With just over two months left in the season. The six teams in the Big Ten Conference are starting to find their place in the standings. After this most recent weekend, here are my personal Big Ten Hockey Rankings.
- Michigan (6)
Michigan played a home-and-home with Ohio State this weekend. The 5-5 game went to a nine round shootout on Friday night and Michigan completed an unbelievable comeback on Sunday afternoon. Scoring was not a problem for the team as they put up a total of 13 goals on the weekend. Junior Tyler Motte picked up his first career hat trick on Sunday and between the two games recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) to earn first star of the week in the Big Ten Three Stars. Sunday’s game ended in a bit of a brawl between the two teams.
Michigan’s Cutler Martin will get time off after throwing punches during end of game scrum with OSU pic.twitter.com/q4J6bcrEWU
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) January 18, 2016
- Penn State (14)
Penn State hockey continues to have it’s best start on record. The Nittany Lions hosted Wisconsin this weekend. Goaltender Eamon McAdam picked up the Big Ten second star of the week after making 39 saves and earning one assist on Saturday vs. Wisconsin. Penn State had their work cut out for them on Friday night when Wisconsin had a response for every goal they scored until the game winner by David Goodwin in overtime. After defeating Wisconsin twice this weekend Penn State moved up one spot in the USCHO.com rankings to #14.
- Ohio State
The Buckeyes take the third spot in the rankings after putting up two excellent games against their rival Michigan. Freshman Mason Jobst picked up the Big Ten third star of the week after picking up seven points this weekend (1G and 3A on Friday and 1G and 2A on Sunday). Jobst is currently on a six-game point streak. Ohio State seemed to have a response for every goal that Michigan scored until the final period on Sunday. Because of that, they pick up the third spot in this week’s rankings.
- Minnesota
Minnesota hosted Michigan State twice this weekend. In both games they held the Spartans to just three goals while they put up eight goals. Two players picked up four points for the Gophers this weekend. Justin Kloos and Leon Bristedt both had four points on the weekend. Minnesota had no problem beating the Spartans this weekend but they get fourth in this week’s rankings.
- Wisconsin
The Badgers headed to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions for the first time this season. Although they took Penn State to overtime on Friday night, Wisconsin was not able to get a win on the weekend. The Badgers gave up 99 shots to the Nittany Lions during the two games this weekend. The best player for the Badgers this weekend was Luke Kunin, he had two out of their four goals and 4 points on the weekend. They will host Minnesota next weekend at the Kohl Center.
- Michigan State
Michigan State is the last team in this week’s rankings. They were the third team in the conference to not win a game this weekend. Minnesota hosted the Spartans this weekend and they were only able to put up three goals. No player really stuck out for the Spartans this weekend either. They currently have one win in Big Ten play and sit in last place in the conference.
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