Detroit – so if you want to see the two best teams battle it out, do it Friday night. Or travel to Oxford, Ohio.
2. (2) Michigan (22-3-3) – CCHA
Lucky. Two ties with Northern Michigan doesn’t hurt them in the rankings because no one behind them stepped up.
3. (5) Colorado College (20-7-1) – WCHA
Clarkson was no match for the Tigers, and considering the missteps in front of them, they’ve solidified their position in the Top 3.
4. (3) Michigan State (18-6-5) – CCHA
Spartans were so close, and then they ran into Nebraska-Omaha. So much for that optimism.
5. (4) Denver (18-8-0) – WCHA
Speaking of misguided optimism, I think Denver just wants to forget this past weekend ever happened. It might be hard, though.
6. (6) Notre Dame (20-9-1) – CCHA
Irish with a quiet weekend off and what should be a harmless matchup with Ferris State coming up.
7. (7) North Dakota (17-8-2) – WCHA
Good enough to take care of the Gophers, and now they can rest.
8. (8) New Hampshire (16-7-1) – Hockey East
Easily took care of their one game versus Maine, and now two with Vermont could help them pad their lead.
9. (9) Boston College (13-6-7) – Hockey East
They lost to upstart Providence before regrouping versus Boston in the Beanpot. But they need to play better to truly find a surge into the conference tourney.
10. (10) Clarkson (15-9-2) – ECAC
They lost to Colorado College, and since no one is better behind them, I won’t punish them.
11. (11) Niagara (15-8-2) – CHA
Tied St. Lawrence in an otherwise uneventful weekend, so they stay put as well.
12. (12) St. Cloud State (11-12-3) – WCHA
And a third team with no games this weekend. St. Cloud State, however, has to make a move soon or they’ll drop quickly.
13. (13) Massachusetts (10-9-6) – Hockey East
A split with Maine and Northeastern, but the important game comes against BC on Friday. Otherwise, they’ll continue to drop like they have the past few weeks.
14. (14) Northeastern (12-9-3) – Hockey East
Another dropper of late that’s stabilized thanks to an ambiguous weekend – good conference win, weak Beanpot loss.
15. (15) Air Force (13-10-5) – Atlantic Hockey
Three points versus Bentley, now more crucial points coming up versus a resurgent Mercyhurst team.
16. (16) Princeton (12-9-0) – ECAC
It would have been a quality week except for a loss to surprising Union. Two out of three ain’t bad…
17. (17) RIT (13-10-4) – Atlantic Hockey
First place may still be theirs, but only barely. Splits against the likes of American International won’t help them pull away.
18. (18) Quinnipiac (15-7-4) – ECAC
Nice rebound by taking three of four from RPI and Union this weekend after getting walloped by Niagara.
19. (19) Massachusetts-Lowell (12-9-4) – Hockey East
Perhaps the poster-child for all of these teams in the bottom half of the rankings, a perfect example of a team close to the top in their respective conferences that can’t quite make the jump. They win one, they lose one, and the pattern has continued all year.
20. (NR) Minnesota State (13-10-4) – WCHA
Welcome back to the Mavericks. Sweeping the then #3 team in the rankings will bring you back amongst the successful.

DROPPED OUT #20 Minnesota

ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN:
Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Cornell, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota, Providence, Union