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Thoughts and analysis on WCHA playoff race

Sitting in first place with two games in hand on the second and third place teams, St. Cloud State is in good position to win the school's first MacNaughton Cup.

By Jeff Cox
Nate Schmidt and Minneosta are playing catch-up in the WCHA race
Nate Schmidt and Minneosta are playing catch-up in the WCHA race
Photo Credit: Larry Radloff Photography
With just three weeks left in the regular season, WCHA teams have two to six games left. We'll take another look at the remaining schedules of each league team, the ceiling/floor for each team in where it can finish in the standings.


Teams Points Remaining WCHA Opponents Average Points of Remaining Opponents * Schedule Rank
St. Cloud 31 CC, MTU, UW 21.00 11
Nebraska-Omaha 30 UW, UMD 23.50 8
Minnesota State 29 CC, UND 24.00 7
Minnesota 28 UMD, DU, BSU 20.33 12
North Dakota 28 DU, BSU, MSU 23.33 9
Wisconsin 27 UNO, SCSU 30.50 1
Denver 25 UND, UMN, UAA 22.00 10
Colorado College 20 SCSU, MSU, MTU 25.33 5
Minnesota-Duluth 20 UMN, UNO 29.00 2
Michigan Tech 16 SCSU, CC 25.50 4
Bemidji State 16 UND, UMN 28.00 3
Alaska-Anchorage 10 DU 25.00 6

* The average points of the remaining opponents determines how easy or difficult a team's schedule is. Points of remaining opponents are added up and then divided by the amount of games left. The toughest schedule is ranked first and the easiest schedule is ranked 12th.

  • The only thing we know for certain in the WCHA playoff race is Alaska-Anchorage will finish last and travel to the top seed for the first round of the playoffs. Michigan Tech and Bemidji State will be on the road for the first round, but other than that the standings are so tight that almost anything else is possible.
  • St. Cloud has two games in hand on its nearest competition for the top spot and has the second easiest schedule the rest of the way. Only Minnesota has an easier schedule on paper to conclude the regular season.
  • Wisconsin has the toughest remaining schedule and only has four league games remaining whereas Denver, North Dakota and Minnesota all have six games left in the conference. That Badgers' situation is certainly anything but ideal.


Team Ceiling-Floor
St. Cloud 1-7
Nebraska-Omaha 1-7
Minnesota State 1-7
Minnesota 1-9
North Dakota 1-9
Wisconsin 1-9
Denver 1-9
Colorado College 1-11
Minnesota-Duluth 4-11
Michigan Tech 8-11
Bemidji State 8-11
Alaska-Anchorage 12