{"id":97915,"date":"2013-02-04T06:55:59","date_gmt":"2013-02-04T12:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/hockey-east-blog\/?p=976"},"modified":"2013-02-04T06:55:59","modified_gmt":"2013-02-04T12:55:59","slug":"merrimack-maine-and-umass-on-a-roll-while-beanpot-teams-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2013\/02\/04\/merrimack-maine-and-umass-on-a-roll-while-beanpot-teams-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Merrimack, Maine, and UMass on a roll while Beanpot teams struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"

These are the three things I think<\/em> I learned this week.<\/p>\n

1. Merrimack has got to be the most underrated team in the league.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’ll admit it.  As impressed as I was with the Warriors when I featured them in the column two weeks ago, I thought their outrageously difficult schedule down the stretch would eventually relegate them to sixth place.<\/p>\n

Well, they’re more than just resilient and gutsy.  They’re pretty good, certainly better than most people give them credit for.<\/p>\n

The Warriors are now 5-1-1 in their last seven, taking five of six points from Maine, four of six from New Hampshire, and ending Massachusetts-Lowell’s 11-game undefeated streak.<\/p>\n

By defeating UNH and Lowell — both teams that had been projected to earn NCAA tournament selections — Merrimack has taken over third place, just three points out of first while holding a game in hand.<\/p>\n

2. Maine and UMass are making their playoff cases<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t look now but these two teams are a collective 6-1-1 over their last four games.  Maine is 3-0-1; Massachusetts, 3-1-0. As such, they’ve taken huge steps toward making the playoffs.<\/p>\n

UMass hasn’t just eeked out wins over marginal teams. The Minutemen have stunned Boston College, 5-2, and Boston University, 5-1.<\/p>\n

Maine swept BC in its own barn, tied Providence, and defeated a Lowell team that a week ago was the hottest in Hockey East.<\/p>\n

If I were a Vermont or Northeastern fan, I would be feeling very nervous right now.<\/p>\n

3. Only Boston College is heading into the Beanpot on a high note.<\/strong><\/p>\n

BC defeated Vermont in convincing fashion, 4-1. Other than that, the other Boston teams took it on the chin.  UMass spanked BU, 5-1; UNH topped Northeastern 3-1; and Rensselaer shut out Harvard.<\/p>\n

What does it all mean?<\/p>\n

We’ll find out tonight.  But a week ago a lot of people thought BU was emerging as the favorite, considering BC’s recent struggles.<\/p>\n

Not anymore, at least not to these eyes.  The Eagles appear to be right back in the driver’s seat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Merrimack has got to be the most underrated team in the league. I’ll admit it.  As impressed as I was with the Warriors when I featured them in the column two weeks ago, I thought their outrageously difficult schedule down the stretch would […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1425],"tags":[1236,1490],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMerrimack, Maine, and UMass on a roll while Beanpot teams struggle - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Merrimack has got to be the most underrated team in the league. 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