:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26210875/gyi0064119702.0.jpg)
Five college hockey games are tonight's national television docket. Here they are. All times, unless otherwise noted, are Eastern Standard Time.
Nebraska-Omaha at New Hampshire 7:30pm --Fox College Sports
Both Nebraska-Omaha and New Hampshire got off to rocky starts this season, and find themselves beginning the second half of the season still in the conversation for the NCAA tournament, but needing a very strong second half to have a shot at making the NCAA tournament.
Nebraska-Omaha will be without head coach Dean Blais and defenseman Jaycob Megna, as they start their three-game suspensions
Colgate at Minnesota (Mariucci Classic) 8:07pm --Fox Sports North (DirecTV 668/ Dish Network 436)
Top-ranked Minnesota will try to take care of business against Colgate to hold up their part in creating a #1 vs. #2 battle on Saturday against Ferris State in the tournament championship. Or, if Ferris State loses the first game, perhaps Minnesota will do the only honorable thing and lay down against Colgate so they still face Ferris State in the consolation tomorrow night. They probably won't though.
Nathan Wells has a full preview of the Mariucci Classic here.
Maine at Quinnipiac 7pm --NESN (DirecTV 628/Dish Network 434)
Maine has been one of college hocky's most pleasant surprises this year under new coach Red Gendron, though they've yet to win on the road this year. Meanwhile, nobody is that surprised by Quinnipiac being good anymore. They've followed up last year's Frozen Four run nicely.
Jeff Cox has a full preview of the series.
Alaska-Anchorage at Wisconsin 8:07pm --Fox Sports Wisconsin
Fox Sports Wisconsin picks up a rare Badger hockey game for a series that used to have some intrigue, simply because there were conference points on the line. Now? Not so much. These are the last two games in the Badgers' easiest stretch of the schedule that so far, has seen them win six straight games, bringing their overall record from 4-5-1 to 10-5-1.
Andy Johnson previews this series over at Bucky's Fifth Quarter.
Brown at Denver 9:30pm-- ROOT Sports (DirecTV 683/Dish Network 414)
2000-2001 was the last season Denver failed to win 20 games. They've got 10 wins so far this season, with 17 regular season games remaining. They start their second half of the season with a one-off game Brown, who will travel to Colorado College tomorrow night.
The Pioneers will be without defenseman Will Butcher, who is flying back from Sweden also playing with the US team at the World Juniors.
Northern Michigan at Bemidji State 7:37pm CST -- tptMN (Minnesota public television)
As a bonus for those living in Minnesota: If you're sick of the cold weather outside and want to think about something green, you can watch the newest old WCHA member take on the oldest new WCHA member.
Bemidji State is tied for third in the league, while Northern Michigan is tied for the final playoff spot in eighth, but only five points separate the teams, with Northern having four games in hand, showing just how tight the middle of the WCHA is.
