Looking at the records of several ofthe top-rated Western teams,
I note what seems to be an abundance of ties in the CCHA.  Mich State
has 8, Western Michigan 6, Ferris State 7, Miami 6, Ohio State 5,
Illinois-Chicago 6, Bowling Green 5, Lake Superior State 4, and
Michigan 3 (pikers!).
 
          Now, it's obvious that with most of the western league
schedules involving intraleague games a tendency for two or three
teams to have a lot of ties will probably mean several more in the
league will also.  In fact, 24 of the 144 CCHA intraleague games
ended in ties!  That's about 17%!
 
   Kinda strange?  Anyway, I guess I'm surprised at so many games
failing to be decided in overtime periods, especially given the
sudden death rule.  Anyone have any speculation on this?  Were teams
playing (especially in the CCHA) conservatively in overtime, figuring
a tie is a whole lot better than a loss?  If so, this is one of the
reasons I really dislike the hockey rule.  No one responded when I
asked this earlier, so I'll say again:  Why not some kind of procedure
that demands a game finish in a win (and a loss)?