Home teams for playoffs could be settled tonight

Three WCHA teams have clinched home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. They are Denver, which has won nine games in a row, and idle St. Cloud State and Wisconsin.

The other two home ice teams could be determined tonight. If North Dakota and UMD both win tonight, they will host the other two series.

Then it will be just a question of which of those two teams finishes fourth, and whether Colorado College or the Gophers finish sixth.

Here is how the WCHA breaks down the conference race:

* Minnesota Duluth can clinch home ice tonight with a win OR a tie AND a Colorado College loss to or tie with North Dakota

* North Dakota can clinch home ice tonight with a win AND a Minnesota loss to UMD

* Denver clinches the WCHA regular season championship with a win OR a DU tie AND a Wisconsin loss or tie OR a DU loss AND a Wisconsin loss

Just looking at the standings, the Gophers will probably play at either UMD or North Dakota in the first round. Just guessing, but Minnesota probably would prefer a return trip to Duluth. The weather was great this weekend and probably will be better in two weeks, the rink is cozy and the chances of advancing to the Final Five would be better, too.