February 27, 2009
CCHA Playoff Picture
by Courtney Lewis/CHN Reporter
The top spot in the CCHA has already been locked up, but there’s still some maneuvering left to be done. And the final weekend of conference play is highlighted by an in-state rivalry with one team trying to play itself into a playoff bye.
Notre Dame clinched the regular-season title, and the first seed in the conference tournament, by reaching 44 points last week. The Fighting Irish, who have scored 20 goals over their last four games, play a home-and-home with Michigan State this weekend before enjoying a first-round bye next week.
Miami (38 points) and Michigan (36), are in second and third place, respectively, and are both guaranteed a first-round bye. Ohio State can still grab the fourth seed and a bye of its own — if it can get the best of Miami.
The Buckeyes are currently in fifth, three points behind Alaska. But the Nanooks have already finished their CCHA slate and play a nonconference series this weekend.
Ohio State kept itself in the hunt for fourth with a 3-2 win over Michigan last Saturday. The Buckeyes have won just one other game this month, but it was also a big one — a 4-1 upset of Notre Dame on Feb. 8.
They beat Miami in a shootout way back in October, and the RedHawks salvaged a split the next night. This weekend’s series starts in Oxford and then moves to Columbus on Saturday.
Sophomore John Albert leads Ohio State in assists (23) and points (34). Senior Corey Elkins is second with 31 points, and freshman Zac Dalpe has tallied a team-high 13 goals.
“They’re obviously a good team. They possess a lot of weapons,” Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. “Their forwards are as good as any in the country. Their defensemen are big and strong, and they have good goaltending. We’ll definitely have to play our best to be in the game.”
While the RedHawks are assured the second or third seed in the CCHA playoffs, they’ve also got NCAA tournament positioning on their minds. And after dropping a game to Northern Michigan last week, they’re looking to finish strong and head into the postseason with momentum.
“I think both teams have a lot to play for,” Blasi said. “This is our last weekend. We won’t play for another two, so we have to play well and keep improving. And obviously the national picture is an issue. And it’s Senior Night, and they’re our in-state rival.
“I think it’s going to be quite a battle. We’re looking forward to it.”
Sophomores Carter Camper (19-18-37) and Pat Cannone (11-21-32) lead Miami’s offense, and freshman goaltender Connor Knapp is second in the CCHA with a 1.75 GAA.
The RedHawks have one regulation loss (and one shootout loss) in their last nine games. They righted the ship after a rough start to the second half — five straight defeats in early January.
“We had a lull in January, but lately we’ve played pretty good,” Blasi said. “I think we went back to what we always do. We got some players back from injuries, and we just started playing the way we can. I think our process is better.
“So I think we’re playing pretty good, and hopefully we keep doing the same things this week.”
Michigan will be looking to pass Miami in the standings this weekend, when the Wolverines face Ferris State.
The Bulldogs sit in eighth place, a point behind Northern Michigan and Nebraska-Omaha, and are trying to hang onto home ice for the CCHA first round. Western Michigan is three points back at 23 and could overtake Ferris State with a successful weekend against last-place Bowling Green.
