Providence College and Brown University are rounding the clubhouse turn and sprinting toward the finish of the regular season. With eight games left, the 15th-ranked Friars are gaining ground, while the Bears are laboring to keep up.
First, let's look at PC.
Winners of five in a row, the Friars are one of the hottest teams in the country. Eleventh in the PairWise after a 9-2-1 streak, PC is within range of a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, which would be a nice feat considering their sluggish start.
The Friars (14-8-4, 6-6-2 in Hockey East) host Maine on Friday and Saturday.