SB Nation’s Women’s College Hockey Division I Poll: Playoff time

The regular season is over for everyone but the CHA. But for the rest, the exciting and nerve-wracking games begin as the conference quarterfinals start Friday and teams seasons start to end on Saturday.

1. Minnesota (25-4-1), 138 (12) — Last poll: 2

•  Last week: W 6-3 @ Bemidji State (2/22), W 4-3 @ Bemidji State (2/23)

•  Coming Week: No Games

The Gophers won their games and got the help they needed and, as a result, took the WCHA crown and a bye for the first round this weekend.

2. Wisconsin (26-4-0), 128 (2) — Last poll: 1

•  Last Week: T 1-1 OT (SOL 0-1) v Ohio State (2/22), T 2-2 OT (SOL 1-2) v Ohio State (2/23)

•  Coming Week: v St. Cloud State (3/1-3/3)

The Badgers lost a shot at a trophy when they just couldn’t score on Ohio State.  They’ll meet St. Cloud State next for what should be an easier time.

3. Northeastern (21-3-4), 107 — Last poll: 3

•  Last week: W 3-0 v Merrimack (2/22), T 4-4 OT @ Merrimack (2/23)

•  Next week: v Vermont (3/1-3/3)

Northeastern rallied around their third string goalie Brianna Storms who gave them a shutout on Senior Night. Defensive miscues cost them a clear win the next day and resulted in a tie. Up next is a Vermont team that rallied to make the playoffs.

4. Clarkson (23-6-1), 95 — Last poll: 4

•  Last week: W 5-2 v Princeton (2/22), T 1-1 OT v Quinnipiac (2/23)

•  Next week: v Quinnipiac (3/1-3/3)

After a big win against Princeton to sweep the season series, the Golden Knights faltered against Quinnipiac. But, it didn’t hurt them as the rest of the conference self destructed as well.  They’ll host Quinnipiac for a series, looking to do better than Sunday’s game.

5. Cornell (16-3-6), 86 — Last poll: 6

•  Last week:  W 8-2 @ Rensselaer (2/22), W 2-1 @ Union (2/23)

•  This week: v Rennselaer (3/1-3/3)

The Big Red took care of business, barely against Union but a win is a win, which has been rare in the ECAC of late. They won the ECAC crown, also earning them the title of this week’s “Belles of the Ball.”  They will play a Rennselaer team they destroyed last weekend, but that same Engineers team still has one of the goalies in the country.

6. Boston College (20-10-0), 56 — Last poll: 7

•  Last week: T 3-3 OT @ New Hampshire (2/23)

•  Next week: v Connecticut (3/1-3/3)

The tie was good enough to hold onto the second seed and gets them a date with the same Connecticut team that knocked them out of the tournament last year.

7. Princeton (17-3-5), 48 — Last poll: 5

•  Last week: L 2-5 @ Clarkson (2/22), L 0-2 @ St. Lawrence (2/23)

•  This week: v St. Lawrence (3/1-3/3)

The Tigers have fallen apart and found a way to fall to fourth place that most people assumed wasn’t possible. As a result they’ll host St. Lawrence.

8. Boston University (16-6-7), 43 — Last poll: 8

•  Last week: W 3-1 @ Connecticut (2/22), L 1-2 v Providence (2/23)

•  Next week: v New Hampshire (3/1-3/3)

The Terriers split the weekend and now get New Hampshire for a series.

9. Ohio State (17-11-0), 34 — Last poll: 10

•  Last week: T 1-1 OT (SOW 1-0) @ Wisconsin (2/22), T 2-2 (SOW 2-1) @ Wisconsin (2/23)

•  Next week: v Minnesota State (3/1-3/3)

The Buckeyes stay alive in the national picture, barely. Despite a lot of love from the west, their body of work is very shaky. They will likely need to win the WCHA to keep playing but might be able to get in with a deep run and lots of help though.

10. Colgate (17-8-5), 28 — Last poll: 9

•  Last week: W 5-2 @ Union (2/22), W 4-2 @ Rennselaer (2/23)

•  Next week: v Harvard (3/1-3/3)

With two wins,Colgate locked in third place, after they got into a three way tie for second.  Next up is Harvard who has played unevenly of late but is capable of an upset.

Also Receiving Votes: Providence 6, Merrimack 1