After three of four quarterfinal series going to a third game, the Hockey East semifinal match-ups are finally set.
Boston College (27-10-1) leads the way to the weekend tournament at Boston’s TD Garden in the number one seed. They advanced to the semifinals after sweeping eighth seeded UMass Amherst Friday and Saturday.
The Eagles will face a surprising Providence College (14-19-4) Friday afternoon at 5 p.m.. Providence entered the quarterfinals as a number seven seed, but upset second seeded UMass Lowell Sunday afternoon, 1-0, to advance. The Friars were helped by the return of junior forward Tim Schaller from illness, and after a few weeks of frustration, are matching their high level of play from early on in the season.
Boston University (23-13-1) and Maine (22-12-3) will face each other in the late semifinal game at the Garden, Friday at approximately 8 p.m. The Terriers entered the playoffs as the league’s third seed and went to two overtimes in a third quarterfinal game to defeat University of New Hampshire, 5-4, and advance to the semifinals.
Maine also took their quarterfinal series to a game three. The fourth seeded Black Bears beat fifth seeded Merrimack, 2-1, Sunday night to sew up their quarterfinal series victory.
Both of Friday’s semifinal games will be aired live on NESN (in New England) and NBC Sports Network (nationally.)