Weekend Preview: Top Teams Tango In Worcester
Full Slate of League Action Featured This Weekend
Weekend Preview (PDF)

Two weekends ago, Holy Cross traveled to the Western edge of Atlantic Hockey and took away first place from then-leader Canisius. This weekend, the roles are reversed, and the Golden Griffins are looking to return the favor.

It will be the marquee matchup of the weekend in Atlantic Hockey, as the second-place Griffs take on the league-leading Crusaders in a two-game set beginning Friday night in Worcester. Holy Cross sits only one point in front of Canisius in the Atlantic Hockey standings, and neither club can ill-afford dropping two contests on the weekend, especially with Sacred Heart and Mercyhurst within striking distance of the frontrunners. Holy Cross came away with the win on January 15 in Buffalo, scoring four unanswered goals, three of which came in the third period, in a 4-2 come-from-behind win for the Crusaders.

Making the trip East along with the Griffs are the Lakers of Mercyhurst, as they will engage Bentley for a pair beginning Friday night. Both teams are 2-2-1 in their last five outings, and both need points to make a move in the Atlantic Hockey before time runs out. The Falcons and Lakers came up even at fours in their only meeting so far this season on January 4, a see-saw battle that witnessed Bentley have three different leads but unable to secure the win. Mercyhurst and Bentley are both hoping to get back into the win column after their last outings - the Falcons dropped a decision to Princeton on the road Tuesday, 4-2, while the Lakers haven’t skated in a game in over 10 days, last falling to regional rival Canisius on January 18, 3-2.

Two other series will commence this weekend in the home-home format. Army and Quinnipiac will meet twice beginning Friday at Quinnipiac, while American International and Connecticut face each other for the first time this season beginning Friday night in Storrs.

The Black Knights and Bobcats have already seen each other once this season, dating back to just after Thanksgiving. Quinnipiac came out on top on November 27 by a 5-1 margin. The Bobcats are on a modest two-game winning streak at the moment, and a pair of wins would not only give Quinnipiac its longest streak of the season, but a head of steam heading into a weekend series that looms large next weekend at home against Mercyhurst.

The only Atlantic Hockey team not in conference action this weekend is Sacred Heart, which hits the road for a two-game set at WCHA member St. Cloud State this weekend. It will be the final non-conference action of the season for the Pioneers, and they are hoping to end non-league play on a high note after going winless in their previous eight non-conference games. While the rest of the league plays on without them, the Pioneers are in no danger of falling any farther than fourth place in the Atlantic Hockey standings, and will be tied with AIC and Quinnipiac for the least amount of games played in conference.