WCHA 1st-round Pairing Set; Playoffs Open Friday

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Minnesota hosts Alaska Anchorage and Nebraska-Omaha hosts Bemidji State as the first round of the WCHA playoffs open next weekend.

Minnesota secured the home ice for its best-of-three series by finishing the season with a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2). Nebraska-Omaha earned the home advantage for a series between the league's two new member teams

In other match-ups, regular season champion North Dakota hosts Michigan Tech, while Denver hosts Minnesota State, Mankato; Minnesota Duluth hosts St. Cloud State; and Colorado College hosts Wisconsin.

All teams will play Friday and Saturday nights. Third games, if necessary, will be Sunday night.

The six winning teams will advance to the WCHA Final Five, which opens March 17 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

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