After a weekend sweep of Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota extended its run at No. 1 to five weeks in the USCHO.com/CSTV Networks Division I men’s poll. The Gophers picked up one additional first-place vote for a total of 39 out of 40 in Monday’s release.
The Gophers, who also ran their nation-best unbeaten streak to 12 games, were followed once again by No. 2 Miami, which earned the remaining first-place vote. The RedHawks, who enjoyed a bye through the first round of the CCHA playoffs, were idle last weekend.
In third once again was Boston University, which swept Northeastern last weekend to win the Hockey East regular-season title on the season’s final day, and now moves into the Hockey East playoffs.
No. 4 was Wisconsin, which moved up a place after winning twice against St. Cloud State to wrap up its WCHA regular season. The Badgers leapfrogged idle Michigan State, which came in at No. 5 this week.
Maine, which took three of four points against Massachusetts, was sixth, trailed by idle Cornell at No. 7. The Big Red open ECACHL playoff action this weekend in the league’s quarterfinals.
Denver finished eighth in this week’s poll after a three-point series against now-No. 9 Colorado College, which fell four spots after its loss and tie versus the Pioneers. North Dakota, meanwhile, rounded out the top 10 after a sweep of Michigan Tech.
Nebraska-Omaha came in at No. 11, followed by Harvard, New Hampshire and then No. 14 Boston College, which dropped five places from last week. The Eagles and Wildcats faced off for two games Thursday and Saturday, with UNH taking three of four points to jump over BC in the balloting.
Michigan was No. 15, followed by Dartmouth, Colgate, Northern Michigan and No. 19 Ferris State, which re-entered the poll after sweeping its first-round CCHA playoff series against Ohio State.
St. Cloud State held on at No. 20 to complete this week’s rankings. Dropping out of the poll was Vermont, which lost twice to Massachusetts-Lowell.
