Hockey East First Round and Quarterfinals Playoff Preview

Well hello! Fancy seeing you here, in another playoff preview for the NCAA season. By now you should know the drill — we’re here to talk all things Hockey East. And while some things have been pretty settled in the playoff picture for the last few weeks, for other teams it came down to the last period of the season. 

Today, we’re looking at all 10 of our teams (ambitious, I know) who will be playing in the HEA tournament this year. There’s a lot to look forward to, so we’re getting into it ASAP. 

For more NCAA playoff preview coverage, be sure to check out Giselle's fantastic AHA preview available here, and Eli's outstanding ECAC preview available here.

Previews for the other two conferences should be available shortly.

Format: 

Unlike the rest of the conferences, Hockey East's format is win-or-go-home the entire way through, with four rounds of action. The first round sees just four of the teams play in the “opening” — or, as I like to call it, “play-in” round. Those four teams all finished in the bottom quad of the standings, and whoever wins the two games will then move on to face the top two seeds from the regular season. 

Following the opening round on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the remaining eight teams will play in the Quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 28. The winners of the four games will then take part in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 3, with the championship game held the following Saturday, March 7. 

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Hockey East standings looked like this: 

1. Northeastern — 65 Points (21-2-1 conference record) 
   1. Ranked 5th nationally as of Monday, Feb. 22
2. UConn — 53 Points (17-6-1 conference record) 
   1. Ranked 6th nationally as of Monday, Feb. 22 
3. Boston College — 42 Points (14-9-1 conference record) 
4. Holy Cross — 37 Points (10-11-3 conference record) 
5. New Hampshire — 33 Points (10-12-2 conference record)
6. Vermont — 32 Points (9-11-4 conference record) 
7. Maine — 30 Points (8-12-4 conference record) 
8. Boston University — 28 Points (8-14-2 conference record) 
9. Providence — 25 Points (8-14-2 conference record) 
10. Merrimack — 15 Points (4-18-2 conference record) 

First Round Preview: 

#10 Merrimack at #7 Maine | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | Alfond Arena, Orono ME at 5 PM EST

The first play-in round game we’ll see takes us up to Maine, where the Black Bears and Warriors will match up for the fourth time in the last month and a half. In those contests, we’ve seen a shutout for each side, both by a score of 2-0, as well as a 4-2 win for Maine in their own barn. 

Over the years, these two teams have split almost evenly all the games they’ve played, with Maine having a narrow edge with a 17-13-3 record since 2015. However, one of those losses came the most recent time the teams met in the opening round of the postseason, when Merrimack as the nine seed took down Maine in overtime 2-1. 

That game? Also played in Orono. 

The last few weeks of the season were up and down for both teams, and funnily enough Maine’s last game of the year was that aforementioned 2-0 win over Merrimack in North Andover. The biggest difference between the two is that overall, Maine has been a mediocre team that has struggled to play consistently, while Merrimack really didn’t find any footing until late January, and has seen the bulk of their success in the last six weeks. 

I like a lot of what Maine brings to the table, and I think Merrimack’s struggles all year are critical to exploit here. However, the Warriors somehow find their way into the quarterfinals every year, and are no stranger to an upset. The beauty of the tournament is that one game dictates your fate, and no team understands that better than MC. 

For those tuning in, I’d watch out for Maine’s powerplay against Merrimack’s penalty kill. After struggling for a large part of the year, the Black Bears have scored 42% of their PPGs in the last month, and while they haven’t been able to solve MC’s penalty kill thus far, I don’t expect that to last forever. 

Merrimack Player to Watch: Maddison Vittands | F, Sophomore 
I’m not going to lie, it was kind of hard to pick someone on Merrimack considering how the season has gone for them. However, in the last few weeks, part of the reason they've finally gotten things somewhat on track was the increase in production from Vittands, who had four points in the last five games of the regular season, including a game winning goal. 

Sure, seven points across the entire season isn’t a lot, but it’s not been a very productive season for Merrimack as a whole. You have to ride the hot hand, and Vittands fits that bill well. Additionally, she has experience that a lot of her other teammates don’t, which is winning the opening round as the 10th seed last season. While she didn’t score in that game, she contributed in other ways, and that’s why I think her play will be something to keep an eye out for when the Warriors play this week. 

Maine Player to Watch: Lulu Rucinski | D, Freshman
There’s been a lot of great talent in the freshmen class this year, both in the conference and at Maine in particular. Rucinski is a part of that, and has been integral at various points this season for the Black Bears. While she isn’t the highest scoring player, or the highest scoring freshman on her team, she plays well across all 200 feet of the ice. That’s why she’s so important for Maine’s success in the post season. 

Her 14 points — 10 of which are assists — is fourth most on the team, and just three off the highest scorer on Maine as well. What I think will be fairly important is her willingness to get in the way of the puck, with 50 total blocked shots this season. Maine has a tendency to allow a lot of shots, and while Merrimack doesn’t generate that many themselves, Rucinski’s defensive skills will still be critical to her team's success. Not to mention that nine of her 14 points have come at home, right where the opening round will be played. I think she can be a true difference maker here, and I’m excited to see her show her stuff in the tournament. 

#9 Providence at #8 Boston University | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | Walter Brown Arena, Boston MA at 6 PM EST

Honestly this matchup came down to the wire — at least in terms of who would host the game. The two were tied going into the last weekend of the year, and it was a BU win on Friday against the Friars that secured them home ice advantage for the opening round. 

Overall, it’s been a pretty down season for both squads, especially when you consider the expectations for both of them coming into the year. Last season the Terriers were second in the conference with 24 wins, while PC was fourth with 20. This year, they’ve dropped down to just 10 and 11 wins respectively, and find themselves in the bottom three in the entire league.

Against one another, things are heavily favored in one direction — or, at least they have been for the last two years. Providence hasn’t beaten BU outright since November of 2023, as the Terriers have gone 6-0-2 over PC since that year. This season, BU won two games and the teams tied in a third, with an overall score of 8-4 in favor of the Terriers. 

With a lot on the line at points, BU has risen to the occasion this season. See: the Friendship Four, the Beanpot semifinal, and last week’s game where BU needed the win over Providence. On the other hand, outside of last year’s run, the Terriers haven’t had the most success in the HEA tournament over the last half decade. 

But. That run was a conference title, and if there’s one thing I know it’s that BU will want to defend that championship win with everything they have. After a lackluster start to the year, the penalty kill has gotten back to rights, and that’s going to be integral against Providence. On the other hand, the power play hasn’t improved immensely, and with calls potentially tightening up in post season action, taking advantage of all opportunities can be critical. 

Honestly, what I think this is going to come down to, is whose offense can perform when it matters. Both teams are scoring under two goals per game, and have conceded 2.6 (BU) and 3.2 (PC) a game on average. If one side can take advantage of the other's struggles defensively, it very well could be the difference when all is said and done. 

Providence Player to Watch: Reichen Kirchmair | F, Senior 
It feels as though Kirchmair has gone under the radar this season, following a scoring title win last year. The senior has constantly been at the forefront of Providence’s offense since joining the team four years ago, and that’s no different this season either. 

With 14 goals and 25 points, Kirchmair led her team in both categories, and overall has factored into nearly 40% of PC’s total scoring. If the Friars want to win here, they’ll need Kirchmair to be effective. Her goal scoring has ticked up in recent weeks, with five in her last seven games, but that scoring touch needs to show up on Wednesday if they want to take down the Terriers. 

BU Player to Watch: Sydney Healey | F, Senior 
Healey is another player who leads her team in scoring, and who had an integral part in her team's success in the conference last season. Quite literally: she scored the overtime game winning goal in the championship game last spring. 

This year things look a bit different for Healey and the Terriers, though again she finds herself pacing their scoring with 15 goals and 26 points. That goal total is nearly double her next closest teammate, and matches the career-high she set last year in a fewer number of games played. Her play will be integral for BU, especially since she’s known to show up in moments it matters most. 

Quarterfinals Preview: 

#6 Vermont at #3 Boston College | Saturday, Feb. 28 | Conte Forum, Boston MA at 1 PM EST

Boston College is no stranger to hosting an opening round playoff game, and is no stranger to finishing in the top four in Hockey East. This is a team that constantly finds itself near the top of the standings, even when their second half hasn’t gone exactly the way they might have hoped. 

Honestly, this second half has been a roller coaster for the Eagles. After winning just two games in the entirety of January, BC went 5-2 in their last seven games of the year, including wins over both then-No. 13 Holy Cross, and No. 5 Northeastern. They’ll enter the post season on a three game win streak, courtesy of two shutouts and a dominant 5-2 victory in the last week of action. 

Vermont, on the other hand, has the most energy coming into the post season, thanks to a 6-5 thrilling overtime win over UNH to secure the opening round bye off an incredible game winner from Oona Havana. 

The two times these teams met earlier in the season were confusing. UVM squeaked out a 4-3 win at home on Halloween, and followed it up with a complete draw: a 0-0 tie the next day. The win was just the seventh time in 16 years the Catamounts beat the Eagles, as BC has run the show against UVM overall.

Matchup wise, the teams are fairly even. Neither stands out offensively or defensively, but while their power plays are practically tied, the Vermont penalty kill has been frankly horrendous for much of the season. They found success on all but one of their PK’s against BC back in the fall, and have been perfect in the month of February. However their 76.5% success rate is still dead last in the conference, and doesn’t inspire much confidence heading into post season play.

There’s also the wrinkle that BC has won 17 of 19 matchups at Conte Forum against UVM all time. It’s a tough barn to play in for the Catamounts, and that can cause trouble for a team looking to get back to the semifinals for the first time since 2023. 

Vermont Player to Watch: Stella Retrum | F, Junior
I went back and forth on which player to pick on Vermont, probably more than any other school, but at the end of the day I had to go with their leading scorer, who has been on an absolute tear to end the season. Stella Retrum closed out the year with 28 points in 34 games, and while she didn’t lead the team in goals or assists, as an overall package she stands out — that's undeniable. She’s scored on the power play, at even strength, and even short handed. When Vermont needs her on the ice and needs her to deliver, she does just that, and it’s going to be crucial for the team moving into the post season. 

During her time with Penn State in the AHA, Retrum didn’t have a breakout performance in the playoffs. In HEA, I think that’s all about to change. With a new career-high in points, and with proven success against Boston College in particular, I think that makes Retrum the perfect person to keep an eye out for in the quarterfinal matchup. 

BC Player to Watch: Ava Thomas | F, Freshman 
There’s only one right answer here, and it’s gotta be Thomas. At the conclusion of the regular season, the freshman led the conference in overall scoring with 19 goals and 45 total points, 15+ points higher than her next closest teammate. I’ve often said that wherever Thomas goes, the Eagles go, and that’s going to be abundantly clear once we get into the meat of the things in the playoffs. 

Thomas was kept off the score sheet in just seven of 34 games played this season, and in those games BC as a whole scored five goals. The forward has shown her skill all season, and it’s going to be exciting to watch her continue to show it off, just now in an environment where it’s win, or your season is over. 

#5 New Hampshire at #4 Holy Cross | Saturday, Feb. 28th | Hart Center, Worcester MA at 2 PM EST

For the first time ever, Holy Cross is hosting a quarterfinal game, and will do so on the heels of the worst few weeks of their season. After starting the new year in dominant fashion, the Crusaders haven’t recorded a win since Jan. 24, going 0-5-2 in the seven games since. 

One of those five losses came against UNH on the 7th, who they’ll take on in the QF on Saturday. The season was split evenly between the teams, with HC winning a game 3-2 in November, after the teams tied a contest 1-1 the day before. And while HC was struggling, UNH was putting some things together — they went 4-3-0 in their last seven. 

The biggest difference maker is that Naemi Herzig will hopefully return to Holy Cross’ lineup for the weekend contest, fresh off winning a Bronze Medal with Switzerland at the Olympics last week. The forward is still second on the team in scoring even after missing the last few weeks, and it’s definitely not a coincidence her absence and the team's struggles align. 

On the flip side, even with Herzig’s return, UNH has had far more success against Holy Cross over the years than nearly anyone else. The Wildcats are 23-2-1 all time against the Crusaders, with just one loss at the Hart Center in 12 matchups. The last two times the teams met in the playoffs, the Wildcats won both games (3-0 back in 2021’s opening round, and 6-3 back in 2023). 

I’m not saying UNH should get comfortable, and I’m definitely not saying these are the Crusaders of old. But when momentum has stagnated the way it has for HC, it’s tough to get it back on track. And overall, UNH has the track record that it’s hard to go against them in the post season. We’ll see how things shake out. 

UNH Player to Watch: Danika Botterill | F, Junior
After missing the entirety of last season due to an injury, Botterill has returned to UNH’s lineup and has been a consistent offensive power throughout the year. As a freshman, Botterill only registered three points — this season she multiplied that by nine, finishing the regular season second on the team with 27 total points, including 12 goals. You may be wondering why I picked Boterrill instead of the highest scoring forward on UNH, especially considering offensively is where they’ve struggled at times this year. 

It’s because I think her overall game is going to be important. They’re not at the top of the standings in terms of blocked shots or faceoff winning percentage, which makes what Botterill does in those moments even more important. Her 40 blocked shots are the most of any forward on the team, and of the 898 total faceoff wins the team has, Botterill has recorded 31.1% of those. If she’s on top of her game, as she was against Holy Cross at the beginning of the month, things could be turned in UNH’s favor. It’ll take the whole team, and I think that starts with Botterill. 

Holy Cross Player to Watch: Abby Hornung | G, Senior 
It’s often that a goalie dictates how far a team goes, and I think there’s no team that’s more evident for than Holy Cross. The senior is second in the conference in overall save percentage at a .941, and she is a lot of the reason the Crusaders have had as historic a season as they have. While she has split time this season, I think it’s safe to say she’ll be the starter heading into the post season. 

The tough few weeks for HC have not been because of Hornung. She’s allowed just 11 goals since reclaiming the net at the end of January, and has a combined SV% of .939 in the three matchups against UNH this year. She’ll need to replicate the appearance she had in November when the Crusaders won 3-2 over the Wildcats — Hornung made 38 saves — in order for HC to move on to the semifinals. It’s a big task, but I believe Hornung is up to the challenge. 

We Wait And See: 

For the top two seeds in the conference, it’s a waiting game to see who their opponent will be in the quarterfinals. After the opening round, the teams get re-seeded slightly: the highest remaining seed will go on to play UConn, and the lowest remaining seed will get to take on Northeastern. 

UConn Player to Watch: Claire Murdoch | F, Sophomore
With points in six of her last seven games, and a point total of 11 points in that frame — including a hat trick in the regular season finale — there’s no better choice in my mind than Murdoch. While she didn’t pace her team in points this season, Murdoch’s impact on UConn’s play has been undeniable for two years now. After a slow start to the 2025-26 season, the sophomore finds herself second on the Huskies with 29 points in 34 games played. When she’s on the ice, she’s a threat to score in any place at any time, and that’s going to be critical. 

Last year, Murdoch had just two assists in two playoff games. Hopefully for herself, for her team, and honestly for those watching, that number ticks up this year. While we’re not sure who UConn is going to play just yet, that shouldn’t matter. Murdoch has proven she can score against every team in the conference, and that should put all the other coaches on notice, whether for the QF or potentially even beyond that. 

Northeastern Player to Watch: Stryker Zablocki | F, Freshman 
When you have the chance to talk about the conference scoring champion, you have to take it. And that’s why I’m going with Zablocki for the tournament this season. The freshman has been on fire in the second half, with 21 points in 15 games. Her 42 total points leads Northeastern in scoring, while her 34 points in conference play — including 17 goals — secured her the scoring title. That’s right, as a freshman.

When Zablocki is on the ice, she’s the fastest skater out there. Her play making ability and her shot can change momentum in a second, which we’ve seen time and again throughout the course of the season. She’s a big reason why NU returned to the regular season title this year, and it’ll be interesting to see what her impact on the game is when we hit post season action. 

UConn’s Quarterfinal will be played at Toscano Family Ice Forum at 3 PM EST on Saturday. Northeastern’s QF will be played at a location and time to be determined. 

As a reminder all Hockey East games are available to stream on ESPN+. Game times for the quarterfinals will be revealed following the conclusion of the opening round. Select games are available to watch on NESN in New England.