Hockey East

#10 New Hampshire Wildcats @ #1 UMass-Lowell River Hawks UML won season series 2-0, a 2-1 win @ UNH & 8-2 win @ Tsongas. UNH beat Merrimack to get here, which they should’ve, but this really isn’t a good Wildcat team. Its Tyler Kelleher & whom ever is on his line that night. As awesome as he’s been this season, tied for nation leading 62 points, UNH has struggled all year. Before pulling out the 2 straight wins over MC they’d lost 4 straight, and 10 out of 14, with 3 ties mixed in there. UML will have too much firepower & depth for UNH to overcome. Not to mention a Freshman goalie, Tyler Wall, that has been gaining like a tidal wave. UML is playing great at the right time… UML in 2

#6 Vermont Catamounts @ #2 Boston College Eagles Season series tied 0-0-2, 3-3 & 2-2 ties @ BC. UVM swept Maine to get here, but was 5-5-3 heading into HE playoffs. Been that kind of year for the Cats. Average. Quality wins over Union, BU, Providence, & Nebraska-Omaha with a few ugly losses to UConn & MC. The Eagles on the other hand had a strange season. Yes they lost a lot of talent but also returned a lot of talent. BC started off as they should, going 10-2-1 beating the likes of Denver, Wisconsin, & PC while losing to Air Force & tying MC, then the tires started falling off losing 12 of their last 23. The engine finally gave out after closing out the season 0-5-2 & throwing away the Hockey East regular season crown. UVM in 3

#8 Northeastern Huskies @ #3 Boston University Terriers Season series BU 1-0-1, 4-4 tie @ Matthews & 3-0 win @ Agganis. NU as usual started off slow & is playing catch up. However, behind monster seasons from Zach Aston-Reese, Dylan Sikura, & Adam Gaudette NU is heating up when it matters. Winning their last 8 games the Huskies are looking to repeat as Hockey East Champs & punch their ticket back to the Big Dance. A formidable BU team is standing in the way though. Aside from this year’s tie NU has bested BU once in their last 12 tries. The Terriers have been solid all year, are a team on the younger side, and worked their way into a share of the regular season title with UML & BC. BU lately has beaten very good Norte Dame, UML, & Union teams, while dropping a pair to Merrimack. On paper they should easily win this @ home but… NU in 3

#5 Providence Friars @ #4 Norte Dame Fighting Irish Season series went ND’s way 1-0-1, 4-1 & 3-3 both @ Compton Family Arena where these will be played as well. PC has found its rhythm after a rocky start, a great home series vs Denver helped turn it on for the Friars. Sophomore goalie Hayden Hawkey is coming along strongly as the season winds down. Notre Dame is also pretty hot coming in 5-1-2 to close out their final regular season as Hockey East members. Juniors Anders Bjork (F), 44 points, Cal Peterson (G),  2.12 GAA, & Jordan Gross (D) 27 pts are leading the charge in ND’s play of late. ND in 3 (Side prediction… 2017/18 ND will be a beast!)