For the second time in three weeks, the No. 1 ranking in the USCHO.com rankings has changed hands. And, to quote a certain band that has a big performance coming up in Miami, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

WINNERS OF THE WEEK

Miami - The RedHawks' NCAA-best scoring defense (1.69 goals per game) put on a tour de force performance in a two game series at Alaska, allowing just one goal in two games as Miami collected five of six possible points in the CCHA standings with a win and a shootout victory over the Nanooks. Thanks to a stumble by Denver (more on that below), Rico Blasi's club found the NO. 1 ranking for them when they returned home to Oxford. The shutout was earned by sophomore Connor Knapp (4-2-3, 1.95 GAA, .918 SV%), reminding observers that while classmate Cody Reichard  (12-2-3, 1.50 GAA, .933 SV%)has broken out as Miami's primary netminder - and the national leader in both goals-against average and save percentage - there are no nights off against RedHawk goaltending.

Wisconsin - The Badgers had their best home series against Denver in more than five years, following Friday's 3-3 tie against the then-No. 1 Pioneers with a 4-3 win on Saturday, their first regular-season victory over DU at the Kohl Center since October 2004. It was a big weekend for senior forward Blake Geoffrion, who scored his 16th and 17th goals in Friday's tie, then turned around on Saturday and assisted on two of Wisconsin's four goals in the win on Saturday. He'll be looking for more of the same on Saturday, as the Badgers go from facing the top team in the poll to the top team in the WCHA standings, and that team is not happy right now, thanks to...

Bemidji State - The Beavers got their biggest wins of the season in a sweep of WCHA-leading Minnesota Duluth, including a dramatic come-from-behind overtime win on Saturday in Duluth. After UMD's Mike Seidel scored to put the Bulldogs up 4-3 with 5:54 to play, Beavers tied the score with just two seconds to play on a goal by Ben Kinne. Then, 36 seconds in the extra session, Jordan George scored to win it for the Beavers, moving their record to 17-5-2 on the season.

Cornell - The No.8 Big Red got a key non-conference win on Friday night, a 1-0 shutout of North Dakota behind 28 saves from Ben Scrivens, and a goal from Mike Devin less than two minutes into the third period. A loss Saturday put a damper on the weekends, but it gives a hint at how dangerous Cornell could be come March. What's more, while Mike Schafer's team stepped out of non-conference play, events in ECAC Hockey have unfolded to give them a shot at the conference lead this weekend.

NOTABLE QUOTE

"It's a good reality check for us." - Union defenseman Brock Matheson, after a 3-1 loss to Dartmouth on Saturday.

The No. 18 Dutchmen, who won their first ECAC Hockey playoff series under head coach Nate Leaman last season, have a had a  season in 2009-2010, leading the conference for much of the season. However, a pair of losses at home to Harvard and Dartmouth have given the conference's other top teams, No. 6 Yale, No. 8 Cornell and St. Lawrence a shot at the lead. Friday, the top four teams in ECAC Hockey meet, as Union travels to Yale, and Cornell hosts the Saints.

While they'll be on the road, though, the Dutchmen won't be much out of their element: Union is 8-1-1 on the road this season, as opposed to 5-4-3 at Messa Rink in Schenectady. The difference for the disparity, according to coach Nate Leaman: "We are a better road team because we stick to our system a lot tighter when we travel."

ON THE HORIZON

The ECAC showdowns are just two of the top attractions this weekend. Hockey Weekend Across America figures to be one of the biggest college hockey weekends of the regular season, as there will be 11 games between ranked teams, including three series huge in the WCHA: No. 2 Wisconsin at No. 9 Minnesota Duluth, No. 4 North Dakota at No. 3 Denver, and No. 5 St. Cloud State at No. 11 Colorado College. In addition, the CCHA puts its marquee rivalry on one of the sport's most celebrated stages, as No. 12 Michigan State takes on No. 20 Michigan, with Saturday's game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and in Hockey East, No. 19 Maine visits No. 17 Vermont at Gutterson Field House in Burlington.

The action continues outside the Top 20, as Army hosts Air Force in one of college hockey's most special rivalries, which also happens to be a key series in Atlantic Hockey, as the Falcons continue to duke it out with RIT atop the conference standings. Monday, meanwhile brings the Beanpot at TD Garden in Boston, as reigning NCAA champion Boston University looks to defend its Beanpot title against Harvard, Northeastern, and No. 14 Boston College.

USCHO.com DIVISION I MEN'S POLL

1 Miami
2 Wisconsin
3 Denver
4 North Dakota
5 St. Cloud State
6 Yale
7 Bemidji State
8 Cornell
9 Minnesota Duluth
10 Ferris State
11 Colorado College
12 Michigan State
13 New Hampshire
14 Boston College
15 Massachusetts
16 UMass-Lowell
17 Vermont
18 Union
19 Maine
20 Michigan

RECEIVING VOTES: St. Lawrence, Lake Superior, Notre Dame, Alaska, Minnesota, Quinnipiac, RIT