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With only five games remaining on their regular-season schedule, the Tigers play host to the University of Minnesota this weekend in a regionally televised series that could have a major impact on the WCHA playoff picture.
Opening faceoff is 7:37 p.m. MST Friday and 7:07 p.m. MST Saturday at the World Arena.
Only six points separate the top seven teams in the league standings. Colorado College, which is tied with St. Cloud State for fourth place, currently is closer to seventh than first.
The sixth-place Gophers, who have won just once (1-4-1) in their last six outings since sweeping SCSU in mid-January, are just a point behind CC while Minnesota Duluth is only two back.
The top five teams earn home ice for the best-of-three, first-round playoff series that start on Friday, March 13.
The Tigers, who own a modest three-game (1-0-2) unbeaten streak in league play, are 14-9-8 overall and 10-8-5 in the WCHA after skating to a 3-3 draw with the University of Denver last Friday at the World Arena. Minnesota, which tied (2-2) and beat (4-2) Alaska Anchorage at home last weekend to snap a four-game losing skid, is 13-9-6 overall and 10-8-4 in league play.
Both of this week’s games will be telecast by Fox Sports Net North. Friday’s opener will be carried live on FSN Rocky Mountain, which also will air Saturday’s series finale on a taped-delay basis, starting at 8:30 p.m. MST.