Three things we learned: Jan. 9

The WCHA schedule picked up this past weekend after a holiday season filled with non-conference games.

Here are three things we learned.

1. Alaska Anchorage is still in the playoff hunt. Anchorage picked up regulation win and a lost to Ferris State in a shootout this past weekend, pulling within three points of Alaska and Lake Superior State for the eighth and final playoff spot. Anchorage just needs a bit more offensive punch to keep up.
2. Does Bemidji State have a bit of senioritis? The Beavers have already locked up a playoff spot, but have lost two of their past four games in the WCHA, including a split this past weekend with Bowling Green. The Beavers still have a 13-point cushion on second-place Michigan Tech, but the Huskies have four games in hand and had a nice showing against Notre Dame this weekend.
3. So long non-conference play. We have a WCHA-loaded schedule the next two weeks, without any non-conference games to speak of. It should be an entertaining stretch that helps define contenders and pretenders.