One of the crazier things this season is the ever-increasing chance that Hockey East could have just 1 team in the national tournament.
Providence, Northeastern, and Boston College all sit 12, 13, and 14 right now, but they're all being dragged down by Hockey East's abysmal out-of-conference record right now. Those 3 clubs have a fine line to walk the rest of the way, and I have a hard time seeing any HE program below them in the standings surging ahead into the tournament.
Regarding NU, this is a really exciting but frustrating year for them. Jim Madigan has finally brought a legit goalie to campus in Cayden Primeau and they've had one of their best starts in years. They should compete with BC for #1 in Hockey East the rest of the way.
Unfortunately (in classic NU fashion), they've got a few big things going against them: #1) Garrett Cockerill, the team's #1 defenseman left the program 2 weeks ago for undisclosed reasons. #2) The above mentioned issues that weaken their chances for an at-large bid. #3) The Olympics. Dylan Sikura, Jeremy Davies, and Adam Gaudette are the three best players on the team at this point and all 3 of them seem likely to be going to South Korea in February. Just in time to miss the home stretch and the Beanpot. Which, if NU loses this year, will make an even 30 years of Beanpot failure.
Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely fantastic for the program that these guys may have the Olympic opportunity, but god is the timing frustrating.