Yes, but we (BU) didn't deserve to get in based on our inconsistent performance in the middle of the season. I, for one, am glad that the regular season actually means something. We all know that the whole post-season tournament idea was conceived as another way to make money. In basketball, they justified it by trying to say that it's important for the "hot" team to make the tournament, which just negates the regular season even more.
I hope you guys can put the quarterfinals behind you and get revved up. I don't sense a lot of enthusiasm over here. As disappointing as it has been the last couple of weeks, at least you're still playing. The "entire body of work," as they say, was what got you there so you should feel good about your chances. Anything can happen. Providence was a tough team to play against - as Lowell was for BU. A bad matchup - having a team used to playing wide-open play tentative because you know that one mistake can cost you the game. In the NCAAs, there are few teams that play that way because the talent level is higher and it's impossible to win with a "goal prevention" mentality (in other words, to try to win 1-0 like Lowell and Providence do). UNH is the "forgotten" Hockey East team with all the attention on Lowell and BC so perhaps with the expectations lowered you can go out and relax and fly under the radar.
And by the way, now we know how you felt in 2009. Tonight we lost by a goal when the puck got knocked into our own net by a sliding defenseman after the goalie had made the initial save. To get that close with an overachieving team (coming back to beat BC for our fifth win in a row and to keep Parker's career going) and lose that way was devastating.
Good luck!