UNH @, vs. BC
This series puts even those classic Yale-Union games to shame. UNH can make Saturday’s game meaningless with a win on Friday night at Conte Forum, where they’ve already won once this season. But BC can make Saturday’s return match at the Whit a very interesting one if they’re able to get any points at home on Friday.
We’ve been talking about this all year: John Muse versus Matt Di Girolamo; Paul Thompson against Tommy Cross; Cam Atkinson against Blake Kessel. Problem is, apart from the goaltending battle, it’s not coming down to them. What it is going to come down to, simply, is which team gets the better effort from its role players. Thompson will score - if he doesn’t, his line will; Atkinson and Jimmy Hayes and Chris Kreider will do the same for BC. UNH will need a continued strong effort from reigning Hockey East rookie of the month Kevin Goumas; they’ll need more work from Stevie Moses and John Henrion, each of whom has elevated his game quite nicely in the second half of the season. BC will look to Brian Gibbons, Joe Whitney and Kevin Hayes, among others.
There’s no real preview to write for this one - both these teams are very good. UNH would be well-served to sweep and convince themselves that they can, in fact, play in March - even if it’s just the first weekend. But they won’t. And BC won’t, either. One team gets three points this weekend. Newsflash: It’s not the defending national champs.
BU @, vs. Northeastern
A great series in its own regard, but for much different reasons than BC-UNH. Northeastern can’t move either direction in the Hockey East Rankings, but they can help ensure themselves the quarterfinal matchup that they want by beating BU mercilessly and hoping Merrimack does enough to climb up into third place. They could also ensure themselves a similarly favorable matchup by beating the snot out of BU so that the Terriers don’t have enough men left to ice a team in the event that they maintain their grip on third place. One way or the other, the Huskies are certain to play with an eye on the scoreboard, as the last thing that they want is to face a suddenly hot Maine team at Alfond Arena next weekend.
Since head coach Greg Cronin was suspended by the school two weeks ago, Northeastern has gone 1-1-2 against two top ten teams, upsetting then-number one Boston College at Matthews Arena after they nearly upset them twice in the previous five days. They’re playing inspired hockey for Sebastien Leplante, who’s done an admirable job of gathering the troops. But good and good enough to beat Jack Parker - who always seems to have the Huskies’ number - are two completely different scenarios. Kieran Millan has been riding a hot streak for BU - a really hot one if you don’t count the Beanpot. But, if you ignore Chris Rawlings’ two worst games of the last month - both seven goal-against efforts against BC - he’s actually been better.
BU’s offense has been anemic at best against teams that play mediocre defense at best. Northeastern plays very good defense. BU’s physical game has been lacking against teams that aren’t very physical. Northeastern plays very physical. BU’s missing one of its leaders and perhaps best offensive blueliner in David Warsofsky, who should miss another weekend with symptoms of a concussion. Northeastern’s healthy for the first time in a very long time, and should know just how to attack the hole that Warsofsky’s absence leaves behind.
Yes, on paper this weekend looks like a wash. But remember that the Terriers haven’t lost a conference game in their last nine games, that Parker coaches his teams to be their best in March and that the Terriers need as many points as they can get to have home ice at all in the quarterfinals and we may see a different BU team.
Providence @, vs. Merrimack
You want to say this is a no-contest, that Mack should walk away with four points and about a +13 goal differential in two games, relegating Providence to another March spent watching other teams play hockey tournaments that they could have been a part of. You want to say that Merrimack’s going to be so pissed after getting swept - nay, embarrassed - by Maine that they’re going to take it out on Tim Army’s hapless bunch. You definitely want to say that Alex Beaudry has had to invest in new sheets numerous times this week since he’s been up all night wetting the bed thinking about facing Merrimack’s attack.
You’d be right to say all that, but Providence knows they still have a shot at the Hockey East playoffs - a place they haven’t been in quite a while - and you can never underestimate a desperate squad. Even if they’re playing an angry one. On paper, Providence has no chance. They’ll elevate their game, for sure, but they don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Warriors and they don’t have the defense to shut them down.
Then again, neither did Maine.
Maine @ UMass
Speaking of the Black Bears, they roll into Amherst riding a five-game conference win streak and fresh off a statement weekend against Merrimack. That statement? They may actually be the real deal. UMass welcomes Maine as they cling to their playoff life and hope to not back into a guaranteed battle with a top-ten team in the opening round of the Hockey East playoffs.
Don’t expect Maine to be as hot as they were last weekend - especially not at an arena where they’ve lost seven straight - but there’s no reason that they can’t get four more points and make a run at the three-seed and home ice next weekend. And if they do, it could be game over for the rest of the conference.
Lowell @ Vermont
It’s not right to say that Vermont’s clinched a Hockey East playoff spot - especially after Lowell played spoiler admirably against Providence last weekend. The Catamounts do, after all, need at least two points this weekend to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. Or for Providence to lose to Merrimack. I mean...yeah. See you next weekend, UVM. As for this weekend...
This series puts even those classic Yale-Union games to shame. UNH can make Saturday’s game meaningless with a win on Friday night at Conte Forum, where they’ve already won once this season. But BC can make Saturday’s return match at the Whit a very interesting one if they’re able to get any points at home on Friday.
We’ve been talking about this all year: John Muse versus Matt Di Girolamo; Paul Thompson against Tommy Cross; Cam Atkinson against Blake Kessel. Problem is, apart from the goaltending battle, it’s not coming down to them. What it is going to come down to, simply, is which team gets the better effort from its role players. Thompson will score - if he doesn’t, his line will; Atkinson and Jimmy Hayes and Chris Kreider will do the same for BC. UNH will need a continued strong effort from reigning Hockey East rookie of the month Kevin Goumas; they’ll need more work from Stevie Moses and John Henrion, each of whom has elevated his game quite nicely in the second half of the season. BC will look to Brian Gibbons, Joe Whitney and Kevin Hayes, among others.
There’s no real preview to write for this one - both these teams are very good. UNH would be well-served to sweep and convince themselves that they can, in fact, play in March - even if it’s just the first weekend. But they won’t. And BC won’t, either. One team gets three points this weekend. Newsflash: It’s not the defending national champs.
BU @, vs. Northeastern
A great series in its own regard, but for much different reasons than BC-UNH. Northeastern can’t move either direction in the Hockey East Rankings, but they can help ensure themselves the quarterfinal matchup that they want by beating BU mercilessly and hoping Merrimack does enough to climb up into third place. They could also ensure themselves a similarly favorable matchup by beating the snot out of BU so that the Terriers don’t have enough men left to ice a team in the event that they maintain their grip on third place. One way or the other, the Huskies are certain to play with an eye on the scoreboard, as the last thing that they want is to face a suddenly hot Maine team at Alfond Arena next weekend.
Since head coach Greg Cronin was suspended by the school two weeks ago, Northeastern has gone 1-1-2 against two top ten teams, upsetting then-number one Boston College at Matthews Arena after they nearly upset them twice in the previous five days. They’re playing inspired hockey for Sebastien Leplante, who’s done an admirable job of gathering the troops. But good and good enough to beat Jack Parker - who always seems to have the Huskies’ number - are two completely different scenarios. Kieran Millan has been riding a hot streak for BU - a really hot one if you don’t count the Beanpot. But, if you ignore Chris Rawlings’ two worst games of the last month - both seven goal-against efforts against BC - he’s actually been better.
BU’s offense has been anemic at best against teams that play mediocre defense at best. Northeastern plays very good defense. BU’s physical game has been lacking against teams that aren’t very physical. Northeastern plays very physical. BU’s missing one of its leaders and perhaps best offensive blueliner in David Warsofsky, who should miss another weekend with symptoms of a concussion. Northeastern’s healthy for the first time in a very long time, and should know just how to attack the hole that Warsofsky’s absence leaves behind.
Yes, on paper this weekend looks like a wash. But remember that the Terriers haven’t lost a conference game in their last nine games, that Parker coaches his teams to be their best in March and that the Terriers need as many points as they can get to have home ice at all in the quarterfinals and we may see a different BU team.
Providence @, vs. Merrimack
You want to say this is a no-contest, that Mack should walk away with four points and about a +13 goal differential in two games, relegating Providence to another March spent watching other teams play hockey tournaments that they could have been a part of. You want to say that Merrimack’s going to be so pissed after getting swept - nay, embarrassed - by Maine that they’re going to take it out on Tim Army’s hapless bunch. You definitely want to say that Alex Beaudry has had to invest in new sheets numerous times this week since he’s been up all night wetting the bed thinking about facing Merrimack’s attack.
You’d be right to say all that, but Providence knows they still have a shot at the Hockey East playoffs - a place they haven’t been in quite a while - and you can never underestimate a desperate squad. Even if they’re playing an angry one. On paper, Providence has no chance. They’ll elevate their game, for sure, but they don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Warriors and they don’t have the defense to shut them down.
Then again, neither did Maine.
Maine @ UMass
Speaking of the Black Bears, they roll into Amherst riding a five-game conference win streak and fresh off a statement weekend against Merrimack. That statement? They may actually be the real deal. UMass welcomes Maine as they cling to their playoff life and hope to not back into a guaranteed battle with a top-ten team in the opening round of the Hockey East playoffs.
Don’t expect Maine to be as hot as they were last weekend - especially not at an arena where they’ve lost seven straight - but there’s no reason that they can’t get four more points and make a run at the three-seed and home ice next weekend. And if they do, it could be game over for the rest of the conference.
Lowell @ Vermont
It’s not right to say that Vermont’s clinched a Hockey East playoff spot - especially after Lowell played spoiler admirably against Providence last weekend. The Catamounts do, after all, need at least two points this weekend to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. Or for Providence to lose to Merrimack. I mean...yeah. See you next weekend, UVM. As for this weekend...
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