November 18, 2010

Matt Campanale and the UNH Wildcats host Boston University Friday night on NESN

No. 2 Boston University vs. No. 8 UNH - Two-Game Series (Fri. at UNH, Sat. at BU)

- The Terriers are in the midst of a 10-game unbeaten streak (6-0-4) to start the year and will head into Friday's game against a New Hampshire that owns the second-longest current streak at eight games (5-0-3).

- The Terriers were successful on 32 straight kills before Merrimack scored on both of its power-play chances in the first period of Saturday's tie. BU has killed off 46 of its opponents' last 49 power plays.

- Last weekend, the top line of Mike Sislo (2g,1a), Phil DeSimone (1g,3a) and Paul Thompson (5a) were involved in all six goals scored by the Wildcats.

No. 3 Maine at No. 9 Boston College - Two-Game Series (Fri., Sun. at Conte Forum)

- The contest will be a rematch of the 2010 Hockey East Championship Game, a 7-6 Eagles win in overtime back on March 20th at the TD Garden.

- Junior forward Spencer Abott leads the league with 16 points (8g,8a) this season for the Black Bears. He ranks eighth in the nation with 1.60 points per game.

- BC sophomore center Pat Mullane won 20-of-25 face offs over the two-game series at Vermont last weekend.

- Joey Diamond and Spencer Abbott each had two goals and an assist to lead Maine last weekend.

Northeastern vs. Providence - Two-Game Series (Fri. at PC, Sat. at NU)

- Providence College is in the midst of a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2), dating back to Oct. 29

- Providence senior Kyle MacKinnon posted his second-career hat trick in PC's win at Alabama-Huntsville last Friday night.

- Wade MacLeod registered his team-leading 26th-career multi-point game (1-1-2) on Saturday. MacLeod needs just one more point to become the Huskies 48th skater in Northeastern history to reach the 100-point plateau for their career (43-56-99). He would become the second Hockey East player to accomplish the feat this season, the other being Maine's Gustav Nyquist.

Merrimack vs. UMass-Lowell - Two-Game Series (Fri. at UML, Sat. at MC)

- Merrimack's penalty kill has killed of its last 23 times shorthanded. They rank first in the country in penalty kill with a 93.5% success rate (45 of 48).

- Merrimack goaltender Joe Cannata continued his stellar season last weekend when he stopped 58 of 62 shots (.935 save%) earning two ties against #1 Boston University, including a 32-save effort in the 1-1 tie on Friday at Agganis Arena. Through eight starts this season, Cannata has a .936 save percentage and a 2.11 GAA, both of which rank third among Hockey East netminders.

- UMass-Lowell should be well rested as they had last weekend off to rest after playing five games in nine days.

- The River Hawks lead the all-time series with Merrimack, 67-38-8. UML won the season series last year, 2-1-0, but the Warriors were victorious in the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 6 (3-1).