Hockey East Power Rankings

I would say that this is the time of year where you separate the "contenders" from the "pretenders" because this is when most teams begin to really go hard and try to get home ice. Here are the Power Rankings.

1. Boston College. Yes, the UM lost was bad and the team needs to get the scoring up, quickly. Even though the club is just 6-6 in it's last 12 games, they have played a harder schedule than anyone out there and are the team to beat in Hockey East.

2. Northeastern. By far the hottest team in Hockey East and also the biggest threat to the Eagles. When you have wins @ Michigan, @ Notre Dame, @ Minnesota, and a nice conference win vs Lowell, you are pretty darn good.

3. Lowell. I know it should be Merrimack but I like this Lowell team. They have one of the premier scorers in the league in David Vallorani and a great goaltender in Doug Carr. Look for a big second half from Norm Bazin's team.

4. Merrimack. Im not quite sure about Merrimack. The have the best goalie and maybe the best defensive core in the league but, I don't think they have that go to guy like DeCosta that really led them last year. They have a chance to redeem themselves though, as they play two huge game vs The Other School and BC this weekend.

5. The Other School. They have to figure something out fast or else they are going down the drain. The looked horrible in that game vs Notre Dame. But hey, I got no problems with it.

6. Maine. I know BC beat them 5-1 a couple months ago, but this team is getting hot. They have lost one game since the week before Thanksgiving. Maine also has the best PP in not just the league but maybe the country.

7. Providence. I guess im one of those guys that thinks this team is going to have a bad second half. I don't think they have the talent to keep up with the big guns like BC, NU, and MC.

8. New Hampshire. This is one of, if not the worst season they have had in a long time. I don't see them changing at all. They will be in a fight just to make the playoffs. Think about that.

9. UMass. They should some spurts of good games vs Yale and Cornell but came back to earth vs Maine. Big game for them vs the Eagles next Friday in Amherst.

10. Vermont. It's just been a tough year for the Cats.