These are the three things I think I learned this week.
1. Providence is mortal.
The Friars went longer than any other team before sustaining a loss, but since the holiday break they’ve lost two of their last three.
Losing in overtime to a 9-2-2 Cornell team in the first game out of the break is one thing. But after coming back in the third period to defeat Boston College, thereby avoiding last place in the Florida College Classic, PC fell again on Sunday.
To Brown.
Yes, I know there’s a cross-town rivalry involving the Mayor’s Cup. Even so, Brown was 3-8-3 going into that game. No offense to the Bears, but no one is confusing them with Cornell or BC.
Jake Walman, PC’s high-scoring defenseman who has been sidelined by injury, is very much missed.
2. 60 minutes is not enough
Since the ball fell at midnight in Times Square, Hockey East teams have been playing one overtime after another. Six of the ten 2016 games have gone past 60 minutes of regulation with exactly half of those producing a winner. Two of the other three involved Notre Dame playing host Denver for sixty-five minutes in its series.
3. Vermont is turning it around
The Catamounts had an uninspiring first half, going 5-12-2 overall, but have caught fire since Christmas. After defeating Lake Superior State and Colgate to take their Catamount Cup, they kept the momentum going with an overtime win over New Hampshire on Saturday.
Unfortunately for them, the latter victory doesn’t count in the Hockey East standings any more than the two wins in their tournament. Although it was against UNH, it was an extra, nonconference game.
The Cats finish off their nonleague slate this weekend against Dartmouth, but will then see how far that momentum will take them as they host Providence for two critical Hockey East contests.
