First let me say that this is an unbiased opinion on the game.  I never
attended either university and have seen both teams play live at least
three times this year.
 
Harvard is really down from last year.  Apart from McLaughlin--they have
nobody who can move a body out from the crease.  Secondarily, Tripp
Tracy, though he is a fine goaltender, misses Israel a lot. (Israel is
in Hershey now).  Trip has let in some soft goals including two as
ricochets off his back in the BU and RPI games.
 
UNH beat Harvard 4-2 in Cambridge at the Bright Center.  Harvard went on
a 2-0 run before UNH scored 5 unanswered goals.  Although Cavicci played
well for UNH, I dont think either is a NCAA caliber team.
 
Moreover, I would venture to say, at the risk of being flamed that no
more than 4 teams from the east should make the NCAA playoffs this year.
 I would say Maine, BU, the ECAC champion and maybe Northeastern should
make it.
 
BU is the class of Hockey East.  Maine can play well with BU & NU but is
really small like RPI and will get beat up by the more physical CCHA &
WCHA teams.  Northeastern is a physiical team but really is a mystery
after getting smoked by a mediocre denver team.
 
Therefore I say that the trend of the west dominating the NCAA's over
the last couple of years will continue...but then again, who am I.
 
Still if anyone is thinking of coming out for the beanpot from the
west...I would love to take you to see if it stacks up to the GLI's or
Showdown.
 
John MacKinnon