The Streak Continues @ Penn State

Boston College entered last night's game vs Penn State riding high on a 10 game unbeaten streak, a period of time in which they haven't lost in 58 days. The Eagles were heavy favorites vs a team they beat 8-2 just a month ago in the championship of the Three Rivers Classic. In fact, if I told you we beat those guys by six goals earlier this season after last night's game, you would have laughed at me. I didn't get a chance to go out there but I watched it on tape and man, did Penn State play hard. That program is certainly going in the right direction. In just their second year of division one hockey, their first in an actual conference, Guy Gadowsky has his team competing with the best programs in the country on a weekly basis. Watch out for the Nittany Lions, they will be real good, real soon. 

When I take a look at how BC played, I was somewhat disappointed with a few things. First of all, being outshot, and really dominated, in the first period is a sign that some guys just were not ready to play. Thatcher Demko had to do a lot of work throughout the whole game but the majority of it was in the first period. Penn State came out real fast, inspired, and probably should've had a lead after twenty minutes. Thanks to a guy named Kevin Hayes, that wasn't the case. 

The second period was a bit better, but it still wasn't what it needed to be. Penn State tied the game early on in the stanza but it was good to see BC bounce back and pick up a late four on four tally from Johnny G. Again, Penn State outshot BC but the Eagles generated a lot of quality scoring chances and forced Penn State goalie Eamon McAdam to make some great saves. 

Just five minutes into the third, Penn State took one of the stupidest boarding majors I have seen in quite sometime and BC could have put the nail in the coffin with a couple of goals. In fact, they did when Bill Arnold made a beautiful pass to a wide open Kevin Hayes to make it a 3-1 game but just a minute later Teddy Doherty gave PSU a penalty shot, while shorthanded (ugh), only for it to be denied by Demko. Unfortunately, just seconds after the missed penalty shot, PSU came down with numbers, and scored, making it a one goal game. It was the first shorthanded goal BC has given up all year. Sure, the power play has been much improved from November and December but giving up odd man rushes is the biggest no-no of all. But again, give credit to Penn State, they forced a lot of turnovers and did the best they could vs the nations top offensive unit. 

Overall, I don't think anyone is jumping up and down after beating a second year program by a single goal but I like the way BC played when leading with just a minute to go. The Nittany Lions attempted five shots in the final 1:16, just one of those got to Demko. Talk about the offense all you want but the way BC played in their own end in the final parts of the game, was terrific. A win is a win and the unbeaten streak continues. 

Why BC Won- 

1. Thatcher Demko was tremendous. 

2. BC just made one more play than Penn State did. It was a really even game but the Eagles just got one more lucky bounce. 

Problems- 

1. BC really didn't play that well, at all. It's gotta be better for Providence on Friday and for a little game on Monday night. 

Player of the game- Thatcher Demko 

Next up- @ Providence on Friday.