I’m done talking about nights in which MSU could win. Ohio State is a pretty good team in the scope of Big ten teams. MSU lost two games this weekend by a combined two goals. In both games, MSU was in position on both nights to at least tie the game and potentially send the tilt to a frame where State could pick up an OT win. However, MSU had trouble with scoring when they desperately needed to.

As always on Saturdays, I got to follow the MSU hockey game from behind the cash register at 7/11.

On Saturday, MSU played from behind all night. Ohio State is a very good hockey team in terms of Big Ten teams. Michigan State has played good hockey in their last four (including a 4-1 win at Michigan) outings. I had hoped that this weekend would be a big breakthrough for the Spartans.

In all honesty, This was not a horrible weekend for the Spartans. Ohio State is among a group of contenders in the Big Ten. I can see this Buckeye team winning the tournament in Detroit (RIP to the Joe). MSU kept pace with a team that absolutely has to win the Big Ten tournament to make the NCAA tournament. This is a good sign for a team whose best players seem to be their youngest players aside from Joe Cox and Rhett Holland.

Around the conference

Wisconsin swept a bad Michigan team.

Minnesota Swept Penn State. Minnesota has snuck their way in to being one of my Frozen Four teams. The Gophers are really really good.

OSU swept us. They had been inconsistent lately and a sweep against us does not say much about them. We are very bad. Ohio State is pretty decent. They’ll probably have to win the Big ten tournament to make the NCAA tournament.

Notre Dame beat Providence on Friday and tied on Saturday. I’m gonna admit that I am biased and say that I’m sad that Providence did not at least get a win this weekend. Notre Dame continues to pick up momentum heading into the Hockey East tournament.

Around the country

Air Force swept RIT this weekend and they’re at 21 wins. There’s no reason to think they won’t make the tournament. Air Force is on a strong streak, even if they don’t win the Atlantic, they should make the NCAA tournament.

Harvard beat Yale and Brown this weekend. Harvard is a great hockey team and I can definitely see them as a contender not only for the Frozen Four, but the national title.

I have not talked about Union much but they won games against Quinnipiac and Princeton this weekend and sit at the #7 spot in the country. They’re quietly one of the best teams in the country.

Boston College tied twice. They have a ton of talent but could still drop in the standings.

Boston University tied New Hampshire on Friday but rebounded and beat UNH 8-4 on Saturday. BU, despite the Beanpot loss to Harvard and tie with UNH is still my pick for the national title.

Miami had a tough weekend against Denver. Denver has been one of the strongest, most consistent teams in college hockey. It seems that Miami has needed a strong weekend for the last few months. As I said before, Miami might need a change behind the bench.

Minnesota Duluth won on Friday and tied on Saturday in a road series against a bad Colorado College team. They should hang on to the top spot.

Western Michigan came up with a huge sweep at home against North Dakota.

Ferris State swept Alaska Anchorage.

Northern Michigan was swept by Minnesota State.

Looking ahead to the NCAA tournament

1 Seeds

Minnesota Duluth

Denver University

Boston University

Minnesota

2 Seeds

Harvard

Umass Lowell

Union

Western Michigan

3 Seeds

Providence

Cornell

Boston College

Air Force

4 Seeds

North Dakota

Penn State

Bemidji State

Canisius