Weekend Preview: Huskies Head To Army For Two
Canisius Takes On Neighboring Rival Niagara
Weekend Preview (PDF)

It has been an interesting week in Atlantic Hockey action, and the week isn’t anywhere near being over. Tuesday night featured three league games that all went to overtime, and Holy Cross was the only team out of the six that competed that was able to come away with two points. While only three league games remain to be played this week, two of the three feature Connecticut and Army at West Point, a clash that could prove to be the difference come March.

The Huskies already took the first meeting with the Black Knights on December 4, 2-1 in Storrs. Since that victory though, UConn has posted an 0-3-1 mark in its last four outings. Army on the other hand has only seen exhibition play since the loss to the Huskies in early December. The tune-up win over St. Clair last Thursday (5-2) may be the confidence boost that the Black Knights need to have a strong weekend and start to the second half of the season. Connecticut currently holds a one point advantage over Army in the Atlantic Hockey standings, and needs only a win to secure the season series. Three points or better though from the Black Knights would vault them past UConn and a few other, putting Army as high as fifth with two victories.

Holy Cross can finish off the week with four points Friday evening with a win over American International, after taking Sacred Heart 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday. The potential is huge for the defending Atlantic Hockey champions, as two points would separate the Crusaders from the logjam that has become second place in the standings - Mercyhurst and Sacred Heart both share the second spot with Holy Cross with 13 points apiece. At first glance it may seem that the Crusaders have the advantage over the Yellow Jackets due to the standings, but looks are deceiving. Holy Cross has played from behind in the two previous meetings this year with AIC, winning the first meeting on November 5 after tying the game midway through the third and putting up the go-ahead goal with less than two minutes remaining for a 3-1 win. When the two teams met again just over ten days later, another goal midway through the third tied the contest at one, but it was also the only offense the Crusaders could generate.

Quinnipiac and Mercyhurst close out a long week on Sunday in non-conference action, as the two squads are the only members of Atlantic Hockey that have played three games this week. The Bobcats will head to nationally-ranked Maine for an evening matchup that will be featured regionally on NESN, while the Lakers take on Division-I newcomer Robert Morris on the road for the second time this season in the battle for all the bragging rights in Pennsylvania. The two teams first met on October 26 in Erie, a 8-2 decision in favor of Mercyhurst.

Canisius comes off a tie Tuesday night against Bentley and heads into one of the biggest games of the season Saturday night, facing off against local non-conference rival Niagara. It will be the only meeting between the two clubs this season, after clashing twice late in January last season. The Golden Griffins will look to regain some of that earlier season magic that has eluded them as of late, and a little revenge along the way after tying and losing to Niagara last season.