Bobby Butler & Paul Thompson
With their weekend sweep of Providence and Boston University, UNH extended its Hockey East unbeaten streak to 11 games (9-0-2), dating back to November 14 when they defeated UMass-Amherst, 4-2. It marks the longest unbeaten streak in the league since UNH went 14 games without a loss from January 11 to March 8, 2008 and clinched the Hockey East regular season championship. After going 0-5-0 in its first five road games, the ‘Cats are now 6-0-1 in their last seven away from the Whittemore Center.
The Wildcats 3-2 overtime victory on Friday was their 75th win all time against Providence College in a series that dates back to 1927. UNH is undefeated in their last ten games against PC (8-0-2) and have only lost to them twice (16-2-3) in the last six seasons. With Friday’s win, the ‘Cats have now won five straight at Schneider Arena and captured the season series between the teams for the 12th straight year.
UNH’s 4-1 win at Boston University gave them the season series against the Terriers (2-0-1) for the second time in three years. They are now 5-1-3 all time at Agganis Arena, a far cry from the days at BU’s Walter Brown Arena where the ‘Cats won just 11 times (11-31-8) in 30+ years of play. In the last seven seasons, the road team in this series has gone 11-4-5 in regular season play.
Phil DeSimone Draws Penalty at BU
With their rise to the top of Hockey East, it’s no surprise that UNH is starting to make some noise nationally as they are now ranked 12th (USA Today) and 13th (USCHO) in the polls. In Hockey East, the Wildcats lead in several categories including goals (62), goals per game (3.88), goals allowed (42), and fewest penalty minutes (9/game). The Wildcat defense has allowed two goals or fewer in five straight games and are second in the league in goals allowed per game (2.62).
Individually the Wildcats currently have four of the top eight scorers in Hockey East, including the top line of Bobby Butler, Paul Thompson, and Phil DeSimone, who have 27, 20, and 18 points respectively. Since its formation on Nov. 14, 2009, the line has posted 27 goals, 30 assists for 57 points in 13 games (4.38 ppg). Blake Kessel also has 18 points, which is tops among league defensemen. Kessel is ranked second nationally in scoring by defensemen, with 27 points (6-21-27) in all games.
With his two assists against Providence, Bobby Butler reached 100 points in his UNH career, the 67th Wildcat to join the Century Club. He’s the first from UNH to reach that mark since Mike Radja and Matt Fornataro did so on the same night, January 26, 2008 in a 5-3 win at Boston University. With another assist against BU, Butler edged ahead of Dude Thorn (‘66), one of only five players to score more than a goal a game for the Wildcats (65 goals in 65 games).
Hockey East Awards – For the fourth time this season, Brian Foster (left) was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week. Foster stopped 64 of 67 shots and allowed just three goals in games against Providence College and Boston University. After a shaky start to the season, Foster has settled down is now sports a 2.55 goals against average (5th in the league), .915 save percentage (2nd), and .767 winning percentage (10-2-3, 2nd). Foster was named Hockey East Goalie of the Month in December after finishing with a 1.50 gaa and .950 save percentage in wins over Vermont and Lowell.
(Photos Courtesy of UNH Sports Media Relations & Josh Gibney)
