NCAA Weekender: North Dakota emerging as title contender

Recapping the biggest stories of the NCAA weekend.

There's one question you have to ask as No. 1 Michigan was idle this weekend and is now without its starting goaltender for an undefined but considerable amount of time.

"Is there a power vacuum here, and if so, who fills it?"

The obvious answer is No. 2 Michigan State, a team with elite players in goal and up front, and perhaps the best Nos. 1-6 D corps in the country. The Spartans have five losses all season, and suffered just one defeat — a tough 2-1 game at Ohio State on Jan. 10 — since returning from break. They breezed past Minnesota in a home sweep this weekend and don't look like they're gonna be slowing down anytime soon… except that they play in an incredibly good, top-heavy conference and their next three games are on the road at N