INSIDE HOCKEY

For the first time in five weeks, we have a new name atop the Hobey Watch, as two linemates battle for national supremacy. Other highlights include a freshman cracking into the top 10 and a Quinnipiac player who knows how to light the Lampe.

Let’s get down to business:

10) Dan Ringwald, Senior D, RIT –– The Tigers continued their hot streak with a weekend sweep of Mercyhurst to run their win streak to six, and Ringwald continued his hot streak with an assist on what proved to be the game-winner Friday night. The team captain now has nine points in his last six games.

9) Dan Bakala, Sophomore G, Bemidji State –– In their only game of the weekend, the No. 8 Beavers were dealt their first loss of the season, as Bakala gave up four goals on 29 shots to Minnesota. Despite the subpar effort, he still ranks seventh in the nation in goals-against average (1.72) and eighth in save percentage (.935).

8) Eric Lampe, Senior F, Quinnipiac –– Lampe skips right over the bubble and jumps into the top 10 after exploding for three goals and an assist in the No. 13 Bobcats’ 5-1 win over Harvard on Friday night. He is now tied for second in the country with nine goals and is tied for third with 1.56 points per game.

7) James Marcou, Junior F, Massachusetts –– Marcou falls out of the Hat Trick after recording just one assist in a weekend split with New Hampshire. He finally lost his nearly season-long stranglehold on the points-per-game category in the process. There’s no need for too much alarm, though –– he’s still third in that stat.

6) Stephane Da Costa, Freshman F, Merrimack –– Marcou’s loss is Da Costa’s gain. After recording two goals and two assists in a weekend split with Boston University, Da Costa, the first freshman to crack the top 10 this season, now leads the nation with 1.88 points per game (8 goals, 7 assists in 8 games).

5) Cody Reichard, Sophomore G, Miami –– Although the No. 1 RedHawks lost in a shootout Friday night against Ferris State, Reichard is technically still undefeated (7-0-2) because CCHA games decided by a shootout just count as ties for national purposes. His 1.61 goals-against average is good for fourth in the country, and his .931 save percentage places him 11th.

4) Drew Palmisano, Sophomore G, Michigan State –– Palmisano saved 48 of the 50 shots he faced in the No. 6 Spartans’ weekend sweep of archrival No. 15/16 Michigan, including a 31-save shutout on Saturday night. He’s now tied for second nationally in shutouts (2) and is tied for fifth in save percentage (.937), all while sporting a 7-1-1 record.

The Hat Trick

3) Chay Genoway, Senior D, North Dakota –– Genoway suffered a head injury on a vicious hit from behind courtesy of St. Cloud State’s Aaron Marvin on Friday night and will miss this weekend’s showcase series at No. 3 Denver. As a result, Genoway falls out of the top spot for the first time in five weeks.

Video of the hit:

2) Jack Connolly, Sophomore F, Minnesota-Duluth –– Connolly picked up a goal and two assists in a weekend split with Michigan Tech, and continues to be tied atop the national rankings with 18 points. His 11 assists are tied for third. That’s all well and good, but Connolly will have to settle for second to his own linemate.

1) Justin Fontaine, Junior F, Minnesota-Duluth –– Fontaine not only returns to the Hat Trick after a three-week hiatus, but he takes over the top spot after accruing a ridiculous four goals and an assist on Saturday night. He’s now tied with Connolly for first in the nation in points (18) and ranks second in points per game (1.64), first in goals (11) and first in power-play goals (8).

On the bubble: Matt Read (Junior F, Bemidji State), Bill Sweatt (Senior F, Colorado College), Corey Tropp (Junior F, Michigan State), Blake Kessel (Sophomore D, New Hampshire), Scott Greenham (Sophomore G, Alaska).