Bring On The Terriers

Pat Mullane had 2 points for BC

Despite going 1 for 11 on the power play, including a 1 for 6 mark in the first period, the Boston College Eagles advanced to the TD Garden for a 9th straight season as they soundly defeated the Vermont Catamounts by a 4-1 score. Unlike Friday night where BC's big guns didn't play as well as they have been of late, Saturday they were all over the ice as Mullane, Johnny G, Arnold, and Whitney combined for 7 points. Overall, I really liked the way BC played when it came to 5 on 5 hockey. They were quick, they generated lots of scoring chances, and played some exceptional defense all night long. To be honest, I wasn't sure the return of Patch Alber would have as big of an effect as everyone was saying it would but he made every defenseman around him much better this weekend. The Eagles held Vermont to just 17 shots all night and the only goal they gave up was a garbage time tally late in the third.

I walked out of Conte Forum last night with a totally different feeling than the night before. Friday night BC's third period was terribly concerning. Last night however The Eagles played one of their stronger periods of the season in the third as they were able to put the game out of reach with an early period tally from Johnny G (thanks to an unbelievable pass from Billy Arnold). While BC's offense was solid this weekend, the biggest positive to take out of these two games is that BC's defense allowed just three goals in two games and even though it was an inferior team, the way guys like Wey, Linell, Macleod, and Doherty played this weekend was really encouraging. All in all, I'm sure the staff is going to be really pleased when they look back on this weekend because in reality, BC played 5 really good periods of hockey and if they can find a way to avoid periods like the final one on Friday, then they can continue to win hockey games.

While BC's big guns were great this weekend, I thought a couple of bottom six forwards, Cam Spiro and Brooks Dyroff in particular, played some of their best hockey of the season last night and on Friday. It's amazing how people can thrive in an environment when given the chance to succeed. Spiro and Dyroff had a chance to do that this weekend and they certainly exceeded everyone's expectations.

I hope the guys were able to enjoy this playoff victory for a couple hours last night because this week they need to be well prepared for the weekend ahead.   You think Parker wants to see his last game behind a bench come against his archrival ? They're going to be playing as well as they possibly can and if BC is going to be able to pull off a victory for the ages, they need to be ready.

Why BC Won-

1. Johnny G, Mullane, Whitney, and Arnold were all great. This team can go as far as they want when these guys are playing at a high level and last night they certainly were.

2. BC had as good a weekend on defense as they've had all year.

Problems

This team is banged up. A lot of guys played with injuries last night so it will be good to have a week to rest up and come prepared to win.

BC's power play needs a lot of work. It should have been 7-0 after the first period but instead the Eagles struggled mightily on the man advantage.

Player of the game- Pat Mullane


Go Eagles.