BRIDGEPORT, CONN. – Just 16 teams remain alive in the 2017-18 college hockey season so it stands to reason that every matchup from here on out will be tough.
Friday’s second semifinal at the NCAA East Regional will be a difficult task for each team, but for different reasons. Providence will look to avenge two losses earlier in the season to Clarkson while the Golden Knights will have the unenviable charge of knocking off a Nate Leaman coached team for a third time.
Clarkson won, 4-0, in Potsdam before taking another game, 4-2, in the championship game of the Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Both games took place in the first two months of the season when both teams were vastly different.
The Golden Knights started off 18-3-1, but struggled down the stretch, going 5-7-5 over their last 17 games. On the contrary, the Friars wavered out of the gate with a 10-7-1 record over their first 18 games. Leaman’s squad has turned things around, finishing the season 13-4-3 over its last 20.
Clarkson wins if…
The Golden Knights have a good mix of size and skill up front and on the blue line. If Clarkson’s forecheck can apply pressure, it has the forwards that can take advantage of turnovers and miscues.
The first line is a good example of what Clarkson can bring. Left wing Devin Brosseau and center Nico Sturm are both north of 6-feet, play heavy and can force turnovers down low. Right wing Sheldon Rempal is one of the more coveted undrafted free agents in college hockey. The sophomore is very skilled and he competes hard. He can be a lethal offensive threat when he’s on top of his game. The Calgary, Alberta, native has 23 goals and 23 assists on the season.
The top line accounted for four of the eight goals in the regular season games between the two clubs. With the fourth ranked power play in the nation, the Golden Knights have the ability to break open a game while on the man advantage.
While the top line has stolen all the headlines, freshman Josh Dickinson has quietly put up 15 goals. The Georgetown, Ontario, native could be a desired free agent down the road.
Clarkson has three seniors on the blue line, including offensive defensemen Kelly Summers and Terrance Amorosa. The pair are draft picks of Ottawa and Philadelphia, respectively. Not that any player needs extra motivation at this time of year, but Amorosa was a Providence recruit at one time, but was de-committed. After those two, Aaron Thow, Tyko Karjalainen, Greg Moro and Jere Astren are more shutdown defenders.
Sophomore goaltender Jake Kielly started off the season on fire and he’s still playing well. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native has a .928 save percentage.
“They’re maybe the most complete team in the east. They have a little bit of everything. Goaltending, power play, speed, and some big heavies,” said Leaman.
In short, Clarkson’s game plan has to be taking it to Providence physically and taking advantage of power play opportunities. Getting pucks in deep and not allowing the Friars to go to work at the other end will be another key.
Providence wins if…
With no disrespect to Casey Jones and his team, it’s hard to believe a talented team led by Nate Leaman is going to lose for a third time in one season to a similar team.
Providence is a team that is tournament tested. The Friars, making their fifth straight appearance in the national tournament, won the 2015 NCAA Championship as a four seed when the current seniors were freshmen. They also know the feeling of being on the opposite end, having been upset as a one seed two years ago by Minnesota Duluth.
“You’re one and done. The guys all know how important the game is. We have to play a full 60 and be ready for the start,” said Providence captain Brian Pinho.
Having seen Providence a lot over the past few years, its Achilles heel has been playing a full 60 minutes. There have been several games where the Friars look like world-beaters in one period and then a train wreck the next.
The Friars need to come out of the gates with energy, get pucks in deep, forecheck hard, let defensemen such as Jacob Bryson, Spenser Young and Ben Mirageas move pucks north, and not let Clarkson hem them in the defensive zone.
“They’re a mature team. They have some skill and they have some heavy guys. We just have to play our game and stick to our game plan,” Pinho said.
Staying out of the box to minimize the potential impact that Clarkson’s big guns can have on the game is another key.
Having a top center such as Pinho is obviously beneficial, especially with the last change. Pinho has been terrific on face-offs and he’s a veteran of NCAA hockey who knows how to play responsibly in all three zones.
It’s been said before, but Vimal Sukumaran and Brandon Duhaime are x-factors. The two speedy forwards can bring it physically, get to loose pucks quickly, and also chip in offensively. Both came up big in the Hockey East Semifinal win over Northeastern.
Bryson, an undersized sophomore defenseman, is a game-changer. He can retrieve pucks, quickly transition from defense to offense, make those quick little dink passes, shoulder-check, and move pucks on the power play.
Junior Hayden Hawkey is going to have to continue his strong play in net if the Friars are to advance. He has been phenomenal down the stretch. After starting the season with a .906 save percentage through his first 18 games, he’s posted a .928 save percentage during the last 20 games.
“He just keeps growing as a goaltender,” said Leaman. “He’s definitely playing his best hockey that he’s played for us. He’s given us championship caliber goaltending. He’s confident and he’s poised. There’s nothing at all that rattles him. He’s coming up with big saves at the right time of games.”
Despite the 2-0 loss to Boston University in the Hockey East championship game, the Friars enter the post-season confident and with good reason.
“I’m proud of our team. We had to earn our way into the tournament. I like the growth of our team in the second half of the season,” said Leaman.
Prediction
This game could go either way, but here's picking Providence, 3-2.
Irish or Huskies
The first semifinal in Bridgeport is between the region’s top seed, Notre Dame, and WCHA Tournament Champion Michigan Tech. The Irish, Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, seem like the obvious pick to move on with a dominant defense led by several veterans and a big time goaltender in Cale Morris.
NCAA Hockey Tournament
East Regional
Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
Friday, March 23, 2018
3:00 p.m. ET – No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Michigan Tech (ESPN2)
6:30 p.m. ET – No. 2 Providence vs. No. 3 Clarkson (ESPNU)
Saturday, March 24, 2018
6:00 p.m. ET – Regional Final (ESPNU)
Top NHL Prospects
Dennis Gilbert, Notre Dame, Jr., D (Chicago Blackhawks, 2015 Rd. 3)
Jacob Bryson, Providence, Soph., D (Buffalo Sabres, 2017 Rd. 4)
Erik Foley, Providence, Jr., RW (St. Louis Blues *, 2015 Rd. 3)
Andrew Peeke, Notre Dame, Soph., D (Columbus Blue Jackets, 2016 Rd. 2)
Sheldon Rempal, Clarkson, Soph., RW (Undrafted Free Agent)
