(#384) Evaluating the playoff races in the Big Ten, ECAC, CCHA, and Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey will become the first league to cross the regular-season finish line this weekend as they wrap up the season and begin the playoffs next week.
The ECAC, CCHA, and Big Ten will join them next weekend (the NCHC and Hockey East have three more weekends on the schedule).
Today, we look at the playoff races in Atlantic Hockey, ECAC, CCHA, and Big Ten. Who are the favorites to receive first-round byes? Home ice? Which teams have some of those things locked up already?
Plus, now that many leagues have shifted to on-campus playoffs, even the race for second place is important because it can guarantee a team home ice in the semifinals and potentially the championship game if a top seed gets knocked off.
Big Ten: It's a two-team race at the top between Michigan State and Wisconsin, but the battle for home ice in the quarterfinals is tight, and Minnesota is looking to snatch second place, which would guarantee the Gophers home ice in the semifinals.
CCHA: This race is wild! Five teams have a chance to finish in first place, and every team except Ferris State is alive for home ice in the quarterfinals.
ECAC: Quinnipiac and Cornell have first-round byes locked up, and the Bobcats are the heavy favorites to finish in the top spot. But every other team in the league is mathematically alive for a first-round bye with two weeks to play, albeit some with longer shots than others.
Atlantic Hockey: RIT clinched first place last night thanks to Bentley's win over Holy Cross. The Crusaders and Sacred Heart have clinched first-round byes. We run down probabilities for the other two first-round byes and home ice in the first round.
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