Vermont is heading down to North Andover this weekend to square off against an achieving Merrimack squad, a split would be a fine result. Vermont is one point out of eighth place, behind a crumbling Providence team who hasn’t won a Hockey East game since November 5th. Providence plays two against UNH this weekend and will be in Burlington next weekend. A split against Merrimack would most likely send UVM into their home weekend series against Providence up a point in the standings for the final playoff spot in Hockey East. This however, is the ideal situation.
Picking up a win (can you imagine 2?) is going to be tough for the Catamounts this weekend. Merrimack is the better team and is playing at home. They have a hot goaltender and one of the best players in Hockey East in Stephane De Costa. As Sneddon said in his pre-game press conference, “De Costa makes things happen.” He is tied for second in the points race in HE right now with 30, and is in the midst of 12 game point streak, with 22 points in that span of time. Clearly, De Costa is the focal point of Merrimack’s offense, but he is not alone. Jesse Todd and Chris Barton can both make contributions along with stand out junior defenseman Karl Stollery. Until their fluke loss to UMass-Lowell last weekend, Merrimack had won 11 of their last 13. The only hope for UVM is that these players (that seems to play up or down to their competition) take this poorly performing UVM team for granted. Sophomore defenceman Kyle Bigos (4th round Edmonton) has played solid in my live experience and is worth keeping an eye on.
Vermont has a couple of things going for them coming into this weekend…literally. The team has had a week to settle down after Wahs Stacey’s departure, which may have refocused the Cats after losing their senior leading scorer. Secondly, it is a fact that a team can only play better after playing their worst, which they did last Saturday during that 6-0 beat down we’ll call a hockey game. That is about it…any one who follows UVM hockey knows that quite simply, they need to play better. Fundamentals and sound mental toughness win games.
Here are the highlights from UVM/Merrimack game earlier this year, a 2-2 tie. Gotta love the October energy in the crowd and players.
De Costa is good enough for someone to have made this video, just so happens to be him torching every UVM player on the ice.
Prediction: A split would be big for UVM, but I don’t see it happening. Merrimack takes both, 3-1, and 2-1.
Any predictions of your own?
Quick Notes:
Despite having a good team Merrimack can’t get asses in the seats.
You can buy Friday’s game here.
Saturday’s game is on NESN.
My honest prediction is a 2-2 tie in the first game, with Merrimack winning the second 4-1. I’ll be split-screening the Umass- Northeastern game on NESN with the UVM online steam for Friday night. Can’t miss.
Merrimack can’t get asses in the seats? They’ve sold out most of their home games this year. Maybe it’s because YOUR team sucks that they can’t attract people to the barn. How’s 5-13-4 taste? Go smoke some pot.
Hah, you’re probably right about people not wanting to see UVM…but still, a typical and predictable response.