Western Michigan left defenseman Cam Lee passes the puck during Western Michigan's home game against the Denver Pioneers at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday, January 25, 2019. Emil Lippe | MLive.com
NCAA Tournament chances for all but two Michigan college hockey teams are dwindling.
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, only one of seven Michigan Division I teams are currently projected to make the 16-team tournament, while one other team still is in striking distance.
It is likely the other five will have to win their conference tournament for an automatic bid.
Every week, MLive will rank all the in-state Division I teams, provide their latest results and look ahead to their next opponents.
There was only one change this week, with just one of the six teams in action earning a sweep.
Overall, there remains two teams ranked in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll, while three teams are in the top 24 in the Pairwise rankings, a strong indicator of who will make the tournament.
No. 7: Ferris State
Record: 8-21-3 (5-16-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association)
Previous ranking: 7th
Last weekend's results: Finished 1-0-1 against Alaska-Anchorage
Highlights: The Bulldogs took four of six points against the Seawolves (3-24-3, 2-19-3-2), putting them within striking distance of Alabama-Huntsville for the final playoff spot in the conference tournament.
They trail the Chargers by four points with both teams having four games remaining.
Against Anchorage, sophomore forward Coale Norris (Oxford) gave Ferris a 2-1 lead at the 12:44 mark of the third.
On Saturday, both goals were scored in the first seven minutes, with Bulldogs junior forward Craig Pefley (St. Clair) tying the game at the 6:09 mark.
The Seawolves scored in three-on-three overtime to earn the extra conference point.
Ferris freshman goaltender Roni Salmenkangas made 46 saves during the weekend to earn WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.
Up next
The Bulldogs can move ahead of the Chargers if they sweep them this weekend in Big Rapids.
No. 6: Michigan Tech
Record: 12-16-4 (11-10-3-1 WCHA)
Previous ranking: 6th
Last weekend's results: Swept by Lake Superior State, losing 3-1 Friday and Saturday
Highlights: The Huskies' recent struggles continued last weekend. They are winless in their past five and have just two victories in their past 14, falling to sixth in the WCHA.
MTU freshman forward Brian Halonen scored three minutes into Friday's game, but the Lakers answered with three straight goals.
Senior forward Jake Lucchini cut the LSSU lead to 2-1 in the second period Saturday, but the Huskies couldn't net the equalizer.
Up next
The Huskies host last-place Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.
No. 5: Michigan State
Record: 11-16-5 (6-10-4-2 Big Ten)
Previous ranking: 4th
Last weekend's results: Split with then-No. 17 Penn State, winning 5-3 Friday and losing 5-3 Saturday
Highlights: The Spartans had five players score Friday as they broke a 1-1 tie with four straight goals.
On Saturday, MSU defenseman Jared Rosburg cut the Nittany Lions lead to 4-3 with 5:55 remaining before Penn State (17-11-2, 9-10-1) regained a two-goal lead in the final minute.
Spartans junior forward Taro Hirose recorded three assists over the weekend to extend his NCAA-lead in points with 50 (15 goals, 35 assists).
MSU is sixth in the Big Ten with two games remaining.
Up next
The Spartans are off this weekend before traveling to first-place Ohio State on March 1-2.
No. 4: Northern Michigan
Record: 15-14-2 (14-8-2 WCHA)
Previous ranking: 3rd
Last week's results: Finished 0-1-1 against Bemidji State, tying 2-2 Friday and losing 3-0 Saturday
Highlights: The Wildcats only picked up one of six possible points last weekend and are now tied with Bemidji State (15-12-5, 14-8-3-2) for fourth in the conference.
Forwards Troy Loggins and Griffin Loughran each gave NMU a one-goal lead Friday, but the Beavers answered both times and earned the extra WCHA point in three-on-three overtime
On Saturday, the Wildcats fired just 21 shots on goal.
Up next
NMU enters this weekends home series against LSSU trailing the Lakers and Bowling Green by three points in the standings.
No. 3: Michigan
Michigan's Joseph Cecconi (33) and Michigan State's Tommy Apap (11) fight during the "Duel in the D" hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State at Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit Saturday Feb. 9, 2019. Jacob Hamilton
Record: 12-12-6 (7-8-4-2 Big Ten)
Previous ranking: 4th
Last weekend's results: No games
Highlights: The Wolverines moved up one spot this week after NMU struggled in its series against Bemidji State.
Nevertheless, it is looking like the Wolverines will have to win their next four games regular season games and win a few games in the Big Ten tournament for a shot at an at-large bid. They currently sit in 24th in the Pairwise.
They are fourth in the Big Ten but trail Notre Dame by one point and Minnesota by three, although the Gophers have played two more games.
Up next
Michigan hosts No. 6 Ohio State this weekend (19-7-4, 12-5-3-2).
No. 2: Lake Superior State
Record: 20-8-2 (15-7-2 WCHA)
Previous ranking: 2nd
Last weekend's results: Swept Michigan Tech, winning 3-1 Friday and Saturday
Highlights: The Lakers have won four in a row and six of their past seven. Their leading scorers, forwards Max Humitz (Livonia) and Diego Cuglietta, continue to hum, combining for four goals and an assist last weekend.
Meanwhile, Mareks Mitens made 30 saves Friday and Nick Kossoff made 31 Saturday to earn the victories in net.
LSSU moved up one spot to No. 18 in the USCHO.com rankings but it remains at No. 19 in the pairwise. It still has a chance at an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, which would be the program's first tournament appearance since 1996.
Up next
The Lakers travel to Northern Michigan on Friday and Saturday.
No. 1: Western Michigan
Record: 17-10-1 (10-7-1-1 National Collegiate Hockey Conference)
Previous ranking: 1st
Last weekend's results: Split with North Dakota, losing 5-1 Friday and winning 4-2 Saturday
Highlights: The Broncos bounced back nicely Saturday after falling behind 4-0 in Friday's loss.
Freshman defenseman Michael Joyaux, who was named the NCHC Defenseman of the Week, scored two goals for a 2-0 Broncos lead Saturday.
Forward Josh Passolt scored his team-leading 16th goal of the year early in the third for a 3-0 lead, but North Dakota (14-13-2, 8-9-1) cut it to 3-2 at the 12:18 mark.
St. Louis Blues fifth-round draft pick Hugh McGing gave WMU some cushion with a shorthanded goal with 3:09 remaining.
The Broncos moved up one spot to No. 8 in both the USCHO.com and pairwise rankings.
Up next
The third-place Broncos travel to Colorado College (11-14-4, 5-9-3) this weekend.
More college hockey links
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
Ad Choices