Notre Dame Hockey: No. 10 Irish Eyeing First Round Bye
By Chase Eyrich
Going into the last weekend of regular season where does the Notre Dame hockey team sit?
Sitting third in the Hockey East standings going into the last weekend before the conference tournament, Notre Dame could land anywhere from regular season tournament champs to fifth place.
Last weekend seventh-ranked Notre Dame and fifth-ranked Providence played with Providence going 2-0 in the series. Friday the Friars did it in comeback fashion winning 3-2 in overtime after being down 2-0. Saturday goaltender Nick Ellis’ 34 saves helped the Friars clinch the series winning 3-1.
Now (5) Providence is ranked second in Hockey East just behind (2) Boston College with the (10) Irish in third.
It is still possible for the Irish to claim regular season Hockey East champs but it will be extremely difficult. Boston College plays UMass lowell this weekend who are tied for fourth in the conference standing, a team that at the time ranked fifth in the country has a 1-0-1 record against the Irish.
Even if BC drops those two games, Providence will be playing against Massachusetts who are 8-20-4 on the season. Needless to say, for the Irish to catch Providence let alone BC would take a miracle.
Up next for the Irish will be ninth-ranked Boston University this Friday and Saturday back home in the Compton Family Ice Center to wrap up the regular season. The top four seeds in the Hockey East tournament will receive a first round bye and with Boston University and Umass Lowell tied for fourth all three teams are still in contention.
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Notre Dame can clinch a a first round bye with a win or a tie this weekend against Boston University. They can also receive some help. If UMass losses or ties against Boston College, the Irish would also clinch the first round bye. Best-of-Three Opening Round for the Hockey East Tournament will be March 4-6.