It is the first full weekend in February and that means the push to make the playoffs for the New York Rangers prospects is fully underway. Unlike previous years where everyone was pretty much alive and fighting to earn a postseason berth, this year the Ranger prospects are clearly defined by the “haves” and the “have nots”.

It hasn’t been the kind of season that junior center Noah Laba was expecting to have with his Colorado College Tigers. The Tigers may have an above 500 overall record; their record in the NCHC has been below 500 for most of the season.

On Friday, Laba and his Tigers were on the road to face fellow prospect E. J. Emery and his 16th-ranked North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a key NCHC matchup. A close game wasn’t decided until Laba scored the game winner with three minutes left in regulation as Colorado College held on for a 6-4 win.

Laba deflected teammate Ty Gallaghers’ shot from the point into the North Dakota net to give his team a 5-3 lead. It was an even strength goal and for Laba. it was his eighth goal and 22nd point on the season.

Laba lit the lamp for a 5-3 lead!#CCTigers pic.twitter.com/cmCMsLBGHJ

— CC Hockey (@CCTigerHKY) February 8, 2025

It was part of a two-shot night for Laba who also was 13-3 on his faceoffs. Emery was scoreless for the 25th straight game as he was dropped down to the third pair right side defenseman.

The win puts Colorado College just one point behind North Dakota for fifth place in the NCHC. North Dakota holds two games in hand over Colorado College.

Colorado College is going to need to go on a big run to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament, they will need to win the NCHC tournament to get an invite.

Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue and their top-ranked Boston College Screaming Eagles were looking to extend their winning streak to nine games going on the road against 19th-ranked New Hampshire in Hockey East action. Perreault recorded his first NCAA career shorthanded goal as Boston College used three third period goals to defeat New Hampshire 4-2.

In the second period after New Hampshire had taken a 1-0 lead and were on the power play, Perreault was hit with a long pass from his defensive zone and took off on a breakaway to score to tie the game at 1-1.

Gustafsson with the outlet and Perreault slots it home!

Watch on @NESN and @ESPNPlus | https://t.co/l6WXO23JUF pic.twitter.com/bYq3HYUy4h

— BC Men’s Hockey (@BC_MHockey) February 8, 2025

It was Perreault’s 10th goal of the season and team leading (and Rangers prospect) leading 34th point. The way things are going if Boston College wins the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four title on April 12th, then expect Perreault to make his Rangers debut on April 17th against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The College Hockey News has come out with a great new stat that they call CHIP (“College Hockey Individual Point” value). CHIP demonstrates a players value during the season and Perreault has a value of 48.1. To put it into perspective, Perreault is sixth overall in NCAA scoring, his CHIP is ninth best and his 25 assists are second best in the NCAA.

Perreault is NHL ready and if there is one player out there who could greatly help the Rangers, it is Perreault whose playmaking skills would be perfect to pair with Mika and Kreider.

Boston College is 21-4-1 thanks to nine straight wins, they lead the Hockey East with a 11-3-2-1 mark. They are on a pace to be the top seeded team in the NCAA tournament.

Teammate Drew Fortescue who gets overlooked by most Ranger fans was scoreless with one shot. If you want to see what makes Perreault special and you have access to the NHL Network then Monday at 7:30 EDT/4:30 PDT, you can see both prospects as they play in the Beanpot finals against Boston University.

Ty Henricks was scoreless on three shots as his fourth-ranked Western Michigan Broncos shutout St. Cloud State 4-0 in NCHC action. Western Michigan leads the NCHC with a conference record of 10-0-2-3 with an overall record of 19-5-1.

At this rate not only will Western Michigan earn an invite but they are playing for a one seed in the brackets.

Hank Kempf was a +1 as his Cornell Big Red defeated Rensselaer 4-2 in ECAC action. Cornell has struggled all season with a ECAC record of 5-5-4-1 and overall 9-7-6.

Cornell is going to need to win the ECAC tournament to earn a spot in the NCAAs.

Zakary Karpa was back at center but he was not able to prevent his Harvard Crimson from dropping a 3-2 decision to Dartmouth in a ECAC conference matchup. Karpa was scoreless on one shot with a -2 and a 3-10 faceoff record.

Harvard is 7-13-2 (5-6-2-3 ECAC) needing to win the ECAC tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. Don’t bet on them making it.

Rasmus Larsson was scoreless as his Northern Michigan Wildcats dropped their fifth straight 3-2 to Lake Superior State in CCHA play. At 4-24-1 (3-16-1-1 CCHA), not going to insult anyone intelligence by suggesting the Wildcats have a chance at earning an NCAA invite.

Nathan Aspinall was scoreless as his Flint Firebirds lost to the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2 in OHL play. Flint at 21-24-2-3 sits in sixth place in the OHL’s Western Conference, they will most likely earn a trip to the OHL playoffs but will be a first round exit.

Raoul Boilard was scoreless with a 5-4 faceoff record as his Baie-Comeau Drakkar lost to the Charlottetown Islanders 4-2 in QMJHL action. At 26-19-3-1, the Drakkar are sitting in fourth in the QMJHL’s Eastern Conference.

They should earn a spot in the QMJHL playoffs, maybe win a round but not much else.