Before tonight’s games get underway, let’s take a look at what’s on the line for each Hockey East team. Please note that I am only looking at what can happen tonight. There will be another post tomorrow looking at what can happen on the final night of the regular season.

Boston College (35 points)
-hosts Vermont.
-has already clinched home ice for the quarterfinals.
-can clinch the regular-season title with a win and a BU loss or tie, or with a tie and a BU loss.
-can clinch a share of first with a win.
-can clinch one of the top two seeds with a tie.

Boston University (33 points)
-hosts Northeastern.
-has already clinched home ice.
-can clinch one of the top two seeds with a win and a Lowell loss or tie, or with a tie and a Lowell loss.

Massachusetts-Lowell (31 points)
-travels to Providence.
-has already clinched a playoff spot.
-can clinch home ice with a tie.
-can clinch one of the top three seeds with a win and a Merrimack loss or tie.

Maine (30 points)
-does not play tonight.
-has already clinched a playoff spot.
-cannot clinch home ice tonight.
-cannot be eliminated from home ice contention tonight.

Merrimack (29 points)
-travels to Massachusetts.
-has already clinched a playoff spot.
-cannot clinch home ice tonight.
-cannot be eliminated from home ice contention tonight.

New Hampshire (24 points)
-does not play tonight.
-has already clinched a playoff spot.
-is already locked into the sixth or seventh seed.

Providence (23 points)
-hosts Lowell.
-can clinch a playoff spot with a tie.
-can clinch the sixth or seventh seed with a win.
-cannot be eliminated from playoff contention tonight.

Massachusetts (20 points)
-hosts Merrimack.
-can clinch a playoff spot with a win, a Northeastern loss, and a BC win or tie.
-cannot be eliminated from playoff contention tonight.

Northeastern (20 points)
-travels to BU.
-cannot clinch a playoff spot tonight.
-can be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, a UMass win, and a BC win or tie.

Vermont (7 points)
-travels to BC.
-is already eliminated from playoff contention.

Friday, March 2nd, 2012 - 2:47 pm | Hockey East, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings