this is pretty normal for how this season has worked out league wide with few exceptions. teams of any caliber are getting their shit kicked by “d2 non conference teams” because the parity is so insane. some schools have been playing a bunch and still haven’t run into it. the ECAC especially has had an bad non conference record this season so far. Clarkson is the weirdest of all- lost to two AHA teams, two ranked wins to start a series, split with two CCHA teams. 3-5-0 record, but 2 of those wins over #3 and #8 in the country.
it’s better they get this lesson early- that you cannot take a single team lightly no matter how much lower you think they are. Stonehill nearly took the #3 ranked team in the nation to OT. Miami won 3 total games last season and they have a 7-1-0 record, getting their first loss on friday. on the same night of this game, Quinnipiac tied with Alaska, which is better than the last time they saw each other in the Ice Breaker and lost in regulation.
absolute insanity going on. what mattered was coming out with a win and learning from the experience. if they’re lucky, they won’t have a wacky loss to teach them this lesson.