UNH vs. University of Connecticut

Friday at 7 p.m.; Whittemore Center in Durham, NH

Saturday at 7:35 p.m.; XL Center in Hartford, Conn.

UNH is 12-15-5, UConn is 10-14-8

Now or never: the playoff push

It seems that for the past couple of seasons, the fate of the Wildcats in the Hockey East playoff tournament has come down to the last weekend. The ultimate goal is to clinch home ice for the opening round with a top-eight seed. With a crucial weekend against UConn standing in the way, the following are the scenarios in which the ‘Cats can clinch or fall out of a home-ice seed over the weekend and who the potential suitors may be for a opening-round matchup for the Wildcats.

Playoff scenarios

‘Cats clinch home ice in the opening round  with…

-UNH WIN over UConn

AND

-Maine WIN/WIN over Northeastern OR Maine WIN/TIE over Northeastern.

‘Cats will travel in the  opening round  with…

-UNH LOSS/TIE in both games to UConn

AND

-Northeastern WIN over Maine.

Potential opening round opponents…

-UConn, Northeastern, Vermont, Merrimack, or Maine.