It’s going to be a frantic couple of hours tonight as the Chargers get once last chance to make this year’s WCHA playoffs.
UAH plays Bowling Green tonight at the Slater Family Ice Arena at 6 p.m. Central Time for the regular-season finale.
UAH lost 7-0 on Friday in the series opener. Lake Superior State and Northern Michigan also lost, making for no change in 7th through 9th place in the WCHA standings.
Lake Superior has 33 points, Northern Michigan has 31, and UAH has 30. One of these teams will not make the playoffs.
For UAH to get in, they have to get more points against Bowling Green than Northern Michigan gets at home against Michigan Tech tonight. The Chargers will have the tiebreaker advantage over the Wildcats, either by having more conference wins (“B” tiebreaker) or having swept NMU earlier this season (“D” tiebreaker).
In summary, UAH gets a playoff berth if:
- UAH wins (3 pts) and NMU ties (1-2 pts) or loses (0 pts).
- UAH ties and wins in 3×3 OT/shootout (2 pts) and NMU loses in 3×3 OT/shootout (1 pt) or regulation (0 pts).
- UAH ties and loses in 3×3 OT/shootout (1 pt) and NMU loses in regulation (0 pts).
If UAH loses in regulation, or if NMU wins in regulation, it’s over.
The above alone would ensure UAH the 8th seed. There is also a scenario where UAH would get the 7th seed, but UAH, NMU, and Lake Superior must finish in a three-way tie, which is only possible if:
- UAH wins (in regulation).
- Lake Superior loses to Ferris State (in regulation).
- Northern Michigan ties Michigan Tech and wins in 3×3 OT/shootout.
In fact, this is the only way Lake Superior does not get in — they would be the odd team out with the fewest conference wins of the three.
Elsewhere:
- Michigan Tech secured the 2nd seed with its win over Northern Michigan. Minnesota State will be the 3rd seed after losing to Bemidji State.
- Bowling Green and Ferris State will meet in the first round in the 4-5 matchup — now it’s a question of where it will be. They are tied for 4th, with BGSU holding the tiebreaker for home ice.
- Alaska clinched the 6th seed and will go to Minnesota State in the first round.
- Alaska Anchorage is eliminated and will finish 10th after its loss to Alaska.