WCHA first-round playoff pairings set

Pairings for the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association men's playoffs were finalized on Sunday after Denver defeated Alaska-Anchorage in the last game of the regular season.

All six series will be best of three starting Friday. Bemidji State's games against Minnesota at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis will begin at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and again at 7:07 Sunday if necessary. The Beavers are seeded 11th and the Gophers are No. 2. Minnesota swept a pair of games from the Beavers this weekend, winning 4-3 Friday and 5-1 Saturday at the Sanford Center.

Here are the matchups:

Games for Friday, March 15:#12 Alaska Anchorage at #1 St. Cloud State, 7:37 pm CT; #11 Bemidji State at #2 Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; #10 Michigan Tech at #3 North Dakota, 7:37 pm CT; #9 Minnesota Duluth at #4 Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT; #8 Colorado College at #5 Denver, 7:37 pm MT; #7 Nebraska Omaha at #6 Minnesota State, 7:37 pm CT.

Games for Saturday, March 16:#12 Alaska Anchorage at #1 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT; #11 Bemidji State at #2 Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; #10 Michigan Tech at #3 North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; #9 Minnesota Duluth at #4 Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT; #8 Colorado College at #5 Denver, 7:07 pm MT; #7 Nebraska Omaha at #6 Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT.

Games for Sunday, March 17 (if necessary):#12 Alaska Anchorage at #1 St. Cloud State, 7:07 pm CT; #11 Bemidji State at #2 Minnesota, 7:07 pm CT; #10 Michigan Tech at #3 North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; #9 Minnesota Duluth at #4 Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT; #8 Colorado College at #5 Denver, 7:07 pm MT; #7 Nebraska Omaha at #6 Minnesota State, 7:07 pm CT.