1. UNH (10-1-2, 22 Pts) - It’s tough not to give this spot to BC, which has won six straight and nine of ten, but UNH still owns a victory over the Eagles at Conte Forum. That, coupled with the two games in hand that the Wildcats have over BC, gives them the top spot after a weekend in which they handled business as expected, putting away Lowell and UMass on consecutive nights.
2. Boston College (11-4-0, 22 Pts) - Consecutive victories over Providence may be impressive, but what’s more impressive is the play of Brian Dumoulin and Chris Kreider after their return from World Juniors. With two weeks to finally rest up before facing BU again, it’s safe to say the Terriers should be concerned.
3. Merrimack (6-4-3, 15 Pts) - Seven goals against a team that doesn’t play defense isn’t that impressive, but allowing one goal against the conference’s second-best offense is. BU and two-win Alabama-Huntsville, be warned.
4. Boston University (7-3-4, 18 Pts) - Following a terrible December with an unconvincing 3-2 win over Vermont shouldn’t have the Terriers ranked nearly this high, but as long as they’re in line for a home-ice series to start the Hockey East playoffs, it’s hard to drop them any lower. Their tilt with Merrimack on Wednesday will tell an awful lot about just what kind of team Jack Parker’s bunch really is.
5. Northeastern (5-6-3, 13 Pts) - The first four-point weekend of the Huskies’ season couldn’t have come at a better time - sure it wasn’t against the best competition, but it was a huge confidence boost for a team that’s starting to play together and gets its next five games at home - three of which come against teams below them in the standings.
6. Maine (6-4-2, 14 Pts) - Letting seven goals in when your team plays no defense isn’t that surprising, but when your Hobey Baker candidate forward gets shut out, that’s a problem. With BC and BU coming to visit Alfond Arena this month and a trip to face surging Northeastern, Maine’s season could be over before the calendar turns to February.
7. Providence (3-6-4, 10 Pts) - The rest of Providence’s month has them traveling to Maine and playing UNH three times. February has them up against BC once and BU twice. Their only series in March is against Merrimack. Goodbye, Friars.
8. Vermont (1-7-3, 5 Pts) - No matter how well you play against a top-15 team, Vermont wasted numerous power play opportunities and great offensive chances, and that’s not something that’s going to earn them any points the rest of the year.
9. UMass (2-6-3, 7 Pts) - Beaten by a good 38 seconds from Northeastern Friday, by a good 45 seconds from UNH Saturday - forget playing 60 minutes, the Minutemen need to be true to their name and play a good minute.
10. Lowell (2-12-0, 4 Pts) - When your team sets a record for futility and the head coach remains optimistic about the future, that’s a good sign. See you in 2012, RiverHawks.
2. Boston College (11-4-0, 22 Pts) - Consecutive victories over Providence may be impressive, but what’s more impressive is the play of Brian Dumoulin and Chris Kreider after their return from World Juniors. With two weeks to finally rest up before facing BU again, it’s safe to say the Terriers should be concerned.
3. Merrimack (6-4-3, 15 Pts) - Seven goals against a team that doesn’t play defense isn’t that impressive, but allowing one goal against the conference’s second-best offense is. BU and two-win Alabama-Huntsville, be warned.
4. Boston University (7-3-4, 18 Pts) - Following a terrible December with an unconvincing 3-2 win over Vermont shouldn’t have the Terriers ranked nearly this high, but as long as they’re in line for a home-ice series to start the Hockey East playoffs, it’s hard to drop them any lower. Their tilt with Merrimack on Wednesday will tell an awful lot about just what kind of team Jack Parker’s bunch really is.
5. Northeastern (5-6-3, 13 Pts) - The first four-point weekend of the Huskies’ season couldn’t have come at a better time - sure it wasn’t against the best competition, but it was a huge confidence boost for a team that’s starting to play together and gets its next five games at home - three of which come against teams below them in the standings.
6. Maine (6-4-2, 14 Pts) - Letting seven goals in when your team plays no defense isn’t that surprising, but when your Hobey Baker candidate forward gets shut out, that’s a problem. With BC and BU coming to visit Alfond Arena this month and a trip to face surging Northeastern, Maine’s season could be over before the calendar turns to February.
7. Providence (3-6-4, 10 Pts) - The rest of Providence’s month has them traveling to Maine and playing UNH three times. February has them up against BC once and BU twice. Their only series in March is against Merrimack. Goodbye, Friars.
8. Vermont (1-7-3, 5 Pts) - No matter how well you play against a top-15 team, Vermont wasted numerous power play opportunities and great offensive chances, and that’s not something that’s going to earn them any points the rest of the year.
9. UMass (2-6-3, 7 Pts) - Beaten by a good 38 seconds from Northeastern Friday, by a good 45 seconds from UNH Saturday - forget playing 60 minutes, the Minutemen need to be true to their name and play a good minute.
10. Lowell (2-12-0, 4 Pts) - When your team sets a record for futility and the head coach remains optimistic about the future, that’s a good sign. See you in 2012, RiverHawks.
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