Northeastern seeks NCAA berth in Hockey East semifinals

Northeastern University faces a critical moment in their hockey season. The Huskies, the lowest seed in the Hockey East semifinals, must win two more games to keep their season alive. If they fail to do so, their Cinderella story will come to an end. The semifinals will take place at TD Garden in Boston. In the first matchup, No. 4 UConn (21 wins, 10 losses, 4 ties) will compete against No. 3 Boston University (21 wins, 12 losses, 2 ties) at 4 p.m. Later, at 7:30 p.m., No. 9 Northeastern (14 wins, 19 losses, 3 ties) will face No. 2 Maine (22 wins, 7 losses, 6 ties). Northeastern recently achieved a significant victory by defeating Boston College, the top team in the nation. However, the Huskies need to win the Hockey East tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Boston University is historically strong in this competition, with ten playoff titles. Maine has five titles but hasn't won since 2004. Northeastern last won the title in 2019, while UConn has yet to secure a championship. Four standout players will likely impact their teams. Cole Hutson from BU is a young and talented defenseman. He leads the nation's freshmen in points, making a notable impression with game-winning goals. Taylor Makar plays for Maine and has transformed since transferring from UMass. His six game-winning goals make him a key player for the Black Bears. Joey Muldowney from UConn is having an explosive season, leading his team in goals and points. He has become a vital player in recent games. Finally, Cameron Whitehead from Northeastern is the team's goaltender. Despite mixed stats this season, he has shown he can perform in high-pressure situations. Northeastern faces a tough challenge against Maine, but if Whitehead plays well, they may reach the finals.