Weekly Wrap-Up Vermont gets an advantage

The Vermont Catamounts came into the series against Boston College without a win against the Eagles since 1994. They got two this weekend as Vermont swept BC and have taken over third place in Hockey East.

The first game held on Friday had a lot of controversy. So much in fact that the penalty minutes combined for both teams was 67. Not just that, in the third period the refs disallowed a goal because of a BC player (Matt Lombardi) supposedly hit it with a high stick. The replay showed that Lombardi did not hit it with a high stick thus prevented BC to tie the game at three. Vermont goals were scored by Cory Carlson (twice) and Torrey Mitchell.

The second of the two game series saw Vermont go up 3-0. Although BC made it a game, Vermont goaltender Joe Fallon again stoned the Eagles shot after shot. Brayden Irwin scored two goals and Torrey Mitchell added another one as he and Irwin had a three point night. Viktor Stalberg would score on an empty netter and the Catamounts completed the sweep as they took the 4-2 victory.

The other big game this weekend happened in the WCHA where Minnesota and Denver took the ice. For the first time all season, Minnesota was held scoreless in a game as Denver got the 1-0 victory on Friday night. Denver goaltender Glenn Fisher stopped all 31 Minnesota shots on goal.

Saturday night was a different story. Super Freshman Kyle Okposo opened up the scoring with a four on four goal as he got the puck past Glenn Fisher for the 1-0 first period lead. The second period saw a total of seven goals. Minnesota scored four (three by defensemen Mike Vannelli) and Denver scored three in a wild second period. Minnesota led 5-3 going into the third period, however, Geoff Paukovich of Denver scored to make it an interesting game as Minnesota's lead was cut to one at 5-4. Denver had a lot of chances in the third period, but goaltender Jeff Frazee stopped 14 of 15 Denver shots on goal in the third. Overall Frazee had 41 saves and Minnesota's offense helped Frazee out this time as the Gophers took the game 5-4 salvaging a split with Denver.

In other college hockey action from this past weekend:

New Hampshire split with UMASS-Amherst as the Minutemen have two victories over UNH this year (both games the only losses in conference for UNH).

North Dakota is getting back into the swing of things as they swept Bemidji State.

And Michigan State swept Lake Superior in CCHA action.

This weeks top games include:

Boston College and Boston University for two games a home and home series. The game on Wednesday is a make-up game from the fog incident in December at Conte Fourm.

Denver will host St. Cloud State for two in a huge WCHA showdown.

Miami travels to Notre Dame as two of the top CCHA teams battle it out in South Bend.

Minnesota hosts North Dakota for two at Marrucci Arena.

And Cornell will host Colgate on Saturday night in ECACHL play.

Big slate of games this weekend, and do not forget about the Hobey Watch, Bracketology Wednesday, and the weekly preview all coming up this week on hockeynuts.