A few observers may beg to differ –particularly those whose loyalties are centered on northwestern New England- but with everyone virtually ready to settle in to the climactic six weeks of the Hockey East regular season, the league is still delivering the parity it has promised. After all, from Husky to Husky, eight points currently separate top dog Northeastern and seventh-place Connecticut. Furthermore, UConn has four games in hand on NU, thus theoretically would be one hot streak and one Hub Husky slump away from pulling even at or near the top.
With this in mind, all eight members of the league have something bigger they still want to have grasped by season’s end, and they each have their precautions to take. Here now, in alphabetical order, is a team-by-team assessment of what everyone can expect in their respective final tests:
Boston College- After this weekend’s two-night visit from St. Lawrence, the 5-8-8 Eagles will play nine of their 11 remaining regular season games away from Conte Forum. As they try to recompense all of those missed opportunities to make use their home ice earlier in the year, it will be fascinating to monitor starting rookie goaltender Corinne Boyles and see if her game rises or sinks with the added pressure. Also, BC continues to average less than two goals per game and is still hungry for production from players not named Allie Thunstrom. Will they click when it matters most (i.e. now)?
Boston University- The Terriers have yet to engage in a Beantown dog fight with new-and-improved Northeastern this season, but that will change rapidly in another two weeks, ultimately amounting to three regular season encounters plus a Beanpot semifinal engagement. An utter lack of offense on the Huskies’ part clearly tipped the scale in BU’s favor during last year’s Hockey East quarterfinal, but the urban rivals seem to measure up a little differently now. As such, the Terriers are going to need to configure their protection in net in order to be formidable again.
Connecticut- Captain Amy Hollstein and assistants Cristin Allen and Michelle Binning have grown –at least as individual performers- through over three years of pain. And now is their final calling to leave an unprecedented mark on the UConn women’s hockey program, which has regularly looked primed for an NCAA passport until the cruel months of February and March arrive. This trinity of seniors needs to remember enough of the past to avert another rancid rerun but forget enough so it doesn’t dull their spiritual blades. As the team’s certified leaders, they are the first line of confidence and are tasked with setting the standard they have long craved.
Maine- Needing more of a cushion and a solid token of legitimacy in their push for a playoff spot, the Black Bears can make a statement this coming Friday versus first-place Northeastern, with whom they already split a pair in the Hub two months ago. Win that, and they will impressively argue that the previous win was no fluke and also pick up a good, much-needed whiff of momentum for the following weekend when they visit Connecticut. UConn is currently on their tail for sixth place and the two-game get-together in Storrs could hold a lot of sway on the Mainers’ destiny.
New Hampshire- If nothing else, the more the fat Cats pad on to their saturated resume, the bigger and bolder the target on their back becomes. That will be something to keep in mind even before they stroll into the postseason and take a stab at their fifth consecutive WHEA pennant. True, they are only two points removed from first place with a savory four games in hand on the two teams they are chasing. And they have all the necessary means to swiftly scoop up and cement the rights to host this year’s tournament again. But if UNH gets overeager and doesn’t properly pace itself, the spoils could be spoiled.
Northeastern- We won’t know if Florence Schelling can duplicate her peerlessly celestial first half because she won’t be around to try it. Although undefeated herself, nominal backup stopper Leah Sulyma had to scramble to halt a bit of a hiccup in Monday’s come-from-behind 7-4 win over Boston College. Granted, that makes two startling dramatic rallies for Northeastern this season, but they would be advised to quit juggling torches while they are ahead. As Frozen Fenway showed, when it comes time to tame the heavyweights, they will need to work on building the early lead for themselves and sustaining that lead.
Providence- The substantially qualitative and quantitative class of 2012 got a little clemency last year when, as freshmen, they blinked under pressure, squandered a potential first-round bye upon going 0-4-1 to close the regular season, and ultimately drowned in Lake Whittemore in the conference semifinal. Now that they have bounced back and rinsed out some of that vinegar with a regular season win at New Hampshire, the Friars have a chance to this weekend to add to their current momentum and –hold your breath here- win their series with the Wildcats. We’ll just see how much the young-ins have grown.
Vermont- To get anything going, UVM must first put a wrench in the negative results, frustration, and league-leading penalty minute rate that have cycled them silly. Instead, what about making good of the mounting desperation and making it translate to more offense? The Catamounts are far from finished, mathematically speaking. Nevertheless, they have accumulated a most forgettable two-plus months that they need to cleanse from their spirits and quick. Seventh-place Connecticut, which leads them by six points, could lead by as many as 10 or by as few as two when their two-game series in Burlington is finished this weekend. No time like the present to turn the tables.
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