Re: UVM 2014-2015: Let's Play 10 Games in Massachusetts this Season
A Split did keep the Cats in the running for Home Ice even thou ND could have beat Prov Sat and helped us.
With 2 weeks left the battle for spots 3 thru 7 standings right now
UML 22 points
Prov 21
NU 20
ND 20
VT 19
Two teams get HomeIce (Top4)
UML has 3 games left and everyone else 4 which makes this even closer
Notre Dame has the tough job of playing 2 at BU and then 2 vs BC so they are a long shot
Prov has a major schedule edge playing Umass and Maine
Northeastern plays 2 at Maine and a H/H with BU (also throw in the Beanpot Final)
Vermont has 2 vs Merrimack and then 2 at UML
I figure 3 wins gets Vermont in unless both NU and ND can beat BC & BU who they play 6 of the 8 games they play.
Basically we have to sweep Merrimack and hope NU & ND lose at least one each this weekend.
Should be fun
I kind of think the #5 spot is actually where you want to be and a bit of an advantage.
First you get home ice AND you are playing the #12 team in the league.
Secondly, you don't get stale with a weekend off, I know sometimes a week off seems like a good thing but I think this time of year you really want to be on the ice as much as possible. UVM is deep enough so an injury isn't going to kill them unless it's one of a handful of players.
Thirdly, you get (presumably) two more wins that may help your RPI and thus PWR.
Finally, your fans get two extra games and Seniors get two more games at the Gutt.
While being top 4 would be nice just for bragging rights, In this league I don't see it being a huge detriment. For example, if the season ended today :
First Round
NU @ UMA
ND @ MC
UVM @ UNH
UMO @ UConn
Assuming it plays out to seed (and I don't actually think that would happen)
BU @ UMO
UVM @ BC
UML @ ND
PC @ NU
On the other hand if UVM were in the #4 spot they would be playing NU... So it's either BC whom they are 1-1 against and are 10-3-1 in their last 14 or NU whom they are 1-1-1 against and is 10-1-3 in their last 14.
I don't really see where playing one is a benefit over the other... and the two extra games are a bonus.