SCHENECTADY, NY - Union (15-12-5, 8-8-4 ECAC Hockey) returns home this weekend to close out the regular season against St. Lawrence (16-12-4, 9-7-4 ECAC Hockey) and Clarkson (9-16-7, 8-9-3 ECAC Hockey), two teams the Dutchmen are battling in the race for a first round bye in the ECAC Hockey playoffs. Union needs just two points this weekend to assure itself of a home playoff series (top-8 finish), but will need help from other teams for a first round bye (top-4 finish). Union, which was swept at Colgate (4-1) and Cornell (4-2) last weekend, has had much more success at Messa Rink (7-3-2) this season than on the road (6-9-3). St. Lawrence had a four game winning streak snapped on Saturday night in a 3-2 loss against Dartmouth, but is still 9-3-1 in its last 13 games. Clarkson fell 6-2 to Harvard in its last contest, but sits just one point behind Union in the league standings.

»Offensive Minded Defensemen
Union is the only team in the nation with three defenseman among the top-20 nationally in scoring (points per game). Senior defenseman Greg Coburn (T-13) leads the pack at 0.72 points per game, junior defenseman Mat Bodie (T-15th, 0.70) and sophomore defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (20th, 0.68 points per game) are also in the top-20.

»Not So Hot February
At 2-4-1 in February, Union suffered it's first losing calendar month since January 2009, when the team went 4-5-1.

»Success on Senior Night
Union has had great success on Senior Night in recent years, winning the last five Senior Night games at Messa Rink dating back to the 2007-08 season. Union is 11-7-3 in the Division I era in final regular season home games.

»Carr Nears Century Club
Junior forward Daniel Carr (52 goals, 46 assists), who had a goal against Cornell last Saturday, is just two points away from becoming the 10th Union player in the DI era to reach 100 career points.

»Home Is Where The Heart Is
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Dutchmen have an impressive record (29-6-7) in their last 42 regular season home games at Messa Rink. Not including exhibition contests, the Dutchmen are 157-140-46 all-time at home. Union has been even more dominant in ECAC Hockey play at Messa Rink. Since the 2010-11 season, the Dutchmen have compiled a record of 21-5-5 in ECAC Hockey regular season home games.

»Going as Wayne Goes
Union's success this season has been tied to the play of senior forward Wayne Simpson, who leads the team in scoring with 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists). When Simpson registers a point, the team has a record of 14-2-3. When Simpson is not on the scoresheet, Union's record is 1-10-2.

»Scouting St. Lawrence
Top Players (2012-13 stats): Jr. F Greg Carey (25 goals, 22 assists), Sr. F Kyle Flanagan (14 goals, 28 assists), Sr. D George Hughes (5 goals, 25 assists), Jr. F Jeremy Wick (13 goals, 12 assists), So. F Gunnar Hughes (6 goals, 15 assists), Jr. G Matt Weninger (16-12-4, 2.68 GAA, .917 Save %)

Synopsis: The Saints continue to be a streaky team in 2012-13, but were on the upswing entering the weekend, with a 9-3-1 record in their last 12 games. Junior forward Greg Carey and senior forward Kyle Flanagan are No. 1 and 2 in ECAC Hockey in scoring and form one of the top forward lines in the nation with junior Jeremy Wick. But this weekend, the Saints will be without Flanagan, who had an appendectomy on Tuesday night and will not return for 7-10 days. St. Lawrence allows 2.75 goals/game, down nearly a half goal from last season. The Saints are 20th in the nation in scoring at 3.00 goals/game. The Saints are 16th in the nation on the PP at 20.7%, and 30th on the PK at 82.5%.

»The Union-SLU Series
Since Feb. 22, 1929, the Saints have posted a 34-23-2 record against the Dutchmen with a 30-19-0 Division I mark. Friday's game will be the 60th meeting all-time between the two teams. Union had a seven game winning streak against the Saints snapped on Feb. 9 in a 4-2 loss at Appleton Arena. Union is 9-11-0 all time against St. Lawrence at Messa Rink, but has won the last three meetings there.

»Scouting Clarkson
Top Players (2012-13 stats): Jr. F Allan McPherson (9 goals, 16 assists), Jr. F Jarrett Burton (10 goals, 8 assists), Jr. F Ben Sexton (BOS) (5 goals, 13 assists), Fr. F Pat Megannety (7 goals, 10 assists), So. F Joe Zarbo (12 goals, 4 assists), So. D Sam Labrecque (4 goals, 5 assists), Fr. F T.J. Moor (4 goals, 5 assists), Fr. G Greg Lewis (9-14-6, 2.88 GAA, .901 Save%)

Synopsis: Union had a nine-game winning streak against Clarkson snapped on Feb. 9 in a 2-1 loss at Cheel Arena. Clarkson got off to a rough start at 4-12-6 in its first 22 games, but has since steadied the ship wtih a 5-4-2 stretch in its last 11 games, and is in the hunt for a first round bye in the ECAC Hockey playoffs. Clarkson is one of the most penalized teams in the nation at 15.2 PIM/game, and is 47th in the nation on the PK at 77.4%. The Golden Knights are 44th in college hockey in team defense, allowing 3.03 goals/game. Clarkson allowed five or more goals in a game for the eighth time this season in a 6-2 loss to Harvard last Saturday.

»The Union-Clarkson Series
In a series that dates back to Jan. 23, 1923, the Golden Knights own a 28-19-5 advantage, including a 27-18-5 DI mark, over the Dutchmen. Union has won nine out of the last 10 meetings, dating back to the 2008-09 season, outscoring Clarkson 51-18. Union is 12-12-4 all-time against Clarkson at Messa Rink and is unbeaten in its last nine games against the Golden Knights (8-0-1) at Union dating back to the 2004-05 season.
 
»Three is the Magic Number
Union's record when reaching three goals this season is impressive, a testament to the team's strong defensive unit. Union is 12-0-2 this season when scoring three or more goals, but just 3-12-3 in games where they score two or fewer goals. Union has topped the three goal mark just once in the past seven games (2-4-1). Since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Union is 36-0-7 when scoring three or more goals in a game.

»Welsh and Kinkaid Called Up
Former Union Hockey standouts Jeremy Welsh '13 and Keith Kinkaid were recalled to their parent NHL clubs within a span of eight days. Welsh was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 18, while Kinkaid joined the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26. Welsh has seen action at center in three games with Carolina since his call-up, while Kinkaid will serve as a backup to Johan Heberg with Martin Brodeur on injured reserve.