(8) UVM @ (1) UNH:
For the third time in four years, UNH won the HE regular season title. They come in as the favorites against UVM but they are not nerly as big of favorites as the traditional 1-8 matchup. While uNH is 2-0-1 against UVM whis year, UVM was able to take both games at the Whit to OT. UNH also has a well documented history of collapsing in March. A little tidbit on the teams. UVM had the most difficult end to the season playing series @UNH, BU, @UML but was able to hold on to the 8 seed as NU collapsed down the stretch. UVM comes in with a more balanced attack, gone are the days of trapping the puck to death as they have opened play up and rank 5th in HE offensively at slightly over 3 goals per game and tied for third in HE defensively at 2.9 goals allowed per game. While only having two double digit goal scorers they have five 20 point players, one of whom however is Justin Milo a senior who was kicked off of the team (the ever popular team rules violation). They are steady in net with sophomore Rob Madore who is 11-10-7 on the year ranking 4th in HE at 2.70 GAA. UNH comes in as the champs despite not playing 60 minutes of hockey in a month. They are lead by senior Bobby Butler (an
favorite) who is rapidly closing in on 50 points this year. Many UNH fans will tell you this isn't the most talented UNH team they have had but they are the grittiest of Dick Umile's teams. Known for their 3rd period comeback, especially at the Whit where they are 9-0-4 in HE play. Two weeks ago they scored a goal at Matthews to tie it up with 15 seconds to go and salvage a point, the next night they scored two goals in 12 seconds for the difference against NU. The following weekend they were able to score 3 unanswered goals against BC to salvage a tie. Prediction: UNH in 3
(6) Mack @ (3) BU:
Long counted out in a down year BU was able to make the most of the help given to them and secure the 3 seed after sweeping NU to close the year out. Bu won the season series 2-1 against Merrimack winning the games at Agganis and losing the game on the road. A theme for Mack all year as they are 12-3-1 at home and 3-13-1 on the road. Merrimack is lead by freshman French import Stephane Da Costa (15-30-45) and junior Chris Barton (20-18-38) as their two main offensive threats -the only players above 22 points on the year. Da Costa is the odds on favorite for ROY in HE. They have a rotation in net between Joe Cannata (21 games) and Andrew Braithwaite (16 games), both records are around .500, have save percentages about .900, and GAA around 3.1. Their coach Mark Dennehy is probably going to win COY for turning around a perennial cellar dweller. BU has had a rocky year (16-15-3) and ultimately was able to win the log jam in HE. The key to BU's game is the offensive production from the blueline. Junior Colby Cohen is second on the team in points, and goals at (14-16-30) and has a rocket shot from the point that will probably cause his exit from BU after this year. He is joined on the blueline by junior Kevin Shattenkirk, who is widely regarded as the best Dman in HE (5-20-25). After a National Championship in his freshman year, goalie Kieran Milan faced a sophomore slump similar to John Muse. He is last in HE in save % (.883) and GAA (3.28).
Prediction: BU in 2
(5) UML @ (4) Maine:
A typical matchup of different styles as Maine boasts a high powered offense and UML a stout defense. Maine won the season series 2-1 this year. UML was a popular pick to do well in HE after making it to the championship game against BU last year and losing 1-0 to BU in (shocking I know) a favorable review for BU at the Garden (see link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnibxyJAu8w ). UML beat out BC by a hair for fewest goals allowed with 2.39 in HE and they are lead by who I believe to be the best goalie in HE in senior Carter Hutton. They play a trapping style that frustrates high powered offensive teams. They also bring a balanced scoring attack having 10 playings registering between 18-30 points. Maine comes in a team in turmoil; they chocked away a 3 point for the three seed and come in 2-6-0 in their last 8. To add to the bad news starting goalie Scott Darling has been suspended indefinitely and will not be available for the playoffs (it is widely reported that he is entering rehab for alcohol issues). Offensively they are lead by the leading scorer in HE, Gustav Nyquist (18-38-56) .
Prediction: UML in 2
claver. Keep up the good work.
