Defending national champion Boston University was five games under .500 at the winter break, but the Terriers have turned things around in 2010.
With nine victories in 12 games since the break, they’re back in the hunt for a home-ice spot in the Hockey East playoffs and possibly an at-large spot in the NCAA tournament.
Related link: USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll — Feb. 15, 2010
And on Monday, they reappeared in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll at No. 19. It’s BU’s first national ranking since Nov. 9, when it was 17th.
The top four was unchanged, with Miami, Denver, Wisconsin and St. Cloud State holding those spots. Yale moved up a spot to No. 5.
Minnesota-Duluth, Colorado College, Boston College, Bemidji State and Cornell rounded out the top 10.
Boston University was second in the preseason poll but crashed out of the rankings after a 3-6 start. Despite a loss to No. 8 Boston College in last Monday’s Beanpot championship game, the Terriers have climbed to 20th in the RPI and a tie for 18th in the PairWise Rankings.
At No. 20, Alaska is back in the rankings for the first time since Jan. 4. The Nanooks are 2-2-5 in their last nine games.
Michigan, 19th last week, and Massachusetts-Lowell, 20th last week, dropped out of the rankings.
This week’s schedule features four series between ranked opponents, highlighted by No. 3 Wisconsin hosting No. 4 St. Cloud State.
Also, No. 11 North Dakota hosts No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth; No. 12 Michigan State hosts No. 14 Ferris State on Friday before the teams switch sites Saturday; and No. 13 New Hampshire hosts No. 17 Vermont.
