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