Michigan State fell two spots to No. 17 in the USCHO Poll released Monday afternoon following two losses at Minnesota.
Minnesota, who is now ranked No. 1 in the country, scored nine seconds into the series off a head-scratching defensive error and never looked back. The Spartans surrendered 14 goals on the weekend, starting out with a horrendous 8-0 Friday night decision. MSU played much better Saturday night jumping out to a 2-1 lead in the second period, but the Gophers rattled off five straight goals to win 6-3.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, six of the seven teams in the conference are now ranked as part of a middle mush that has second place and sixth place separated by just three points. Michigan rose to No. 6 after a dramatic home sweep versus Penn State, who fell three spots to No. 9. Ohio State elevated one spot to No. 7 after an idle week and Notre Dame entered the poll at No. 20 following a sweep of Wisconsin.
MSU also fell three spots to No. 16 in the Pairwise Rankings. The Spartans have three series remaining versus Notre Dame, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Here’s how the rest of the rankings sit:
- Minnesota
- Quinnipiac
- Boston University
- Denver
- St. Cloud
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Harvard
- Penn State
- Western Michigan
- Cornell
- Michigan Tech
- Minnesota State
- Connecticut
- Merrimack
- UMass Lowell
- Michigan State
- RIT
- Omaha
- Notre Dame
