With only one month left in the ACHA regular season, it’s time to start keeping a closer eye on the race for the College Hockey Mid America conference tournament. Each of the eight teams has played at least half of their 14-game conference schedule. John Carroll has played the most at 11 games and Pitt has played the fewest at 7 games.
All races are calculated to an out-right points win. Any ties for the final playoff position are subject to the conference tiebreaker rules. Tiebreakers are: 1st: Most conference wins, 2nd: Head-to-Head (total points in head-to-head matchups), 3rd: Most conference non-shootout wins, 4th: Head-to-Head goals for/goals against differential, 5th: Goals for/goals against differential in conference games. GR- Games Remaining, PR- Points available in remaining games, MP- Maximum points a team can achieve.
Standings
Robert Morris leads the conference with 16 points and a game in hand over IUP, who has 13 points. Pitt sits one point behind the Hawks with three games in hand and two conference games this weekend, while IUP only has two non-conference games against Kent State, a home-and-home weekend series. Slippery Rock is a point behind Pitt, though Pitt still has a game in hand. John Carroll sits in fifth place in the conference, but having played the most conference games (11 out of 14). Mercyhurst would claim the final playoff spot, sitting at 3-5-1 with 7 points. The Lakers will play one conference game this weekend.
Clinching Scenarios
Robert Morris clinched a playoff berth.
IUP clinches a playoff berth with a West Virginia regulation loss AND a Duquesne regulation loss. The Mountaineers would not be able to earn more wins than IUP, and the Hawks hold the Head-to-Head tiebreaker, defeating West Virginia in both games this season, each by a score of 3-2.
Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with a win AND a West Virginia loss. The Panthers are currently ranked No. 14 in the nation.
Additionally, Slippery Rock can set themselves up for a clinching scenario next weekend by defeating West Virginia on Friday night at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Current Matchups
Friday, Feb. 28 (first round)
No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Mercyhurst
No. 4 Slippery Rock vs. No. 5 John Carroll
Saturday, Feb. 29 (semifinals)
No. 1 Robert Morris vs. Lowest Remaining Seed
No. 2 IUP vs. Highest Remaining Seed
Schedule
Friday:
John Carroll @ Robert Morris, 8:35 p.m. RMU Island Sports Center
Pitt @ Duquesne, 9:30 p.m. Alpha Ice Complex
West Virginia @ Slippery Rock, 10:10 p.m. UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex
Saturday:
John Carroll @ Mercyhurst, 1 p.m. Mercyhurst Ice Center
Duquesne @ West Virginia, 9:30 p.m. Morgantown Ice Arena
Pitt @ Robert Morris, 9:35 p.m. RMU Island Sports Center
