UNH vs. St. Lawrence University
Friday at 7 p.m.; Appleton Arena in Canton, New York
UNH is 0-1; St. Lawrence is 1-1
The Wildcats will have to bounce back quickly as they head down to New York this weekend to play a two-game road series, the first game being against the St. Lawrence University Saints.
UNH and SLU will do battle once again, renewing the matchup of last year, in which the Saints came to Durham and emerged victorious by a score of 3-2 in overtime.
It seeems that the Wildcats’ offense has done a complete 180 degree switch, in which most, if not all, the offensive production of last year’s team has moved on from UNH. With seven freshmen, including six starters, the Wildcats are a young and unproven team heading into their first road trip of the season.
The Saints on the other hand, are quite the opposite of the Wildcats, they have returned a lot of scoring from last season,   inlcuding Gavin Bayreuther and Ryan Lough. Both recorded points in last season’s matchup.
The Saints are coming off a split in last weekend’s series at Penn State, giving the team a 1-1 record heading into Friday night. Appleton Arena is no easy venue to the Wildcats to come out victorious from, as they have lost the last two matchups on the road vs. the Saints.  A big key to Friday’s matchup will be to sustain the pressure of being on the road.
Composure, the Wildcats are going to have to execute better on the power play. One for six in last years contest, and 0-7 in last weekends game vs. Bentley are not good showings. Creating space and finding better shot opportunites when given have to be  focal points throughout the game.
Overall, it should be a good matchup for the ‘Cats. A familiar face in the ECAC conference should give UNH a good road test before facing Clarkson University the following night.
UNH vs. Clarkson University
Saturday at 7 p.m.; Cheel Arena in Potsdam, New York
UNH is 0-1; Clarkson is 1-1
In regard to Oct. 17, 2015, the last time the Wildcats and the Golden Knights faced off, the game was a matchup in which the Wildcats should have won, but didn’t. A costly late third period goal in the final seconds defeated the ‘Cats in a frustrating home loss. The Wildcats have a chance to make a solid statement in this affair, but there are a few things to consider before the first puck drop on Saturday night.
For one, UNH is on the road in Potsdam, New York for this bout, a place they have not been to since 2003. That year, the Wildcats were on the winning end 4-3. They have also won three out of the last four matchups in Cheel Arena dating back to 1993. History shows the Wildcats know how to get it done in Clarkson’s house, and history has a chance to repeat itself for the first time in a decade this weekend.
Clarkson also dropped its home opener to Hockey East member Vermont. If UNH attacks the offensive zone, Clarkson could be prone to making mistakes, as a 0-1 home record does not look as daunting when preparing for the second road game of the season.
Bottom line, the Wildcats have to show that they can contend with big name teams such as the Clarkson Golden Knights. This matchup provides a measuring stick for the ‘Cats to see where they stack up against some outside, big-body veteran competition. The outcome of this game could provide a more concrete direction that the Wildcats are headed toward, for better or worse.