GAME PREVIEW: NORTHEASTERN VS. MERRIMACK:
• Northeastern (13-14-3, 9-10-2 WHEA) will look to snap a four-game skid on Saturday when it travels north to face Merrimack (11-17-3, 6-13-2 WHEA) at 7 p.m. in the final regular season meeting between the teams. The Huskies are 1-0-1 against the Warriors in 2017-18, owning a 2-0 win on Nov. 10 and a 1-1 tie the following day.
• The Huskies have already clinched a WHEA playoff berth but will be looking to improve their position in the standings with only three Hockey East games remaining in the regular season. Northeastern currently sits fifth with 20 points, just one back of New Hampshire for the fourth and final home-ice slot in the postseason. If the WHEA Quarterfinals started today, NU would travel to UNH for a best-of-three series on Feb. 23-25.Â
• Saturday's contest also means a lot to Merrimack, which sits one point out of a WHEA playoff spot in ninth place with 14 points. After playing Northeastern on Saturday, the Warriors end the campaign with two games against UConn, which could decide the eighth and final postseason place. The team that finishes eighth will face Boston College as the Eagles have clinched the No. 1 seed heading into the final weeks of the season.
• After scoring four goals in her first 50 collegiate games, sophomore
Andrea Renner has given Northeastern a spark with four goals in her last 10 games, including a tally against No. 3/2 Boston College on Tuesday in the Beanpot semifinals. Over the last 10 games, Renner is tied for fifth on the team in scoring with seven points.
• Since the start of 2018, no Northeastern player has recorded more points than freshman
Veronika Pettey. The Potomac, Maryland native has piled up nine points (2-7-9) in nine games since the turn of the calendar year, including points in five of her last six contests entering Saturday's game. With 23 points this season, Pettey ranks fourth among WHEA rookie scorers.Â
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