"Hate Week" has passed in college hockey, and with it went some of the biggest rivalries in college hockey. One of the rivalry series that was most anticipated this weekend was the two games between No. 1 Boston University and No. 2 Boston College, and even though Boston College won both games, the rivalry lived up to its hype, as did most of the other rivalries this week.
Without further ado, here's the recap for this week's activities. No. 6 Maine, No. 11 UMass, No. 18 Arizona State, and No. 20 Notre Dame had the weekend off, so they won't be mentioned.
No. 1 Boston University
The Terriers performed well this weekend despite losing both games to their hated rivals, the second-ranked Boston College Golden Eagles. On Friday, they lost at BC by a 4-1 score, and on Saturday, they lost 4-3 at home. After the weekend, the Terriers fell to No. 3 in the USCHO rankings.
On Friday, neither team scored in the first period, but Boston College would get on the board in the second, with the second goal (and game-winner) coming with just under three minutes left. In the third period, the Terriers got on the board with 6:37 left, but Boston College would add two empty-netters in the final two minutes to reach the 4-1 final.
On Saturday, Boston College would score two goals in the first 12 minutes to take a 2-0 lead, and the Terriers would score their first goal of the game with 14 seconds left in the first period to lower BC's lead to 2-1 entering the second period. In the second period, the Terrier would score their second goal of the game early to tie it 2-2, but the Golden Eagles would respond with a goal of their own later on the period and another goal with six minutes left in the third period before BU scored an extra-attacker goal with just over two minutes left to reach the 4-3 final.
Scoring for the Terriers on the weekend were Jack Hughes, Shane Lachance, Sam Stevens, and Macklin Celebrini.
No. 2 Boston College
The Golden Eagles played their hated cross-town rivals in two games this weekend, and they came away with two wins (and the No. 1 ranking in the country. On Friday, they won 4-1; on Saturday, they won 4-3 after stopping a late comeback attempt from the Terriers.
In Friday's game, neither team scored in the first period, but Boston College would take a 2-0 lead after the second period thanks to goals from Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. In the third period, the Terriers would score a goal with six minutes left to lower the deficit to one goal, but Boston College would add on two empty-netters to reach the 4-1 final score.
On Saturday, Boston College would come out swinging, as they scored two goals in the first 11:21 of the game to take a 2-0 lead, and, despite a BU goal late in the period, they would take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. After another goal from the Terriers to open up the second period, BC would score the next two goals, with the second coming with just over six minutes left in the game before BU added on an extra-attacker goal to lower the deficit to one, but they wouldn't score again, despite firing seven shots in the final 87 seconds.
Boston College received scores on the weekend from Perreault (2), Cutter Gauthier (2), Leonard, Andre Gasseau, Lukas Gustafsson, and Will Smith.
No. 3 Wisconsin
The third-ranked Badgers traveled to face No. 14 Michigan in Ann Arbor for two games this weekend, and they were blown out 5-1 on Friday before rallying to win 6-5 in overtime on Saturday.
On Friday, Wisconsin allowed Michigan to take a 3-0 lead entering the third period, and that was all she wrote. The Badgers scored early in the third period to cut the deficit to two, but Michigan would respond only three minutes later to retake the three-goal lead before adding an empty-netter to reach the 5-1 final with 5:34 left. The Wolverines blew out the Badgers despite outshooting them 43-31.
On Saturday, both teams came out hot, with Michigan taking a 4-3 lead after a first period where all seven goals were scored in the first 14:10 of the game. In the second period, Wisconsin would add on a goal to tie the game at 4-4, and in the third period, both teams would score fairly early on, and Wisconsin would win it 57 seconds into overtime on a goal from Christian Fitzgerald.
Scoring for the Badgers on the weekend were Jack Horbach, Quinn Finley, Carson Bantle, Mathieu De St. Phalle, Simon Tassy, Owen Mehlenbacher, and Fitzgerald.
No. 4 Denver
The Pioneers traveled to face No. 5 North Dakota in two games on Friday and Saturday, and they were dismantled in both games by the Fighting Hawks. On Friday, Denver lost 5-2; on Saturday, Denver lost 4-2.
In Friday's game, neither team scored in the first period, and North Dakota would score the first goal of the game five minutes into the second period before taking a 3-1 lead entering the third-period thanks to two more goals that were split by a goal from the Pioneers. In the third period, Denver would score with 5:18 left to shorten the deficit to one goal, but North Dakota would add two empty-netters in the final minute to reach the final score of 5-2.
On Saturday, the Pioneers scored the game's first goal in the second minute of play, and North Dakota would tie it before the end of the first period to make the game 1-1 going into the first intermission. In the second period, Denver would once again score first to take a 2-1 lead, but from that point on, the game went to North Dakota, with the Fighting Hawks scoring late in the second period to tie the game at 2-2 entering the third before scoring two goals within a minute of each other to reach the 4-2 final.
Denver received goals from Zeev Bulum, Aidan Thompson, Jared Wright, and Sam Harris.
No. 5 North Dakota
The Fighting Hawks hosted No. 4 Denver for two games in Grand Forks, and after two hard-fought wins, they rose from fifth to second in this week's USCHO rankings.
On Friday, North Dakota scored the first goal of the game five minutes into the second period, and they would add two more goals before the period was done to take a 3-1 lead into the third period. In the third period, scored with five minutes left to reduce the deficit to 3-2, but North Dakota would score two empty-netters in the final minute of play to take a 5-2 win.
On Saturday, Denver would take two separate one-score leads in the first two periods, but after they took a 2-1 lead seven minutes into the second period, the game turned and went to North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks would tie the game six minutes after Denver's second goal to tie the game 2-2 after two periods, and they would add two goals in the twelfth minute of the third period to reach the 4-2 final score.
Scoring for the Fighting Hawks on the weekend were Cameron Berg (2), Dylan James, Griffin Ness, Jackson Blake, Ben Strinden, Jackson Kunz, Owen McLaughlin, and Riese Gaber.
No. 7 Quinnipiac
The Bobcats played two games this weekend on Saturday and Sunday as part of the CT Ice Tournament, and they won the tournament with wins over Yale on Friday and UConn on Saturday. On Friday, Quinnipiac won 1-0, and on Saturday, Quinnipiac won 4-3.
In Friday's game, Quinnipiac took a 1-0 lead after the first period on a goal from Mason Marcellus 12:24 into the game, and that turned out to be the only goal of the game. Quinnipiac outshot the goal 36-14, and Vinny Duplessis performed well in between the pipes to preserve the shutout.
On Saturday, UConn scored the first goal of the game seven minutes en route to a 1-0 lead after the first period. In the second period, Quinnipiac would score three goals to oppose UConn's two in the period to tie the game at 3-3 entering the third period, and Quinnipiac would score the game-winner 28 seconds into the third period off of an unassisted goal from Zach Tupker.
The Bobcats received scores from Marcellus (2), Victor Czerneckianair, Travis Treloar, and Tupker.
No. 8 Michigan State
The eighth-ranked Spartans hosted No. 9 Minnesota for two games in East Lansing this weekend, and the Spartans won on Friday in a 3-2 comeback win before losing 5-1 on Saturday.
On Friday, Minnesota took a 2-0 lead after two periods, and it looked like an upset (albeit a small one, given the single-position difference between the two schools in the rankings) might be brewing. In the third period, the Spartans came out and looked like a different team, as they scored a goal two minutes into the period to cut the lead to one, and Karsen Dorwart made a shorthanded goal with 4:58 left to tie the game at 2-2. After the tie, both teams went back and forth, and it looked like the game would be going to overtime before Daniel Russell scored the game-winner with four seconds left.
On Saturday, Minnesota came out hot, and they took a 2-0 lead six minutes into the game before adding a third goal to take a 3-0 lead early in the second period. After Michigan State scored to make the game 3-1 entering the third, Minnesota pulled away with two goals in the back half of the third period to reach the 5-1 final score.
Scoring for the Spartans on the weekend were Griffin Jurecki, Stewart, Russell, and Matt Basgall.
No. 9 Minnesota
The Golden Gophers traveled to East Lansing to face No. 8 Michigan State in two games on Friday and Saturday, and they blew a 2-0 lead in the third period on Friday before winning in dominating fashion on Saturday.
In Friday's game, Minnesota took a 2-0 lead late in the second period, and at the end of the second period, the Golden Gophers had outshot Michigan State 22-13; simply put, they were dominating. In the third period, however, Michigan State would come back and score three goals, including the game-winner with four seconds left, to pull off the comeback and leave Minnesota hungry for vengeance.
On Saturday, Minnesota came out on fire, scoring two goals in the first six minutes, and they would add a third goal early in the second period to take a 3-0 lead. After a Michigan State score halfway through the second period, Minnesota scored two goals in the final nine minutes of the third period, including an empty-netter, to reach the 5-1 final.
The Golden Gophers received scores from Oliver Moore (3), Mike Koster, Bryce Brodzinski, Aaron Huglen, and Mason Nevers.
No. 10 Providence
The Friars had a home-and-away with UMass-Lowell this weekend, and they won both games against the Hockey East bottom-feeders, though Saturday's home win wouldn't come without some trouble.
On Friday, Providence came out swinging on the road, as they scored four goals in the first period to take a 4-0 lead, and they would take a 6-0 lead six minutes into the second period before UMass-Lowell finally got on the board late in the second period. In the third period, both teams would score once, and the Friars would take a 7-2 win on the road.
On Saturday, Providence once again took the lead after the first period, though they only scored one goal in the period instead of the four they scored the previous day. In the second period, the River Hawks scored three goals in the middle of the period to take a 3-1 lead, but Providence would score late in the period to make the score 3-2 entering the third period. In the third period, the Friars would score the game-tying goal with just under five minutes left; in overtime, Austen May scored the game-winner with 43.3 seconds left.
Scoring for the Friars on the weekend were Bennett Schimek (2), Riley Duran (2), May (2), Guillaume Richard, Nick Poisson, Chase Yoder, Cam McDonald, and Tanner Adams.
No. 12 Western Michigan
At this time of the year, wins and losses matter more than they do early in the season, and Western Michigan learned that the hard way this weekend against No. 16 Colorado College. The Broncos had a chance to win both games against the Tigers this weekend, but they walked away with two overtime losses at home and a drop in the rankings that currently would see them finish outside of the NCAA Tournament.
In Friday's game, the Broncos took a 1-0 lead after the first period, thanks to a score from Dylan Wendt. After the first period, the game went to the Tigers, as they scored early in the second period to tie the game before scoring the game-winner 15 seconds into overtime.
On Saturday, the game was pretty much the same; Colorado College scored the goal in the first period this time, and Western Michigan would answer in the second period before Colorado College once again scored the game-winner in overtime. Western Michigan goalie Cameron Rowe was superb this weekend, as he stopped 50 of the 54 shots he faced on the weekend, but it wasn't enough to get the Broncos a win in either game.
The Broncos received scores from Wendt and Alex Bump this weekend.
No. 13 Cornell
The Big Red played at Harvard and Dartmouth this weekend and came away with a win and a draw. On Friday, Cornell beat Harvard 2-0, but on Saturday, Cornell tied the Big Green 2-2.
On Friday, Cornell scored both of their goals in the first period in the 2-0 victory. Goalie Ian Shane played well in the win, as he stopped all of the 17 shots the Crimson sent his way.
On Saturday, neither Cornell nor Dartmouth scored in the first period, and all of the goals in the game would be scored in the second. Cornell scored the first goal of the game five minutes into the second period, and Dartmouth would answer with two goals of their own before Cornell tied the game with 11.2 seconds left in the period.
Scoring for the Big Red on the weekend were Jack O'Leary, Tim Rego, Ryan Walsh, and Ben Robertson.
No. 14 Michigan
The Wolverines hosted the third-ranked Wisconsin Badgers and put on a performance that saw them rise two spots in the USCHO poll despite not winning both games. On Friday, Michigan beat Wisconsin 5-1 despite being outshot, and on Saturday, Michigan gave a valiant effort against the Badgers despite losing 6-5, albeit in overtime.
In Friday's game, Michigan pulled away early, as they led 3-0 at the end of the second period, and after a goal from Wisconsin early in the third period, Michigan put it away with two goals of their own (despite only taking four shots in the entire third period). Michigan goalie Jake Barczewski played wonderfully between the pipes, as he only allowed one of Wisconsin's 43 shots to find the net.
On Saturday, Michigan would score first in a first period that saw two separate two-goal runs, with one from each team, and the period would eventually end with Michigan leading 4-3. After allowing Wisconsin to even the score in the second period, Michigan scored early in the third period to take the lead again, only for Wisconsin to answer a few minutes later to tie it again at 5-5; in overtime, Wisconsin would score 57 seconds in to hand Michigan the loss.
The Wolverines received scores from Frank Nazar III (3), Dylan Duke (3), Garrett Schifsky, Ethan Edwards, Nick Moldenhauer, and Josh Eernisse on the weekend.
No. 15 St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State hosted Omaha for two games on the weekend, and they came away with an overtime loss on Friday and a tie on Saturday.
On Friday, the Huskies took a 1-0 lead after the first period, and in the second period, the scoring would go crazy. The two teams would combine for eight goals (four for each team), and St. Cloud would take a 5-4 lead entering the third period, where Omaha would score two goals in the first two minutes to take a 6-5 lead before St. Cloud tied the game halfway through the period; Omaha would win the game 39 seconds into overtime on a 4-on-3.
On Saturday, St. Cloud scored the game's first goal in the fourth minute, and Omaha answered with a goal of their own halfway through the second period, but neither team scored again after that.
Scoring for the Huskies on the weekend were Adam Ingram (2), Zach Okabe (2), Barrett Hall, Mason Salquist, and Dylan Anhorn.
No. 16 Colorado College
One name: Noah Laba.
Laba is the reason that Colorado College won both of their games at No. 12 Western Michigan this weekend, and he is also the reason that the Tigers are currently in position to make the NCAA Tournament while Western Michigan is not. Colorado College won both games in overtime at the Broncos this weekend, and both games ended in overtime with scores of 2-1; Laba scored the overtime goals in both games.
In Friday's game, Western Michigan jumped out to a quick lead after one period, but Colorado College would score their first goal of the game six minutes into the second period to tie the game at 1-1 entering the third. After neither team scored in the third period, Laba would score the game-winner 15 seconds into overtime.
On Saturday, the Tigers scored the first goal of the game (off the stick of Laba, no less) to take a 1-0 lead into the second period, and Western Michigan would score a goal in the second period to tie the game at 1-1 entering the third period (again). Neither team scored in the third period, and Laba would once again score the game-winner in overtime to take the Tigers' second consecutive 2-1 win.
The Tigers received scores from Laba (3) and Klavs Veinbergs on the weekend.
No. 17 New Hampshire
The Wildcats traveled to face Vermont in Burlington for two games on Friday and Saturday, and they came away from the weekend with a 2-1 loss on Friday and a 6-3 win on Saturday.
In Friday's game, Vermont scored the first goal six minutes into the first period, and New Hampshire responded three minutes later to tie the game. The score would remain 1-1 until halfway through the second period when the Catamounts would score to make the score 2-1, and that would end up being the game-winner.
On Saturday, New Hampshire came out swinging, trying to avenge the loss from the night before, and they scored four goals in the first period to take a 4-1 lead. Both teams scored once in the second and third periods, with both of the Wildcats' goals coming within the final 30 seconds of each period.
The Wildcats had goals from Robert Cronin, Ryan Conmy, Harrison Blaisdell, J.P. Turner, Liam Devlin, Colton Huard, and Marty Lavins.
No. 19 RIT
The Tigers hosted Bentley this weekend for two games on Friday and Saturday, and they earned two wins, with Friday's game ending in a 3-0 shutout and Saturday's game ending with a 2-1 score in overtime.
On Friday, RIT scored one goal in each period, with all three coming in the last six minutes. The Tigers outshot the Falcons 27-19, and RIT goalie Tommy Scarfone played extremely well in the win.
On Saturday, neither team scored in the first two periods, and the game would kick off in the third period. Bentley scored in the fifth minute of the third period to take a 1-0 lead, and RIT wouldn't score the tying goal until there was 41.6 seconds left in the game on an extra-attacker goal. In overtime, Elijah Gonsalves scored the game winner on the team's first shot.
Scoring for the Tigers on the weekend were Gonsalves (2), Philippe Jacques, Cody Laskosky, and Aiden Hansen-Bukata.
(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)