2/21/91                Hockey East                Overall            Non-league
                       GP  W-L-T   Pts  GF-GA  || GP   W-L-T    GF-GA     W-L-T
                       ========================================================
 1  Boston College     20 15-5-0   30  100-72  || 35  26-9-0   171-116 | 11-4-0
 2  Maine              20 14-5-1   29  106-71  || 36  27-7-2   199-114 | 13-2-1
 3  Boston University  20 13-5-2   28   99-63  || 33  22-9-2   185-114 |  9-4-0
 4  Providence         20 10-8-2   22   91-80  || 30  20-8-2   157-108 | 10-0-0
    New Hampshire      20 10-8-2   22   77-74  || 33  22-9-2   148-116 | 12-1-0
 6  Merrimack          20  7-13-0  14   68-98  || 31  13-17-1  130-150 |  6-4-1
 7  Lowell             20  4-15-1   9   64-105 || 32   9-22-1  117-161 |  5-7-0
 8  Northeastern       20  2-16-2   6   82-124 || 32   6-24-2  133-184 |  4-8-0
 
2/20/91  New Hampshire       6 at Merrimack           2 HE
         Boston University   8 at Northeastern        4 HE
         Boston College      2 at Providence          3 HE
2/23/91  Boston College        at Boston University     HE
         Lowell                at Merrimack             HE
         Maine                 at New Hampshire         HE
         Northeastern          at Providence            HE
(end of regular season)
 
    As Kevin already posted, UNH won a big game at Merrimack, one that it had
    to win to continue to have a decent shot at home ice.  Joe Flanagan led
    the way with 3-2--5, his third career hat trick and third career five-point
    game. The game really wasn't as close as the 6-2 final. UNH freshman goalie
    Jeff Levy continued his march to the Rookie of the Year award with another
    solid outing.  He made several big saves in the second period while it was
    still close on the scoreboard, including shutting down a 5-on-3.  For
    Merrimack, Dan Gravelle scored two more goals, giving him four in his last
    two games and totals of 18-20--38, one point behind Agostino Casale.  Chris
    Winnes added two big goals late in the second period to turn a 2-1 game
    into a 4-1 UNH lead after two.  Winnes' and Flanagan's linemate, Domenic
    Amodeo, had three assists to give the line totals of 5-6--11 on the night.
 
    In other action, BU jumped out to a 4-2 lead at Northeastern after one and
    blew it open in the second.  Dave Tomlinson had two goals.  The Huskies
    have now surrendered seven or more goals in four of their last five games.
    They have allowed six or more goals in 17 of 32 games and have gone 1-14-2
    in those 17 games.  A loss or tie Saturday at Providence will set a new
    league record for fewest wins in a season at 2, breaking Merrimack's 3 last
    year.
 
    BC needed only a tie at Providence to clinch first place and they couldn't
    do it.  PC got a goal L-A-T-E in the game to break a 2-2 tie in front of
    a frenzied Schneider Arena crowd to win, 3-2, and remain tied with UNH
    for the final home ice berth.  I didn't get to see all of the game on NESN
    and don't have a paper, so that's why I don't have many details on BU-NU
    and BC-PC.  From what I did see, Brad Mullahy stood on his head in the PC
    net in a game full of up-and-down action.
 
    Five HE teams have now won 20 or more games overall, more than any other
    conference.
 
    PLAYOFF POSSIBILITIES
 
    The picture is a little clearer after last night.  All teams have one game
    left, Friday night.  Here's how things stand and where teams can finish.
    If I only list one condition (i.e. for Maine "second if BC ties or
    defeats BU"), then that is the only condition that needs to be satisfied
    for that team to finish in that position.
 
    Boston College
         - first if tie or defeat BU *or* UNH defeats Maine.
         - first if lose to BU *and* Maine ties UNH.
         - second if lose to BU *and* Maine defeats UNH.
    Maine
         - first if defeat UNH *and* BU defeats BC.
         - second if tie UNH.
         - second if BC ties or defeats BU.
         - third if lose to UNH *and* BU defeats BC.
    Boston University
         - second if defeat BU *and* UNH defeats Maine.
         - third otherwise.
    Providence
         - fourth if defeat NU *and* UNH does not defeat Maine.
         - fourth if tie NU *and* UNH loses to Maine.
         - fourth if lose to NU, Maine defeats UNH, *and* BU defeats BC.
         - fifth otherwise.
    New Hampshire
         - fourth if defeat Maine.
         - fourth if tie Maine *and* PC does not defeat NU.
         - fourth if lose to Maine, NU defeats PC, *and* BC ties or defeats BU.
         - fifth otherwise.
    Merrimack
         - will finish sixth.
    Lowell
         - will finish seventh.
    Northeastern
         - will finish eighth.
 
    Providence plays Northeastern on Saturday afternoon, I believe, so when
    UNH takes the ice at 7 pm, they will probably know what they have to do to
    take fourth.
 
    Here's how the playoff schedule shapes up:
 
    Wed Feb 27  Northeastern/Lowell at Boston College    NESN
    Thu Feb 28  Merrimack/Lowell at Boston University
    Fri Mar 1   New Hampshire vs. Providence, site TBD   NESN
    Sat Mar 2   Northeastern/Merrimack/Lowell at Maine   NESN
 
    Updated word is that three of the four quarterfinals will be shown live,
    as indicated above, due to the Islanders-Bruins game on Feb 28.  The
    Feb 28 game will probably be shown on tape delay, maybe later that
    evening.
 
 
    - mike