The Gophers men's hockey team is No. 1 in both major national polls, but not by much.

The Gophers received 28 of a possible 50 first-place votes from coaches and hockey writers and other sports pros in the USCHO.com ratings, Quinnipiac got the other 22.

The Gophers are 18-4-4 overall after a split with Minnesota State Mankato last weekend in a home and home series. Each team won on the other's home ice.

Quinnipiac is 18-3-3.

The Bobcats also are second to the U in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. In that poll, the Gophers got 23 first-place votes, Quinnipiac 11. The Gophers retained the top spot for the fifth week in a row.

Five other WCHA teams also cracked USA Today's top 15: North Dakota is No. 8, Denver No. 10 and, in succession at the bottom, come St. Cloud State, Nebraska Omaha and Minnesota State at No. 13, 14 and 15, respectively.

But in the only rankings that really matter, Quinnipiac is No. 1 in the PairWise, meaning the Bobcats would be the top seed in the NCAA tournament if it were starting today because the NCAA seedings mimic those rankings.

The Gophers are No. 2 in the PairWise rankings. New Hampshire and Miami are tied for No. 3.