Magic Men

Pat Mullane had two goals and an assist

Here we go again I thought. It was another dull forty minutes of hockey from the Eagles, evident by the 3-0 defect facing this team going into the third period. The "overrated" chants were already booming from the UMass faithful and all appeared lost. But no, not tonight. Thanks to a third period effort that for me, is one of the best periods I have ever seen out a BC Hockey team, the Eagles were able to steal a 5-4 overtime victory in the Mullins Center on Friday night over UMass. I don't know what to say, the effort put forth by these players in the second half of this game was absolutely outstanding. After a great individual effort from Kevin Hayes led to Bill Arnold's goal a minute into the third, Hayes again made a fantastic play on the boards to get Destry Straight his first tally of the year. This was the difference for this BC team compared to last week, the second line was superb. Kevin Hayes, in my opinion, played one his better games in a BC uniform last night and Destry Straight and Bill Arnold also had very good games. After BC got it within a goal, UMass was quick to respond with a goal that i'm pretty sure Milner would like to have back. Ten minutes. That was the time between the fourth UMass goal and the end of the game. 

I don't know if UMass got tired, or what, but in those final ten minutes BC, led by the first line of Johnny G- Mullane- Whitney, completely dominated the play and were rewarded with two Mullane goals (both made possible because of great plays from Patch Alber and Johnny G). After BC had some great opportunities to end the game in the final minute, the ice at the Mullins really began to deteriorate. Because of the bad ice, an injury to one of UMass' best players, and the fact that BC was dominating, you just knew who was going to win. At first, it was UMass that generated a few chances in OT but then they learned a lesson that so many other teams have learned in the past. When you give that first line time and space, you are going to pay a hefty price. After Pat Wey made a nice pass to Mullane who fired it on net, Johnny G tipped the puck by UMass goalie Steve Mastalerz and the Eagles stunned the crowd of 7,678 at the Mullins and walked away with their first win and first roadkill of the year. 

This is what we like to call a real character win. Down 3-0 after forty minutes and then down two goals with just ten minutes left, the team could have just given up. Not last night, instead they battled to the very end and came away with two league points. I think that after two periods, the team, for the first time all year, was really "mad" about what was going on and that was the moment when they began to realize that the party from last year was over. In order to win a game like last night, you have to believe you can win and this team certainly believed that even down three goals, they could still win. All in all, a fantastic way to get the first win of the year but tonight is an even bigger game. Raising the banner will be cool but there is a game to play vs a team that we lost to a week ago. It is certainly fair to say that a win such as last nights is as big a confidence booster as you can have and hopefully we see that same kind of effort tonight. 

Why BC Won-

1. The first two lines were great. When the second line plays like that, BC is a hard team to beat. 

2. The first line took over the game in the final five minutes and OT. I'm really interested to see how many points this line accumulates this year (if they stay together). They are really playing good hockey. 

Problems-

1. The power play had some really good chances but were never able to convert. BC was given a five minute PP right off the bat in the first but were never able to get anything going. The first unit was solid but the second unit is having some struggles getting it together early in the season.

2. Starting games. Make that two games now where the opposition has been able to get some big momentum thanks to great first periods. Being at home tonight with the banner raising ceremony, I think BC will be really fired up and ready to go.

Player(s) of the game- Pat Mullane and Kevin Hayes

Next Up- Banner Night tonight vs Northeastern. 

Preview of NU coming up later. 

Until next time, 

GO EAGLES !