With one week remaining in the regular season, Neutral Zone breaks down the top teams in the league and the bubble teams fighting for playoff spots. There are several major games in the final week which will have playoff implications; especially noteworthy are games involving two ranked teams or games played with teams at .500, or a game above or below .500 as that has a major impact on the RPI rankings which are used to determine playoff seeding.
#1. Salisbury (20-3-0) Previous (#1) This Week: No Games
NZ’s Take: The Knights have likely locked up the top spot in the playoffs. Their Saturday game against Avon was postponed and they’ll head into their final week with games against Hotchkiss, Canterbury and Avon. Salisbury has 18-straight wins against NEPSHIA competition and are scoring over 5 goals per game in that stretch.
#2. Kimball Union (23-4-1) Previous (#2) This Week: Wins over Proctor and Cushing, Tie to Cushing
NZ’s Take: Kimball Union is 19-1-2 in their last 22 games and will head into the playoffs with a week off as they had their last regular season game against Cushing on Saturday. The defending champions will enter the playoffs playing their best hockey and have proven to have the depth and versatility to make another run at the Elite 8.
#3. Dexter (19-3-4) Previous (#3) This Week: Wins over Winchendon, Berwick and Kent’s Hill.
NZ’s Take: Dexter extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games going 13-0-2 in that stretch. They will close out their season against Hoosac and Pingree this week and likely have locked up home ice for the Elite 8 Playoffs. Dexter is one of the most feared teams in the league because they are explosive offensively and have a goalie that can steal games; a winning combination in the playoffs.
#4. St. Sebastian’s (19-4-0) Previous (#4) This Week: Wins over Tabor and Governors
NZ’s Take: St. Sebastian’s kept the winning streak alive extending it to 9 games as they head into the final week of the season to play Elite 8 contender Lawrence Academy for a rematch game where Seb’s trounced them a week ago. They are averaging over 5 goals per game in their last 9 games and have wins over 5 playoff contenders in St. Paul’s, Proctor, Nobles, Thayer and Lawrence in that span. Proving to be a serious player in the Elite 8 discussion.
#5. Lawrence (16-2-6) Previous (#5) This Week: Wins over Governors and BB&N, Loss to St. Mark’s
NZ’s Take: Lawrence took another step back this week losing to St. Mark’s going 1-2-0 in their last 3 games against teams .500 or better. With that being said, they have the lowest amount of losses of any team in the league and a lineup that can skate with anyone in the league. They have 3 games in their final week of the season playing Milton, St. Sebastian’s and Tabor. The Sebs game could have major implications as Lawrence isn’t viewed as friendly in the RPI as one would imagine given their record.
#6. Northfield Mount Hermon (20-5-1) Previous (#7) This Week: Wins over Loomis, Exeter, Winchendon and Choate
NZ’s Take: NMH won 4 crucial games this past week which practically solidified their Elite 8 intentions. They don’t have the star-studded roster of the teams ranked above them but their discipline, balance and attention to detail has led the Hoggers to another impressive season with 20 wins and Head Coach Kevin Czepiel, reigning Coach of the Year, is proving last year was not a fluke. A darkhorse in the Elite 8 tournament. They’ll face Andover and Hoosac in the final week.
#7. Gunnery (21-4-2) Previous (#6) This Week: Wins over Brunswick and Pomfret, Tie to Canterbury
NZ’s Take: Gunnery took a bit of a knock after losing to Millbrook and then getting crushed by Salisbury, but since then have quietly gone on to a 7-0-1 record since as they enter the final week of their season. They’ll face a tough Westminster team at home on Wednesday and then end the season on the road against Berkshire. They are fighting for home ice in the playoffs, but if not, they are the higher seed team in the Elite 8 nobody wants to play against because of their depth and toughness.
#8. Westminster (13-5-4) Previous (#8) This Week: Win over Loomis, Tie to Berkshire
NZ’s Take: Westminster probably needed wins against Hotchkiss and Berkshire, who they tied both, in the past two weeks to really improve their Elite 8 chances but they are 8-1-2 in their previous 11 games and enter the final week of the season rolling. They will face two playoff contenders in Deerfield and Gunnery this week; how they fare in those games will do a lot of determining their playoff standing.
#9. Kent (13-7-2) Previous (NR) This Week: Wins over Hotchkiss and Canterbury
NZ’s Take: Kent goes into the final week of the season riding a 5-game win streak. They’ll face a talented Deerfield squad at home and then finish the season on the road at Choate. Kent can score and recently they are keeping pucks out of the net; the team has only 7 losses on the season and in those games they gave up: 4, 6, 5, 6, 5, 7, 4 goals against. As they’ve figured out their defensive zone in recent weeks, it’ll pay dividends down the stretch because they are undefeated in games giving up 3 goals or less against.
#10. Deerfield (14-8-1) Previous (#11) This Week: Wins over Exeter and Taft, Loss to Williston Northampton
NZ’s Take: Deerfield is unlike the teams ranked above them in that they are not riding a win streak heading into the playoffs and are actually 4-4-1 in their previous 9 games. They have two wins this past week against .500+ playoff contenders in Taft and Exeter but the loss to Williston Northampton was set back. They have a tough week to close out the season with two road games against hungry, Elite 8 contenders trying to claw their way into the playoffs including Kent and Westminster. A tough task lies ahead but a pair of wins would be a major boost for their playoff seedings.
#11. Tilton (18-6-0) Previous (#9) This Week: Win over Hebron, Loss to Brewster
NZ’s Take: Tilton was one of the best kept secrets in prep heading into February as a team destined for the Elite 8 but after going 3-4-0 in the past 7 games that reality is fading. A devastating loss to Lakes Region rivals in Holderness and Brewster really hurt their Elite 8 hope, but they are still a major contender in the playoffs. They’ll face Vermont Academy this week and then get ready for the playoffs where they’ll likely be a home seed team in the first round.
#12. Groton (18-6-2) Previous (#10) This Week: Wins over Rivers and St. Mark’s
NZ’s Take: Groton had a 14-game win streak heading into the Brooks game where they got their first loss since 1/5 which was also against Brooks. While Groton doesn’t have the toughest strength of the schedule; their 15-1-0 run in the past month has been impressive with wins over playoff contenders Rivers, St. Mark’s and Exeter. They’ll be a major player in the Small School tournament.
#13 Nobles & Greenough (15-8-2) Previous (#15) This Week: Wins over Belmont Hill and BB&N
NZ’s Take: Nobles is ending the season the same way they started it going 5-0-0. They have some quality wins under their belt in Dexter, Deerfield, St. Paul’s and Rivers. They’ll close the season against Governors and Milton who are sub .500 teams but if they can win those games it’ll secure their spot in the Large School playoffs.
#14. Andover (16-9-1) Previous (#14) This Week: Wins over Brooks and BB&N, Loss to Cushing
NZ’s Take: Andover dropped a big game against Cushing to start the week but responded well taking down Brooks and BB&N. They are 7-7-0 in their last 14 games which isn’t what a team wants heading into the playoffs but in their defense all 7 losses came from playoff bound teams including #2 KUA and #3 Dexter (2x). Andover has 2 big games this last week of the season against Exeter and NMH; how they do this week will determine their playoff seeding.
#15. Exeter (16-10-2) Previous (#13) This Week: Win over Rivers, Loss to Deerfield and NMH
NZ’s Take: There are any 1 of 5 teams that could go here in the final spot on the poll including Rivers, St. Paul’s, Cushing, Avon and Proctor but Exeter gets the nod given their strength of schedule, high RPI ranking and quality wins. The Lions are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games which isn’t a good sign heading into the playoffs; however, all 6 losses are against playoff contenders including #2 KUA, #3 Dexter, #6 NMH, #10 Deerfield, #11 Tilton and #16 Proctor. They’ll face Winchendon and Andover at home; the rivalry game against Andover will have major playoff implications for both teams.
On the Bubble of Top 15
Rivers (17-8-2) This Week: Loss to Groton, Wins over St. Mark’s and Middlesex, Loss to Exeter
NZ’s Take: Rivers is on a 5-1-0 record over their last 6 games with their only loss to a ranked Exeter team which was 1 goal game. Rivers has given up just 5 goals against in their previous 6 games which will set up well going into the playoffs where they’ll be a top seed in the Small School Tournament. While they beat two good Mass teams in St. Mark’s and Middlesex this week the combination of losing to Exeter and both Proctor and Groton (whom are two of their three quality wins on the season) losing bumped them from making the poll.
Proctor (18-9-1) This Week: Losses to KUA and New Hampton
NZ’s Take: Proctor made its Prep Poll debut last week and then took a major step back this week; their loss to KUA was understandable playing the #2 team in prep on the road but the loss to New Hampton was the dagger that bumped them from the poll. They have one game remaining on the regular season against Holderness at home and then Lakes Region Playoffs. They can score and they have a quality goalie that can keep them in games but they lack the depth of the teams ranked above them. A real contender in the Small School Playoffs.
Avon Old Farms (13-8-1) This Week: Win over Choate, Loss to Pomfret
NZ’s Take: Avon’s rivalry game against Salisbury was postponed and then went to Pomfret and lost a tight game in overtime 3-2. They are still in position for the Large School Playoffs but they’ll need to string some wins together in the final week as they’ll play Loomis, Canterbury and Salisbury. An exciting team of young talent that could surprise if they make it in the playoffs.
Cushing (14-10-4) This Week: Win over Andover, Tie to KUA, Loss to KUA
NZ’s Take: Cushing played KUA to a great 1-1 tie on the road this weekend after losing 5-2 at home. They are a big, physical team that is tough to play against and was also able to knock off #14 Andover this week as well. They’ll close the season out against New Hampton and Governors; two wins they’ll need to make their case for the Large School Tournament. A sleeper team that can beat anyone they play if they make the playoffs. Keep a close eye on ’04 Jackson Dorrington, one of the best kept secrets in prep hockey.
St. Paul’s (14-9-1) This Week: Win over Holderness, Loss to Thayer
NZ’s Take: St. Paul’s played their final regular season game against a pesky Holderness team coming off a tie to KUA but is 2-4-0 in their last 6 heading into the playoffs. They should be a lock for the Large School Tournament and with their goaltending and team discipline, they could make a run in the playoffs.
Hotchkiss (11-9-2) This Week: Losses to Kent and Trinity Pawling
NZ’s Take: Hotchkiss has gone 6-9-2 in their last 17 games which looks to be a team limping into the playoffs. However, they have wins over #1 Salisbury, #7 Gunnery and #10 Deerfield which keeps them in the discussion. Three straight losses has hurt their playoff potential but if they can upset Salisbury and get a win over Taft they’ll be right back in the hunt for the Large School Playoffs.