Around Big Ten Hockey: Down to the Wire

We’ve reached the final weekend of action and so much is on the line. The winner of the Big Ten regular season title will be determined and the seeding for the tournament will be decided.

Unless you are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, your place in the standings is not solidified.

What’s at stake for teams in the Big Ten and what matchups will decide the fate of the programs in the conference?

Wisconsin welcomes Michigan State for the regular season crown

The most intriguing series in the conference and quite possibly the entire NCAA will take place in Madison, Wisconsin. The Michigan State Spartans are three points away from crowning themselves regular season kings of the Big Ten.

Currently holding 49 points, the Spartans find themselves two points up on the Wisconsin Badgers who have 47 points.

Michigan State currently holds the all-time series record vs. Wisconsin with a 66-63-4 record.

A lot is on the line in this series as the winner gets a first-round bye while the other waits for the seventh seed to be cemented.

Minnesota and Michigan battle for the No. 3 seed

Another big series to watch is the one happening in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are looking to lock themselves in the No. 3 stop in the Big Ten by avoiding a sweep by the Michigan Wolverines.

Minnesota currently holds 37 points to Michigan’s 34. The Gophers also hold a 25-17-5 record over the Wolverines all-time.

Look for matchups like Jimmy Snuggerud vs. Rutger McGroarty up front as Sam Rinzel and Seamus Casey dominate from the blue line.

The team that ends up at No. 3 will take on the No. 6 seed.

Penn State looks to stay the No. 6 seed vs. Ohio State

Battles up and down the standings lead us to Penn State traveling to Columbus to steady themselves as the No. 6 seed entering the tournament.

Penn State has accumulated 21 points this season with Ohio State still in striking distance with 15. The Nittany Lions need just one point to stay where they are.

The Buckeyes have had the leg up on the Nittany Lions holding a head-to-head record of 25-20-4 against the team from State College.

If the Buckeyes pull off the sweep without needing overtime, then the two programs will be tied for points and tiebreakers will go into effect.

While this series is between two teams towards the bottom of the Big Ten conference, the result of the series can create some big changes in the matchups going into next week.

Notre Dame’s season ends as the No. 5 seed

The Fighting Irish ended their regular season with a total of 31 points on the year. They have locked up the No. 5 seed heading into the tournament.

They wait and get ready for whoever clinches the No. 4 seed.

Anthony Desher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.