After a month of action in Hockey East, the cream has started to rise to the top. And the cream, as it's always been recently, is located in Chestnut Hill.
1. Boston College
If anyone's not a believer in the Eagles' strength following six straight wins, what do you believe in? The Eagles are getting timely offense from everywhere, strong defense and even better goaltending from Parker Milner.
2. UNH
It's tough to count out a team that can score at will and has the best goaltending in the conference, but until UNH's blue-liners start focusing more on the blue line, they're going to be leagues behind BC.
3. Boston University
As long as Jack Parker keeps throwing Matt O'Connor out there, it seems like the Terriers can do no wrong. That doesn't mean much for the stock of Sean Maguire, but it's hardly time for anyone to be concerned about that.
4. Merrimack
Mark Dennehy's squad has rebounded nicely from an early season beating at Northeastern, taking points in four straight conference games and getting offense from wherever they need it. Still, hard to believe that's enough to outdo any one of the three teams above them.
5. Providence
Saturday evening's stinker at the Gutt notwithstanding, Providence has gelled as a team this year and has gotten a big boost from freshman netminder Jon Gillies, but it's still hard to put them higher until they prove themselves against one of Hockey East's elite.
6. Northeastern
They're only here because there's nobody who wants to be higher.
7. Lowell
They're only here because there's nobody who wants to be lower.
8. Vermont
A spirited Saturday night against the Friars gave Vermont a boost, but we're still yet to see any sort of performance from the Cats that make us believe they want to be better than the last place that they were voted for this preseason. Fortunately for them, there's Maine.
9. UMass
One win in conference, and it comes from a power play goal in OT? That's not enough to think that John Micheletto's squad is earning a spot in the playoffs.
10. Maine
The doomsday clock is nearing midnight for Tim Whitehead.