This Weekend in Hockey East

For an extended preview of everything Hockey East for this weekend, head to hockeyeastonline.com

The big matchup of the weekend is between No. 4 BU and No. 9 UMass-Lowell.  The Terriers are coming off a dramatic 3-2 victory over No. 5 Michigan, while the River Hawks swept two games against Colgate and Northeastern last weekend.  BU won all four contests last year against the River Hawks, but all four games were won by two goals or less. UML has gotten off to fast start with a 3-1-0 record and they have scored at least three goals in every game so far this season.  River Hawks’ senior goalie Carter Hutton has gotten off to a solid start with a 1.69 GAA and a .931 save percentage.  The Terriers are without junior forward Nick Bonino, who dislocated his shoulder in the first period of the win against Michigan and is expected to miss up to a month.

The two other hottest teams in Hockey East, Providence and No. 17 UMass, square off tonight in Providence before returning to Amherst tomorrow night to round out another big home-and-home series.  The Friars (4-1-0) are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season and own a 12-11-2 all- time in Hockey East openers. PC’s defense ranks fifth in the nation allowing 1.60 goals per contest. UMass is one of the six teams that are still undefeated.  UMass’ James Marcou leads the nation with 2.67 points per game. Marcou has already posted two four-point games this season. The Minutemen offense is third best in the country scoring 4.00 goals per game and their power play is also firing on all cylinders at 29.2%, fourth best in college hockey.

UNH heads outside of Hockey East with a trip to Madison, Wisconsin to face off against the No. 19 Badgers.  The Wildcats look to extend their two-game win streak after downing Northeastern and Maine last weekend.  UNH won their last meeting vs. the Badgers by a 5-1 score last October at the Whittemore Center. UNH netminder Brian Foster notched 30 saves in the victory. UNH is beginning a stretch where it will play nine of the next 12 games on the road before heading into holiday break. Sophomore forward Blake Kessel’s 10 points and 2.50 points per game are second best in the country.

Merrimack faces a big test against No. 12 Boston College.  The Warriors are trying to prove their worth against the Eagles, while BC is coming off a big 3-2 win at No. 10 Notre Dame last weekend.  BC won the season series with Merrimack last year, 2-0-1, but the Warriors pushed two of the contests to overtime. Merrimack’s Chris Barton six goals are second best in the country. The Warriors have won their last four games and have outscored their opponent, 18 to 7, during that win streak.  Merrimack heads to Conte Forum tonight before hosting the second game on Sunday.

Tonight, No. 10 Vermont will try and rebound from a 5-2 Merrimack upset loss against Maine tonight in Orono.  Vermont was a perfect 3-0 vs. Maine last season, but all three games were one goal contests. Maine’s Gustav Nyquist has notched a team-high 10 points this season in six games.  The Catamounts are led statistically by senior forward Brayden Irwin, who has tallied six points this year (3g,3a).