By the Numbers: Merrimack vs. Northeastern

Merrimack has a chance to clinch home ice in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs on Thursday night when the Warriors host Northeastern at Lawler Arena.

The “magic number” for Merrimack is one against the Huskies. The Warriors need any combination of one point earned, or one point lost by Northeastern to clinch home ice.

The Warriors can clinch home ice on Thursday with anything except a regulation loss. Simply getting the game to overtime will clinch home ice for the Warriors in the first round of next week’s Hockey East playoffs.

The only scenario where Merrimack doesn’t host the first round (next Wednesday, March 12) is if Merrimack loses both games this weekend in regulation and Northeastern wins both of its games in regulation.

After Thursday’s game, the Warriors will travel to Boston College on Saturday night. On Saturday, Northeastern will host Providence.

The Warriors are 2-0 against the Huskies this season, winning at home on Dec. 14 and on the road on Jan. 31.

The Huskies are 2-8 in their last 10 games. Merrimack is 4-6 in its last 10 games and 10-9 since the start of December.