Inside College Hockey's power rankings for Week 5

Updated: November 9, 2009, 11:42 AM ET

Week 5 hockey power rankings

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By Inside College Hockey
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With all the shuffling that took place in this week's Inside College Hockey Power Rankings, we can tell you this with certainty: We still rated 20 teams, and the top 2 are still Miami and North Dakota. They're joined on the upper rungs of our weekly list by Cornell.

Here's how the Inside College Hockey editors and staff rank the nation's top teams:

1. MIAMI
You know you've had a rough go at a particular road venue when you get a sweep there and it nearly doubles your school's all-time win total in that arena. That's what happened to the RedHawks, who got all-time wins Nos. 4 and 5 at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena this past weekend.

Last week's ranking: 1

Record: 8-1-1 (5-1-0 CCHA)

Last week: W at Michigan, 3-1; W at Michigan, 5-1

This week: vs. Ferris State, vs. Ferris State

2. NORTH DAKOTA
The Fighting Sioux have scored three or more goals seven times in eight games this season, the lone exception being a 2-1 loss at Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 24.

Last week's ranking: 2

Record: 6-1-1 (4-1-1 WCHA)

Last week: W at Michigan Tech, 4-2; W at Michigan Tech, 4-1

This week: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State

3. CORNELL
Talk about feeling shame in the penalty box: Through three games, Cornell's power play is clicking at a 44.4 percent rate, converting eight of 18 chances thus far.

Last week's ranking: 5

Record: 3-0-0 (2-0-0 ECAC Hockey)

Last week: W vs. Dartmouth, 5-1; W vs. Harvard 6-3

This week: at Yale, at Brown

4. DENVER
Saturday's 7-3 loss to Alaska Anchorage at Sullivan Arena snapped the Pioneers' 13-game unbeaten streak on the Seawolves' home ice.

Last week's ranking: 3

Record: 6-3-1 (4-1-1 WCHA)

Last week: W at Alaska-Anchorage, 3-2; L at Alaska-Anchorage, 7-3

This week: off

5. UMASS LOWELL
Nick Schaus is Lowell's best defenseman, and right now, he's their top scorer, too. The senior's nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) are tops on the team and tied for ninth in Hockey East.

Last week's ranking: 9

Record: 5-2-1 (3-1-1 Hockey East)

Last week: T at Vermont, 3-3 OT; W vs. New Hampshire, 6-3

This week: at Alabama-Huntsville, at Alabama-Huntsville

6. MICHIGAN
Miami became the first team to sweep Michigan in Ann Arbor since Oct. 26-27, 2001, when Northern Michigan did it. Those Wildcats were coached by Rick Comley, who brings his Michigan State squad to Yost on Friday.

Last week's ranking: 4

Record: 4-4-0 (2-2-0 CCHA)

Last week: L vs. Miami, 3-1; L vs. Miami 5-1

This week: vs. Michigan State, at Michigan State

7. NEBRASKA-OMAHA
Apropos of nothing, the Mavericks' roster boasts players from 11 different states -- California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Last week's ranking: 6

Record: 4-1-3 (1-1-2 CCHA)

Last week: L at Michigan State, 3-0; T at Michigan State, 3-3 OT

This week: vs. Lake Superior State, vs. Lake Superior State

8. NOTRE DAME
The Irish have scored a total of 23 goals in their first 10 games this season. That's the same number they scored last season in five games against Northern Michigan, this weekend's opponent.

Last week's ranking: 8

Record: 5-4-1 (2-1-1 CCHA)

Last week: W at Alaska, 3-2; L at Alaska, 3-1

This week: vs. Northern Michigan, vs. Northern Michigan

9. ALASKA
The Nanooks are off to a terrific start, but they've played all of their first eight games on Alaskan soil. That changes this weekend when Alaska shuffles off to Bowling Green for the first of three road series in four weekends.