Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:32 PM)

Hello and welcome to another INCH chat here on The Show. We'll be taking lots of questions in the next 30 minutes.

Tim (Syracuse, NY)

How do you think the St. Lawrence Men's team will do in the ECAC tournament?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:36 PM)

St. Lawrence has been one of the more surprising teams out there so far this season in the ECACHL. I think this year's playoffs will be determined by matchups. It won't matter what the seed is, or even what rink teams are playing in, but how they compare against other teams. I do expect St. Lawrence to play on the second weekend of the tournament, but I don't think they'll advance to Albany.

Jeff (Boston, MA)

Do you think Boston University can generate enough offense to go deep into the Hockey East play-offs and the Frozen Four?

Jeff Howe

  (2:37 PM)

I do now. With Brandon Yip back, BU has two very, very talented scoring lines. The offense hasn't been much of a problem over the last month or so, and the Terrier defense has been absolutely amazing. John Curry is also the Hockey East MVP to this point of the season.

Kevin (Cambridge, MA)

Niagara has fared well against top competition this season, compiling an impressive 6-2 record against ECACHL teams (including two wins over Quinnipiac last weekend). If the Purple Eagles stumble in the CHA Tournament, is an at-large bid plausible?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:41 PM)

The Purps are a pretty good team. I really like how they've played outside of the league, but I think that the two losses at Denver might keep them out of the tournament. The ECACHL teams they've beaten, other than Quinnipiac and possibly St. Lawrence aren't particularly strong.

Chris (Dracut, MA)

As a Northeastern graduate, I'm a little geeked up about this year's Beanpot. The Huskies have played both BU and BC close this year. Any chance NU takes the 'Pot for the first time since '88?

Jeff Howe

  (2:42 PM)

If Northeastern wasn't running into BU, currently the hottest team in the country, in the first round of the Beanpot, I'd like the Huskies' chances. I think they match up well with BC and Harvard this year, but the Terriers are flying right now.

Casey (Denver)

What do you think the Pioneers' chances are of returning to the NCAAs this year?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:44 PM)

I think Denver will definitely be back in the NCAA Tournament this year and they'll be a tough matchup for anyone once they're in. This senior class has two national championships, and lots of experience in big games.

Joe (Princeton, NJ)

What gives with the ECACHL...is it the deepest league in the Country (they don't have the most draft picks but night in night out, you don't know who will win) in the Country? For example one day the Golden Knights destroy the Saints and just days before can't get out of the nuetral zone against Union. Is Clarkson is top dog and are you still picking them to make the frozen four?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:46 PM)

I remarked in the latest INCH podcast that Union is in last place, but its overall record is .500 right now. They're a pretty good team. There isn't a lot to separate the top from the bottom at this point in the season. Every game is tough. Insert your own favorite coachspeak here. But Clarkson is still my choice as the team to beat, and while they weren't playing poorly in recent games against Cornell, Colgate, RPI, and Union, they also weren't playing well. The second and third periods of the game at SLU on Tuesday night changed that. They're back on track heading into the weekend.

Patrick (St Paul)

The Gophers have split the last 2 weekends. Do you think the dismissal of Hirsch is having an impact? or is this just a happening in a great season?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:48 PM)

Anytime a team loses a player of Hirsch's caliber, there's going to be an impact. He was arguably the best set-up man on the team -- just ask Kyle Okposo. That said, I think the splits can be attributed to a team that has had to play a couple tough opponents in Wisconsin and Denver on back-to-back weekends (and NoDak coming up). Also, they're probably a little tired -- between the guys who were at World Juniors and the guys who had to log the minutes to plug the holes when they were away, the gas tank's probably a little empty.

Kevin (Grayslake, Illinois)

I started following college hockey last year, and after attending the NCAA skills even, I became hooked. I bought tickets to the Frozen Four this year, who should I expect to see?

Jeff Howe

  (2:49 PM)

Expect to see Minnesota ... if the Gophers don't run into Holy Cross. Expect to see one or two Hockey East teams - right now, maybe UNH and/or BU. And expect to see Notre Dame or Denver, which has a coach who knows a thing or two about the playoffs.

Travis, Canada

Guys, you pointed out the obvious last week about the tough season schedule for LSSU, but did you use Voodoo or curse them because they have been sweept the last two series?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:51 PM)

No curses cast by INCH ... we like all 59 teams equally. And there's no shame in being swept by Notre Dame and Michigan State. Those are two of the best teams in the country, and MSU is playing particularly well right now.

Bobby ( marquett michigan)

what do you think about the Wildcats and there leading scorer? shoundt he be a hobby baker contender?

Mike Eidelbes

  (2:53 PM)

Mike Santorelli has quietly had a terrific year -- he entered the week ranked second nationally in goals with 22. His Hobey cadidacy is hurt, however, by the Wildcats' lackluster performance thus far. They're four games under .500. In my opinion, that's unacceptable for a team with that much talent, and Walt Kyle's got some players up there. If NMU can put together a run over the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, Santorelli's got a chance, but I don't envision that scenario.

Cletus (Duluth, MN)

With Minnesota and UNH looking as the premier teams which one do you think will finish on top? Do you see St. Cloud or Denver overtaking Minnesota in the WCHA?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:56 PM)

I think Minnesota will win the regular-season title. Denver and St. Cloud State are excellent teams, but I think the Gophers will hang on. Recent results have made the races in the WCHA and Hockey East a lot closer. BU has a very good shot at catching UNH in Hockey East. That will also be fun to watch over the last month and a half.

David (Sydney, NSW)

Cornell has a big home-and-home coming up. Do they need a sweep to solidify NCAA hopes? What kind of chance do they have for an at-large bid?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:57 PM)

I'm actually heading down to the game later tonight, and am looking forward to it. Cornell and Colgate are both teams that have the potential to make a good run down the stretch. This home-and-home series will be pivotal to jump-starting that push toward the playoffs.

Michael (Connecticut)

How impressed are ya to hear about RIT playing well in Atlantic league on their first season in Division 1?

Joe Gladziszewski

  (2:59 PM)

It's been an excellent season for RIT, and they've proven that they're already capable of challenging for league honors in Atlantic Hockey. With no postseason to play for this year, the team set its sights on the regular-season crown and has a very good chance at achieving that goal.

Jared (Ann Arbor)

What do you think about Michigan's chances this year?

Mike Eidelbes

  (3:01 PM)

They're not a national championship contender, nor do I see them advancing to the Frozen Four because I don't trust their goaltending. Still, they should make the NCAA Tournament and probably finish third or fourth in the CCHA.

Joe Gladziszewski

  (3:02 PM)

Thanks for the questions and thanks to the INCH staff for taking time to field them. We'll be back next Thursday at the same time for more discussion, and follow-up on some big series this weekend between St. Cloud State and Denver, Minnesota and North Dakota, and Miami and Notre Dame.