BOSTON COLLEGE SLIPS PAST MASSACHUSETTS, 2-1, TO SWEEP WEEKEND SERIES

Scenarios for BC going into the final weekend

HOW BC CAN TAKE FIRST PLACE
A. BC win both games vs UNH this weekend
B.BC wins one game and ties the other vs UNH.

HOW BC CAN COME IN SECOND
A.BC looses both games to UNH this weekend.
B. BC looses one and ties one vs.UNH this weekend.

OTHER SCENARIOS FOR BC
A. Lets say MC sweeps PC, BU takes three points from NU, and BC splits with UNH. Then BC would end up in second place. MC would take second place from BU, and BU would drop to third (even if Maine sweeps Umass)

B. Lets say BU,MC, and UMaine all sweep and BC takes 1 point. BC would take second place because they own the tiebreaker vs archival BU. MC would be fourth, and Maine would be fifth which would set up a great series between MC and Maine.

C.Lets sat BU,MC,and Maine all sweep and BC looses two games. BC would fall to 4th place, BU would take over second, MC would be third, and BC would get Maine in the first round setting up a great matchup at Conte.

Lets just hope BC wins both games and a hockey east regular season title this weekend and that BU looses 2 games. BC will most likely get UVM,PC,or Umass again. The odds favor BC at home vs Umass or PC in the quarterfinal of the Hockey East tournament.

GO EAGLES

Eagles beat Umass to make it all about next weekend

BC beat Umass on friday 2-1, to stay in second place in the Hockey East standings and to stay just 1 point behind UNH for first in the league. BC was led by goals from Barry Almedia and Pat Mullane to get the 2-1 victory. BC played a lot better in their own zone in this game then I have seen of late. Tommy Cross, Pat Wey, and Brian Domulin were much better in tonights game then in the previous four contest. BC's got a PP goal from Mullane, who had a rocket from the top of the circle to make it a 2-0 contest. Umass came back with a goal in the second, when a man was keft wide open in front of the net, got a rebpund on ashot from the point, and put it in to make it 2-1 heading into the final frame. BC held there ground in there own zone, and spent much of the clock in the third in the Umass zone. The Atkinson Gibbons Whitney line was much more effective in the game, as they did not allow Umass many chances int he BC one because all the play was in the Umass zone.

This was a huge win for BC, for a couple of reasons. First of all, with a UNH win @ NU, BC is now just 1 point behind UNH for the Hockey East regular season title. The Wildcats and the Eagles face off in a home and home starting next Friday at Conte Forum. Second of all, Maine was able to blow Merrimack out for the second straight night to most likely end MC's quest for a # 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The injury to Stefan Decosta seems to be really affecting the Warriors as they head down the home stretch. We will have post throughout the week in prep for the big weekend.

GRADES
PP-B+
PK-A

Eagles beat Minutemen to stay in hunt for hockey east title

In a huge night around Hockey East last night, BC was able to gain 1 point on UNH and 2 on Merrimack by way of a 4-3 win at Umass. BC led by goals from Barry Almedia, Brian Gibbons, Paul Carey, and Jimmy Hayes. BC took a 1-0 lead after one period of play thanks to a Gibbons PP goal. It seems that the Eagles D played a lot better in this game then they have of late. The third period of play was a little shaky but the Eagles were able to keep their ground in the final 1:30 to preserve the victory. BC gave up two PP goals to Umass in the third, to make it a 4-3 game with 10 mintues remaining. Thanks to a Umaine victory, BC now has a better chance to get a #1 seed in Manchester because of the Maine victory vs. Merrimack. Tonight BC takes on Umass again this time @ Conte Forum (the puck will drop at 7pm) with a chance to maybe tie or take the lead in the hockey east standings. UNH travels down to Huntington AVE tonight to take on the surging Huskies. NU is still without it's top two coaches, Head Coach Greg Cronin and assistant Albie O'Connell who are out due to recruiting violations. If NU can beat UNH or if they can get another tie with the Wildcats and BC can win tonight, then it will all come down to next weekend's home and home series between UNH and BC. Now winning the Regular season title doesn't mean BC is in the NCAA's but it would mean the Eagles would have their 3rd trophy of 2011.

Romurs around Merrimack have it that star Stefan DeCosta could be down for the season with a knee injury. This would be a blow to MC's NCAA run and there historic season. We will have the lineup in a little and AN INTERVIEW WITH NESN ANALYST CRAIG JANNEY about this year's hockey east championship.

UMass Hockey Highlights From 4-3 Loss To Boston College

Eagles Take on Umass in a must win

Boston College heads out to Amherst Ma tomorrow night to take on Umass. This game would fall under the must win column. BC trails UNH by 2 points and is tied for second with Merrimack just 2 points behind UNH. BC has played well at Umass as of late, BC has beaten the Mass Attack 6 straight times, dating back to January of 2009. BC had a tough time with NU this last weekend, managing a tie and a loss to the Huskies. IF Umass can play just as good in their own zone then NU did, expect Umass to keep this game close right till the end. Expect the Eagles to come back much more motivated this weekend, BC knows that with a loss, and a UNH win(vs NU) would mean the Eagles would fall behind 4 points to the Wildcats, who BC gets next week for 2 games in a home and home. John Muse should get the start in both games this weekend. Parker Milner did not have a very good outing vs NU last Friday, so Muse should get the start. we will have a lineup report in a little bit

Eagles fall for the first time in over a month...time for concern ?

After coming of a week with great Defensive zone play in the Beanpot VS BU and @ Providence, BC's Defensive core really fell of this week vs Northeastern. On Monday, the Eagles were able to get away with the poor D zone play and win the storied Beanpot for a 16th time. On Friday, the Eagles continued their bad habits, letting up 7 goals at home vs NU. Thanks to a Bill Arnold goal, BC was able to escape with a tie. Friday at NU, they finally paid the price. Tommy Cross and Patrick Wey played well in their own zone on Saturday, but the D pair of Edwin Shea and Philip Samuelsson was horrific in there own zone, and ultimately cost BC 2 points. Samuelsson made a bad descion by pinching up in his own zone, and that lead to an NU goal, when an NU D man threw the puck around the boards, and a NU forward went in all alone on a breakaway to put NU up 1-0. Once agian, this time late in the second, Samuelsson was backing into his own zone with virtually no one near him, he tried to throw a hail mary up the ice, but the pass was picked of by an NU player and resulted in a goal to make it 2-0. NU did an amazing job of keeping BC at bay. One thing the BC coaching staff may be considering, is putting Freshman Issac Macleod back in the lineup in place of Samuelsson. Macleod played a good game @ Providence, and should be given a chance to play in place of Samuelsson, not Shea. NU's style of packing it in and not getting a ton of shots, but playing good D seemed to work this weekend. They knew they weren't going to outskate BC, but they held the Atkinson line in check, and were able to solve John Muse. Hats off to NU for taking 3 of 4 points from BC this weekend, and clinching a playoff berth,(something they did not do last year). Hopefully the Huskies can at least beat UNH in 1 of 2 contest between the Huskies and the Wildcats this weekend. BC takes the ice in a home in home vs Umass this weekend, Friday at Umass, Saturday at BC. We will have a full article on the scenarios for BC coming up....

Eagles tie Huskies in a crazy 7-7 game.

In what looked like an excat replica of Monday, BC managed to tie NU on a goal from Bill Arnold with 32 seconds. BC PK was by far the worst it has been all year, giving up 4 PP goals to the Huskies. NU was without it's Head Coach Greg Cronin and it's top assistant Albie O'Connell. BC jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period and seemed to be dominating the temp and speed of the game. Parker Milner really had a tough time in net, letting up 4 goals in less then 10 shots. The second period was all Huskies, as NU broke out for 3 straight goals. BC managed to get one goal back right before the end of the period. to tie it up after 2 periods of play. BC got a really good night out of Chris Krieder, who always seems to play well against NU. After NU scored yet another goal just a minute into the 3rd, BC was down yet again, and had to kill off a penalty. C.Atkinson then hooked up with Brian Gibbonns to tie the game up, but NU still had a PP. After BC killed that PP off, Chris Krieder got a 5 minute minor for kneeing. NU converted on the PP with a goal from captain Tyler McNelly to give NU the lead with just 7 minutes remaining. BC was getting desperate with just 2 mintues left, when an NU D man was called of for interference. BC was able to get a lot of pressure on, and was finally rewarded when Arnold put in a rebounded to tie the game at 7. The OT session was an up and down the ice period for both teams. BC best chance was a shot from J. Whitney in the slot but he was denied by Chris Rawlings. This was a good tie for NU considering they were missing there top 2 coaches due to recruiting violations. BC will travel to Matthews Arena for a game at NU tonight at 7;30, stay tuned for an update.

Eagles take on Huskies for first of two on the weekend.

Monday, probably the most important game in NU hockey history, was ruined by the stick of Jimmy Hayes. BC defeated NU 7-6 in the Beanpot finals on Monday, to get there 16th Beanpot. BC had great play from all four lines, which NU did not. The key for tonights game will be if BC can keep up that. BC's 1st and 2nd lines were surprisingly kept in tact by NU's first 2 lines. NU's first line of Mcneely, Macleod,and Silva, was very strong for the Huskies. BC's D really struggled on Monday. BC need there D to step up this weekend, in a key series which could decided if BC stays in the race with UNH for first place in hockey east. John Muse had a tough game on Monday vs NU. Muse let up a lot of rebounds vs. the Huskies and that lead to goals for the black and red. Look for a tough physical game tonight at BC an most defiantly Saturday at NU. Check back later for a recap on the game.

GO EAGLESjavascript:void(0)

Eagles go for 16th Beanpot title VS NU.

Tomorrow, Boston College is going for its 16th Beanpot title. Standing in the way of the Eagles are the Huskies of Northeastern. BC is 30-8 all time vs NU in the Beanpot. NU is coming off a big OT win @ Umass Lowell, in which star D man Jamie Oleksiak scored a PP goal with 14 seconds to play to send UML to yet another loss. The Huskies 1st line of Tyler McNeely, Wade MacLeod and Steve Silva is very good, and should be a tough matchup for C. Atkinson,Gibbons, and Joe Whitney. Expect NU to come out playing very hard. Let’s be honest BC fans, this game means so much more for NU then for BC, BC's expectation is to win the NCAA championship. For NU, they are focused on winning the Beanpot for the first time in 23 years. The last time these two teams played in the Beanpot it was the Huskies who crushed BC 7-1 in 2009. However, the last time these two played in the Beanpot final was in 1983, when BC rolled to a 8-3 victory at the Boston Garden. In the only meeting of the two teams this year on Oct 9, BC inched by NU by a score of 2-0 with an empty net @ Matthews Arena. NU's strong point is it's goaltending, Chris Rawlings may be the second best goalie in Hockey East, behind John Muse of course. Rawlings enters the game with a save percentage of .935 (758-of-811) is tied for third-best in the country with RIT’s Shame Madolora. He is two one-hundredths of a percentage point from the country’s leader, who else but John Muse (.937). Rawlings has also recorded the fourth-most saves (758) than any other netminder in the country. This should be a great game. After all what Beanpot final is not great when BU is in the 5 O'clock game !

NOTE- EDWIN SHEA WILL PLAY, AND ISSAC MACLEOD IS OUT

Coach York and Coach Parker on CBSCS

CBS College Sports featured BU coach Jack Parker and longtime rival Jerry York of BC in its One2One series. Upcoming airing of the half-hour program are listed here.

http://areyouwatchingthis.com/tv/programs/EP007083510076-One2One-Jack-Parker-and-Jerry-York/41447369

Eagles roll into Beanpot with 3-0 win @ Providence.

In a game that was up and down for the first 2 periods, Boston College proved to be the better team in crunch time, defeating PC 3-0 Friday night @ PC. BC was led by 3 3rd period goals from Cam Atkinson, Brian Gibbons, and Bill Arnold. BC really dominated the second half of the second period and most of the third. Atkinson's goal came as a result of a great hustle play in the corner by his line mate Brian Gibbons. Gibbons beat the PC D man to the puck, turned around and dished it to Atkinson who put it past Alex Beaudry(30 saves). PC soon got a PP after John Muse was called for hitting after the whistle ( the penalty was served by Kevin Hayes) BC maintained the lead until 16:13 whn Brian Gibbons netted his 12th goal of the season. Gibbons bombed one from the point,after forcing PC to turn it over in there own zone. BC seemed to have the game in hand, but just a couple seconds after the goal, Gibbons was called for slashing. PC now had the chance to come back, they pulled there goalie with 330 remaining to get a 6-4 for a minute 1:45. The nations # 1 PK came through as PC wasn't able to get many grade A chances. Bill Arnold capped the scoring with an empty netter at 18:54 to preserve the win. BC goes for there 17th Beanpot title on Monday as they take on the Huskies of Northeastern. The puck will drop at 7:30.

NOTES
1.Edwin Shea sat out the game for Issac Macleod, who didn't play a very bad game. He did not turn the puck over as much. The coaching staff has not decided who will play on Monday.

2.Tommy Atkisnon sat out a 2nd straight game. Patrick Brown replaced him on the 4th line with Arnold and Almedia.

3.The Eagles are 102-45-12 in the all-time series against the Friars

4.John Muse is 7-2-2 Vs. PC all time

Cross Interview

http://bceagles.cstv.com/allaccess/?media=228215

Eagles Travel to Providence for the final game before Monday's Beanpot Championship

Boston College travlels down to Providence for it's final game before Mondays Beanpot championship date with Northeartern. BC has won the first two game against PC this year, by scores of 4-1 and 3-1. The Eagles have been lead by there top line of Cam Atkinson Brian Gibbons and Joe Whitney in there recent games against BU,Umass,and Lowell. PC is currently in 9th place in the Hockey East standings. PC is coming off a 7-1 blowout lost to @ UVM. PC's power play ranks 19th in the country and they also carry 3 shorthanded goals on the season. PC's star player is Kyle Mackinnon. Mackinnon has netted 13 goals so far on the season. In the first 2 games this year, BC really dominated PC, it seemed that PC could not keep up with the speed of the Eagles forwards (if anyone can). PC does have a strong goaltender in Alex Beaudry, who has a 3.31 GAA. BC's biggest issue in this game should be it's focus. BC is coming off it's biggest win on Monday, sending Jack Parker and the Terriers to the Beanpot Consolation for just the 11th time in 59 years. BC has the Championship on Monday vs NU, and they could look over this game, and not play well on the road. BC is currently in 2nd in Hockey East, # 1 in the country, and # 2 in the Pair Wise. If Merrimack can pull out a win vs. UNH on Friday, and BC can win, UNH and BC will be tied for 1st in Hockey East. Check later tomorrow for the lineup and tomorrow night for an review on the game.

CROSS NETS OVERTIME GOAL TO LIFT EAGLES PAST TERRIERS IN BEANPOT, 3-2

BC DOWNS BU TO REACH BEANPOT FINAL

In one of the best college hockey games i have ever watched, BC edged past BU on a PP goal from Tommy Cross just 3:17 into OT to send Jack Parker and BU to the consolation game for just the third time in 25 years! BC was led by strong performances from Jimmy Hayes, Bill Arnold, Philip Samuelsson, and of course the top players Gibbons AND Atkinson. In what will most likely be his last game vs. BU, Joe Whitney did not have his strongest performance. He made some bad no look passes, not good shots on net, and did not play well in his own zone. BC struck first at 14:37 when Samuelsson netted his 3rd goal in two games. The goal came as a result of some great hustle from the fourth line of Bill Arnold, Barry Almeida and Patrick Brown. Just 37 second later however Wade Megan put the puck past Muse on a great dish from Garrett Noonan to tie the game at 1 at the end of 1.

In the second, BU dominated the first half of the period. The Terriers were finally rewarded with a goal from Corey Trivino at 2:17 to give Jack Parkers crew the 1 goal lead. BC generated a lot of quality opportunities through the period but could not get the puck past Millian who made 37 saves on the night. At the end of the second stanza, BU still had the 1 goal lead with 20 minutes to play. Of the 4 games between BU and BC, this was definitely BU's best performance. They had many chances to take the commanding 2 goal lead but could not thanks to John Muse. \

The third period wasn't just an ordinary period of hockey. BC doing everything it could to tie the game up, but Millian stood his ground. Finally with 16 minutes left, Jimmy Hayes, who grew up watching the Beanpot tied it up for BC. It was the 13th goal of the season for Hayes who sniped one right by Millian from the slot, to get the game really started. As the period wore on, both teams went up and down the ice but were only to be denied by the opposing goaltender. Muse and Millian both played outstanding games and were probably the MVP for there respective teams.

Now you can't have a BU BC game in the Beanpot without some controversial calls. Well we had too many of them, 90% of them coming against the Eagles. Late in the second, Pat Mullane came flying in from the right circle and apparently put the puck passed Millan. Kevin Hayes crashed the net and the puck was clearly across the goal line. After a lengthy review, The Refs ruled it no goal. I didn’t know at the time that it was a goal, but when I got to see the replay it was a clear cut goal and the game should have been tied. With about 5 minutes remaining in the third, both teams were really bringing out there top guns. Chassion had just missed on a breakaway for Bu, Atkisnon and Gibbons barley missed a 2-1 opportunity. At 15:01, Tim Benedetto called what could have been the worst call I have ever seen, in calling Kevin Hayes for Cross-Checking. After BC had a great kill thanks to Atkinson, Arnold,Gibbions,J.Hayes,and Gibbions and most of all John Muse, Benedetto called yet another penalty on BC, this time it was Samuelsson for hitting from behind with 3 minitues remaining. This call was a little easier to make then the Hayes call. BU's PP certainly got its chances, Ryan Rukkia walked in from the circle only to be stoned by John Muse.

As Samuelsson was coming out of the Box, Gibbons hit him with a great pass to send him in alone and give BC the win. Samuelsson made a good move but couldn't put the backhander in and the game went into overtime. The PK for BC was the turning point of the game, as the Eagles had 2 close in opportunities to pout the game away in the final minute. The best rivalry in college hockey was heading to OT for a trip to go the Beanpot finals vs. NU.

Just 3:01 into the OT session, the refs once again blew the game, this time for the scarlet and red. Ryan Rukkia was going off for cross checking. BC sent it's second unit out with Krieder, Mullane,J.Hayes, Domulin and Cross. After a great faceoff win by J.Hayes, Tommy Cross showed why he has the best shot on the team, putting the puck past Millian at 3:17 to give BC it's biggest win of the year. If you ask me, there is not one person on that team that I would rather have scored that goal then Tommy Cross. HE his been hit with injuries in all of his three years at BC, and has not lived up to the expectations Coach York and his staff hoped he would in his first 2.5 years. Last nights goal may have just been all Cross needed to get his game back to where he and the coaching staff think it should be. I noticed that without Cross, BC really has no ironman back on D. Yes Wey is tough and physical at times, but no where near the type of physical play Cross plays with.

Cross goal sends BC to the 59th Beanpot final against the Northeastern Huskies. BC and NU will meet up 3 teams in the next 14 days. NU rolled over a struggling Harvard team 4-0. People are wondering if Harvard will ever get back into contention for Boston's tribal war. BC's next game is Friday at Providence at 7pm. We will have a report for PC and a recap of the action.

GO EAGLES

SAMUELSSON, ATKINSON LEAD BOSTON COLLEGE PAST MASSACHUSETTS, 5-0

Eagle smoke Umass to win 4th in a row.

Boston College continued it's dominance at home this season last night, beating Umass 5-0. The Eagles were led by 2 goals from Philp Samuelsson and a goal and an 2 assist from Cam Atkinson. Thanks to Tommy Cross getting thrown out 8:49 into the game and Steve Whitney going off for tripping. Umass had the momentum most of the first period with a 5-3 PP for 2 minutes. Once again the Eagles PK came through with some clutch plays to kill of the 2 man advantage. After the kill, BC took control of the game. Joe Whitney added his 4th goal of the year when he cut towards the net and put the puck in the net.

In the second period, BC continued to dominate the pace of the game, and finally was rewarded when Samuelsson roofed a shot from the top of the circle to make it a 2 goal lead for BC. The rest of the second period was just up and down hockey as the Eagles went into the thrid with a 2-0 lead.

In the last stanza, The Eagles took control of the game, scoring 3 in the final period. With goals from Samuelsson,Paul Carey,and who else but Cam Atkinson. Yes the Eagles dominated this game in all areas but one area that BC needs to improve in for Mondays huge game vs. BU, is there power play. BC went 1-4 on the pp, but could not score on the 20 second of 5-3 they had. Let's be honest, BU is going to come out flying on Monday. The Eagles need to take advantage of every opportunity they get vs. BU on the PP. In the 3 games vs BU so far this year, BC is 5/17 on the pp vs the Terriers.

Mondays game will be the biggest of the season for BC, it doesn't get any better then facing your most hated rival in the storied Beanpot. BC's win last night was there 4ht in a row, and they are 5-0 vs BU in there last 5 games dating back to last years Beanpot Final. After watching all of the BC BU games this year, it seems clear to me that BU can't beat BC in 5-5 hockey. If BC takes to many dumb penelties then they will have trouble. They have given BU a whopping 28 PP in the three contest between the two this year.

We will have a full preview for Mondays game tonight. Please tune in tonight for the scouting report on the Terriers.

GRADES
PP-B(1-4)
PK-A(4-4)

BC VS Umass

Tommorow night, BC takes on Umass Amherst at Conte Fourm at 7. This will be Boston College's last game before the Beanpot on Monday vs archrival BU. Umass enters the game with a 5-8-4 record in Hockey East and 6-13-4 record overall. BC swept the season series vs Umass last year, including a sweep in the first round of the Hockey East tournament last year. It's been a lower the average year for Toot Cahoon and the mintuemen. Last year they lost the core of their team, losing star forward James Marcou, Defensemen Chris Wellmen, and Justin Braun. This year the mintuemen are led by forwards T.J. Synder, Mike Pereria,and Danny Hobbs. Yes Umass is having a season they want to forget, but they have one of the best goalies in Hockey East in goalie Paul Dainton. Dainton comes in with a 2.44 GAA which is 5th in Hockey East. This is the first meeting of the year between Umass and BC. BC leads the all time series vs Umass 44-10-3. Coach York is 41-9-3 vs Umass. Cam Atkinson has the most points of any Eagle vs Umass, coming in to the contest with 12 points (7G,5A). Th Eagles lineup will be......

J.Whitney-B.Gibbons-C.Atkinson
P.Mullane-J.Hayes-C.Kreider
S.Whitney-B.Arnold-P.Carey
T.Atkinson-K.Hayes-B.Almedia

The D men will be as usually- Cross,Domulin,Shea,Wey,Alber,and Samuelsson and expect a little playing time for Issac Macleod who had a good week in practice.John Muse in goal

FIVE MINUTE MAJOR - BOSTON COLLEGE JUNIOR FORWARD CAM ATKINSON