Hockey East Playoffs 2025: Quarterfinals Preview

We keep marching on in the Hockey East playoff bracket, and the eight teams left standing after the opening round are ready to go for the Quarterfinals on Saturday. Each squad is hungry for more, so let’s not waste anymore time. 

Playoff Format:

All four rounds of the Hockey East playoffs are single elimination games, with all 10 teams in the postseason. The winners of Saturday’s games will be re-seeded before the semis on Wednesday, and then the winners of those two games will face off in Storrs for the championship on Saturday March 8th. 

How We Got Here: 

This past Wednesday, the No. 10 seed Merrimack Warriors upset the No. 7 New Hampshire Wildcats with a dominant 3-1 victory in Durham. It was a freshmen party for MC during their win — Margaux Favre made 33 saves in the win, while both defender Abby Poitras and forward Sage Babey found the back of the net. Tara Blackburn’s unassisted goal stood as the game-winner, as the Warriors skated to their fourth-straight opening round victory. 

Earlier this week, I said that a sweep in the regular season doesn’t mean anything when it comes to Vermont and Holy Cross. 

Lo and behold, I was right. 

Vermont’s very own Cecilia DesLauriers played hero in the Catamounts 3-2 overtime win on Wednesday. Freshman Oona Havana had two assists en route to the win, while UVM more than doubled the Crusaders in shots on goal 43 to 20. It was an exciting game between the two teams, and it snapped the three-game win streak HC had over Vermont. 

Now let's take a look at what the eight teams left standing are in for in the second round of the playoffs. 

Games are listed in order of start time on Saturday, March 1st. Rankings are still based on regular season finishes. 

Game One: No. 8 Vermont at No. 2 Boston University – 4 PM 

Walter Brown Arena, Boston MA 

After a remarkable turnaround from last season, BU couldn’t close out the series against UConn to claim the regular season title. Instead, the Terriers are second, and now they get to host a UVM team fresh-off that overtime win. 

The shut down defense BU likes to play caused issues for UVM already this season. The Terriers have a slight edge in the season series, with two wins to Vermont’s one. Though there is something to be said for BU’s lack of success against UConn over the weekend versus Vermont’s continued pressure against Northeastern and Holy Cross in their last three games. 

One place I could see BU wearing down the Catamounts is over the fact that UVM played a mid-week game while BU didn’t. With one of the most lethal offenses in HEA (2.5 goals per game), and the second-best penalty kill in the nation (90.8%), BU’s style of game can grate on their opponent — something I’d expect to happen Saturday. 

On the flip side, all season BU has struggled to live up to the moment. Take this weekend; they needed just one point against UConn and instead let the regular season title slip from their grasp. Also, though they’ve performed much better than they did last season, this is a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2019. Do I think that changes this year? Yes I do. But would I be surprised if Vermont pulls things off here? No, I wouldn’t. 

I am intrigued to see who starts in net for the Catamounts. Earlier this week I said Jane Gervais was the probable starter, however it was Sydney Correa who got the nod instead. With 18 saves on Wednesday, the senior is still at a .906 save percentage. She is also the goaltender with the win against BU this season after a 20 save effort in January. I’d expect to see her in net again, though just because I said that head coach Jim Plumer will go back to Gervais just to spite me. 

Callie Shanahan is the expected starter for the Terriers, with her .925 SV% in 25 starts. The senior is reliable, as shown by her play in the second semester. She’s also 2-0-0 against UVM this season with a combined two goals on 40 shots. 

Scoring wise the biggest threat for BU is Sydney Healey, even as their entire lineup seems to be filled with high-powered offense. The junior finished the season with 21 total points, including a career-high 13 goals. In three games against UVM this season, she had three scores, including a two goal effort on Feb. 1st. The Terriers offense starts with her, and in the clutch moments she’s already come up big this season — she might have to do so again here. 

UVM’s side of things is a bit different, considering their team average of 1.4 G/GM. I mentioned Ashley Kokavec before Wednesday (she had an assist on the game so point to me for that one), but today I’m turning to look at Rose-Marie Brochu. The sophomore had the second goal for the Catamounts on Wednesday, and had an assist against BU already this season. With five goals and 13 points, Brochu is a key asset for UVM in the postseason, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her name on the scoresheet once again. 

Game Two: No. 10 Merrimack at No. 1 UConn – 4 PM 

Toscano Family Ice Forum, Storrs CT

If you expected Merrimack to upset UNH, I applaud you — because I certainly didn’t see this coming. 

The Warriors played a strong game on Wednesday, especially the netminder Favre who had to stand on her head more than once over the course of the contest. Unfortunately for Merrimack, they’ll head to take on the regular season champs in Connecticut, who they’ve lost to seven times in a row. 

UConn is a classic Hockey East program — they don’t score a whole lot, but they have a shutdown defensive style of game and a kick-ass goaltender behind them that makes their lives easier. Add in the star power of rookie Claire Murdoch, and it’s no shock they defended their HEA title this year. 

The team averages 2.2 G/GM, but has the lowest team goals against average in the conference with a 1.7. Their PK isn’t write-home-about-it levels, but in the last few weeks the PP has come around to a respectable 15%.

For Merrimack, the PP is where they’ve succeeded all season, with a 20.3% conversion rate. Their PK is also lackluster, and while Favre and Calli Hogarth have had moments of genius, the discrepancy between their 1.9 G/GM and 2.9 GAA is a lot to overcome. 

Speaking of Favre however, she is coming off that outstanding performance against UNH, and if the Warriors don’t look to her here I’ll be astounded. The rookie has yet to face UConn in her NCAA career, which may bode well for her — especially if her opponent needs a minute to get their bearings against a new foe. 

On the other side, it will be the familiar name in net: the always formidable Tia Chan. With a .944 SV%, the senior has outdone herself again this year, ending with four shutouts and 572 saves. One of those shutouts came against Merrimack in November, before fellow senior Megan Warrener made the next two starts against MC. Do I think the UConn coaching staff is considering this? Yes, most certainly. But not starting Chan in this game would be borderline insane. 

For the offensive power I’m highlighting two names familiar to their squads — Alex Ferguson (MC) and Murdoch (UConn). 

The junior Ferguson had three points in three games against the Huskies this season, including a goal in their most recent matchup. While she has just two goals total this season, her 12 assists are tied for the most on the Warriors. Ferguson was also instrumental in the faceoff circle the last time out against UConn, winning eight of 10 draws. 

Murdoch on the other hand needs no introduction. The rookie finished atop the Huskies in scoring with 27 points, though she was second in goals. She had a point in all three games against Merrimack this year, including an assist on the eventual game-winner in the second contest of the season. She was relatively quiet over the last weekend, but I don’t expect that to continue in the playoffs. 

And I’m excited for exactly that; getting a chance to watch this rising star in the postseason for the first time in Division I.  

Game Three: No. 6 Maine at No. 3 Boston College – 4:30 PM 

Conte Forum, Boston MA

After a rough start to the year, Maine clawed their way to a first-round bye this season as the sixth seed in the tournament. On the opposite side, after missing out late last year to UNH as the third seed, BC didn’t fall into that trap again in 2025, securing the top-three finish. 

All three games between these two teams this season were relatively easy wins for the Eagles, as they outscored the Black Bears by a combined 13-2. Since playing each other in January however, it’s been two different stories for the squads. BC saw a couple of tough losses to teams such as Vermont and Merrimack, plus a tie with New Hampshire. Maine on the other hand had wins against nationally ranked Northeastern, as well as close games against UConn and Providence. 

At the end of the day however, the offensive onslaught BC can create I think will end up being too much for Maine. The Eagles have scored 2.9 G/GM for much of the season, and are one of the best teams in the conference on the PP at 20.9%. Maine on the other hand couldn’t buy an advantage goal for much of the season, finishing at a 12% conversion — and they haven’t scored a PPG since Jan. 31st. 

What I think bodes well for Maine is that since facing BC in January, Kiia Lahtinen has been outstanding. Yes, it’s a smaller sample size, but the freshman has upped her season SV% to a .911, with a combined three goals against on 123 shots in her last five games. She’s been rock solid, and a hot goaltender going into the playoffs can sometimes steal a game. 

The cage on the other side of the ice will be protected by junior Grace Campbell, who finished with an outstanding .932 SV% in 30 starts. Against the Black Bears this season, she made a combined 95 saves with just two goals against, and was instrumental in BC’s continued success. She added her fifth shutout of the year in the last weekend series against New Hampshire, and I’d expect her to be on her A-Game against Maine. 

The two offensive names I’d keep an eye out for are Julia Pellerin (BC) and Stephanie Jacob (Maine). 

Sophomore Pellerin had the best second-half of anyone in Hockey East, with 21 points in 15 games. In BC’s 5-0 win against Maine in January, she contributed to all five scores, including a hat trick. The line Pellerin has been on to close the year is deadly — mainly because she’s on it. I have no doubt that unit will continue to click in the postseason, and it’ll be Pellerin at the forefront to push the Eagles along. 

Jacob didn’t produce against BC very much this season, however the freshman is coming off a weekend where she had two goals in a game against Holy Cross. With 13 points in her rookie season, she finished third on Maine in scoring, plus she has one of those elusive PPGs for the Black Bears. She’ll need to step up for the team this weekend, and I think she might. 

Game Four: No. 5 Northeastern at No. 4 Providence – 7 PM 

Schneider Arena, Providence RI

This might be the most anticipated, and evenly matched game of the first two rounds (sorry Holy Cross and Vermont). 

Northeastern and Providence do not like each other, evident from the clear frustration when these teams hit the ice. In two of their three meetings this season, a Friar has been assessed a major and a game misconduct. And though they gave up goals on the ensuing power plays, Providence still came away with the season series sweep, making up a fourth of Northeastern’s 13 losses this season. 

The other good note for Providence is how dominant they’ve been to close out the year while Northeastern has struggled to put together points. The Friars lost just three games in the second semester, though one of those losses was to Merrimack on Friday. The Huskies on the other hand have struggled, with just one regulation win over the last month. 

However. 

Northeastern knows what it takes to win in the big moments. They’ve made it to eight-straight conference championship games, stormed to a Beanpot championship win earlier this season, and have been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade. Yes, they score on average less G/GM than Providence (2.4 vs. 2.9), but their defense (1.8 GAA vs. 2.1) and especially their penalty kill (88% vs. 85.1%) have been better. 

The thing that the Huskies will need is for freshman Lisa Jönsson to be on top of her game. With NU down one of their top defenders in Rylie Jones over the spring, Jönsson has seen some struggles in the final weeks of the season. The netminder is still third in HEA with a .938 SV% over 23 appearances, though she was pulled from her last start against Vermont after three goals in quick succession. The rookie will need a bounce back, but if the Beanpot MVP award is any indication, she can rise to the challenge.

Opposite will be Hope Walinski, who in over 1900 minutes finished with a .923 SV% in the regular season. In all three games against NU in 2024-25 the senior was solid, allowing four goals on 78 shots. She is coming off a shutout win over Merrimack on Saturday, though the Warriors were only able to generate 11 shots on goal. 

Scoring wise this will come down to how well NU can shut down the three-headed monster of a first line PC has, while the Friars have to keep an eye out for the Huskies’ top goal scorers as well. 

That top line includes junior Reichen Kirchmair, the Hockey East scoring champion. With one more point she will have doubled her career scoring in a single season, and she’s coming off a three point effort vs. MC on Saturday. Kirchmair has also been a thorn in Northeastern’s side all season, picking up four points in three games, including the game winner at Northeastern in January. 

On the opposite side, I’m looking for Lily Shannon to step up in a big way. The junior finished the season third in Northeastern scoring, with a career high 22 points, including 14 goals – tied for the most on the team. Two of those scores came on the power play, and though she’s been quiet against PC to this point in the year, if NU wants a chance of advancing to the semis they’re gonna need Shannon to produce.

And I think she does. 

Programming Notes: 

All four games will be available to stream on ESPN+. 

The Merrimack/UConn game at 4 PM and the Northeastern/Providence game at 7 PM will be available on NESN while Boston College vs. Maine will air on NESN+ at 4:30 PM for all viewers in New England. 

The ESPN+ links are below. 

UConn vs. Merrimack – 4 PM 

Boston University vs. Vermont – 4 PM 

Boston College vs. Maine  – 4:30 PM 

Providence vs. Northeastern – 7 PM