Development Division Picture Will Clear This Weekend

 

Like their A team counterpart, the Buckeye B squad has played very few games.  After two, they are 0-1-1, but will complete 4 league games this weekend to get to the midpoint of their schedule.  Playing in Conference B East is a significant challenge, and OSU would be a long shot to catch the top teams and grab an automatic playoff birth.  So their chance likely lies in one of three wild card spots currently up for grabs.  Games against Ball State and Illinois State should be winnable and are vital to the Bucks, but games against Eastern Michigan and Michigan will be key conference matchups.

 

The Redbirds are in trouble.  Coming into the weekend at 0-5, the birds will need a huge second half to jump into the playoffs, and this weekend?s four games will be the biggest.  They play three of the Conference B East teams along with Conference B West rival Ball State.  They?ll need to pull off at least one upset this weekend to have a chance to compete for a playoff spot.

 

The Cardinals are in a nearly identical position to Illinois State.  Winless so far, they?ll need some huge wins to be invited to Wixom in February.  They also play a tough schedule this weekend, and by Monday we could have two teams with nearly no hope of making the playoffs.

 

The Wolverines will finish their MCRHL season this weekend, and will hope to take a big step towards locking up a top two spot in Conference B East, clinching a trip to Wixom.  Games against non-conference opponents should lead to a good weekend for Michigan, but anything?s possible.  A sweep this weekend would force Michigan State to split their last four games and Eastern Michigan to sweep their last five to take out the Wolverines for the conference crown.

 

By playing in Conference B West with previously mentioned Illinois State and Ball State, the goal of the Illini should be a top two spot, and they could clinch that as early as this weekend with a good performance.  Games against Eastern Michigan B and Michigan B will not make it easy though for the 2-2 Illini.

 

The Eagles are in a great race in Conference B East along with Michigan State, Michigan, and maybe eventually Ohio State for the top spots.  After this weekend, they will have only one game remaining.  Their game against Ohio State could be one of the best matchups of the weekend.

 

The Flyers are on their last leg for a postseason spot.  At 0-6-1, Dayton needs to move in a hurry.  Five games to go, two of them this weekend, and maybe all need to be won for a wild card.  Eastern Michigan and Ball State are the opponents this weekend, and if Dayton can pull out two victories, they then become contenders for the last wild card spot.