Where: Koeppel Center Hartford CT
When: 2 PM Saturday 3/8/14
Video/Audio: NSN NESCAC Championship Weekend Coverage
Regular Season Stats
Offense: 3.83 G/GM (2nd) Offense: 3.44 G/GM (2nd)
Defense: 2.83 G/GM (5th) Defense: 3.17 G/GM (6th)
Power Play: 21/100 - 21% (3rd) Power Play: 13/76 -17.1% (5th)
Penalty Kill: 82/97 - 84.5% (4th) Penalty Kill: 66/79 - 83.5% (5th)
Offense: 2.96 G/GM (5th) Offense: 3.17 G/GM (4th)
Defense: 2.17 G/GM (2nd) Defense: 1.94 G/GM (2nd)
Power Play: 19/107 -17.8% (7th) Power Play: 12/77 - 15.6% (7th)
Penalty Kill: 121/139 - 87.1% (2nd) Penalty Kill: 99/110 - 90% (1st)
The Lowdown
When it's all said and done, the NESCAC champion will be one of the past two conference victors. The defending NESCAC champion Polar Bears upset top seed Trinity and the 2012 'Cac crown holder Lord Jeffs discarded of Williams to get here.
Whereas yesterday's semis featured a clash of stylistic similarities, today's finals match-up will be a showdown of differences. Bowdoin has the second best statistical offense in the 'Cac (they beat the first in the semis) while Amherst hast the second best defense in the conference (they beat the first in the semis).
Historically, Bowdoin holds a sizeable 48-18-2 edge in the overall series with Amherst. The teams have met six times in the NESCAC playoffs, but never in the finals. Bowdoin holds a 5-1 advantage including a five game win streak. The teams last met in the 2011 quarterfinals with the fifth seeded Polar Bears defeating the fourth seeded Lord Jeffs, 4-3, in overtime. 2014 2nd Team All-NESCAC member Colin Downey (F/D, '14) scored the game winner in OT and teammate Harry Matheson (F, '14) had a tally as well. Lord Jeffs senior Brian Safstrom (F, '14) had one of the three Amherst goals.
This year the teams split the season series with each team winning their home game. In Brunswick in January, the Polar Bears broke a 2-2 tie in the third with two short handed goals on teh same power play for a 4-2 victory.The Lord Jeffs rode a three goal first period for a 5-3 victory over Bowdoin at Orr Rink in February.
Keys to the game
Goal *ducks the projectile thrown at me*tending. Both Dave Cunningham (G, '16) of Amherst and Max Fenkell (G, '15) had a profound impact on yesterday's semis, and today should be no different. It's hard to imagine Bowdoin coach Terry Meagher going with senior Steve Messina (G, '14) in net, but it's not impossible.
For Amherst, health may be a factor. Yesterday's victory over rival Williams came with a cost, as a brutal third period filled with eight penalties left several players slow to get up, including Andrew Fenwick (F, '15), who had to head to the locker room after a hit to the head courtesy of the Ephs. It will be interesting to see how the boys in purple holdup just 24 hours later.
For Bowdoin, they'll need to cut down on the penalties. Holding the best power play in the country to a 1/7 afternoon is impressive, but you don't want to tempt fate two days in a row. The Jeffs are nowhere near as good as Trinity on the man advantage, but Amherst's power play system looked mighty efficient yesterday and it led to two goals.
Players to watch (other than the goalies)
Andrew Kurlandski (F, '14) What does the senior from Kirkwood, MO do as an encore to yesterday's two goal performance?
Harry Matheson (F, '14) The Kingston, ON native's goal in the semis put him just two points away from the 100 point club. Does he get there today? Does he help the Polar Bears win so he can get there in the NCAA tournament?
With Andrew Fenwick (Amherst) facing off against his brother Chris Fenwick (Bowdoin), only one of the Quispamsis, New Brunswick natives will be celebrating today. Blood Brothers "Celebrator"
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