Merrimack defeated Boston University 5-4 to become the first eight-seed to
upset the No. 1 seed in a three-game series in the Hockey East tournament. The
Warriors further demonstrated the top-to-bottom strength of Hockey East, as
they were the third team to upset a higher seed in the first round of the
tournament this year.
 
No. 5 seed Lowell defeated No. 4 Northeastern 5-1 to win that series, 2 games
to 1. Saturday night, No. 6 seed Maine completed its sweep of No. 3 seed New
Hampshire.
 
The only higher seeded team to win in the first round was No. 2 BC, which
swept Providence. Even BC had a tough time in the first game, winning with
just a few seconds to go in regulation.
 
The Merrimack upset results in the following pairings for the semifinals on
Friday night at the Fleet Center: No. 3 seed Maine vs. No. 2 seed Lowell, and
No. 1 seed BC vs. No. 4 seed Merrimack.
 
If Merrimack had lost to BU, Maine would have been the lowest seeded team in
the semifinals and would have had to face BU.
 
Merrimack was behind 2-0 after one period, but tied it 2-2 in the second
period. The Warriors then took a two-goal lead (not including a goal that was
disallowed because the referee ruled that it had been directed into the goal
by a high stick; the video replay was inconclusive) in the fourth period.
Drury scored to cut the lead to 4-3, but the Warriors hung tough. Then, with
about 1:20 remaining, BU called time out, and Parker pulled the goalie.
Merrimack's Pyliotis (who joined the team at midseason) scored an empty-net
goal with 1:06 (approx.) remaining. Drury scored another goal with 13 seconds
to go, which makes one wonder whether Jackie was premature in pulling the
goalie.