UMD new No. 1 in both national polls, Gophers No. 2

Minnesota Duluth, which swept Michigan Tech last weekend in Houghton, Mich.. is the new No. 1 team in the USCHO.com poll.

The Bulldogs collected 25 of a possible 50 first-place votes, but four other teams also received votes, including the Gophers who moved up to No. 2.

UMD is 11-3-2 but has a 12-game unbeaten streak (10-0-2) since losing two 5-4 games to the Gophers despite 50 shots on goal each game. The Bulldogs, of course, are the defending NCAA champions and were ranked No. 4 last week.

But the three teams above them -- Merrimack, No. 1 last week, and Boston College and Notre Dame, tied for No. 2 -- were a combined 1-5 last weekend. Merrimack was swept by Providence and Notre Dame by Northeastern while BC split with Boston University.

That created the opening for both UMD and the Gophers, No. 5 last week, to climb in the poll.

After UMD and the Gophers, Boston College is third with eight first-place votes, Ohio State is fourth with seven, Merrimack is fifth with none, Colorado College is sixth with none and Notre Dame is seventh with one.

USA TODAY POLL AGREES

GOPHERS TIED FOR FOURTH IN PAIRWISE

In the PairWise ratings, which really do matter at the end of the season, the Gophers are tied for fourth with UMD and Notre Dame.

First is Ohio State, followed by Boston College and Merrimack.

The PairWise ratings are a statistical comparison of the nation's top teams and it mimics how the NCAA fills 11 at-large spots for its postseason tournament. Five spots automatically go to the teams that win conference tournaments such as the Final Five.