Tufts and Conn College each have non-conference tilts tonight, but the bulk of the action today is in conference. I've been watching the Foo Fighters' "Sonic Highways" docuseries so each game gets a FF song, mostly from that album, because why not?
Colby (3-7-2; 0-5-2 NESCAC) at Hamilton (3-4-4; 2-2-2 NESCAC)
3 PM Clinton, NY
Video
Colby looks for for their first win in conference and outside of Maine after a loss to Amherst last night. Today offers an opportunity in their first game outside of New England this season and against a team they swept last season. They last met in Clinton in February of 2014 with Colby taking the game 3-2 on an OT goal by now graduated Ben Chwick (F, '14). Hamilton senior Pat Curtis (F, '15) scored both goals for the Conts in that tilt.
Sam Parker (G, '15) stopped 31 of 33 Hamilton shots in that game, but the senior netminder has only played twice this season and never in conference. Does the last goalie to get Blaise MacDonald a conference win get a shot tonight? On the other end, Zach Arnold (G, '15) was shaken up a bit last night after a collision with a Bowdoin attacker in the Conts 4-4 tie. Does he start again today? Both teams will look to cut back on the penalties as they enter the game as two of the three most penalized teams in the 'Cac.
Colby's looking for the first conference win and Hamilton's looking to climb the NESCAC ladder after missing the playoffs last season. So, we present the Chicago inspired song from Sonic Highways, "Something from Nothing".
Bowdoin (7-2-2; 3-2-2 NESCAC) at Amherst (8-2-2; 4-2-0 NESCAC)
3 PM Amherst, MA
Live Stats Video
*will not repeat line about Bowdoin and Colby outside of Maine* Bowdoin heads into Amherst with a three game conference winless streak (0-2-1) against a hot Amherst team that has had as impressive a (2-0-2) stretch as one could have in a four game stretch with two ties. It's also the first time the two teams have met since a 3-2 double OT win in Hartford gave Bowdoin the 'Cac conference crown last March.
The goalies in that epic might not play today. Max Fenkell (G, '15) played in last night's tie against Hamilton and Coach Meagher usually uses a rotation. Dave Cunningham (G, '16) dressed last night but rested as Danny Vitale (G, '15) earned the 5-1 win over Colby. Whoever does start should be ready on special teams as the game features two of the three best power plays in conference games.
Ok it's not off Sonic Highways, but in honor of last year's conference final lengthy epic, here's the Foo Fighters "Matter of Time"
Middlebury (3-6-2; 2-3-2 NESCAC) at Wesleyan (2-9-1; 1-4-0 NESCAC)
3 PM Middletown, CT
Video
Both teams come in to the game licking their wounds after 3-1 losses last night. The teams split last year's head-to-to head with Wesleyan earning a 2-1 victory in Middletown last February. It was also their last conference win at home as Dawson Sprigings (G, '17) made 29 saves in victory and current Cardinals leading scorer James Kline (F, '17) contributed a tally. The Panthers second leading scorer, Jake Charles (F, '16) had the only Middlebury goal in that contest.
Wesleyan is currently on the outside of the NESCAC playoff situation and Middlebury is on the outside of the top half of the league, where they had spent their first 14 years of NESCAC conference play.
Williams (8-2-1; 5-1-1 NESCAC) at Trinity (9-1-1; 4-0-1 NESCAC)
4 PM Hartford, CT
Live Stats Video
The marquee matchup of the weekend almost exactly a year after Williams defeated Trinity at Frozen Fenway in January of 2014. The Bantams won the last outing though, downing the Ephs 2-1 in Hartford in February of 2014. The winner of this one gets the temporary bragging rights for first place in the conference.
Trinity has been known for their offense the past season and-a-half, but in a small sample of five games they are also the best defense in conference, allowing just 1.6 GAA in conference. Williams clocks in at number two with a 2.14 GAA. If this game is close late - and it likely will be - Trinity holds a gawdy +10 differential in the third period in conference games.
There's a lot of season left, so in no way is either team in the clear for the top spot, but the winner of this one gets a bit of a head start. Here's the Foo Fighters "In the Clear" recorded at the famous Preservation Hall in New Orleans.
No comments:
Post a Comment