In my last post, I accounted for Providence's win tonight, but not UMass-Lowell's. Providence cannot catch Lowell, so they cannot finish higher than 3rd in Hockey East.
Here are the Hockey East standings going into the final day of the season:
- Boston College - 34
- UMass Lowell - 25
- Northeastern - 22
- Providence - 22
- Maine - 21
- New Hampshire - 20
- Notre Dame - 18
- Vermont - 18
- Boston University - 11
- Massachusetts - 11
- Merrimack - 8
BC and UML are locked into first and second. Because of the tie-breakers, Northeastern can't finish lower than fifth.
2 of Providence, Maine, and New Hampshire will get the byes to the quarterfinals. The team that ends up sixth will host Merrimack in a one game play-in next weekend.
Providence and Maine play each other tomorrow, so Providence can guarantee their bye with a tie or a win.
The games that matter for Providence are (all games go Saturday at 5:00pm MT):
- Providence @ Maine (PC beat Maine 4-2 on Friday night)
- New Hampshire @ Merrimack (Merrimack beat UHN 4-2 on Friday night)
- Boston University @ Northeastern (BU beat Northeastern 4-1 on Friday night)
Providence will finish:
- THIRD...With a PC win and Northeastern tie or loss OR a PC tie and Northeastern loss
- FOURTH...With a PC win and Northeastern win OR a PC tie and Northeastern tie or win
- FIFTH...With a PC loss and a New Hampshire tie or loss
- SIXTH...With a PC loss and a New Hampshire win