Hockey East Extra: The other games
Besides the series in Durham between UNH and Providence, there are three other Hockey East quarterfinals being staged this weekend. With this season's bracket being considered among the most upset-prone in recent memory, no one in the conference would be surprised to see an upset or two on the route to Boston.
Here's a look at those series:
NO. 7 NORTHEASTERN AT NO. 2 BC
Begins Thursday at Conte Forum
On the national bubble when February began, Boston College may enter the conference tourney as the best team. Finally living up to the hype that made it the No. 1 in the preseason national polls, the Eagles have won six straight and eight of nine with both center Brian Boyle and goalie Cory Schneider playing up to the potential that made each a first-round NHL pick. The Huskies are pesky, but the Eagles might be too hot to touch right now.
NO. 6 VERMONT AT NO. 3 BU
Begins Thursday at Agganis Arena
Neither team is playing particularly well right now, with the Catamounts having won just three of 12 - and one of those coming against the Terriers. The defending tournament champions, BU has home-ice advantage but is just 7-4-5 at home this year and lost the season series to Vermont. With John Curry and Joe Fallon in the cages, this one could come down to which side has the stingier netminder.
NO. 5 MAINE AT NO. 4 MASSACHUSETTS
Begins Friday at the Mullins Center
UMass swept Maine last weekend to earn the right to host a series in which both squads are probably playing for their postseason lives. Maine (at No. 12) and Massachusetts (13) are both on the bubble, so losing in a sweep would likely eliminate either one, while a series win would catch the eye of the selection committee. For that reason, and the familiarity, expect this to be as fierce a series as the weekend offers.
