Rankings Reaction, Who's No. 1? And Your Guide to Conference Tournaments: Puck Drop

There's a new debate in college hockey about which team should be No. 1 overall heading into the start of conference tournaments as Michigan is back atop both the polls and the National Collegiate Percentage (NPI) Index, but can be overtaken in the Big Ten standings and more by No. 2 Michigan State, which is visiting Minnesota this weekend while the Wolverines have completed their regular season.

No. 3 North Dakota is clearly in the mix as well after wrapping up the NCHC regular-season title over the other team that's firmly entrenched in the top four, reigning national champion Western Michigan (which fell behind Denver in the NCHC standings, but not the rankings).

Got all that? Yet in terms of college hockey chaos, that's nothing compared to how the CCHA regular-season title was claimed by Minnesota State emerging from a five-team scrum last weekend, and how the Hockey East teams will eventually line up behind regular-season champion Providence.

As of now, the No. 6 Friars have to be considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament because even if they are immediately bounced from the Hockey East playoffs they aren't going to fall the necessary spots to not qualify for an at-large bid. However, the league's other teams are, at best, on the bubble, which should make for a wild final weekend and league tournament.

One point separates each team between second and sixth place: Boston College (39 points), Connecticut (38), Massachusetts (37), Maine (36) and Boston University (35). The Black Bears and Terriers only have one game to play this week, while the other teams they're chasing all have two. That includes the Eagles visiting the Minutemen on Thursday.

Their NPI rankings, in order, are 13, 15, 20, 18 and 24, and they're all about to hit lose-and-go-home time as the Hockey East Tournament is all single-elimination. Right now, the No. 4 vs. 5 matchup in the quarterfinals would see Maine at Massachusetts.

We have a lot to get to so we'll start with this week's rankings, with the NPI top 20 heading into this week's play. All rankings throughout this article will be NPI as it will be used to determine the at-large teams and seeding for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

National Collegiate Percentage (NPI) Index

1. Michigan
2. Michigan State
3. North Dakota
4. Western Michigan
5. Penn State
6. Providence
7. Quinnipiac
8. Denver
9. Cornell
10. Minnesota Duluth
11. Dartmouth
12. Wisconsin
13. Boston College
14. Augustana
15. Connecticut
16. Minnesota State
17. St. Thomas
18. Maine
19. Bowling Green
20. Massachusetts

Did the polls follow suit this week? Yes, and no.

Made biggest jump: Cornell, Dartmouth, Minnesota State, Massachusetts and Maine all moved up two spots in the USCHO.com poll. We'll use the USA Hockey Men's Poll as a tiebreaker and give it to the Black Bears, who moved up from being not ranked to No. 18 after sweeping a home-and-home with Northeastern.

Had biggest fall: Michigan Tech was in the middle for the scramble to win the CCHA, but ended up taking two one-goal losses to Bowling Green, 1-0 and 4-3 to finish in a tie for fourth. The teams will play again next weekend in the CCHA quarterfinals.

Most underrated ranked team per NPI: Bowling Green, which is No. 19 in NPI, but is not in the top 20 of either major poll. However, the Falcons are going to need a long run in the CCHA playoffs, if not win it, to make the 16-team NCAA Tourament.

Most overrated ranked team per NPI: Massachusetts. The Minutemen are No. 20 in NPI, but No. 17 in both major polls after securing a win and tie (with shootout win) in a home-and-home with Connecticut.

USCHO Men's Poll

March 2, 2026

Rank	Team	Record	Points (1st)	Prv.
1	Michigan	26-7-1	965 (24)	2
2	Michigan State	24-7-1	941(11)	1
3	North Dakota	25-8-1	929 (14)	3
4	Western Michigan	24-9-1	855 (1)	4
5	Providence	22-9-2	738	6
6	Penn State	20-10-2	724	5
7	Denver	21-11-3	723	8
8	Quinnipiac	26-7-3	708	7
9	Cornell	20-8-1	573	11
10	Minnesota Duluth	20-13-1	549	9
11	Wisconsin	19-11-2	471	12
12	Dartmouth	19-7-4	450	14
13	Boston College	19-12-1	405	10
14	Connecticut	17-10-5	351	13
15	Augustana	20-10-4	285	15
16	Minnesota State	18-9-7	220	18
17	Massachusetts	19-12-1	185	19
18	Maine	18-12-3	136	20
19	St. Thomas	18-11-5	130	17
20	Michigan Tech	21-12-3	64	16

Others receiving votes: Union 34, Bowling Green 32, Boston University 7, Ohio State 5, Sacred Heart 5, St. Cloud State 5, Bentley 4, Miami 4, Colorado College 2

USA Hockey Men's Poll

March 2, 2026

Rank	Team	Points (1st)	Prv.
1	Michigan	668 (26)	2
2	North Dakota	637 (7)	3
3	Michigan State	631 (1)	1
4	Western Michigan	577	4
5	Providence	513	6
6	Penn State	496	5
7	Denver	484	8
8	Quinnipiac	476	7
9	Cornell	392	10
10	Minnesota Duluth	374	9
11	Wisconsin	331	13
12	Dartmouth	310	12
13	Boston College	289	11
14	Augustana	208	15
15	Connecticut	204	14
16	Minnesota State	168	18
17	Massachusetts	118	19
18	Maine	90	NR
19	St. Thomas	86	16
20	Union	28	20

Others Receiving Votes: Michigan Tech 27; Bowling Green 24; Boston University, 7; Bentley 2.

USCHO Women's Poll

March 2, 2026

Rank	Team	Record	Points (1st)	Prv.
1	Wisconsin	31-3-2	298 (18)	1
2	Ohio State	32-4	282 (2)	2
3	Penn State	31-5-0	255	3
4	Minnesota	26-10-1	241	4
5	Northeastern	27-7-1	222	5
6	Connecticut	25-8-2	205	6
7	Yale	24-8	168	8
8	Quinnipiac	26-8-3	166	7
9	Princeton	23-9	138	10
10	Minnesota Duluth	20-14-3	114	9
11	Cornell	20-10-2	104	11
12	Mercyhurst	23-10-3	70	12
13	Minnesota State	17-8-2	62	14
14	Colgate	19-16-1	35	13
15	Clarkson	20-12-3	26	15

Others receiving votes: Brown 8, Holy Cross 4, St. Cloud State 1, Vermont 1

USA Hockey Women's Poll

February 24, 2026 (Will be updated Tuesday with updated rankings)

Rank	Team	Points (1st)	Prv.
1	Wisconsin	284 (19)	1
2	Ohio State	266	2
3	Penn State	240	4
4	Minnesota	230	3
5	Northeastern	206	5
6	Connecticut	176	6
7	Quinnipiac	173	7
8	Yale	151	8
9	Minnesota Duluth	137	10
10	Princeton	130	9
11	Cornell	95	11
12	Mercyhurst	65	13
13	Colgate	47	14
14	Minnesota State	33	15
15	Clarkson	28	12

Also receiving votes: Brown 11; Holy Cross, 4; Harvard 2; St. Cloud State 1.

Puck Drop: Monday, March 2, 2026

• Defenseman Connor Murphy, formerly of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, was traded was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Chicago Blackhawks for a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. the 32-year-old is in the final season of a four-year, $17.6 million contract. The NHL trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

• Los Angeles Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith shook things up before his first game by promoting three players as former Massachusetts center Kenny Connors and former Denver forward Jared Wright both did their rookie laps before the 4-2 loss to Colorado. The third player, defenseman Angus Booth, scored in his NHL debut.

• Former Arizona State goaltender Joey Daccord made 35 saves as the Seattle Kraken ended the Carolina Hurricanes’ 12-game point streak with a 2-1 home victory.

• Former Minnesota State forward Tyler Pitlick was waived by the Minnesota Wild, who claimed claimed Robby Fabbri off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

• Former Boston University commitment Callum Hughes, of the OHL's Erie Otters, has committed to Cornell.

• The New York City tour continued for the Hughes brothers and Hilary Knight, who was placed on long-term injured reserve by the Seattle Torrent this week as she played the Olympics with a torn MCL. Jack Hughes on bunking with his brother Quinn during the Olympics: "Felt like I was a freshman at Michigan again."

Jimmy Fallon shares a letter that Jack Hughes wrote to himself before he got drafted and his brother Quinn got emotional hearing it 🥹

Also Luke Hughes made a special appearance! 😅 pic.twitter.com/vizeJebf0D
— Devils Fanatics (@devilsfanatics) March 3, 2026

Men's Conference Tournament Guide

Like Hockey East, the Big Ten has a final weekend of play before the league tournament gets under way, which is why none of the pairings are listed under those conferences:

AHA Tournament

First Round
Tuesday, March 3
Mercyhurst at Canisus, 6 p.m. ET
Army at Niagara, 7 p.m. ET

Quarterfinals
Best of 3
Friday, March 6
Lowest remaining seed at Bentley
Second-lowest remaining seed at Sacred Heart
Air Force at Robert Morris
RIT at Holy Cross
Saturday, March 7
Lowest remaining seed at Bentley
Second-lowest remaining seed at Sacred Heart
Air Force at Robert Morris
RIT at Holy Cross
Sunday, March 7 (if necessary)
Lowest remaining seed at Bentley
Second-lowest remaining seed at Sacred Heart
Air Force at Robert Morris
RIT at Holy Cross

Semifinals
Best of 3
Friday, March 13
Lowest remaining seed at highest remaining seed
Third-highest remaining seed at second-highest remaining seed
Saturday March 14
Lowest remaining seed at highest remaining seed
Third-highest remaining seed at second-highest remaining seed
Sunday, March 15 (if necessary)
Lowest remaining seed at highest remaining seed
Third-highest remaining seed at second-highest remaining seed

Championship
Saturday, March 21
Lowest remaining seed at highest remaining seed

Big Ten Tournament

Quarterfinals
Wednesday, March 11
No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed
No. 7 seed at No. 2 seed
No. 6 seed at No. 3 seed

Semifinals
Saturday, March 14
Lowest seed remaining at No. 1 seed
Quarterfinal winner at highest seed remaining

Championship
Saturday, March 21
Semifinal winners at top-advancing team

CCHA Tournament

Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Lake Superior State at No. 17 St. Thomas, 7 p.m. CT
Bemidji State at No. 14 Augustana, 7 p.m. CT
Ferris State at No. 16 Minnesota State, 7 p.m.
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Bemidji State at No. 14 Augustana, 6 p.m. CT
Ferris State at No. 16 Minnesota State, 6 p.m.
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 6 p.m.
Lake Superior State at No. 17 St. Thomas, 7 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 8 (if necessary)
Lake Superior State at No. 17 St. Thomas, 5 p.m. CT
Bemidji State at No. 14 Augustana, 5 p.m. CT
Ferris State at No. 16 Minnesota State, 5 p.m.
Bowling Green at Michigan Tech, 5 p.m.

Semifinals
Saturday, March 14
Highest remaining seeds host

Championship
Friday, March 20
Semifinal winners at higher seed

ECAC Tournament

Opening Round
Friday, March 6
St. Lawrence at Harvard, 7 p.m. ET
RPI at Clarkson, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Brown at Union, 5 p.m. ET
Yale at Colgate, 7 p.m. ET

Quarterfinals
Best of 3
Friday’s Games
Lowest remaining seed at No. 7 Quinnipiac, 7 p.m. ET
Second-lowest remaining seed at No. 11 Dartmouth, 7 p.m. ET
Second-highest remaining seed at No. 9 Cornell, 7 p.m. ET
Highest-remaining seed at Princeton, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Lowest remaining seed at No. 7 Quinnipiac, 4 p.m. ET
Second-lowest remaining seed at No. 11 Dartmouth, 7 p.m. ET
Second-highest remaining seed at No. 9 Cornell, 7 p.m. ET
Highest-remaining seed at Princeton, 7 p.m.
Sunday’s Games (if necessary)
Lowest remaining seed at No. 7 Quinnipiac, 4 p.m. ET
Second-lowest remaining seed at No. 11 Dartmouth, 4 p.m. ET
Second-highest remaining seed at No. 9 Cornell, 4 p.m. ET
Highest-remaining seed at Princeton, 4 p.m.

Semifinals
Friday, March 20
At Lake Placid, N.Y.
Semifinal 1, 4 p.m. ET
Semifinal 2, 7 p.m. ET

Championship
Saturday, March 21
At Lake Placid, N.Y.
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m. ET

Hockey East

Opening Round
Wednesday, March 11
Seed No. 11 at Seed No. 6
Seed No. 10 at Seed No. 7
Seed No. 9 at Seed No. 8

Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 14
Lowest remaining seed at Seed No. 1
Second-lowest remaining seed at Seed No. 2
Third-lowest remaining seed at Seed No. 3
Seed 5 at Seed 4

Semifinals
Friday, March 20
At TD Garden, Boston
Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2

Championship
Saturday, March 21
Semifinals winners

Hockey East emailed teams this evening telling them to refrain from "any theatrical lighting, dimming, or strobe effects" after goals. The only time light shows are permitted is after the final buzzer.

This is in response to the UMass-UConn incident on Saturday night.
— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) March 3, 2026

NCHC Tournament

Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Colorado College at Western Michigan, 7 p.m. ET
Miami at Denver, 7 p.m. MT
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m. CT
Omaha at North Dakota, 7 p.m., CT
Saturday, March 7
Colorado College at Western Michigan, 6 p.m. ET
Miami at Denver, 6 p.m. MT
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth, 6 p.m. CT
Omaha at North Dakota, 6 p.m., CT
Sunday, March 8 (if necessary)
Colorado College at No. 4 Western Michigan, 6 p.m. ET
Miami at No. 8 Denver, 6 p.m. MT
St. Cloud State at No. 10 Minnesota Duluth, 6 p.m. CT
Omaha at No. 3 North Dakota, 6 p.m., CT

Semifinals
Saturday, March 14
Lowest remaining seed at highest remaining seed
Second-lowest remaining seed at second-highest remaining seed

Championship
Saturday, March 21
Semifinal winners at higher seed

Games between ranked opponents are bolded. All times are local to where the game is being played.

Women's College Hockey Conference Tournaments

AHA Tournament
Opening Round
February 19 (at Centene Center, Maryland Heights, Mo.)
Robert Morris 3, Delaware 2, OT

Quarterfinals
February 21
Lindenwood 3, Robert Morris 1
Syracuse 4, RIT 3, 2OT

Semifinals (Best of 3)
February 27
No. 12 Mercyhurst 2, Lindenwood 1
No. 3 Penn State 7, Syracuse 0

February 28
No. 12 Mercyhurst 3, Lindenwood 2, 2OT
No. 3 Penn State 2, Syracuse 1

Championship
Saturday's Game
No. 12 Mercyhurst at No. 3 Penn State, 2 p.m. ET

ECAC Tournament
Opening Round
February 20
Union 2, No. 14 Clarkson 1
Colgate 4, RPI 2

February 21
Brown 7, Dartmouth 2
Harvard 3, St. Lawrence, OT

Quarterfinals (Best of 3)
Friday’s Games
No. 11 Cornell 3, No. 13 Colgate 2 (OT)
No. 10 Princeton 1, Harvard 0
No. 8 Yale, Union 2
No. 6 Quinnipiac 6, Brown 3

February 28
No. 11 Cornell 3, No. 13 Colgate 1
Harvard 3, No. 10 Princeton 1
No. 8 Yale 6, Union 1
Brown 3, No. 6 Quinnipiac 2, OT

March 1
No. 6 Quinnipiac 5, Brown 4
No. 10 Princeton 5, Harvard 1

Semifinals
At Lake Placid, N.Y.
Thursday’s Games
No. 8 Yale vs. No. 11 Cornell, 4 p.m. ET
No. 6 Quinnipiac vs. No. 10 Princeton, 7 p.m. ET

Championship
At Lake Placid, N.Y.
March 7
5 p.m. ET

Hockey East Tournament
Opening Round
Wednesday’s Games
Maine 4, Merrimack 0
Boston University 3, Providence 0

Quarterfinals
Saturday’s Games
Vermont 1, Boston College 1
Holy Cross 5, New Hampshire 4
No. 7 Connecticut 6, Maine 1
No. 5 Northeastern 2, Boson University 2, 2OT

Semifinals
Tuesday’s Games
Holy Cross at No. 7 Connecticut, 6 p.m. ET
Vermont at No. 5 Northeastern, 6 p.m. ET

Championship
March 7

NEWHA Tournament
Quarterfinals (Best of 3)
February 27
Assumption 2, Post 1 (OT)
Stonehill 3, Long Island 0
Franklin Pierce 8, Saint Michael’s 0
Saint Anselm 3, Sacred Heart 2

February 28
Saint Anselm 3, Sacred Heart 1
Stonehill 4, Long Island 3, OT
Post 2, Assumption 1
Franklin Pierce 5, Saint Michael’s 1

March 1
Assumption 4, Post 2

Semifinals
Wednesday’s Games
Saint Anselm at Assumption, 3 p.m. ET
Stonehill at Franklin Pierce, 7 p.m. ET

Championship
March 7

WCHA Tournament
Quarterfinals (Best of 3)
February 27
No. 9 Minnesota-Duluth 2, No. 15 Minnesota State 0
St. Cloud State 1, No. 4 Minnesota 0
No. 2 Ohio State 5, St. Thomas 1
No. 1 Wisconsin 7, Bemidji State 0

February 28
No. 9 Minnesota-Duluth 3, No. 15 Minnesota State 2, 2OT
No. 4 Minnesota 4, St. Cloud State 1
No. 2 Ohio State 4, St. Thomas 1
No. 1 Wisconsin 3, Bemidji State 2, OT

March 1
St. Cloud State at No. 4 Minnesota, 3 p.m. CT

Semifinals
At St. Paul, Minn.
Thursday’s Games
No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Minnesota State, BTN, 4 p.m. CT
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Minnesota, BTN, 7:30 p.m. p.m. CT

Championship
At St. Paul, Minn.
March 7
BTN, 2 p.m. CT

Hockey Quote of the Day

"I want to get better and make it last as long as I can."
Duncan Keith (Michigan State)

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