Here's a primer for the NCAA Conference playoffs:
The winners of each conference get an automatic invite to the NCAA Championships. Additionally, the top 10 teams in the Pairwise rankings that don't win their Conferences also get invites.
Here are the current Pairwise rankings:
http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwi...kings/d-i-men/
From a Flames' prospects perspective:
YALE (Kenny Agostino - Senior) : Eliminated from ECAC Conference Quarterfinals. No chance of NCAA invite. Agostino has signed his NHL ELC with the Flames and could make his NHL debut this week.
MICHIGAN STATE (Matt DeBlouw - Sophomore) : Will play Ohio State in Big 10 Conference Quarterfinal at 7pm ET on Thursday. If they win, will play the #1 team in the nation, Minnesota, in the semifinals on Friday. Must win their Conference to get an invite to the NCAA Tourney. DeBlouw is unlikely to sign with the Flames regardless of MSU's fate.
COLGATE (Tim Harrison - Freshman) : Will play 6th ranked Quinnipiac in the ECAC semifinal on Friday at 7:30pm ET. They are currently the bubble team in the Pairwise at 16. I don't think they must win their conference to get an invite, but at least one win will be important to move up in the Pairwise. Harrison is unlikely to sign with the Flames regardless of Colgate's fate. He was the youngest player on an older Colgate team this year and should see his role expanded next year.
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (Mark Jankowski - Sophomore, Jon Gillies - Sophomore, John Gilmour - Sophomore) : Will play UNH at 8:00pm ET on Friday. PC started the season really strongly, but struggled after the Christmas/World Juniors break. Gillies fought an injury for most of the latter part of the season, but seems to have recently regained his early season form. Jankowski has become a very versatile part of the Friars' attack, playing a strong defensive role, as well as contributing on the score sheet, with 6 points in his last 6 games. Gilmour is an solid defenceman with a decent offensive instinct. PC is currently 9th in the Pairwise, which should make them a safe bet for an invite to the NCAA tourney regardless of their results this weekend. IMO, Gillies is a toss-up for signing with the Flames this year. Jankowski and Gilmour will likely play at least one more year in College.
BOSTON COLLEGE (John Gaudreau - Junior, Bill Arnold - Senior) : Eliminated from the Hockey East playoffs this weekend by a strong, but poorly-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. BC is still a very strong College team who will be considered one of the favourites in the NCAA Tournament. Gaudreau is all but guaranteed to win the Hobey Baker award this season as the best player in College Hockey (an award he probably should have won last year too). Arnold and Gaudreau have been 2/3 of the best line in the nation since the start of December. Both players are expected to turn pro once BC's season ends. The only question now is whether it will be early enough for them to don the Flaming C this season.