With Wednesday’s tie between Bentley and Air Force in the books, there are ten games left in the Atlantic Hockey regular season.
Here are each team’s chances heading into the final weekend, updated with Wednesday’s tie:
1. Robert Morris
Games left: at Canisius, home against Canisius
Can finish: 1st-4th
Outlook: The Colonials control their own destiny, and can clinch their second consecutive regular season title with a win. A single point guarantees them at least a share of the title. They are already ensured of a home quarterfinal series.
T2. Air Force
Games left: At Niagara (2x)
Can finish: 1st-5th
Outlook: The Falcons are tied for second with RIT and Holy Cross, but hold tiebreakers with both.
T2. Holy Cross
Games left: at Sacred Heart; home against Sacred Heart
Can finish: 1st-5th
Outlook: Like Air Force and RIT, the Crusaders still have an outside chance to win the regular season title. CHC’s tiebreaker with RIT is yet to be determined because they are even all the way to the fifth tiebreaker, which is winning percentage against the No. 1 seed, then No. 2 if still tied, etc.
T2. Rochester Institute of Technology
Games left: home against Mercyhrust; at Mercyhurst
Can finish: 1st-5th. The Tigers are among a group of four (Air Force, Holy Cross, RIT and Mercyhurst) that have clinched a bye but not home ice in the quarterfinals, which goes to the top four seeds. They lose tiebreakers to Robert Morris and Air Force and cannot end in a tie in the standings with Mercyhurst.
5. Mercyhurst
Games left: at RIT; home against RIT
Can finish: 2nd-5th.
Outlook: If the Lakers fail to get three points, they can finish no higher than fifth. They hold the tiebreaker with Air Force, and lose to Robert Morris and Holy Cross.
6. Canisius
Games left: home against Robert Morris; at Robert Morris
Can finish: 6th-8th
Outlook: Since Bentley and Army play each other this weekend, both can’t tie or pass Canisius, so that means the Golden Griffins have clinched home ice in the first round. Canisius holds tiebreakers over the Falcons but not the Black Knights or Sacred Heart.
T7. Bentley
Games left: at Army West Point; home against Army West Point
Can finish: 6th-9th
Outlook: The Falcons are competing with Army and Sacred Heart for two of the three remaining home ice slots in the first round. Bentley has the tiebreaker with Sacred Heart, but not Canisius. Army and Bentley cannot end up tied.
T7. Sacred Heart
Games left: home against Holy Cross; at Holy Cross
Can finish: 6th-9th
Outlook: See Bentley. SHU loses in a tiebreaker to Bentley and Army West Point, but wins against Canisius.
9. Army West Point
Games left: home against Bentley; at Bentley
Can finish: 6th-9th
Outlook: See Bentley and Canisius. The Black Knights have the tiebreaker advantage over Sacred Heart and Canisius. Army and Bentley cannot finish tied.
10. Niagara
Games left: home against Air Force (2x)
Can finish: 10th
Outlook: Niagara is locked into the tenth seed regardless of what happens this weekend. The Purple Eagles will travel to the No. 7 seed for the first round of the playoffs.
11. American International
Games left: none
Can finish: 11th
The Yellow Jackets are currently even in points with Niagara, but have no games left and lose the tiebreaker, so they will finish last and travel to the No. 6 seed.
