Here's a breakdown of the CCHA Tournament, not including Michigan.

No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Alaska

OSU offense vs. Alaska defense:
This matchup is strength against strength. Defense is Alaska’s specialty, and that is how the Nanooks rose to capture a first-round bye in the CCHA Tournament. Alaska and Michigan lead the league in team defense, allowing just 1.82 goals per game. There’s no question that low mark is due to Nanook goalie Chad Johnson, who is a favorite to be named CCHA Best Goaltender. Johnson averages 1.69 goals per game. To make the matchup more intriguing, Ohio State leads the CCHA in total goals scored (136), and the Buckeyes have scored most of those goals even strength. Ohio State must pull together a struggling power play that finished 0-for-23 in the last three series of the regular season, but scored two goals in the Buckeye’s first round series against Bowling Green. If Ohio State wants to pull an upset in Alaska, it must get hot on the man advantage.

Alaska offense vs. OSU defense:
Alaska simply doesn’t score a lot of goals, just 66 on the season. But that speaks volumes about the Nanooks' defensive strength. Even Alaska’s top scorer, Dion Knelson, is tied for 60th in the CCHA in points with just 20. Expect the Nanooks to slow down the game and frustrate the Buckeyes in the neutral zone like all good defensive teams should. And Ohio State goalie Dustin Carlson is streaky. Carlson allowed two or fewer goals in half of the past six games and four or more goals in the other half.

Bottom Line: It’s simply too hard to travel to Alaska and beat the Nanooks in a three-game series, coupled with Alaska’s stifling defense. Alaska in three games.

No. 8 Nebraska-Omaha vs. No. 1 Notre Dame

Nebraska-Omaha offense vs. Notre Dame defense:
This series is a complete mismatch. Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson purposely slows down the game to frustrate opponents and relies on senior goalie Jordan Pearce, who is just behind Alaska's Johnson in GAA (1.70) and save percentage (.929). Plus Pearce is playing his best hockey, giving up just one goal in his last three games. And for the Mavericks, when the leading scorer is a defenseman, something is wrong with the offense.

Nebraska-Omaha defense vs. Notre Dame offense:
On paper, the Fighting Irish win this. Forwards Christian Hanson, Calle Ridderwall and Billy Maday are all among the top 10 in the CCHA in goals. Not to mention Notre Dame is third in the league in scoring. And while Maverick goalies Jared Kaufmann and Jeremie DuPont make a solid tandem with GAA’s lower than three, Notre Dame is simply too potent for the Mavericks.

Bottom Line: Notre Dame dominates every category, is playing at home and is on a six game winning streak. Nebraska-Omaha is ice cold, finishing the regular season winless in its last 14 regular season games. Notre Dame in two games.

No. 6 Northern Michigan vs. No. 3 Miami (Ohio)

Northern Michigan defense vs. Miami offense:
This is by far the most intriguing matchup of the weekend. The Wildcats are on a tear as of late, losing just three of their last 18 games, thanks to the resurgence of goalie Brian Stewart. Stewart faces nearly 26 shots per game and has a 92-percent save percentage. Miami is one of the top scoring teams in the CCHA and is led by Carter Camper with 38 points. Should Northern Michigan win this series, it will be because of Stewart in goal.

Northern Michigan offense vs. Miami defense:
The Wildcats offense also caught recently. In the first half of the season, Northern Michigan averaged just 1.6 goals per game, in the second half of the season the Wildcats averaged 3.9 goals per game including 13 in its two-game series last weekend against Michigan State. While Miami is fourth in the league in team defense and boasts a monster goalie in 6-foot-7 Conner Knapp, the RedHawks might just be facing the Wildcats at the wrong time.

Bottom Line: Northern Michigan has the momentum that will squeak them by in the best series this weekend. Northern Michigan in three.