Notre Dame seems to be in pretty good shape heading into the last day before Selection Sunday.
Assuming all of the favored teams win tomorrow, Notre Dame will make the tournament with a win, and they will make the tournament with a loss. In fact, pretty much the only way the Irish can miss out on the tournament is if they tie their game against Northern Michigan tomorrow afternoon.
Obviously you play to win the game first and foremost, and since they're playing in a consolation game, they won't know the results of any of the championship games. But if you're Notre Dame, and you're tied with Northern Michigan after 64 minutes of hockey, would you consider just throwing the puck in your own net as a little extra insurance? Though surely a shot at winning or tying a meaningless consolation game is outweighed by the chance to play for a national championship.
Assuming all of the favored teams win tomorrow, Notre Dame will make the tournament with a win, and they will make the tournament with a loss. In fact, pretty much the only way the Irish can miss out on the tournament is if they tie their game against Northern Michigan tomorrow afternoon.
Obviously you play to win the game first and foremost, and since they're playing in a consolation game, they won't know the results of any of the championship games. But if you're Notre Dame, and you're tied with Northern Michigan after 64 minutes of hockey, would you consider just throwing the puck in your own net as a little extra insurance? Though surely a shot at winning or tying a meaningless consolation game is outweighed by the chance to play for a national championship.