Terriers Growling, Warriors Slipping: Hockey East Week 22 Power Rankings

UNH 17-4-4, 38 points

BC 18-6-1, 37 points

BU 14-5-6, 34 points

Merrimack 15-6-3, 33 points

Maine 12-8-4, 28 points

Northeastern 9-9-7, 25 points

Vermont 5-14-6, 16 points

UMass 5-15-5, 15 points

Providence 3-15-7, 13 points

Lowell 4-20-1, 9 points

1. BC - It’s a dead heat between UNH and the Eagles at this point, but Jerry York’s squad plays with more urgency than do the Wildcats, and it’s finally the time of year when that really matters.

2. UNH - Two consecutive three-point weekends for UNH have helped ease the pain of getting swept by Merrimack, but there’s still something about this Wildcat team that doesn’t quite scream “built for March.”

3. Maine - We’re back to having no idea what Maine is. For four months, they played no defense. In the last four games, they allowed one goal - and that goal only to the conference’s most prolific offense since the calendar turned. If Dan Sullivan’s as good as he’s been, the Black Bears could make some noise over the next five weeks.

4. Merrimack - There’s no doubt that Mark Dennehy’s squad is one of the better ones in the conference, but they proved this weekend why they’re not built to go far in the real tournament.

5. BU - The Terriers have quietly taken points in nine straight conference games. As a result, they’re now third in Hockey East and have clinched home ice. That’s good news. The bad news? They’re in line to face a very feisty Northeastern team.

6. Northeastern - Speaking of those pesky Huskies, they had a tough weekend against UNH, but if Chris Rawlings is due for a bad game the rest of the way, it’s better that he got it out of the way when he did.

7. Vermont - Rob Madore just isn’t good enough to stop offensively-talented opposition without help from his D, which he hasn’t been getting.

8. UMass - There’s little worse than backing into a playoff spot. The Minutemen have been doing that for four straight weeks now.

9. Lowell - You beat Providence by five, you get ranked ahead of them.

10. Providence - You lose to Lowell by five, you don’t deserve to be in the playoffs.