Kermit the Frog sang years ago that it’s not easy being green. Well, it’s also not easy being the number one team in the USCHO.com poll. New Hampshire became another Hockey East team to learn that this weekend, and that leads the three things I learned this week.
1. The King is dead, long live the King
While New Hampshire leapfrogged past Boston College last weekend to become the No. 1 team in the nation, it’s conceivable that the Eagles may reassume that position when the USCHO.com poll is released on Monday. UNH lost to Boston University (more on them shortly) at home on Thursday. BC tied Providence on the road on Friday. With Miami losing to Lake Superior, that could allow BC to return to the top spot.
2. Here come the Terriers
There are a significant number of storylines in Hockey East heading to the break, many of which will be discussed in our midseason wrap, due out in the coming days. My favorite right now is the performance of Boston University. The Terriers have surprised me. Sure, we knew they had a good recruiting class coming in, but this club faced offseason scrutiny and even lost a talented forward in Yasin Cisse about a week ago. Twice in a matter of seven days, BU won games over the number one team in the nation and that, by itself, says plenty about this team.
3. Best way to combat a struggling offense: shutouts.
Yes, I’m talking about Massachusetts-Lowell, which has struggled to score goals this first half. Saturday night, the River Hawks made it easier of their anemic offense when Connor Hellebucyk shutout Northeastern (yes, I know, the Huskies don’t exactly score lights out). That said, the River Hawks have won four of their last five games against teams not named New Hampshire. Tonight’s game against Harvard is a very important litmus test, though a win could really send Lowell to the break on a high note.
