WCHA Final Day updates

[John J. MacInnes]

Domino #1 has fallen.

Ferris beats LSSU 2-1, eliminating the Lakers from the postseason. The Bulldogs now wait to see if Minnesota State can come back to beat Michigan Tech.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED AT THIS MOMENT - 9:30pm EST

8) BSU at 1) Ferris
7) UAA at 2) Mn State
6) NMU at 3) Alaska
5) BGSU at 4) Michigan Tech

Bowling Green has defeated Bemidji State 5-2, meaning the Beavers and Lakers tie for 8th. But with a 3-1 record vs LSSU during the regular season, Bemidji takes the last playoff spot.

[huskyfan]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

Tech badly needs an insurance goal. or two.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

10th place Alabama Huntsville and t-8th Lake Superior State will miss the playoffs. The other 8 teams will be paired in some form or another, but no matchup is confirmed yet.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

Mankato ties it with just over 13 minutes to go.

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED AT THIS MOMENT - 10:00pm EST

8)BSU at 1)Ferris
7)UAA at 2)Mn State
6)NMU at 3)Alaska
5)MTU at 4)BGSU

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

A tie does no good for Tech or Mankato. Only a win for either changes their respective position.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

How's this for an angle - it may be in NMU's best interests to surrender 2 goals to Huntsville. The Wildcats are guaranteed to make the playoffs now, but a win puts them into 6th and on a plane to Fairbanks. By staying at 25 points, they stay in the lower 48 against either Mn State or Ferris.

The WCHA office would likely approve of that too, because it would likely mean a rematch of UAA-UAF for the first round and save a lot of money on airfare.

[Hammer]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

Tech-Mankato headed to OT.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

So much for that - NMU's Darren Nowick completes the hat trick to make it 4-2 Cats. They will end up on 27 points, one more than UAA right now.

Tech and Mn State now headed to overtime.

[Hammer]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

Michigan Tech and Mankato tie.

Ferris wins the WCHA outright.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

With the game in Mankato ending in a tie Ferris wins the WCHA, finishing one point ahead of Minnesota State. Michigan Tech is now locked into the 5th place spot and will travel to Bowling Green. NMU's 5-2 win at UAH moves them to 6th place with 27 points.

So two matchups are set:

8)BSU at 1)Ferris
5)MTU at 4)BGSU

Minnesota State finishes 2nd, Alaska finishes 3rd.

If UAA wins tonight at Alaska, they leapfrog back into 6th. A tie or a loss would keep NMU in the 6 spot. Whoever ends up 6th goes to Fairbanks, the other goes to Mankato.

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: WCHA Final Day updates

The Seawolves will get a thank you card from Marquette, and also from the WCHA bank account.

PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

8)BSU at 1)Ferris
7)NMU at 2)Mn State
6)UAA at 3)Alaska
5)MTU at 4)BGSU

The Alaska-UAA series starts Thursday, all others start Friday. The winners of the best-of-3 matchups advance to Grand Rapids.