A split with its archrival left Michigan still in command of the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll Monday, but by a narrower margin. The Wolverines, fresh off a Friday loss and a Saturday win against Michigan State, earned 35 of 50 first-place votes to stay at No. 1 for the third straight week.
In second once again was North Dakota, which swept Bemidji State to run its nation-best unbeaten streak to 13 games. The Fighting Sioux picked up 10 first-place votes this week, with No. 3 New Hampshire getting the remaining five nods after sweeping Boston College to lock up the regular-season title in Hockey East. The Wildcats extended their own unbeaten skein to nine games, second nationally behind UND.
Continuing the inertia at the top of the poll, Colorado College came in fourth once more; the Tigers shut out Minnesota-Duluth twice over the weekend. Fifth went to Miami again after the RedHawks swept Western Michigan, and Michigan State held its position at No. 6.
Denver and BC exchanged places, with the Pioneers moving up to seventh with two wins over Alaska-Anchorage, dropping the Eagles to No. 8.
Minnesota State joined the top 10 this week, coming in ninth after a bye week as teams slipped below the idle Mavericks in the rankings. Clarkson rebounded into the top half of the poll as well, at No. 10 thanks to a three-point weekend versus Union and Rensselaer.
Notre Dame fell to No. 11 with a loss and a tie against Ohio State, while St. Cloud State cruised up four notches to 12th by sweeping Michigan Tech.
Wisconsin fell three places to No. 13 in the wake of a one-point weekend at Minnesota, while Princeton moved up three positions to 14th by beating Colgate and Cornell. Following the Tigers was Minnesota-Duluth at No. 15.
BU rejoined the rankings in 16th, running the nation’s longest winning streak to six games with a sweep of Northeastern, followed by Minnesota, which also came back to the top 20 at No. 17.
Northeastern slipped four spots to 18th and Providence — which had been tied with the Huskies for 14th last week — fell five spots after losing twice to Merrimack. Rounding out the poll was Harvard, which re-entered the top 20 with wins over Yale and Brown.
Dropping out since last Monday were Massachusetts-Lowell, Quinnipiac and Niagara.
