Biggest weekend of hockey for the LEC is over and we have a lot of shakeups.
At the top, Norwich gets everything they could’ve asked for with wins over USM and Babson. Against USM, Norwich controls the scoring early and takes advantage of the PP to come out with a 6-3 win against the LEC’s #3 team. With the 1-seed on the line Saturday, Norwich comes out on top against Babson to take the lead. Defense stands strong and Cadets take advantage of their only two PP chances to build a 3-1 lead for the eventual win. Norwich now sits in a comfortable 1st place with a 5 point gap.
Babson on Friday managed to still come out of the weekend with a win against a tough Castleton squad. Spartans score 2 in the 1st and force Babson to play catchup, but the Beavers tie it up in the 2nd before pulling ahead late in the 3rd. Babson still stays ahead of the middle of the pack in the 2-seed.
In the middle of the standings, the #3 through #6 are all divided by a point each. Castleton recovered Saturday with a major win against USM and closes in on the #3 spot. The Spartans dominate on the way to an 8-1, with an early goalie change for USM doing little to change the outcome. Castleton closes the gap while USM leaves the weekend on the backfoot.
UMB works their way up the standings with two big wins against Plymouth and NEC. Hosting an early season rematch, UMB dismantles Plymouth’s defense and goalies on the way to an 8-5 win. Plymouth manages to catch up and tie it in the 2nd, but UMB took advantage of PP goals to clinch the win. Against NEC, UMB’s penalty kill keeps the Pilgrims from converting, helping secure a 3-1 win for the Beacons. UMB now sits a point behind Plymouth with a game on hand.
Plymouth recovers during their 2nd matchup, taking down former MASCAC foes UMD. In a high penalty match, UMD holds level in the 2nd until PSU breaks away for a 6-3 win. Plymouth jumps to #3 taking advantage of USM’s collapse.
And down outside of the playoffs, in the LEC’s sicko match of the week sees Keene beat West Conn. Barring any miracles, I’d say the #9 and #10 are locked in.