It's getting closer and closer. And the games are getting bigger and bigger. With just about one month until the start of the conference tournaments, some of this weekend's series will be pivotal for teams around the country. Let's take a look at what it will take for some to distance themselves from the rest of the pack:

Hockey East
With four teams still in the thick of a close race, there's just one question: Who wants to win this thing? Heading into the weekend, Boston College and Maine are still tied at 27 points for the overall lead, followed by New Hampshire (25) and Boston University (20).

The Black Bears (22-4-4, 12-3-3 in Hockey East) have the toughest road to the Hockey East Tournament, which begins March 6. They have three series left against Providence, at Massachusetts and ending with Boston U.

"I think the most important thing is to focus on our game plan and be as consistent as we can," Maine coach Tim Whitehead said recently. "The more consistent we are, the results will take care of themselves."

But where will that leave Maine? It will likely be pulling for rival New Hampshire to win its closing meeting against Boston College (Feb. 28-March 1).

The Eagles (18-7-3, 13-4-1) have an easier schedule with three remaining home-and-home series against Merrimack, Northeastern and the Wildcats. The Eagles, ranked fourth in both national polls, are hungry after a bitter 3-2 loss to rival BU in the Beanpot Tournament final.

ECAC
It's a true battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 this weekend as Cornell travels to Harvard on Saturday night.

Cornell (19-4-0, 14-2-0 in ECAC) sits two points ahead of Harvard (15-7-1, 13-3-0) for the conference lead. Cornell is ranked within the top three in both national polls. Cornell has lost just once in its last 10 games.

Can Harvard stop the Big Red?

Well, both teams have games before Saturday night's showdown at Bright Hockey Center. Cornell will visit Brown and Harvard faces Colgate on Friday.

Yale, Union, Clarkson and Brown, meanwhile, will battle it out for third and fourth in the conference.

CCHA
Michigan is used to being under the spotlight, and needs to rely on that experience. The Wolverines can't afford to let up during the final eight regular season games.

Michigan battles rival Michigan State in a home-and-home series this weekend. The Wolverines (20-7-1, 14-5-1 in CCHA) sit in third place with 25 points, just two points ahead of the Spartans. After that series, five of Michigan's six remaining games are on the road, including another home-and-home vs. Michigan State before ending the run against second-place Ohio State.

Conference leaders Ferris State? They'll cruise into the tournament after facing Western Michigan, Nebraska-Omaha and Bowling Green.

WCHA
While North Dakota has managed to hang around in the top five of both national polls, it hasn't been a season of consistency for the Fighting Sioux.

Minnesota State-Mankato? Now that's another story.

The Mavericks (12-7-9, 10-5-7 in WCHA) are riding a 13-game unbeaten streak, and are tied with North Dakota with 27 points for second in the conference. Those winning ways will be tested the rest of the way with weekend series against UND and conference-leading Colorado College before the start of the postseason.

The Fighting Sioux (22-5-3, 12-5-3) have the toughest road ahead -- literally. Of their remaining eight games, six of them are on the road, including series against Denver, MSU-Mankato and Wisconsin.

Colorado College (22-3-5, 15-2-5) could have quite a lead for the regular-season crown when it's all over.

CHA
Everyone in the conference breathed a huge sigh of relief earlier this week, when an NCAA committee unanimously voted to exempt college hockey from a rule that requires leagues receiving automatic bids to the national tournament to have at least six full-time Division I members.

The CHA, which was launched in 1999, would have been affected, but its first automatic bid for this year's NCAA Tournament is intact.

If Alabama-Huntsville (14-9-3, 9-1-2 in CHA) can get through this weekend, it will be in a prime position to earn that inaugural bid. The Chargers host second-place Wayne State, the only program that can challenge their overall conference lead.

MAAC
This race is almost a lock.

Quinnipiac (17-7-1, 15-4-1 in MAAC) sits atop the conference and doesn't face a team over .500 in the rest of its six remaining games.

The only factor that could dwindle the Bobcats' plans is that second-place Mercyhurst holds one game in hand. If the Lakers can win their last seven games, they could edge Quinnipiac by one point for the regular-season title.

But, Mercyhurst will have to be perfect, and its schedule isn't as friendly as Quinnipiac's is.

Joy Russo is a staff editor at ESPN.com. She can be reached at joy.e.russo@espn3.com.