The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup Playoff picture is extremely tight with two weekends to play. Every team in the standings is fighting for eight or home playoff series or a spot in the playoffs. The top seed is up for grabs and after this weekend there should be a better picture of scenarios heading into the final weekend.
Below are the minimum and maximum points each team can have come Sunday and a few ways hosting a home playoff series can be secured.
| Team | Season total min-max points |
Feb. 3-4 min-max points possible |
||
| x Aurora | 33 | 45 | 33 | 39 |
| x Adrian | 31 | 43 | 31 | 37 |
| x St. Norbert | 30 | 42 | 30 | 36 |
| x MSOE | 38 | 40 | 38 | 34 |
| x Trine | 25 | 37 | 25 | 31 |
| x Lake Forest | 22 | 34 | 22 | 28 |
| Marian | 18 | 30 | 18 | 24 |
| Concordia Wisconsin | 9 | 21 | 9 | 15 |
| Lawrence | 9 | 21 | 9 | 15 |
| Finlandia | 5 | 17 | 5 | 11 |
x = clinched Harris Cup playoff spot
1) Aurora, Adrian, St. Norbert, MSOE, Trine and Lake Forest have all clinched a tournament berth
2) If Aurora wins 5 points or more this weekend at Adrian they secure a top 4 spot and a home playoff series.
3) If Adrian wins 6 points this weekend versus Aurora and at least a point in the final weekend at St. Norbert they secure a top 4 spot and a home playoff series.
4) St. Norbert can earn a top 4 seed by winning 6 points this weekend and if Trine wins no more than 1 point at Lake Forest.
5) If MSOE wins 6 points this weekend against St. Norbert and if Trine wins no more than 2 points at Lake Forest they clinch a top 4 spot and a home playoff series.
6) If Marian wins 4 points or more this weekend at Finlandia it clinches a tournament berth.
February 3-4
Aurora at Adrian
Marian at Finlandia
Trine at Lake Forest
MSOE at St. Norbert (H-H)
Lawrence at Concordia Wisconsin (H-H)
TIEBREAK PROCEDURE
Head-to-Head (points comparison in games between the tied teams - including results in regulation, OT and SO)
Total Regulation Wins
Total Regulation Wins + OT Wins
Total Regulation Wins + OT Wins + SO Wins
* Wins vs Top 4 teams in final standings
# Results vs rank order, 1-X, until the difference in results
Goal differential in games between tied teams only
Goal differential in games vs teams above the tied teams in standings
Goal differential in all conference games
Random draw
* Includes all teams with point totals ranking in top 4 of overall standings, including ties
# If, while moving through rank order there are two teams with equal point totals at a certain rank, results versus all those tied teams are compared together.