Both semifinal games featured controversial goals. Boston College looked to tie things up in the second against Northeastern but their goal was waved off due to goaltender interference. In Vermont, the Catamounts put a puck right on the goal line in the dying seconds of regulation that was cleared by a Providence skater. There was no overhead view on the broadcast and you couldn’t even see the puck at all from the one view they gave so Vermont might have been the victims of their own arena’s limitations as the call on the ice was no goal.

#1 Northeastern vs. #3 Providence

Saturday, March 4th – 12 PM ET

Providence was the only team in Hockey East to not lose the season series against Northeastern and one of two to tag them with a loss. (The other was Maine. The other team to randomly beat Northeastern is always Maine.) The Providence power play was mediocre overall, but it showed up big time against the Huskies and was the key to their draw and win.

The History

This is the second time in three years that Providence heads to play Northeastern in the title game as the 3rd seed. They lost 6-2 in 2021. Northeastern is 3-1 against Providence overall in the WHEA tournament (counting a 2016 series win as one win) with PC’s lone win coming in their first meeting in 2012. Providence was the underdog against a top-seeded Northeastern team in that matchup as well.

What makes them tick

Northeastern is one of the best teams in the country at everything. They finished 1st in win percentage, 1st in goal differential, 1st in goal differential relative to competition, 1st in save percentage, 1st in adjusted penalty kill, 2nd in shots percentage, and 3rd in shots percentage relative to their competition. Their “worst” figures are their 5th best power play and 11th best penalty kill.

Providence makes their success on keeping the puck out of the net with a solid team save percentage (10th) and middling shooting percentage (21st) and power play (24th). Their scoring is led by Sara Hjalmarsson who sits 18 points north of second place on the team. She was the one to clear the puck off the goal-line against Vermont too.

Keys

Northeastern – Go north of 40 shots. 23 shots in a game the Huskies were chasing a goal the entire time is pathetic. This team should be ready to do some damage.

Providence – Continue using whatever magic charm boosted their power play against the Huskies.

Prediction

Northeastern 4-1