Teams battle for CCHA lead as playoffs approach

By Mark Francescutti
Daily Sports Writer

The race is on for playoff spots in the CCHA, and this season's competition is hotter than ever. Six teams, including Michigan are within nine points of first place.

Even the teams in the depths of the CCHA haven't left themselves out. The bottom four squads are all within four points of each other, creating a battle in the next month for the final playoff spot. While it may not seem fair that only the top eight teams enter the CCHA tournament, all 11 teams have a definite chance at the playoffs. So, the CCHA's final month will spur pressure and intensity, from Michigan State down to Alaska-Fairbanks. Here's a preview:

The Spartans have battled to the top position in the CCHA again this season thanks to another strong defensive effort. The Spartans lead the conference in goals against, allowing a mere 1.25 goals per game.

But Michigan State has shown that even it has holes, like the breakdowns during this past Friday's 3-3 tie with Michigan.

The Spartans are mortal, and while they rest in the top position, several tough opponents wait in the wings to take a shot.

Although the Spartans have only two road games left, they have to tango with two plus-.500 opponents - Notre Dame and Ferris State -three times each.

And they can't forget about their last meeting with the Wolverines.

Michigan State will need its players healthy, strong production from its senior line of Mike York and Bryan Adams and at least 12 out of a possible 18 points to maintain its slim lead in the standings.

The Wolverines have shown that they can compete with anyone in the CCHA. Michigan has beaten every opponent at least once this season.

It won't be an easy road, though. Dangerous opponents, including Michigan State and Ohio State, still have a chance to prevent the Wolverines from winning a CCHA crown.

Michigan also ends the season on a road trip to the Upper Peninsula, a trip that will most likely decide Michigan's playoff future. The injury-less Wolverines, having finished their series with Ferris State and Notre Dame, have a fine chance to surpass the Spartans.

Things weren't supposed to be this way for the Buckeyes. The team that everyone thought had the most talented returnees, the team that had a bright future in a brand new 17,000-plus capacity arena, had a hard time getting out of the gate this season

The builders of the Value City Arena didn't finish the structure until December, causing Ohio State to play seven of its first nine games elsewhere.

The results weren't pretty. The Buckeyes dug themselves a huge hole with a shocking 1-6-2 record in that nine-game swing.

With injured players and top lines struggling, hopes were slim in Columbus.

The only cure for the common road woes would be a trip home. The Buckeyes, surging to a 10-1-1 home record since their shaky start, now have climbed to the third spot in the CCHA.

Ohio State's top lines have clawed back to where they were supposed to be.

But now the Buckeyes have to hit the road again, and unless they can cure their homesickness, Value City Arena won't be hanging a CCHA regular season championship banner next October.

The Fighting Irish have experienced a schedule that no other CCHA team can relate to - playing many of the top teams in the nation.

Notre Dame fought to a grueling tie against No. 7 Boston College, squeezed by Northeastern and split a series with No. 1 North Dakota earlier this season. A team that wasn't even considered a top CCHA team last season all of a sudden became one of the top teams in the nation at 9-0-2.

But the injury bug bit the Irish, who at one point, lost five players. A tough road loss to the Wolverines added to Notre Dame's misery, spawning a five-game conference losing streak.

Answering the challenge, the high-powered offense of the Irish cruised to a six-game unbeaten streak. Conference leaders in both offensive production and power-play percentage, the Irish are hard to stop their teams let their guards down.

Leading to the stretch run of the season, Dave Poulin's squad faces only three teams below .500, leaving seven tough games, including three meetings with Michigan State.

Although they are eight points out of first place, the Wildcats can easily move up to a better standing come playoff time, especially with the fact that they are the hottest team in the CCHA right now. Their current nine-game unbeaten streak is their best since 1991. Freshman center Chad Theurer has 10 points during the streak, and goaltender Dwayne Hoey has helped keep the Wildcats close.

And like Michigan last season, Northern Michigan hasn't lost its last five one-goal games, an ability that is key at the end of the season.

Always a dangerous team that has the ability to beat anyone, the Wildcats could surprise and shake up the conference standings before the season is done.

The Bulldogs have had an impressive season. Not a usual power in the CCHA, Ferris State has carved its one niche in the race for the top of the standings. Surprising some teams and falling apart against others, the Bulldogs' succeeded if the right squad shows up.

Will it be the Ferris State team that swashbuckled Michigan 4-0 and won a road series against Northern Michigan? Or will it be the team that has struggled to a 0-3-2 record in the last five games? The answer to these questions will help shape Ferris State's position in the upcoming playoffs.

Ferris State has as good of a chance as ever, but will have to earn their standing with the toughest conclusion to their schedule and a six-game road romp.

Eight teams will make it to the CCHA tournament, which means any of these squads has a strong possibility.

Add to the fact that these teams have a chance to crash the parties of one of the first-place contenders, and the final weeks of the season will feel like a war.

02-04-99