Conference Preview 1/31/16

Hamilton (11-4-2; 6-3-2 NESCAC)  at Wesleyan (2-8-7; 2-3-6 NESCAC) 
3 PM   Middletown, CT    Video 

This one is a battle of opposite momentum from last night. Hamilton heads down I-91 having been blanked by Trinity last night to snap an 11 game unbeaten streak, while Wesleyan used late game heroics to get past Amherst for the first time since November of 2008.  The two last met in Clinton, NY in February with Hamilton holding off Wesleyan 2-1 thanks to 44 saves from Evan "Boots" Buitenhuis.

How Boots responds to losing for the first time in nearly two months might go a long way in determining this game. If Hamilton can win they will have sole possession of third place heading into the final three weeks. For the Cardinals, a win would give them sole possession of sixth place and would put them only two points behind the Conts for the fourth and final home playoff spot.

Amherst (6-7-4; 4-4-3 NESCAC) at Trinity (13-3-1; 9-2-0 NESCAC) 
4 PM  Hartford, CT  Video

As with the other game today, this is a matchup of different momentums from yesterday evening. The Bantams put an end to all the buzz surrounding Hamilton's 11 game winning streak (including a USCHO feature on the Conts and coach Haberbusch doing a D3Hockey.com podcast) and reminded everyone that they are the defending national champions. The defending NESCAC champion Purple and White, however, dropped their second straight conference game to a team they hadn't lost to in quite some time.

Things haven't been great for Amherst recently, but they are one of the few teams that have beaten Trinity this season. The Purple and White dropped the Bantams 4-2 back in Massachusetts in December thanks to two third period goals from senior forwards Conor Brown and Topher Flanagan. Some increased output from Brown - who hasn't scored since that day in December - would go a long way to help sweep the season series for Amherst and get them back in the hunt for a home playoff game. For Trinity, a win would give them sole possession of first place.

The playoff battle is heating up between the young Americans (and Canadians...and a few Europeans) in the 'CAC. RIP David Bowie.