Why replay isn’t always the answer, more losses among top four teams, tight conference races: Weekend Review episode 16

25 Jan 19: The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers host the University of Wisconsin Badgers in B1G matchup at 3M at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, MN. (Jim Rosvold)
A weekend split between Wisconsin and Minnesota helped keep standings tight in the Big Ten (photo: Jim Rosvold).

An injury to a player for No. 20 North Dakota that didn’t draw a penalty on No. 1 St. Cloud drew the ire of many on Friday, but the vantage point of properly positioned officials and limitations on how replay can be used explain why there wasn’t a call. Hosts Jim Connelly (@JimmyConnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) delve into the issue and discuss some ways to improve the process.

Besides the split between the Fighting Hawks and Huskies, No. 2 UMass split with Maine, which may help the Black Bears cement a Hockey East playoff spot, and No. 13 Western Michigan made a statement by sweeping No. 4 Denver.

It was a good weekend for No. 14 Providence in a sweep of No. 8 Northeastern in a home-and-home series.

No. 17 Arizona State’s PairWise volatility points to its need to win to make the NCAA tournament.

Plus: a quick look at bunched up standings across the six conferences.

This episode is sponsored by the NCAA men’s ice hockey Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y., April 11 and 13: ncaa.com/frozenfour

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About the hosts

Jim Connelly is a senior writer at USCHO.com and has been with the site since 1999. He is based in Boston and regularly covers Hockey East. He began with USCHO.com as the correspondent covering the MAAC, which nowadays is known as Atlantic Hockey. Each week during the season, he co-writes “Tuesday Morning Quarterback.” Jim is the winner of the 2012 Joe Concannon award. He a former color analyst for UMass-Lowell hockey’s radio network and studio analyst for NESN.

Ed Trefzger has been part of USCHO since 1999 and now serves as a senior writer and director of technology. He is the radio play-by-play voice for Rochester Institute of Technology hockey on the RIT Tigers Sports Network, and has been involved with the broadcasts as a producer, studio host, and color commentator since their inception. He is co-owner and president of broadcasting company Genesee Media, and was general manager of the former Rochester, N.Y., sports radio station 97.5 The Team.