The top of the various Hockey East scoring leaders looks pretty much the way we expected. Chris Kreider leads the league with 15 points on eight goals and seven assists and three Boston College teammates follow. Strong upperlcassmen like Massachusetts’ T.J. Syner are putting together strong seasons, along with Maine’s dynamic senior duo of Brian Flynn and Spencer Abbot chipping in with consistent production.

We know what we’re going to get from some guys. Others, we expect and don’t get. Then, there are the players that build strong seasons out of almost nowhere. This feature will run throughout the season and assess those performances that have helped teams win a few more games than we all thought they would.

Three Up

Nick Sorkin, Sophomore, Forward, New Hampshire

Since beginning the season 0-4-0, New Hampshire is 4-0-1 in its last five games. While many worried about the Wildcats’ ability to create consistent offense, Nick Sorkin has proven to be that productive, do-it-all center UNH coach Dick Umile has managed to cultivate almost every season. In those fives games, Sorkin has three goals and five assists, pacing the resurgent UNH offense. To his right, Stevie Moses appears to have found his game against, which his a testament to Sorkin’s presence. In the three games before being placed with Sorkin, Moses recorded just one assist. Since being placed along side the sophomore, the speedster Moses has three goals and four assists.

Tim Schaller, Junior, Forward, Providence

The unlikely 4-2-0 start in conference play has surprised many. Tim Schaller’s impressive play, however, was one of the few things some may have actually expected to come from Schneider Arena this season. While the five goals and 14 assists he recorded last season on a dreadful Providence team grabbed few headlines, putting together a near-20 point season with that cast raised a few eyebrows. Schaller scored thrice against Vermont Friday night and added another Saturday evening as the Friars completed the sweep of the fledgling Catamounts.

Doug Carr, Sophomore, Goaltender, UMass Lowell

The seven goals the Riverhawks dumped on Boston University on Saturday drew headlines and guffaws around the country. But in the first handful of weekends this season, Doug Carr has been one of Lowell’s most consistent players. The sophomore finished the weekend with a .917 save percentage and n adjective-mitigating 1.67 goals-against average. First-year coach Norm Bazin has given freshman Brian Robbins and sophomore Marc Boulanger their chances, but it’s clear the Riverhawks have their guy in Carr. While it’s only been three games for him, a pair in Maine next weekend should tell us everything we need to know about Carr’s status as a legitimate Division I goaltender.

Three Down

Alex Chiasson, Junior, Forward, Boston University

Two weekends ago, Alex Chiasson found himself in a suit and tie while his teammates hosted Massachusetts in the back end of a home and home. There was no injury. No major issue keeping Chiasson from the lineup. He simply wasn’t playing well enough, and BU coach Jack Parker sat his gifted winger for the night. A week later, the Terriers were embarrassed by UMass Lowell and the junior, like most Terriers, was completely invisible in the loss. While his four goals and three assists through six games played puts him at more than a point per game, if you think Chiasson, who many expected at least 40 points from this season, is having a good year, you’re just delusional.

Rob Madore, Senior, Goaltender, Vermont

Through four games, Rob Madore’s numbers look like this: 111 shots faced, 18 goals allowed, .838 save percentage and a 5.18 goals-against average. Moving on.

Garrett Vermeersch, Junior, Forward, Northeastern

Saturday night, while the Huskies were going 0-for-7 on the power play and extending their winless streak to five games, Garrett Vermeersch was taking zero shots. Now, players like Vinny Saponari, Justin Daniels and Steve Quailer are expected to carry much of the offense for Jim Madigan’s team. But Garrett Vermeersch’s greatest single asset to the Northeastern offense is his shot. In eight games this season, Vermeersch has taken 12 shots. This is has less to do with anything truly negative about Vermeersch’s game and more to do with an overarching problem with the Huskies’ offense. After all, in the loss to Merrimack, nine of the 18 skaters dressed for the game recorded a shot on a goal — nine.

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 - 7:00 am | Hockey East, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings