Looking back on the weekend that was

Eagles salute their fans. Photo by Melissa Wade 

It was a tale of two very different games for the Eagles as they played by far their worst game of the year on Friday @ UMass but were able to come back with a very strong win vs Northeastern. As for UMass, the team was simply not ready to play. Yhea, they had their chances but overall, they just looked dead on all cylinders. At first, I thought it was strange that Venti was geting the start on Saturday but he definitely proved me and lots of other dead wrong. He, along with everyone else on that team gave a full, complete effort to beat a very talented Northeastern team at Fenway Park. I thought guys like Chris Kreider, Steve Whitney, and Pat Mullane really stepped up and played well on the big stage. One thing that was not their on Saturday was the line of Straight-Sit-Smith. The group really does seem to create much offense and spends much of their time on the defensive end, many times resulting in a goal for the opposition. One thing that I really liked about the end of that game was how the team held up in the final minutes. After a collapse vs Merrimack last week in the final seconds, the guys did a great job of holding up and preventing great looks for the Huskies.

You, as are my, are probably wondering what the goalie situation is. In his press conference last night, Coach York said that he will stay with the hot goalie. I think that is a good hint that Chris Venti will get another go on Friday up in Maine (a place that is tough for any goaltender).  My theory on why they didn't start Milner is that because he has not been consistent one bit. The goals he has been giving up are just really bad and I believe the staff doesn't have the confidence in him to keep him in there night in and night out. One thing that I will say is that the defense is really improving. In the last five games, BC has only given up around 2 and a half goals a game but the Eagles haven't had too many goals either. I think Brian Dumoulin and Tommy Cross are really having outstanding years. I think Dumoulin would get the MVP of this team if the season ended today and Tommy Cross may be the best captain, leadership wise, BC has had in a long time.

One thing I noticed yesterday, is that BC really controlled the game vs NU. They definitely has more chances and definitely outplayed the Huskies which is something I don't think BC has done in a long time. If it wasn't for Rawlings, the score could have been more along the lines of 4 or 5 goals to 1. Another observation is that this is shaping up to be the best Beanpot in a long time. I mean Harvard was up the whole game on BU before blowing it and NU and BC have had some great games this year. This team though, must focus on the task at hand in facing a very talented Maine team up in Orono. There is no tougher place in the country to come out with a W but I believe if this team sticks to what it did on Saturday, they can get a W or two up there.

Notes- 

1. BC will wear those Fenway jerseys as third uniforms for the remainder of the year.

2. Coach York is now just 6 games from 900 wins.

3. Pat Mullane's goal was his first since October 8th at North Dakota.