Providence and Vermont went at it in a heavyweight fight last weekend, and the result was one of the most controversial games of the season. Kevin Sneddon was suspended one game after berating officials and throwing water bottles over the ice. Clearly, that’s something punishable by the league and according to Hockey East’s release, Sneddon accepted the suspension and apologized to officials, but I also think his frustration was warranted.

“I accept it with humility and regret,” Sneddon said. “It’s time to move on.”

That game was a mess.

Simply put, the officials lost control. Providence just welcomed back Jake Walman after an injury he sustained in early December, and he took a charge from Brady Shaw that nearly re-injured him. According to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal, Walman was in a red no-contact jersey this week.

Searching For 1,000

Boston College head coach Jerry York looks for his 1,000th win again tonight, when the Eagles travel to face a struggling UMass team. It’s a good bet that York finds that win on Friday, as the Minutemen are just 1-11-3 over their past 15 games after starting the year on a scorching 6-2-1 pace.

If the Eagles somehow fail to get the job done at the Mullins Center, York will have another chance to hit the milestone at home on Saturday, when they host UConn and former assistant Mike Cavanaugh. Regardless of when it happens, York likely travels to Notre Dame next weekend with at least 1,000 wins, but I’d bet on him having 1,001 by the time he meets Jeff Jackson next Friday.

UNH Searching For Its Scoring

What happened up in Durham? UNH has lost four straight games since pounding Maine, 7-0, right before the new year. In the process, one of the hottest offenses in the nation has seemingly dried up, as the Wildcats haven’t scored more than two goals in any of the last four games, and were shutout by Lowell, 1-0, on Jan. 8.

Last weekend, a suddenly surging Northeastern team (5-0-1 in its last six and our latest CHN Team of the Week) swept the Wildcats.

Perhaps most impressively, they held the nation’s top scorer, Andrew Poturalski, to just two assists. Combined with linemate Tyler Kelleher, who is fourth in the nation in scoring, the Huskies limited those two players to three assists in two games, with zero goals. Quite the accomplishment.

Northeastern Loves Its ‘Tender

Speaking of Northeastern, it seems as if the Huskies have finally found some consistency in the crease. Ryan Ruck has established himself as the No. 1 goaltender, and over this six-game stretch has posted a 1.68 goals-against average.

The Huskies are also looking to redeem themselves this weekend against a fledgling Merrimack team, that like UMass, has just one win in its last 14 games (1-10-3). Last season in the Hockey East playoffs, the Warriors ended Northeastern’s season with a sweep of the series, with both wins coming in overtime.

During NU’s unbeaten streak, the Huskies are outscoring its opponents by 2.00 goals per game. It’s 3.67 goals per game ranks in a tie for 10th in the nation in that span, while its 1.67 goals against per game is tied for eighth. Northeastern’s power play, meanwhile, is clicking at 26.1% (6-of-23) in the last six games.

Merrimack, meanwhile, is looking to avoid its first eight-game losing streak in seven years on Friday, as the Warriors haven’t won since Dec. 20 vs. Canisius. The last time Merrimack lost eight consecutive games (excluding ties) was from Jan. 9 through Feb. 6 of the 2008-09 season. Merrimack finished 9-21-4 (5-19-3 HEA) that year.

Mike’s Picks 

This Season: 105-63-30
Last Week: 9-1-3

Friday Night
Providence over Lowell
Boston College over UMass
Merrimack over Northeastern
Notre Dame over UNH
Boston University over Maine
Vermont over UConn

Saturday Night
Notre Dame over UNH
Boston College over UConn
Northeastern over Merrimack
Vermont over UMass
Lowell over Providence
Boston University over Maine

Tuesday Night
UConn over Sacred Heart

Friday, January 22nd, 2016 - 11:56 am | Commentary, Hockey East, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings