A 3-0 win for Maine over Boston University on Saturday night was more than just two points in the Hockey East standings for the two goaltenders involved. That lead this week’s three things:
1. Swayman wins bronze then makes history at BU
Maine’s Jeremy Swayman and BU’s Jake Oettinger each had a bronze medal place around their necks on Friday after Team USA beat the Czech Republic on Friday to finish third at the World Juniors.
Twenty-four hours later, the pair faced off at Agganis Arena. It was Swayman, who continues his bid for an all-rookie nod, who came out on top, 3-0.
Swayman became the first Maine goaltender to post a shutout in a win ever at Boston University (there was a 0-0 tie in the mid-90s).
Maine has now won six in a row and is 7-0-1 in its last eight, moving into seventh place but with games in hand on all six teams above.
2. Another weekend, another non-league disaster
There was some good news that emerged regarding non-league play this past weekend: Hockey East won’t play another games this season against the Big Ten, NCHC or WCHA.
The league’s teams finished their non-league slate against college hockey’s western conference with a 7-24-3 mark against the trio of conferences, including a 0-12-2 mark against the Big Ten and WCHA combined.
So that I don’t beat a dead horse here, I’ll let those numbers speak for themselves without commentary.
3. Lowell’s offense comes to life
One weekend after being shutout, 3-0, against St. Lawrence in the championship game of the Catamount Cup, the UMass Lowell offense proved it was not dead in two wins against Vermont and Massachusetts.
The puck seemed to hop in the net for the River Hawks, which scored 14 goals in two games on just 46 shots.
The River Hawks power play went 4-for-6 on the weekend while the penalty kill notched three shorthanded goals (two of those were empty netters).
If the Lowell offense is finding its stride, it comes at the perfect time to make a stretch run.
