The East Side: Providence makes the first statement in Hockey East

Hockey East's best team after one weekend is Providence, and it isn't close. The Friars scored 10 goals, gave up two and climbed to No. 7 in the USCHO poll after a home weekend against two ECAC teams. Every other league team that played twice had a night it would like back.

By our count, Hockey East went 7-5-1 against teams from other leagues. That's a fine start for a conference that wants three or four NCAA bids, and it's a reminder that October doesn't hand out anything for free.

The weekend

Providence 6, St. Lawrence 2 · Providence 4, Clarkson 0. The Friars outshot their guests 73-45 and went 4-for-15 on the power play, by our count.

Blake Zielinski scored his first career goal Friday and added another Saturday. Jack Parsons stopped all 25 shots against Clarkson for his third career shutout, a night after Gibson Homer won his first game as a Friar, so the goaltending question has two good answers for now.

Maine 5, No. 6 Quinnipiac 3. The Black Bears lost the opener 2-1, then took the rematch at Alfond after Quinnipiac led 3-2 in the second. Isa Parekh tied it, and Lee Parks scored the winner less than three minutes later.

Albin Boija made 20 saves, and Max Scott had three assists. A split with a top-10 team is a good weekend in Orono.

Alaska 3, Boston College 2. The Eagles' opener went sideways at Conte Forum. Davis Borozinskis scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the third, and BC's two power-play goals weren't enough. Louka Cloutier made 26 saves. BC fell from No. 11 to No. 16.

The rest: Northeastern won 5-1 at Bentley, a night after Bentley shut out Vermont 3-0. UConn beat Penn State 3-1 and then lost 5-2 to Bowling Green, and UMass Lowell lost 3-2 to Clarkson before beating St. Lawrence 4-2.

UMass tied RIT 2-2, then won 5-1 for its first win of the season. Merrimack and New Hampshire tied 3-3 on Thursday.

BU only played an exhibition, a 3-1 win over Brown in which Caleb Malhotra put 10 shots on goal and still didn't score, which is the kind of night that turns into a hat trick soon enough.

The race

Nobody has a league point that matters yet, so the national poll is the scoreboard until the conference schedule gets going. Providence is No. 7, BU No. 11, BC No. 16, UConn No. 17 and UMass No. 19.

The team that moved most is Providence, up two spots without playing a ranked opponent. That's the poll rewarding how they won, and I agree with it, because 10 goals on 73 shots says the Friars already know their lines.

Player of the weekend

My pick is Providence's Julius Sumpf: six assists in two games, four of them on Friday, a career high. He touched nearly everything the Friars did well, including two of the power-play goals. Points spread across 11 Friars on Saturday, and Sumpf was the guy feeding them.

Meg's line

Meg Halloran: Northeastern's Stryker Zablocki scored twice shorthanded in 88 seconds at Providence, and the Huskies are already alone at the top of the women's table. I have the whole women's weekend.

Weekend slate

1. No. 12 Colorado College at No. 17 UConn, Friday and Saturday. Ranked against ranked in Storrs, and a measuring stick for a UConn team that split at home.

2. No. 11 BU at Vermont, Friday and Saturday. The Terriers finally play games that count, at Gutterson.

3. Northeastern at No. 19 UMass, Friday and Saturday. The Huskies' road form against a team that just found its first win.

4. St. Cloud State at No. 16 Boston College, Thursday and Saturday. BC needs these after the Alaska loss.

5. Arizona State at UMass Lowell, Friday and Saturday. The Sun Devils arrive in the middle of a coaching change.

Also: No. 7 Providence at Union on Friday, Minnesota State at Merrimack and New Hampshire at Colgate.

Kessler's call

Boston College sweeps St. Cloud State and is back inside the top 12 by next Monday. I'll grade it here next week.