With the regular season over, it's fun to look ahead and see what could happen.
One possibility is a great West Regional at the X later this month. Minnesota Duluth seems like it could be headed there. And, if it gets there, and wins its first game, the Bulldogs could meet the Gophers for the regional final.
A lot has to happen before that, but it is setting up that way.
If the Gophers make the NCAA field, they will for sure be assigned to the X.
If the top two teams in the WCHA do meet, it could be an epic battle. They met twice in Duluth in October and both games were nail-biters. The Gophers won both 5-4, the first game in overtime.
The Bulldogs put 50 shots on goal each night. The Gophers nearly matched them the first game.
Of course, even before that, the Gophers and UMD are on a collision course to meet in the Final Five if both win their first-round series next weekend and their semifinal game in the Final Five. Both would have byes in the quarterfinals.
HOW NCAA FIELD SHAPING UP