We don’t say this every weekend — or, really, ever — but of all the places to be in Minnesota this Friday-Sunday, Mankato has to be at the top of the list. The reason is simple: Gophers vs. Mavericks, best-of-three WCHA first-round playoff series. There is nothing better than watching the Gophers in a road series against an in-state rival with a chip on its shoulder. Add in the intensity of playoff hockey — and the oddity that the Gophers open on the road — and you have an even better story. Then chew on this: the winner has a very good chance of making the NCAA field; the loser is likely done for the season. This is a staggering revelation that we only started researching a few days ago, wondering what sort of long shot the Gophers were to make the 16-team field. Turns out: not that much at all. For as poorly as they have played this season, they are No. 12 in the Pairwise Rankings, which closely resemble the method the NCAA uses to pick teams. MSU-Mankato, meanwhile, is No. 11. Six teams (conference champs) get automatic bids; some of them would have made it anyway, according to the Pairwise, and some would not have. That puts both teams kind of on the bubble (more so the Gophers, we would have to say, based on their record). Tickets will be hard to come by (by Monday, only standing room ducats were left), but if you have the means, we suggest an 80-mile road trip. We promise a free guest post to anyone who can provide the inside story of a series that we imagine will go the full three games.

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