A three-point weekend was enough to keep Notre Dame atop Monday’s USCHO.com/CSTV Division I men’s poll, as the Fighting Irish extended — slightly — their lead over two contenders for the nation’s No. 1 ranking.
Notre Dame, which beat Nebraska-Omaha Friday before tying Saturday, received 19 first-place votes and 765 poll points, topping Minnesota for the second straight week. The Golden Gophers, who were idle over the weekend, totaled nine first-place votes and 756 points.
In third place again was New Hampshire, which beat Merrimack twice but couldn’t sway the voters enough to overtake either Notre Dame or Minnesota, garnering the remaining 12 first-place votes and 750 points.
The fourth-place finisher was likewise unchanged from last week, as St. Cloud State stayed in place after taking three of four points from Colorado College. Maine leaped up two spots to fifth in Monday’s rankings with a sweep of Vermont.
Again at No. 6 was Michigan State, which beat Ferris State Friday before a tie against archrival Michigan Saturday. Boston University inched up to seventh after a Beanpot win over Northeastern last Monday and a Friday victory against Massachusetts.
Denver slipped three places to No. 8 this week; the Pioneers managed just one point against Michigan Tech at the Huskies’ Winter Carnival festivities. Wins over Brown and Yale moved Clarkson up one spot, to No. 9, and North Dakota continued its recovery in the poll, rounding out the top 10 after getting a win and a tie against Minnesota State.
Michigan moved down to No. 11, losing to Bowling Green Friday before tying MSU Saturday. The Wolverines were followed at No. 12 by Miami, which held its ground after two wins over Lake Superior.
Boston College came in at No. 13 this week, beating Harvard in the Beanpot Monday and then Providence Friday, while Colorado College’s one-point performance against SCSU moved the Tigers down a notch to 14th. At No. 15 was St. Lawrence, which like travel partner Clarkson beat Brown and Yale over the weekend.
Vermont moved down two spots to No. 16 after its sweep by Maine, and Niagara finished 17th after sitting out the weekend.
Cornell rebounded two places to 18th with a tie against Union and a win over Rensselaer, and Massachusetts stayed in the poll at No. 19 despite its loss to BU and a subsequent tie with Providence. Completing the top 20 was Quinnipiac, which beat Bentley last Tuesday before dropping a decision to Dartmouth Friday.
