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Staff writer Rob White ranks the WCHA teams through Saturday's games

1. MINN.-DULUTH (17-4-3, 11-3-2, RPI No. 2): A loss to UNO probably didn't hurt the Bulldogs' RPI, which had been No. 1, as much as playing — and sweeping — Alabama-Huntsville. At 16-1-3 over their past 20 games, there isn't much to worry about. A pair of three-point nights boosted Jack Connolly's national-best total to 40 (15 goals, 25 assists).

2. MINNESOTA (17-9-1, 13-5-0, No. 14): A home split with Colorado College gives the Golden Gophers first place in the WCHA with 26 points, though they've played two games more than Minnesota-Duluth. Nick Bjugstad is second in the country with 20 goals.

3. COLORADO COLLEGE (14-9-1, 11-7-0, No. 17): A home-and-home weekend with rival Denver awaits — their last meeting was decided on an overtime penalty shot by the Tigers' Alexander Krushelnyski. Rylan Schwartz is tied for third nationally with 18 goals.

4. DENVER (13-8-3, 8-5-3, No. 18): The Pioneers had a week off to prepare for Colorado College and certainly have vengeance in mind. Denver is fifth nationally in offense (3.54 goals per game), and CC is sixth (3.50).

5. UNO (12-10-4, 9-6-3, No. 25): Just when the Mavericks appeared to have settled their goaltending situation, Ryan Massa suffered a head injury in Friday's win at Minnesota State-Mankato. Had UNO completed the sweep, they'd be third in the WCHA and a little higher on this list.

6. NORTH DAKOTA (13-10-2, 9-9-0, No. 19): Top line of Corban Knight, Danny Kristo and Brock Nelson combined for seven points in 3-2 Saturday win that gave North Dakota a split with St. Cloud State.

7. WISCONSIN (12-10-2, 7-9-2, No. 24): The Badgers got six of a possible eight points against league cellar dwellers MSU and Alaska-Anchorage. Next up: North Dakota. Mark Zengerle has 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in his last 10 games, is tied for second in the country with 38 points and leads the nation with 28 assists.

8. ST. CLOUD STATE (8-10-4, 5-6-3, No. 32): The Huskies have earned splits the past two series with Colorado College and North Dakota, even though Cam Reid left for the pros at semester break, and goalie Mike Lee and forward Drew LeBlanc remain out with injuries.

9. MICHIGAN TECH (11-12-1, 8-7-1, No. 32): A strong start has helped keep the Huskies afloat — and they aren't done yet — but a series at Minnesota-Duluth awaits.

10. BEMIDJI STATE (11-11-2, 5-9-2, No. 26): The Beavers had the weekend off after being swept at Denver, but have a chance to get back on track at home against Minnesota State-Mankato. Denver, Colorado College and Minnesota are the only WCHA teams with better power plays, and MSU leads the league in penalty minutes.

11. MSU-MANKATO (8-17-1, 4-13-1, No. 50): The Mavericks of the North have picked up splits the past two weekends against Wisconsin and UNO, with help from Eriah Hayes' Saturday hat trick. The next three series — at Bemidji State, home against Michigan Tech and at Alaska-Anchorage — don't seem daunting now, even if two are on the road.

12. ALASKA-ANCHORAGE (6-14-2, 3-14-1, No. 48): The Seawolves have lost five straight, including 3-2 to Wisconsin on a Justin LaBate goal with four minutes left, but play their next six games at home. The first four, though, are against Denver and Minnesota-Duluth.

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