No. 15 BU vs. No. 3 BC, @ No. 7 UNH
What Jack Parker’s squad is able to do in two games this weekend against Hockey East’s best will define what’s left of their season; they could vault back into first place or could be left looking way, way up at the conference’s best.
That said, this is a much worse BU team than played BC last. And it’s a much better team. And the Terriers have struggled on the big sheet at the Whit for quite a while. If the Red and White find a way to even get one point this weekend, they’ll have to consider it a success. Just don’t expect it.
UMass @ UVM (Friday, Saturday)
As if things hadn’t gotten bad enough for the Cats this season, they’re now without leading scorer Wahsontiio Stacey, who left the team Thursday after being out in all of the team’s games in 2011.
Will Vermont miss him? Knee-jerk reaction is that the team’s not that good even with him, but against a team that’s struggled as much as UMass has this season, his departure - or at least its effect on the team’s psyche - might tilt the ice in the right direction for the Minutemen, who come into the weekend after sweeping Lowell in a weekend home-and-home and have momentum for the first time in a long time.
Gutterson Fieldhouse’s wide corners may make things more interesting, but don’t expect the Cats to take advantage even if they do get another strong go in net from Rob Madore, named last week’s co-Defensive player of the week.
That said, don’t overlook this two-game set. The winner will be in prime position for at least a playoff spot and the loser will have dug themselves a hole that may be too big to climb out of. And if they split the series, well, we’ll just go back to ignoring them.
Providence @ No. 7 UNH (Friday)
The second half from hell continues to badger a Friars team that showed a lot of promise in the first half. They’ve lost three straight games to ranked teams since their return to Hockey East play in 2011, and things don’t get any easier with a Friday trip to the Whit, where Matt DiGirolamo has been strong all season, the defense has shown up and the top line of Mike Sislo, Phil DeSimone and Paul Thompson has been second-to-none.
The best news for Providence? When this one’s over, they can go home and drink because they get Saturday off.
No. 10 Maine @ NU (Saturday)
Before really sticking one in BC’s craw on national television Sunday night, Maine was hurting. They couldn’t score, wouldn’t play defense and regularly left their less-than-able goaltenders (save one Martin Oullette) out to dry. But, as always happens in Hockey East, as soon as anybody figures anybody else out, things go and change.
Maine should come into this one riding a wave of confidence, but they’ll do it against a Northeastern team that’s settled into their six-game homestand quite well and is 4-1-0 in 2011. If Chris Rawlings can withstand Maine’s top two lines, don’t expect their bottom two to do much and look for a quick, physical Northeastern team to use their backcheck to create a lot of chances in transition. If they’re able, it will matter little which goaltender the Black Bears throw out, because he’ll likely be left out to dry.
Lowell @ Merrimack (Friday), @ BC (Saturday)
Don’t expect Blaise MacDonald’s men to stall their 13-game losing streak this weekend, unless BU somehow managed to beat on BC and wear them down for Saturday’s match. Merrimack comes into Friday’s match riding a six-game winning streak, including dispatching BU on Tuesday at home.
Lawler has been a very tough place for opponents to play this year, and don’t expect the Warriors to welcome Lowell in with loving arms. Meanwhile, though Conte hasn’t been the toughest place for visitors to get points this year, the Eagles are just too good to be the ones that help Lowell end their losing streak.
What Jack Parker’s squad is able to do in two games this weekend against Hockey East’s best will define what’s left of their season; they could vault back into first place or could be left looking way, way up at the conference’s best.
That said, this is a much worse BU team than played BC last. And it’s a much better team. And the Terriers have struggled on the big sheet at the Whit for quite a while. If the Red and White find a way to even get one point this weekend, they’ll have to consider it a success. Just don’t expect it.
UMass @ UVM (Friday, Saturday)
As if things hadn’t gotten bad enough for the Cats this season, they’re now without leading scorer Wahsontiio Stacey, who left the team Thursday after being out in all of the team’s games in 2011.
Will Vermont miss him? Knee-jerk reaction is that the team’s not that good even with him, but against a team that’s struggled as much as UMass has this season, his departure - or at least its effect on the team’s psyche - might tilt the ice in the right direction for the Minutemen, who come into the weekend after sweeping Lowell in a weekend home-and-home and have momentum for the first time in a long time.
Gutterson Fieldhouse’s wide corners may make things more interesting, but don’t expect the Cats to take advantage even if they do get another strong go in net from Rob Madore, named last week’s co-Defensive player of the week.
That said, don’t overlook this two-game set. The winner will be in prime position for at least a playoff spot and the loser will have dug themselves a hole that may be too big to climb out of. And if they split the series, well, we’ll just go back to ignoring them.
Providence @ No. 7 UNH (Friday)
The second half from hell continues to badger a Friars team that showed a lot of promise in the first half. They’ve lost three straight games to ranked teams since their return to Hockey East play in 2011, and things don’t get any easier with a Friday trip to the Whit, where Matt DiGirolamo has been strong all season, the defense has shown up and the top line of Mike Sislo, Phil DeSimone and Paul Thompson has been second-to-none.
The best news for Providence? When this one’s over, they can go home and drink because they get Saturday off.
No. 10 Maine @ NU (Saturday)
Before really sticking one in BC’s craw on national television Sunday night, Maine was hurting. They couldn’t score, wouldn’t play defense and regularly left their less-than-able goaltenders (save one Martin Oullette) out to dry. But, as always happens in Hockey East, as soon as anybody figures anybody else out, things go and change.
Maine should come into this one riding a wave of confidence, but they’ll do it against a Northeastern team that’s settled into their six-game homestand quite well and is 4-1-0 in 2011. If Chris Rawlings can withstand Maine’s top two lines, don’t expect their bottom two to do much and look for a quick, physical Northeastern team to use their backcheck to create a lot of chances in transition. If they’re able, it will matter little which goaltender the Black Bears throw out, because he’ll likely be left out to dry.
Lowell @ Merrimack (Friday), @ BC (Saturday)
Don’t expect Blaise MacDonald’s men to stall their 13-game losing streak this weekend, unless BU somehow managed to beat on BC and wear them down for Saturday’s match. Merrimack comes into Friday’s match riding a six-game winning streak, including dispatching BU on Tuesday at home.
Lawler has been a very tough place for opponents to play this year, and don’t expect the Warriors to welcome Lowell in with loving arms. Meanwhile, though Conte hasn’t been the toughest place for visitors to get points this year, the Eagles are just too good to be the ones that help Lowell end their losing streak.
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