INSIDE HOCKEY

A lot of the same names this week, but in a lot of different places. Eight of this week’s top 10 were in last week’s top 10, and 14 of the 15 names mentioned were also mentioned a week ago. However, the only two guys who find themselves in the same spot they were in last week are the top two.

Here’s this week’s list:

10) Jack Connolly, Sophomore F, Minnesota-Duluth –– Connolly had two assists Saturday night to help the No. 6 Bulldogs earn a weekend split against No. 3 Wisconsin. He’s tied for third nationally in points (38), but he’s dropped to ninth in points per game (1.36). He also has just one goal in his last six games.

9) Ben Scrivens, Senior G, Cornell –– Scrivens (12-5-3) wasn’t tested much this weekend, as he faced just 37 shots in two wins over St. Lawrence and Clarkson, saving 33 of them. Scrivens is 5-1-1 in 2010, and he ranks third in the country in goals-against average (1.94) and fourth in save percentage (.929).

8) Cory Conacher, Junior F, Canisius –– The Golden Griffins didn’t play this weekend, but Conacher was able to take over the national lead in points per game (1.58). He’s also tied for third in points (38) and seventh in goals (17). Conacher and Canisius travel to Connecticut for a series against UConn this weekend.

7) Marc Cheverie, Junior G, Denver –– Cheverie (14-3-3) saved 55 of the 57 shots he faced in the No. 2 Pioneers’ weekend sweep of No. 9 North Dakota. On Friday night, he registered a 33-save shutout, his nation-best sixth of the season. Chevy is also second in winning percentage (.824), second in save percentage (.932) and fifth in GAA (2.02).

6) Bobby Butler, Senior F, New Hampshire –– Butler had a goal and two assists in the No. 13 Wildcats’ weekend split with Merrimack. He now has a seven-game point streak, and has recorded multiple points in three of those contests. He’s also fourth in points per game (1.44), tied for fourth in goals (18), tied for sixth in points (36) and tied for fifth in plus/minus (+17).

5) Chase Polacek, Junior F, Rensselaer –– Polacek moved into a tie for the national lead in points (40) with two goals and three assists in the Engineers’ two games this weekend –– a loss to Brown and a win over No. 8 Yale. He’s also fifth in points per game (1.43), tied for seventh in assists (22), tied for fourth in goals (18) and tied for second in power-play goals (10).

4) Cody Reichard, Sophomore G, Miami –– Reichard (13-2-3) saved 18 of the 19 shots he faced in the No. 1 RedHawks’ 4-1 win over Western Michigan on Friday night. He still leads the country in winning percentage (.867), save percentage (.934) and GAA (1.47, which is 0.39 points better than anyone else). He’s also still rotating with fellow sophomore Connor Knapp.

The Hat Trick

3) Gustav Nyquist, Sophomore F, Maine –– Nyquist tallied a goal and three assists in the No. 16 Black Bears’ win and tie at No. 17 Vermont over the weekend. The Swedish sensation is now third in the country in points per game (1.50), tied for sixth in points (36) and tied for seventh in assists (22). Nyquist and Maine host archrival UNH for a pair this weekend.

2) Brendan Smith, Junior D, Wisconsin –– Smith had a goal in the Badgers’ win over UMD on Friday night. He’s still clearly the best Hobey candidate among defensemen, as he leads all blue-liners in points (31) and points per game (1.24), and is tied for first in goals (10). Smith and Wisconsin host No. 19 Michigan outdoors at Camp Randall Stadium this Saturday.

1) James Marcou, Junior F, Massachusetts –– Marcou had just one assist this weekend in the No. 15 Minutemen’s two games this weekend –– a 6-2 loss to Boston University and a 4-1 win over Providence. As a result, he dropped to second in points per game (1.54) and fell into a first-place tie in points (40). Marcou’s still five clear of the field in assists, though, with 32.

On the bubble: Nick Johnson (Senior F, Sacred Heart), Corey Tropp (Junior F, Michigan State), Casey Wellman (Sophomore F, Massachusetts), Blake Kessel (Sophomore D, New Hampshire), Dan Bakala (Sophomore G, Bemidji State).