No. 1 Boston University
Why they might win: The anti-Terrier crowd –a gradually growing contingent as BU scarlet threatens to become the new UNH blue- is salivating over the notion that the recently injured Marie-Philip Poulin’s absence will derail this dynasty before it even accelerates.
But whether or not Poulin returns to action this weekend, and whether or not she will have fully reheated her acetylene stick by then, remember that this strike force is patently bigger than one player. The Terriers still have Jenn Wakefield, who bears two conference title rings from her Durham days, point-based playmaker Catherine Ward, and that entire cluster of fruitful frontliners and backliners who kindled last year’s title run.
Jillian Kircher, Jenelle Kohanchuk, Holly Lorms, Tara Watchorn. You know, those who were making things happen before any of those otherworldly Canadians even enrolled on Comm. Ave.
Why they might not: Reliable as she has been throughout the regular season, rookie goaltender Kerrin Sperry will be flanked by more experienced world-class counterparts this weekend. Through little or no fault of her own, she could turn in another dolphin show and still blink in a staring contest with either NU’s Florence Schelling, BC’s Molly Schaus –both Olympic veterans- or PC’s Genevieve Lacasse.
No. 2 Boston College
Why they might win: Of all the celestial stoppers participating in this dance, Schaus is the eldest and most seasoned and has been the best overall performer throughout her belated senior season. So long as she does not wilt the way she recently did against Maine, -allowing four goals for the first and only time this year- it will only be a matter of burying a few biscuits at the other end.
It’s hardly a newsflash, but Kelli Stack has been consistent as ever while junior Mary Restuccia has not receded much either. Those two have already collaborated on the deciding strikes in both rounds of the Beanpot. Could they do it again with another hunk of hardware at stake?
Why they might not: Since Groundhog Day, signs of a short winter have surfaced in the Eagles’ most leaned-on rookies, meaning their insurance premium needs attention in case the opposition curbs the Stack Attack.
After logging 12 goals and 19 points in her first 23 games, Taylor Wasylk has mustered merely two assists in her last eight. In the same span, Melissa Bizzari has tuned the mesh thrice after previously scoring 15 points in her first 25 twirls. And even veteran Danielle Welch, since a hat trick on Feb. 6, has tapered off with one strike in the last six games.
The Eagles also need to do something about their discipline detonator so as not to squander precious time and energy on the penalty kill.
No. 3 Providence
Why they might win: Junior Laura Veharanta, a former unanimous selection to the All-Rookie squad and subsequent victim of the sophomore slump, turned in her best –really, her only good- February yet. She has logged seven goals and eight points, including three multi-goal games, in the Friars’ last six outings.
But Veharanta hasn’t been the only one crashing out of the chrysalis at the eleventh hour. Six forwards have appeared on three of the last four scoresheets while others –particularly the sophomore trio of Nicole Anderson, Jess Cohen, and Jessie Vella- have all splashed protracted droughts during the team’s active five-game winning streak.
Why they might not: While PC has undeniable momentum on its side, and while its most recent adversaries were hardly pushovers, it is hard to gauge how battle-tested this bunch really is. The forthcoming BC Eagles will be just like Vermont and Maine in the sense that they will be trying to stave off elimination. But, naturally, their capabilities are one or two echelons above those of the Catamounts and Black Bears. And pending progression to the title game, the host Terriers are still a whole other species for the Friars to tussle with.
No. 5 Northeastern
Why they might win: The Huskies’ 4-0 pasting of Connecticut in the quarterfinal was patently their best performance this calendar year, and it came after they had lumbered into the postseason on a 0-4-4 sleeping streak. With such long-elusive momentum churning within, and perhaps a little rust for first-place BU in the wee minutes of the semifinal, Northeastern could pounce and build upon an energized start.
And theoretically, the Hounds could then sniff out the seams and tuck that critical first goal behind Kerrin Sperry. That is, after all, how they dislodged Heather Linstad’s pupils over in Storrs.
Why they might not: Northeastern’s power play has been such a laughing matter that head coach Dave Flint confessed to the Feb. 10 issue of the Huntington News, “I joked with my assistants that I think Nixon was in the White House the last time we scored on the power play.”
Actually, the Huskies are an arid 3-for-55 with the numerical advantage in their last 14 games. And in fact, Jane Swift was in the Massachusetts State House the last time NU played in a conference championship game (2002, their last year in the ECAC). That factoid will continue to hold true if they do not swiftly ramp up their special teams, especially against the team that has consistently topped Hockey East on both the power play and penalty kill.
Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers
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