So much for "points in every game."

Winning just 1 of the last 4 games eliminated any realistic chance at an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the Irish.

While it is still mathematically possible to find a way to the NCAAs without winning the Big Ten playoff title, I can't imagine it would be possible without winning the last 4 regular season games and sweeping to the final. Even with sweeps of Minnesota and Michigan we're still going to be on the outside looking in when the post-season tournaments get underway.

It will also have to be one of those seasons where we would likely need to see the top-15 in the final pairwise be eligible and no more than one conference winner coming outside the top-15. Right now the top teams in Atlantic Hockey (RIT) and the CCHA (Minnesota State) are behind Notre Dame and well outside of the top 15. In other words, without winning 4 games in the Big Ten tournament, the Irish are going to miss the NCAAs again.