In hockey playoff action outside the ECAC, the University of North Dakota--the top-ranked team in this week's NCAA poll--will host Minnesota this weekend in a two-game, total-goals series to determine the winner of the Western College Hockey Association.

Last weekend, North Dakota (34-8) and Colorado College split their two semifinal games, but the Fighting Sioux advanced to the WCHA finals because it scored more total goals, 7-4.

Minnesota (32-10-1), which outscored Wisconsin in the semifinals, has beaten North Dakota only once in four previous meetings this year.

Even if the Golden Gophers upset UND this weekend, the Sioux--who have been ranked number one for most of the season--are expected to receive home ice in the NCAA quarterfinals.

The 40th annual NCAA tournament begins March 20 at campus sites, with the semifinals and final held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

In the Central College Hockey Association (CCHA), defending national champion Michigan State (30-9-2) defeated Bowling Green, 4-3, in overtime last Saturday to win the league title.

Spartan forward Kevin Miller tallied the winning goal at 6:02 of the sudden death period, giving Michigan State an automatic berth and home ice in the NCAA tournament.

Bowling Green (33-8-2), the winner of the CCHA regular-season title, received an at-large bid from the NCAA and will travel east for the playoffs.

In the Hockey East conference playoffs, Boston College (28-7) and Lowell (21-11-2)--both of which were awarded byes in the tourney's opening round--will meet the winners of last night's Northeastern-BU contest and tonight's Providence-Maine match-up.

The semifinals and finals of Hockey East will be held on Sunday and Monday.