Sports Insider by Frank Coppola: Hockey East clinch a cinch for UNH

February 23, 2008

Hockey East clinch a cinch for UNH

The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team accomplished one of its main goals on Saturday night by winning the Hockey East regular-season championship.

Of course, the way the Wildcats are playing, they have much bigger things in mind. UNH fans are starting to get visions of the school's first national title, but for now they'll have to be content with the results of Saturday's 5-1 win over Boston College.

By Roger Brown
DURHAM — Although Boston College owns the No. 2 power-play percentage in Division I, the University of New Hampshire is gaining ground.

UNH scored four power-play goals Saturday night and wrapped up the Hockey East regular-season championship by beating BC, 5-1, at the Whittemore Center.

Left wing Danny Dries collected two power-play goals. UNH also received a power-play goal from right wing Matt Fornataro, a five-on-three goal from center James vanRiemsdyk and an even-strength goal from center Phil DeSimone. Freshmen scored four of the five goals.

“We’re just not at the level New Hampshire is, that’s for sure,” BC coach Jerry York said. “We have a ways to go to catch them. We’re clearly not as good as New Hampshire. They’re a notch above us.”

It was UNH’s seventh regular-season title. Only Boston College (10) has more. Boston University has also won the regular-season title seven times.

UNH stretched its unbeaten streak to nine games (8-0-1). The Wildcats improved their record to 21-7-2 overall and 17-4-2 in the league.

“I’m real happy for the team,” UNH coach Dick Umile said. “It’s a great group. To win the Hockey East regular-season championship is pretty special. It was nice to do it in front of our fans at home.”

BC dropped to 16-9-7 overall and 10-7-6 in the league. The Eagles began the night in sole possession of second place, but fell to fourth place.

UNH goaltender Kevin Regan made 26 saves. BC’s John Muse stopped 26 shots.

UNH put 15 shots on goal during its eight power-play opportunities. BC was scoreless in seven power-play chances. The Eagles began the night with 38 goals in 157 power-play opportunities (24.2 percent).

“Specialty situations were tremendous,” Umile said. “Our power play in getting better.”

It was a 3-1 game after 40 minutes, and UNH added power-play goals by vanRiemsdyk and Fornataro 18 seconds apart in the third.

The Wildcats carried a 1-0 lead into the second period and increased their advantage to 3-0 before the period was five minutes old. DeSimone scored from the slot at 3:28, and Dries collected his second goal of the game when he jammed the puck past Muse from just outside the crease at 4:43.

“They pressure a lot on the penalty kill,” Dries said. “You have to move the puck fast.

“We’re playing well. It’s been a great year so far. We just have to keep up the momentum in the playoffs.”

BC scored its first goal of the weekend with 4:34 left in the second, when junior right wing Andrew Orpik intercepted a pass inside the UNH blue line and took advantage of a clear path to Regan to make it 3-1.

UNH led 1-0 after Dries scored a power-play goal with 2:41 left in the opening period. Dries collected a rebound low in the right faceoff circle and fired a wrist shot that sailed over Muse’s right shoulder.

“We’ll have to lick our wounds, go back to square one and start building up again,” York said.

’CAT NOTES: Dries has at least one point in 11 of his last 13 games. He has 17 points (eight goals) during that span. … Fornataro has a team-high six power-play goals. … Radja and Fornataro each had two assists in the victory. … UNH has four regular-season games remaining — a home-and-home series against Merrimack, and two home games against Vermont.

Posted by Frank Coppola at February 23, 2008 11:21 PM

Comments

That's right UNH ALL THE WAY!!!!!! :)

Posted by: awolfie22 at February 24, 2008 03:17 PM

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