The Final Stretch
The PairWise Ratings mimic the formula the NCAA uses to fill its 16-team men's hockey tournament field. Six spots are filled by conference tournament champions, and 10 at-large spots go to the highest-ranked remaining teams. With selection Sunday coming March 24, here's a look at the top 16 heading into the weekend (*notes conference leader):
TeamRecord
1. St. Cloud State*21-4-3
2. Massachusetts*21-6-0
3. Ohio State*19-5-4
4. Minnesota Duluth17-7-2
5. Quinnipiac*21-6-1
6. MSU Mankato*24-6-2
7. Denver15-6-4
8. Cornell15-6-2
9. Arizona State19-10-1
10. Western Michigan16-9-1
11. Mass.-Lowell17-8-2
12. Clarkson19-9-0
13. Harvard13-7-3
14. Northeastern17-9-1
15. Bowling Green18-8-3
28. American Int'l*17-12-1
Other Big Ten teams
16. Notre Dame15-10-3
18. Penn State16-10-2
22. Michigan12-12-6
29. Michigan State10-15-5
30. Gophers11-14-4
35. Wisconsin9-14-5