WELCOME TO THE JERRY YORK INVITATIONAL

Sorry Jack !! (Photo by Melissa Wade)

For those of you that are NHL fans, have you ever seen the commercials that say "History will be made" ? Well last night, history was made in a big way. The Boston College Eagles officially ended Jack Parker and BU's magical run in a tournament that they have owned for so long in a 3-2 OT victory Monday night. The Eagles were led by a first period goal from Pat Mullane who made just a fantastic individual effort to give the Eagles the 1-0 edge after a period. In the second, the Terriers tied it up on the first of two power play goals for Garrett Noonan. As time was winding down on a BC power play late in the stanza, Chris Kreider continued to prove to everyone in the building why he is the best player in the league when he roofed a snap shot over BU goalie Kieran Millan to give BC a 2-1 lead after two. In the third, it was the Terriers who scored another power play goal, this time on a 5-3, in the middle of the third to tie it up going into OT. 

In OT, it was Bill Arnold who was the man that will officially go down in Beanpot lore as the man who put an end to "The Age of the Terriers" and continued"The Age of the Eagles". You may ask well why are my saying this win is bigger than the previous two Beanpot wins ? I don't know if people realize that no other team has won three Beanpots in a row besides the Terriers since the Eagles did it back in the mid 1960's. As much as BU people don't want to admit it, the torch has been passed. For so long, every single Eagle fan has had to suffer through a year in and year out beating in the hands of Terriers in this tournament. But now, it is the Terriers that can't seem to overcome the Eagles in the Beanpot as BC has won now four straight vs Parker and his team in this great tournament. 

Overall, this has to be one of the great college games I have ever seen in my life. Sure there were some missed calls and a couple of unnecessary whistles. But in the end, it was a hard fought back and forth battle between two teams that really wanted this game. There are a couple guys that I want to talk about and the first will be Parker Milner. It is no secret that Parker has struggled in his career @ BC vs BU but last night was truly one of the great goaltending performances I have ever seen. Every single BU fan on twitter loves to write on his wall about how he is terrible and will never win a game vs them. Well he just stood them and their team right up on the biggest stage. For a kid to have that type of toughness and to be that good under pressure in that type of situation after all he has been through this season is simply special. 

The next name I would like to get to is Johnny Gaudreau. Now you all know that he is my favorite player and I think anyone who doesn't think he is the best freshman in Hockey East is crazy. The last BC player to win the Beanpot MVP as a freshman was Brian Gibbons in 2008. Just by saying that, you know Johnny G is in some pretty elite company. Although he may not have had his best game of the season last night, he is still the biggest 5' 150 lb threat hockey has every seen (Besides Nathan Gerbe and Brian Gionta).

The third name I would like to talk about is a man by the name of Chris Kreider. You know when I made up that list of top 10 players BC has had since 2000 over the weekend ? I didn't include any current players because I wanted to wait until the end of the year but right now, Chris would be around #5 or #6 on that list. I have never seen a guy that is 6'3 have that kind of speed on the ice. Sure, there are a lot of smaller guys that can go as fast but a 6'3 guy ? Not to mention his shot almost went through the net it was so hard. Just an amazing hockey player. 

Ok sorry I am going overboard on the names but only two more. Coach York said last night that Brian Dumoulin's performance was one of the best he has ever seen. After maybe Leetch, Mottau, and Coach Brown,  I truly think that Brian Dumoulin is the third or fourth best defenseman BC has ever had. I am not sure of the exact number but Dumoulin must have played 18 of the 20 minutes in the OT. I'm not joking. He virtually created that game winning goal because he screened Millan when Arnold was winding up to shoot. If not the best defenseman in BC history, definitely one of the best offensive defenseman I have ever seen. 

Ok, I promise just one more paragraph. The final name I would like to talk about is Jerry York. There are a lot of great coaches in the history of college sports (Paterno, Smith, Coach K, Bowden) but Coach York, in my opinion, needs to be talked about as one of the great college coaches of all time. You will never find a better mix of a coach, disciplinarian, mentor and person in your life. After every game, whether it's a win or a lost, he is the first guy to compliment the other team and talk about how his team played without being too critical. This university needs to do something really special for this man because he has brought not only this program but this school and this sport in general to a level that no one will ever match. 

More to come tomorrow. 

Surely a special day to be an Eagle fan/student/alum 

GO EAGLES 

BC vs BU Rivalry hits center stage...again

Here we go again everybody, it's Boston College versus Boston University for the 21st time in the Beanpot Championship. The Terriers unfortunately lead BC in all time championship series games by a 12-8 margin. While BU was the dominant team in the 80's and 90's, nowadays, it seems that the title of Beanpot kings belongs to the Eagles. BC has won three in a row vs BU in this great tournament and have won the previous two championships. Tomorrow should be another epic BC BU game but really, it will come down to two names. Parker Milner and Kieran Millan. Both goalies have had their highs and lows this season with Milner having a couple tough games vs BU and Millan giving up 5 goals to the Eagles in one December meeting. In terms of skill, I think the two teams are very different. BU has more of those big forwards that can really use their bodies to create space an BC is just like your typical BC squad. They are fast, skilled, and smart. Yes, the styles and players are very different but in the end, this should be another barn burner of a hockey game.

BC is 1-2 against BU this season but have outshot the Terriers by a total of 97-76 in the three games. Like I said, in the second meeting of the year in which BU won, BC dominated the game but Parker Milner was off his game and Kieran Millan put together an amazing performance. Just a night later, Brian Billett stoned the Terriers and Millan put up a hilarious display of goaltending in a game in which BC won 6-1. It is all about the goaltending. There is another big factor to consider for tomorrows game. Charlie Coyle and Corey Trivino were both in Terrier uniforms for all three of those games vs BC. Combined, Coyle and Trivino recored 9 points in three games vs the Eagles (Trivino had three goals). Also missing for the Terriers will be defenseman Alex Privitera and forward Yasin Cisse, both of whom have played a big role in what BU has done vs BC this year. Will these four guys being out make a huge difference ? I really think so. I believe with Cisse out, it gives the BC line of Sit-Hayes-Kreider a huge advantage over the BU line of Rosen-Courtnall-Hohmann. (Assuming that's the matchup)

While the Eagles have won four in a row, the Terriers are coming off an embarrassing lost to a UMass team that had not won in an opponents barn before Friday @ BU. When I look at BU, a couple of guys jump out at me. The first guy that scares me is defenseman Adam Clendening, who in my opinion is the second best defenseman in the league behind Brian Dumoulin. Clendening is the man that makes their power play roll with his smart decision making and hard shot from the point. Another Terrier that stands out to me is forward Wade Megan who currently leads all BU forwards in goals scored this season with 14. Megan had a breakout game on Monday versus Harvard as he recorded 2 goals for Jack Parker's team.

In terms of how BC matches up vs BU, I think we match up very good with them. BU doesn't have a lot of guys that can match the speed of guys like Kreider, Almeida, and Gaudreau so if BC can do a good job of breaking out the puck and getting the transition game going, it should be a win for the good guys. The one thing that worries me is Parker Milner. I know he has been great the last couple games but he has not been too good vs the Terriers over the course of his career with a 0-3 record. Both teams also have power plays that are lethal when ever they get the chance. BC's power play is at a whopping 39% conversion rate since the Maine weekend and BU has the #2 power play in the conference. Both teams also have the #1 (BC) and #2 (BU) penalty kills in Hockey East so it should be interesting to see how those units matchup. It should be another great one between the two ancient rivals but hopefully it is the Eagles that once again claim they run this town.

Players to watch

1. Alex Chaisson has great size and a deadly shot along with a good set of play making abilities. Second on the Terriers in scoring.

2. Adam Clendening. Like I said, he really makes this team go. He is one of the best puck movers in the league.

3. Wade Megan. He seems to be coming around after a big game vs Harvard on Monday. One of the better forwards on BU

Keys for the Eagles. 

1. Keep it up. The team has got to continue to avoid turnovers and stay out of the bix because when they don't do this, they always seem to find ways to win.

2. The Transition game. BC has to kill BU when it comes to the transition game in order to win thsi game.

3. Goaltending. Now more than ever, Parker Milner needs to keep up his solid play as of late in order for the team to gain another Beanpot title


Stats 

1. BC is 13-27 all time vs BU but have won three in a row versus the Terriers.

2. Coach York is just two wins away from 900. When he gets there, he will join former Michigan State coach Ron Mason as they only two coaches to ever get to 900 victories. Coach York also has a 23-12 record in the Beanpot.

3. BC is unfortunately  113-127-17 all time vs the Terries. BU is only Hockey East team that BC trails in an all time series.

4. The BC senior class is 7-7-1 vs BU and are 2-1 vs BU all time in the TD Garden.

Prediction- BC 5 BU 3. The speed of the Eagles is too much for BU to overcome.

My Interview with Johnny Gaudreau.

 Here is my interview with BC forward Johnny Gaudreau from Saturday. BU preview will be later tonight 

Question 1- Johnny, can you tell us why you decided to come to BC after decommitng from Northeastern ? 

JG- Well, I decommited from NU because all three coaches left the program. I really liked it there but the three coaches were the reason I decided to go there in the first place and I just didn’t feel comfortable with the new coaches coming in. Here at BC, I mean all of the small guys in the history of BC made me feel very comfortable coming here. It has definitely been a great choice so far.  

Question #2- What has been the biggest adjustment from the USHL to the NCAA level ? 

JG- I would say the speed maybe. It is not much faster but it is definitely quicker than the USHL. The guys here are also a lot smarter than the guys in the USHL. Quicker and smarter at the same time so you gotta know where your feet are and what position your in at all times. The guys have done a great job of helping so far. 

Question #3- After getting paired with Mullane and Carey, you have really lit it up, how have these older guys been able to help you out ? 

JG- Well, I have played with Pat all season long so I mean he has been helping me from start to finish and Paul, I mean he is a great player who is fun to play with and is a great linemate. 

Question #4- What was it like having such a great game on Monday in the Beanpot ? 

JG- Well I mean, I grew up watching the Beanpot so it was awesome to to play in and to score two goals was just an awesome experience for me and I can’t wait for Monday, BC BU rivalry.  

Question #5- What do you guys need to do as a team to be successful on Monday ?

JG- I would say we need to keep playing the way we have the past four/five games, just keep playing are hearts out, getting the puck to the net, and not turn it over. When we started to turn the puck over in January, we just weren't playing our game but the coaching staff has it figured out now. 

Question #6- Do you model your game after an NHL player that you really like ? 

JG- Yhea, I would say either Claude Giroux or Patty Kane I like both of them, watching them, but I would definitely say Claude Giroux because he is from my area and it is fun seeing him around town. (Johnny is a big Flyers fan)

I would like to thank Johnny for taking the time to do this with me and I hope you enjoy...

GO EAGLES ! 

My Top Ten BC Hockey players since 2000

I have been thinking about this for a little while now and thought it would be good to post who I think are the 10 best players BC has had here since 2000

1. Brian Gionta. Really no debate here, Gionta is one of the best players in the history of Hockey East and played a pivotal role in the revival of Boston College Hockey.

2. Mike Mottau- Probably the second best defenseman BC has had all time (Brian Leetch). Mottau is one of just two Boston College players to take home the Hobey Baker along with David Emma

3. Nathan Gerbe. Now, the best that I personally really remember. The most electrifying player I personally have ever seen here @ BC. It seems like he scored every big goal his team needed. He single handedly won BC the national title in 2008 (ok that's a stretch)

4. Brian Gibbbons. His senior season was one of the best seasons I have ever seen here @ BC. The guy had a vision of the ice that will never be matched.

5. Carl Sneep. Ahh the controversial one...Carl Sneep is the only defenseman @ BC to ever win two national championships. Your in the top five for that.

6. Ben Eaves. Eaves led the 2003-2004 Eagles in scoring and also won the scoring title that season in Hockey East. Another Hobey Baker finalsist

7. John Muse. Johnny Muse won three Beanpots, three Hockey East championships, and two national championships. Also had a 13-1 record in the NCAA tournament.

8. Brian Boyle. Boyle had one of the great performances in BC Hockey histoy when he recorded four points in that memorable beat down of Parker and his team in the 2005-2006 NCAA tournament.

9. Blake Bellefuille. BB ranks 10th all time in total points at BC while also ranking 9th on the all time goals scored list @ BC.

10. Joe Whitney. After a lot of thought, I will go Joey Whitney because after all, he to played a pivotal role in brining two national titles to BC. In 2007-2008, Whitney recorded 51 points (As a freshman) which ranks 4th on the all time list in terms of single season records

Honorable Mentions 

1. Cam Atkinson

2. Andrew Alberts

3. Corey Schneider

4. Scott Clemmensen

5. Patrick Eaves

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES SKATE PAST VERMONT CATAMOUNTS, 6-1

In Johnny Gaudreau, We Trust.

Led by freshman Johnny Gaudreau and Jr Chris Kreider, the Boston College Eagles stayed red hot up here in Burlington tonight as they defeated Vermont 6-1. Gaudreau netted two goals and an assist while Kreider did the same (Kreider had a hatrick but the goal later became Kevin Hayes'). The Eagles won this game for a couple reasons. The first reason BC won this game is because BC is 100x better than Vermont. The skill and speed of BC was just way to much for UVM to handle. BC was able to get on the board first when Quinn Smith recorded his first ever goal here @ BC. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin drove hard to the net, let a shot go that was saved by Madore but was soon picked up by Smith. After the BC goal, UVM started really coming hard at the Eagles but really blew it when forward H.T. Lenz was assessed a five minute major for a dirty hit on Barry Almeida. BC blew the game wide open just minutes later when Kevin Hayes tipped in a Chris Kreider shot from the point on the 5-3. Just two minutes after that, Pat Mullane, who now has seven assist in the last four games, made a great dish to Chris Kreider who banged home the one-timmer to put BC up 3-0.

In the second, a guy by the name of Johnny Gaudreau just took over the hockey game. Gaudreau scored two goals just two minutes apart to assure two big points for BC. Now, I have seen a lot of good freshman come through this place but Johnny G is right up there with the best. I have never seen anyone have a better vision of the ice when he has the puck on his stick. All of the BC haters say that he is too small and that there are a lot of better freshman in the league. If you watched this kid for one whole game you would be in the state of shock. I just find it amazing that a guy with his height has that kind of vision and strength. Feel free to disagree but really, this kid is special.

As for the third period, I thought BC played well but Steve Whitney's penalty was just terrible. When you have a 5-0 lead in the third period, there is no need to take a bad retaliation penalty that cost you and your team. Now Steven has been having a great couple of weeks (especially on Monday) but I just don't understand why you need to take that penalty at that juncture in the game. I would title this recap with Chris Kreider's name but if I did it once, I would have to do it every single game. The guy is the most dominant hockey player in this league without a doubt. With his size, speed, and shot, he could jump into the NHL right now if he wanted to. The guy is unstoppable.

As we look ahead to Monday, I thought Parker Milner continued to show he can be that night in and night out goalie for this team. Not only is he making good stops, he is looking much more comfortable between the pipes for the Eagles. I thought the defense did a good job of starting the transition game that makes this team roll. When the defenseman make smart passes up to the forwards to create an odd man rush for BC, good things happen.

Why BC won 

1. Just flat out better. BC is just that much better and more skilled than UVM.

2. The special teams. The power play continued to play pretty well tonight as they went 2/5 and the penalty kill held UVM to 1/5 on the PP

3. Lots of chances created. The Eagles really wore down the Catamounts by using their speed to create multiple chances on UVM goalie Rob Madore.

Problems 

1. I just didn't like the Steve Whitney 5 minute major. Vs BU, that would kill us.

Player of the game- Look at the title. Ok, Kreider is a close second.

Notes- I believe I will be interviewing Johnny Gaudreau tomorrow so tune in later tomorrow night for a interview. If not tomorrow, then Sunday.


T minus 2 days. 

Previewing the Vermont Catamounts

Well here it is, the last Hockey East opponent that BC has yet to face this year, the Vermont Catamounts. This year has been one tough go for the Cats' as they sit in last place in Hockey East with a 2-17-1 record in Hockey East and a 5-21-1 record overall. You could say there are a lot of reasons for the struggles this season for the Catamounts but the main reason in many experts' minds is the goaltending. UVM currently ranks dead last in all major goaltending categories and they have also let up an amazing 111 goals this season, that it is 25 goals away from the second place team in that category, UMass. If you look down the UVM roster, you could definitely say they have good players on their team. Sebastian Stalberg currently ranks tied for eight in overall scoring in Hockey East with 27 points this year and he also averaging 1.14 points per game for Kevin Sneddon's club. Also, sophomore Connor Brickley has had a breakout year for UVM. Brickley was just one of four Hockey East players to make the World Jr Championships this season along with Billy Arnold, former BU forward Charlie Coyle, and BU defenseman Adam Clendening. Obviously, there is some skill there for the Catamounts but for multiple reasons that  can't really be figured out by many, this team has yet to put it together.

Some may be asking "What does UVM have to play for, they are done" ? Yes, UVM is all but out of the Hockey East playoffs but they have one thing that they can play for in the remainder of the season. Pride. This team has a home game vs BC, two vs BU, and another two @ BC later on this season. Nothing is better than crushing one of your league rivals' chances of getting home ice in the playoffs or even ending their NCAA hopes. In their past 5 Hockey East road games, BC is just 1-4 and have won just once since  2005 at Gutterson Field House. I really think this is going to be a close game because I think BC is going to overlook this Vermont team and I think the Catamounts are going to take advantage. If Parker Milner continues to play solid in net, there is no reason BC shouldn't pick up two crucial Hockey East points here but if he is off, bad things could happen. I know this sounds bad but I want to see a big BC win tomorrow night. This team seems to have it's swag back after sweeping UNH and blowing out NU @ the Beanpot. A win here @ The Gut is just what the team needs to keep up that swagger for Monday.

Keys for BC 

1. Continue to win the battles. On Monday, it seemed that BC won all of those little battles on the walls that resulted in odd man rushes for the Eagles. Look for this to continue.

2. Don't overlook this UVM team. Like I said, if UVM gets goaltending, they can hang with BC because they have some decent players like Stalberg and Brickley.

3. Stay out of the box. If BC gives UVM too many chances on the power play, the Catamounts could definitely shock the world. If BC stays out of the box, look for a nice win for the Eagles.

4. Keep the four lines rolling. All four lines were fantastic vs NU on Friday. I think that the depth of this BC team is unmatched in Hockey East.

Players to Watch 

1. Sebastian Stalberg. Considered by many to be one of the most skilled players in the league. Stalberg is definitely the most dangerous player on this UVM team with a 11-17-28 line.

2. Kyle Reynolds. One of the best freshman in Hockey East. Reynolds has recorded a 10-11-21 line so far this season for UVM. Also Won rookie of the month last month in Hockey East

3. Nick Bruneteau- The sophomore has two goals and 14 assist on the year for UVM. One of the better younger players on this team.

Key Stats 

1. Boston College leads the all time series vs UVM 26-12-4 and are 8-8-4 all time @ Gutterson Field House.

2. Vermont has scored just 64 goals this entire season which ranks them dead last in Hockey East. BC is second with 94. (Maine is first)

3. Vermont also has the worst penalty kill in Hockey East with just a 68% kill rate. That's not to good.

4. One thing UVM is good at is they stay out of the box. UVM averages just 12.4 peanlty minutes a game.

Prediction-I just don't see UVM winning this game. BC 4-1

Note- Check in for twitter updates @bchockeyblog1 as I will be up at The Gut for this one. This is the last rink I have yet to visit in Hockey East.

Midweek Column- The Boys Are Back In Town

There were a couple of BC Hockey fans (including myself) that were very worried about this hockey team after the Merrimack tie, the embarrassing lost at UMass, and the sweep @ UMaine. This team, led by the coaching staff, has overcome all of the critics and hype about how this BC team was done and they were not going to the NCAA's. Yes, the mission is not even close to being over as we are just entering trophy season but it sure seems that this Boston College hockey team is back. The biggest reason the guys are playing better?  They are getting much better production from the top guys like Kreider, Gaudreau, Hayes, and Mullane and they are getting goaltending that is good enough to lead this team to victories. As we focus in on this Vermont game on Friday, it is easy to say "Well UVM stinks, BC will win by 10 goals" Personally, I really don't think that is going to happen. As a matter of fact, I think UVM is going to come out flying vs the Eagles because they have nothing to lose and well BC could be looking forward to a game on Monday in the Beanpot. While a win @ UVM will not help BC move up to say #2 or #3 in the pairwise, it would certainly not let them drop below #8 or #9 in the standings. In a Hockey East race as close as this year's, every single point is huge because if you waste those points that you probably should get, you could be playing on the road in the playoffs compared to playing in your own barn.

BC's past couple results @ The Gut have not been too good as the Eagles are just 2-3-2 in their last seven in Burlington. In their last meeting though, @ Conte Forum, BC defeated UVM by a score of 6-0 on 11/28/10. Ok to be honest, BC can only lose this game if two things happen. The first way they can lose is if they get penalties. The Catamounts rank eight in total power play percentage in Hockey East but they do have some good players like Jr forward Sebastian Stalberg and sophomore forward Connor Brickley that can really move the puck around. Another way BC can lose this game is if they get too confident and overlook the Cats'. As I said earlier, UVM is probably out of the playoffs so nothing would make them feel better than to ruin a team like BC or BU's season by handing them devastating pairwise losses. I do not expect the staff to let the players overlook this game because it means a lot in the pairwise and Hockey East standings and if this team does happen to lose on Friday, it would really be a momentum killer going into the big one on Monday.

Also, I will be hosting a live chat tomorrow night here on the blog for a chat session on BC Hockey and I will post my UVM preview.

UVM Stats

1. The Catamounts are in last place in Hockey East and have also dropped 14 of their last 16 games. The Cats' were swept by UMass Lowell at the Tsongas Center last weekend.

2. While the Cats' have had a tough year, they have had some nice wins over Minnesota, Ferris State, and also UMass Lowell back on January 13th.

3. Sebastian Stalberg leads all Catamounts in scoring with 11 goals and 17 assist on the year. In goal, it is not known who will go in net but Rob Madore, their senior goaltender, has posted a .873 save % this season, which ranks him last in the league.

Remember to join us for a live chat on Thursday @ 8:30 

GO EAGLES

Watch Out Jack.

Johnny Gaudreau had two goals last night. Photo by Melissa Wade.

Ok ok, I know we have Vermont on Friday but I can't help but put this as the title because Monday is going to be an absolute war. Anyways, the Eagles put together their best 60 minute game of the year to defeat the Northeastern Huskies last night in the first round of the Beanpot. The reason the Eagles won ? Honestly, Northeastern made a big mistake in trying to skate and go toe to toe with the Eagles. I don't know any team in the country that can match the speed (let alone the Huskies) and skill that this BC team has. Like I said last week, when the star players step up and Parker Milner does his job in net, this is the best team in country. Freshman sensation Johnny Gaudreau continued his hot streak last night with two goals on NU goalie Chris Rawlings (who was terrible all night). That is now four goals in the last four games for Johnny G as he is quickly getting back into top form after a couple of tough weeks in December and early January. Also, remember when I gave Steve Whitney a C for mid-season grades and said he needs to step up ? Well guess what, Whitney is quickly becoming not just a solid player on this BC team but is starting to becoming a real "impact" player on this team. Whitney had the game winner vs UNH two weeks ago and also recorded two SHORTHANDED goals last night vs an atrocious Huskies power play. I also can't say enough about Parker Milner, just give it up to the kid. Everyone continues to say "He is terrible" or "He can't win big games" Well last night, Parker notched the biggest win of his BC career. The scoreboard wouldn't show it but Milner had to make some big stops early on in this game to keep the Huskies at bay. 

In the last 10 years here at BC, there have been a lot of good senior classes (the 2011 one most notably) but to be honest, I think this class has a chance to be #1. I think Tommy Cross is one of the best pure leaders Coach York has had in his time here at BC and guys like Barry Almeida and Paul Carey seem to come up with big plays whenever they are needed. Also, I thought the line of Smith-Straight-Linell really played well last night as well. They have struggled a little bit this year mainly in the offensive zone but I thought last night they actually created a couple of real solid chances on Rawlings. The penalty kill continued to show why it is number one in Hockey East as they killed 4 of the 5 Huskie power plays (NU had a nice 5-3 goal). 

The critics will keep saying "Well this BC team is still overrated" and "They are not BU" I got news for everybody, this BC team is back. As bad as Northeastern played last night, they are by no means a bad hockey team that isn't capable of defeating good teams. As long as this team keeps scoring (thats 14 goals in the last three games) and keeps getting solid goaltending from Milner, they can go a long, long way. While everyone (including myself ) is looking towards Monday night, this team cannot overlook playing UVM @ The Gut. If BC is to gain ground on BU and Lowell in the standings, they must get six of the possible six points available vs Vermont for the remainder of the year. 

Why BC Won 

1. They wanted it more. "It was men vs boys" said NU coach Jim Madigan about how his team compared to the Eagles last night. I thought BC did an outstanding job of winning the battles on the boards in the last two periods to create odd man rushes. 

2. Goaltending. Like I said, when Milner is on, this team is really tough to beat. 

3. The new lines. I absolutely love these new lines. I think the Gaudreau-Mullane-Carey line is becoming one of the best lines in the league. Paul Carey is playing amazing hockey right now. 

4. Northeastern was really bad. For some reason, the Huskies were not ready to play at all. They were flat in every way. Especially in the last 40 minutes. 

Problems 

1. I am worried about this Vermont game. It is the biggest trap game of all time due to the fact that BC plays their archrival on Monday in the Beanpot. 

Stats  

1. BC is now 40-18-1 all time at the TD Garden inclduing a 17-3 record since the 06-07 season. 

2. BC will play BU for the 21st time in the Beanpot final. BU leads 12-8 all time in Beanpot finals. 

3. The seven goals last night were the most in a first round since 1997 when BU scored 7 on Harvard. 

4. BC has won the last three Beanpot meeting vs BU. All have been either one goal games or games that have gone into OT. 

BOSTON COLLEGE SKATES PAST NORTHEASTERN, 7-1, IN BEANPOT

Parker Milner to go vs The Huskies

Jr goaltender Parker Milner will make his third consecutive start on Monday vs the Northeastern Huskies in the 60th anual Beanpot. Milner is 2-0 vs the Huskies this season.

Previewing the Northeastern Huskies and The Beanpot

Well folks, Monday will mark the 60th time these four schools will go at it in this great tournament and in all of the years the teams have played this tournament, this may be the most wide open the tournament has ever been. As for who the favorite is, I think any one of the four teams can win it. Listin, if there is one thing we have learned over the 60 years of watching this war, it is that ANYBODY can win this thing. Will it BC BU again ? Honestly, it probably will be because they are the two best teams in the tournament but like I said, you never know in the Beanpot. I think Harvard and Northeastern both have great chances. As you know, BU loves to take penalties so if they give the number one power play in the country their chances, the Crimson could definitely take advantage. With Quailer and Ferriero out, I think it's going to be that much tougher for the Huskies but guys like the 21 year old freshman Ludwig Karlsson, Braden Pimm, and their goalie Chris Rawlings can help them upset the Eagles. Like I said last week, I think this BC team is starting to soar. Guys like Barry Almeida, Chris Kreider, and Johnny Gaurdeau are really starting to play good hockey for this club and if those guys are on like they have been, BC is the best team in the league. For the Eagles, it all boils down to goaltending. Parker Milner made some spectacular saves last week vs UNH and as long as he is winning, he will go.

When I look at NU, I definitely think they have a chance in this game. If BC takes a bunch of penalties, turns the puck over at the blue line, and doesn't back check, Northeastern will win this game. In the Fenway game, I thought BC did a great job of limiting NU to a lot of "grade A" chances and also created a lot of good chances of their own. Obviously, if this continues, BC will have a great shot in this game. I am really starting to like these new lines for BC and also think they matchup very well vs the Huskies. I think the Carey-Mullane-Gaudreau line is really going to have a fantastic game because they all complement each others games very well. Mullane does the hard work down low, Gaudreau can dish the puck better than anyone on the team, and Carey is the best "finisher" on the squad. In the three matchups this season between BC and NU, the Eagles have outshot the Huskies by a 109-55 margin so just by looking at that stat, it should show you who has controlled the play in the three matches. Hopefully it continues on Monday.

Keys for the Eagles 

1. Pressure the Huskies in their own end. I noticed that BC was able to create a lot of odd man rushes in the Fenway game by forcing NU pass into tight lanes. This needs to continue in order for BC to win

2. Goaltending. Parker Milner looked great last Saturday vs UNH and has also played pretty solid vs the Huskies this year. If BC gets a big night from him, there is no reason we shouldn't win this game

3. Winning battles. What I have noticed in all of the Hockey East games I have watched this year is that the team tha wins the battles in the corners, gets the rebounds, and makes that simple play to clear the puck usually wins games. Whoever is able to win the small battles will win this game.


Players to Watch

1. Ludwig Karlsson. The freshman leads the Huskies in scoring this season with 9 goals and 14 assist.

2. Vinny Sapronari. The former BU forward is really having a great rebound season with the Huskies. Sapronari had the game winning goal in OT vs UMass on Friday for NU

3. Chris Rawlings. What I love about Rawlings is that he is a very mobile goalie. If you watch him play, you can instantly see how quick he is to stop secondary shots.

Predictions- With Qualier and Ferriero in the lineup, this may be a different result but I just don't see NU winning without these players. BC 4-2 and Harvard 4-3 in OT

Two key Huskies out for the Beanpot.

Don't be worried, the Eagles are 100% for Monday but two Northeastern players, Steve Quailer and Cody Ferriero will be out for the big game. Quailer is out for three weeks with a knee injury and Ferriero is out after having season ending knee surgery this morning. Quailer is second on the team in points while Ferriero is sixth. Be sure to check in over the weekend for the Beanpot preview

GO EAGLES

Midweek Column-Beanpot Time

The 2008 team after the OT win vs Harvard 

"It's the greatest social and athletic tournament in the country" those are the words of legendary Boston College coach John "Snooks" Kelly describing the Beanpot tournament and for those of you that disagree, just go to one Beanpot game. Simply put it, it's a tribal war between four schools separated by one river and they meet once a year in the first two weeks in February. Ask any hockey fan from Minnesota, they probably don't know what the thing is, but to us Boston hockey fans, it means everything because it's ours and only ours. The tournament itself has long been owned by BC and BU but it seems that this year it's anyone's to take. Another amazing thing about the Beanpot is that Northeastern and Harvard have NEVER met in the championship game. Think about it, we have been doing this thing for 59 years now (soon to be 60) and they have NEVER met in the finals. I personally, can't remember a Beanpot in the last ten years that has been more wide open than this one is.

I mean look it, Harvard and NU have brought BC and BU to the brink of losses this year, with BC and NU playing three one goal games (all won by the good guys) and Harvard had a two goal lead on BU earlier this year. Personally, I would not be the least surprised if NU gets Harvard in the championship but both will have to play there best hockey of the year to win their respective games. Now, you like me, want to see BC and BU square off once again (But Ill definitely be rooting for Harvard) and rightfully so because it's the best rivalry in the sport on one of the biggest stages in the sport. Someone asked me the other day "What is the best Beanpot you have ever been to ?" I thought about it for a second and replied "They're all good". (OK Tommy Cross last year vs BU was great) But, it's true. Every single Beanpot game is an amazing 60 minutes of hockey that usually involves some controversy or nail bitting finish.

If you ask me what my favorite sporting event of the year is, I would probably say the Beanpot. I don't know what else to say except that it's just the best thing in the world knowing that no matter what happens for the remainder of the year, you still are known as "Beanpot Champions".  It's pretty amazing that four of the best college hockey programs in the whole entire country are located just miles apart from each other. As for what I think about this year's tournament, you can probably guess what I think. BC Harvard. I am still wondering how in the world BU is second in the pairwise after those two losses but anyway, that's why they play the game. I also think NU has a very good shot @ beating BC. It is pretty darn hard beating a team four times in one year but remember the Eagles won all four vs BU last season including a first round victory in the Beanpot. Now let's looks a couple of list/stats.

My favorite Beanpot games

1. BC 3 BU 2 OT 2011. I don't know why but that win was just great, Jack Parker's reaction topped it off for me

2. BC 2 BU 1 2004. For as long as I live, I will never forget Ryan Murphy's goal that night. Also an amazing goaltending performance by Sean Fields of BU

3. BC 7 NU 6 2011. I have to admit, I fell bad for the Huskies. Every single year the are heartbroken by some type of late goal.

4. BC 6 Harvard 5 2008. Nick Petricki's OT goal and the canoe celebration were both amazing.

5. BC 4 BU 3 2008 first round. Nathan Gerbe, all I have to say.


Some cool Beanpot stats 

1. Harvard and Northeastern have NEVER met in the Beanpot finals.

2. Since this is Jim Madigan's first Beanpot as head coach of NU, it should be noted that NU coaches are 0-7 all time in their first Beanpot games.

3. John Cunnif of Boston College is the only player to win the Beanpot MVP more than once.

4. Since 1994, the Beanpot has either been won by BC or BU

5. BU's Jack Parker is an amazing 51-19 in the Beanpot. By far the most wins of any coach in Beanpot history.

6. Joe Cavanagh of Harvard holds the Beanpot scoring record with 19 points. (7 G, 12 A)

Tune in for more over the weekend !

GO EAGLES

Men's Hockey: #7 Boston College tops UNH in overtime

Look who's back !

In a game that had and outstanding pace to it, the Boston College Eagles were able to get two crucial points as they defeated the UNH Wildcats 3-2 in OT tonight in front of 6,501 fans @ the Whittemore Center. Both teams recorded great chances all throughout the game but it was the Eagles who were able to capitalize on a power play chance late in the OT. It's just one of those feel good wins as this team has not won a league road game since December 3rd @ BU and have been somewhat struggling to score at critical junctures in games. One thing that I noticed tonight was that all of the defenseman really started to play more physical and I thought each and every one of them had some strong points in the game tonight. I thought guys like Edwin Shea and Isaac Macelod, both of whom have struggled a tiny bit as of late, had great games today. Shea set up the first goal when he threw a shot towards Barry Almeida, who redirected it past DeSmith to give BC the 1-0 edge early on. I thought UNH also had a very good game tonight as there were a bunch of points in the game, most notably at the end of the second, where UNH was all over BC but Parker Milner was able to make some key stops for the Eagles. I thought the BC penalty kill was once again pretty good tonight as they made a big stop with about nine minutes left to keep the game tied and held the Cats' to 1/6 on the PP. The power play continues to do their job when needed most. Of course there were times where it wasn't great but they got the job done when they were needed. Before I forget, if Barry Almeida is not in the Hobey Baker conversation by years end, there needs to be an FBI investigation. The guy continues to be not just the best player on this team but the best player in the league.

Why BC won 

1. Big goals at critical times. Last weekend, it was Maine who had key goals at key times vs BC. This weekend, it's the Eagles who come up with big goals late in games. 

2. Parker Milner. 31 saves in that environment is pretty tough to do. In two combined games this year @ The Whit, Milner has stopped 70 Wildcat shots. 

3. Barry Almeida. All I am going to say is he better be in the Hobey conversation. 

4. The new lines really seem to be clicking. The lines of Gaudreau-Mullane-Carey, Almeida-Arnold-Whitney and Kreider-Hayes-Sit all had great weekends. I really like the Whitney, Arnold, and Almeida line.

Problems 

1. The second UNH goal was pretty bad. I am not sure what happend but Borisenok was left wide open in front, the other UNH goal was just a good PP goal. 

Next Up- First Monday in February. You know what that means. 

Player of the game- Barry Almeida no questions asked. I thought Arnold and Kreider were also very good 

LATE WHITNEY GOAL GIVES BOSTON COLLEGE 4-3 WIN OVER NEW HAMPSHIRE

Eagles escape with a 4-3 win over New Hampshire

Steve Whitney after his game winner. Photo by  Melissa Wade 

It was another classic Hockey East battle as the Eagles defeated UNH for their fourth straight win over the Wildcats. BC got off to a great start as Kevin Hayes (who had an outstanding game) tallied a goal just 35 seconds in the contest. After controlling the play for the rest of the period but with nothing to show for it, the Eagles then went on to give up a bad goal to the Wildcats just 3 minutes into the middle stanza. John Henrion skated in on Milner who was able to make the initial save but Henrion followed the puck to the corner and fired back in front as it was soon tipped in by Austin Block to tie things up. Right after that, it seemed UNH was really taking it to BC as the Wildcats scored again just 3 minutes later to go up 2-1. Give credit to UNH, they may not be too good this year but they really battled hard and had a lead late in this game. After the Cats' took the lead for the first time, Chris Kreider may have scored the goal of the year as he just completely flew by a UNH defenseman to get the puck and eventually beat DeSmith to tie it up while on the PK.

The third period was a lot like the first in the sense that BC was all over UNH but the Wildcats were ones who took the lead with 5 minutes to go as Scott Pavelski picked up a Trevor van Riemsdyk rebound and put it past Milner. Just seconds after the UNH goal, Austin Block was called for interference to give BC a power play. The power play struggled most of the night but scored when it mattered most as Johnny Gaudreau tied it up after tipping in a Brian Dumoulin shot from the point. With 51 seconds to go, Steve Whitney capped off his game of the year with the game winning goal when he snipped one past DeSmith from the top of the circle (An awesome pass by Pat Mullane to get it to Whitney)

Well, it wasn't pretty but any night we win and The Other School losses it's a great night. BC moved to just one game back of BU as both teams hit the ice once again tomorrow (BC @ UNH, Maine @ BU). I thought a couple of guys were just outstanding tonight. Guys like Chris Kreider, Johnny Gaudreau, and Kevin Hayes really played well tonight. As I said, the star players on this team like Gaudreau, Kreider, and Hayes need to step up and tonight they certainly did. I think Barry Almeida continues to be one of the most underrated players in the league as he played great on both ends. Did a Couple of bounces go our way ? Sure, but I thought those last five minutes were the best since the 60 minutes in the raid on Agganis in December. Great team win tonight but another must win tomorrow to keep pace in pairwise and standings.

Why BC won 

1. Key guys stepped up. When guys like Gaudreau, Kreider, and Hayes are playing at that level, BC is tough to beat.

2. The penalty kill. A great night for a unit that kind of struggled last weekend @ Maine. UNH did not have a ton of great looks tonight.

3. BC really dominated the hockey game. Not only did BC win but they controlled the game. The Eagles outshot the Wildcats by a 34-13 margin.



Problems 

1. Parker Milner struggled tonight. The goaltending issue continues to kill this team as I think we will definitely see another number in net @ The Whit tomorrow night.

2. I think the power play still needs improvement. Yes, the tying goal was big but going 1/5 isn't going to cut it.

Next Up- Saturday night @ UNH 7 o'clock puck drop

Player of the Game- I can't decided on about three guys. Ill go with Steve Whitney because of the game winner.

Hockey East predictions

FRIDAY 
Northeastern @ Vermont. I like the Huskies in the one, they really need it. NU 4-2

Lowell @ UMass. The Minutemen are undefeated @ The Mullins. UMass 5-3 over Lowell

Maine @ The Other School. Maine 5-2.. People will begin to realize this BU team has not proven anything yet. They beat Harvard, NU, Merrimack, and Providence. Really great wins there.

UNH @ BC- UNH is better than their record says but I like BC @ home. Eagles 4-3.



SATURDAY 
Northeastern @ Vermont- I think this will be a victory for UVM. I dont see NU winning two up here. UVM 3-2

UMass @ Lowell- The River Hawks salvage a split with their rival. Lowell 4-1

Maine @ The Other School- I want to say split but I kind of think this will end in a draw.

BC @ UNH- BC gets four huge points on the weekend. BC 3-2 in OT

SUNDAY 

Providence @ Merrimack- The Warriors keep pace with BU, BC, and Maine. MC 5-2

Previewing the UNH Wildcats and the Lines

This weekend the Eagles will finish their season series vs conference rival New Hampshire, BC will host UNH on Friday before traveling to Durham on Saturday. In the first meeting between the teams on 10/15 the Eagles defeated UNH by a score of 5-1 but were outshot by UNH by a 40-25 margin. UNH's leading scorer and one of the best scorers in Hockey East is Senior Steve Moses who leads the team with 17 goals and 11 assist. Some of the other top players for Dick Umile's club are Sophomore Nick Sorkin who has registered 6 goals and 19 assist so far this season. Sorkin also had the only UNH goal in that game vs BC (a power play goal). Also, freshman Trevor Van Riemsdyk leads all defenseman in points for the Cats' with 12 points. One thing that every UNH team has had in the past few years is a first line that could never be stopped but this year it doesn't seem like the Wildcats have killer first line compared to years past. Yes, the Moses-Sorkin-Goumas line is dangerous but compare that to Butler-Thompson-DeSimone from a year ago (they wer almost better than Maine's Abbott-Flynn-Diamond line). The biggest letdown this season for UNH this season has been the play of SR goalie Matt Di Girolamo who went into the season being rated one of the top goalies in the country but currently is on the bench in place of Freshman Casey DeSmith. After this weekend, we should have a very good picture of what the playoffs will look like as The Other School host Maine, Lowell and UMass go at it for two games, NU travels to UVM for two and Providence heads to Merrimack on Sunday.

Keys for the Eagles

1. Goaltending. It looks like Parker Milner will be in net for BC. Parker has 39 stops last time out vs UNH.

2. The penalty kill. Last weekend was a terrible one for a BC power play that just got destroyed by Maine. This UNH power play isn't Maine but it still ranks in the top five in the league.

3. Keep the offense going. Last weekend was the first weekend in a while in which BC started scoring. This needs to continue vs the Wildcats

4. The new lines need to be clicking. I like the new pairings of Almeida-Arnold-Whitney and Gaudreau-Mullane- Carey. We will see how they work out

Players to Watch 

1. Steve Moses. Leads the team with 17 goals and 11 assist. Ranks among the best overall players in the league.

2. Nick Sorkin. 6 goals and 19 assist. One of the best young players in this league.

3. Connor Hardowa. UNH's best defenseman, very dangerous with the puck.

All time Series- UNH leads the all time series  63-62-12 vs BC.

Prediction- BC sweep but both games are decided by one goal. BC needs at least three points.

Note- Looks as if Parker Milner will be in net.

Last time I put out the lines, they were not in positional order. Here they are.

Sit-Hayes-Kreider


Almeida-Arnold-Whitney


Gaudreau-Mullane-Carey


Smith-Straight-Linell

Midweek Column-It's do or die time

BC gets two games vs UNH this weekend 

Usually when you see UNH weekend upcoming, your reaction is "Well this is going to be one tough weekend".  This has obviously been a very tough year for UNH as they sit in unchartered territory at 7th in Hockey East. As much as BC needs four points, the Wildcats are also very desperate because say they get no points over the weekend, they could be in big trouble for just making the Hockey East tournament. As for BC, it's simple, you win two games this weekend, you are back in contention for a #1 seed and right back in the thick of things Hockey East regular season championship wise. In the first meeting of the year between BC and UNH in mid October @ The Whit, BC got outplayed for most of the game but was able to tally a 5-1 victory over the Wildcats. Since then though, both teams have had sub par seasons (for the most part) but have a chance to make up for it in the last couple weeks here. For the Eagles, they need to have one mindset and that is that they must get four points this weekend, no matter what it takes. I think it will be interesting to see how the new line changes work out. I like the new lines of Arnold-Whitney-Almeida and Gaudreau-Carey-Mullane but I am some what worried about the Hayes-Kreider-Sit line simply because Mike Sit really needs to come up big and he has not really had the chance to do so (he is definitely capable of doing it though). Win both games this weekend and were in business, lose two games, well it's beginning of the end for this team. Here are some interesting stats between BC and UNH.

STATS 

1. UNH leads the all time series 63-62-12 vs BC. UNH is just 14-17-6 all time @ Conte Forum. BC is just 7-16-2 all time @ The Whit

2. Steve Moses is tied for the league lead in goals with Maine's Joey Diamond with 17 goals on the year. Moses has tallied a total of 38 points this year.

3. UNH switched starting goalies a couple weeks ago as freshman Casey DeSmith has taken over between the pipes for the Wildcats. DeSmith has a .927 save % and a 3-3 record in games started this year.

4. UNH is 4-4-2 in it's last 10 trips to Conte while BC is 5-3-2 in it's 10 trips to The Whittemore Center

Preview will be up tomorrow

GO EAGLES

We could be seeing these lines on Friday...

Being the wacko that I am, I attend practice today and the lines were once again shaken up. Here's how they looked...

Sit-Hayes-Kreider

Whitney-Almeida-Arnold

Gaudreau-Carey-Mullane

Smith-Straight-Linell.

Honestly, I like the middle two lines a lot. I really like the Whitney-Almeida-Arnold line as it could become the new "big line" for the Eagles. My second thought is that Mike Sit is really going to have to prove himself. Playing with Kreider and Hayes is a big step up for him so he needs to be ready when the puck comes to him as he will be given the opportunity to start scoring. For those of you that are wondering, I bet this is what the staff will go with for Friday. We will see tomorrow if they change in the coming days.

GO EAGLES

So...What Happend to Eagles in Orono ?

Well the two games this weekend were certainly both heartbreakers as Maine was just able to sneak by the  Eagles by scores of 4-3 in OT and 7-4 (with two empty netters) on Saturday. I thought BC did a lot of good things well such as getting the offense going again and sustaining some pressure on Maine. Going into the weekend however, BC had two things they had to do. Not take penalties and prevent the first line of Diamond-Abbott-Flynn from dominating the game. Well the Eagles failed in these two things as they really just gave both games right to the Black Bears. Both games definitely could have been won by BC but crucial mistakes down the stretch in both games were killers. Steven Whitney (who I thought had a great weekend as a matter of fact) made a big mistake when he got the first penalty late in the third on Friday which was soon followed by Pat Wey's stupid cross checking penalty 10 seconds after Whitney went to the box. Yes, BC made mistakes but give all the credit in the world to Tim Whitehead and the Black Bears as they were able to capitalize on what it seemed every single power play they got. BC learned a very valuable lesson this weekend, when you play great teams like Maine, you cannot make the slightest errors.

Now everyone is saying "Well BC is done" and "This team can't beat the elite's" I got news for you people, it is not easy winning in that barn vs that team. This BC team is not dead yet, as they MUST sweep UNH this weekend to keep pace with BU (the Terriers have a tough weekend vs Maine) this week. I am not worried about this team when they are playing at Conte but on the road, it seems that this team is struggling. The goaltending issue is now at an all season high as neither Chris Venti or Brian Billett had a very solid start this week and Coach York says that Parker Milner is not hurt and it was a coaches decision for him not to start. Will Milner get another chance ? I think so and maybe he will even get a shot on Friday vs UNH. I think it will be a lot easier for any one of these guys to play at home. I mean look at the last couple road games, @ Joe Louis vs Michigan, @ UMass, and @ Maine x2, none of those are easy places to get wins. I hope that one of these guys can step up this weekend and help this team stay in the Hockey East race with 4 points.

Trust me, this BC team is not done. Look, things get a little easier here with games vs UNH, Northeastern (in the grandaddy of them all), and Vermont so yes, this BC team is still alive for the Hockey East regular season championship and a NCAA #1 seed. Do they have work ? Sure they do but trust me if they can get four points vs the Wildcats on Friday and Saturday, this team is right back on track.

Maine completes sweep of Boston College with a 7-4 win

Joey Diamond had two goals for Maine 

First of all, sorry for the lateness of this as I was not able to get back until late last night. BC really battled hard last night up in Orono as they even got up to a 2-0 early on. As I said in my preview, Maine is good because they are best at capitalizing on the mistakes that any teams makes. BC took five penalties and Maine had three power play goal. It's simple, when you take penalties vs a team like that, you are going to lose no matter the situation. When the game was tied late and BC had an odd man rush going into the Maine zone, Steve Whitney (I believe) made a drop pass the Macleod that was intercepted by a Maine player and they had a 3-1 they other way and they scored. People were questioning if pulling the goalie with 2:16 was the right call, of course it is the right  call. You never know if you are going to get an offensive zone faceoff like that again the whole game so yes, it was definitely the right call. Yes, BC battled hard and played well in a tough environment but things are not going well right now for the Eagles in terms of winning. It seems like the offense is coming back after scoring 7 goals this weekend but in reality, this team can't settle for "good efforts", this team needs two points night in and night out. The Eagles get a home and home next weekend vs a hot UNH team.


Why BC lost- 

1. The mistakes. Maine's power play is going to score when you give them the chance so you can't take stupid penalties that give them those chances.

2. Odd man rushes. Too many guys are just darting up when BC has an odd man rush going but say they turn it over, like they did yesterday, no one is back and the other team has a 2/3 on 1.

3. Goaltending. Billett wasn't that bad but he gives up way to many rebounds. The shorthanded and winning goal for Maine were juicy rebounds he let up after the initial stop.

Positives 

1. I thought BC played well again but some guys have to step up on the offensive and defensive ends.

2. When the game was 5-5 BC was a better team. Unfortunately, 4 of the 5 Maine goals were either power play or shorthanded goals.

3. The offense seems to be coming around. Next weekend is a due or die weekend for this team. 3 or more points or else this team is in BIG trouble

4. Barry Almeida is the best forward on this team. Argue all you want but when it comes to offense and defense, there is nobody better.


Next up- A home and home vs UNH. Friday @ Conte.

MANGENE GOAL SENDS MAINE PAST BOSTON COLLEGE IN OVERTIME, 4-3

Eagles fall to Maine in OT

Matt Mangene had the OT winner for Maine

Well, it was truly an amazing experience being in that place for that game tonight and it is something I will never forget for as long as I live. BC really played well for the first 55 minutes of that hockey game tonight as they had leads two time over the host Black Bears. Thanks to stupid penalties and bad neutral zone turnovers, Maine was able to walk away with a big win. Coach York said after game "The gameplan was for us to not give them opportunities on the power play" he later went on to say "We ultimately failed in that mission and it cost us the game". I really liked the way guys like Chirs Kreider, Bill Arnold, Brian Dumoulin and Johnny Gaudreau played but some guys just had an off night tonight. I thought the first Maine goal, a goal in which Edwin Shea turned the puck over behind our net, was just really bad. BC appeared to go up 2-0 early in the second but it was called back due to the puck being redirected in by Chris Kreider's skate. BC's power play was the best it has been all year as they were able to go 2-4 on the man advantage but also created a lot of great chances that forced Maine goalie Dan Sullivan to make some great stops.

In the OT, Maine did a great job of taking advantage of a BC neutral zone turnover and Will O'Neil made a great drop pass to Matt Mangene who bombed one over Chris Venti to give Maine the two points. I saw a lot of good things from BC tonight, I thought the power play was great tonight and I thought that the offensive chances were there. Even though they did not score, Maine's line of Abbott-Diamond-Flynn just dominated whoever they were out against. If BC wants to get out of here with a win tomorrow afternoon, they must find a way to stay out of the box and limit that line's chances.

Why BC lost- 

1. The penalties on Whitney and Wey. Steve Whitney got the worst penalty I have seen in awhile and Pat Wey followed it up with a cross-check just 15 seconds later that led to Maine tying the game.

2. I thought Chris Venti was good but let some softies in. I think Chris would like to have back the first and last Maine goals.

3. Maine's power play and first line are amazing. I have never seen a better power play, ever, in the time I have been going to BC/Hockey East games. The move it around so well.

Positives 

1. I thought BC played well. The Eagles were able to outshoot the Black Bear's and started getting the offense going again.

2. The power play. Overall, it was the best game of the year for the power play as they seemed to go goal for goal vs the best offensive team in the league in Maine.

3. There's always tomorrow. I really think BC will be ready to go for a big one on NESN here at the Alfond.

Next Up- Tomorrow 4 O'clock on NESN @ Maine

Check the road trip page to see what I thought of Alfond Arena

My Hockey East picks for the weekend

FRIDAY 

Northeastern @ Lowell. Im going to go with the Riverhawks here. Not impressed by NU last weekend. UML by a 3-2 score.

Providence @ BU- At home, BU will be too tough for the Friars, I think BU will win 4-1

Vermont @ UMass= UMass is very underrated, Minutemen big.

UNH @ Merrimack. My upset of the week. I think UNH wins at least one in this series. UNH 4-2

Boston College @ Maine- I think it's a draw on the first night. 2-2

SATURDAY 

Lowell @ Northeastern. I like NU @ home. Huskies by a 3-1 margin

BU @ Providence. Im not buying BU one bit, people think they are great now that they beat MC and NU, wow two great wins. PC 4-2

Merrimack @ UNH- Merrimack picks up a win on the road and avenges Fridays game. MC 3-0

Boston College @ Maine- BC gets three points. Eagles 3-1

Previewing the Maine Black Bears.

It is now that time of year where every single Hockey East point matters and the Eagles need at least three this weekend as they travel up to Alfond Arena for two games vs the Black Bears. BC dominated Maine in their first meeting this year by a score of 5-1 @ Conte Forum, BC's PP was great on that day as they 2/4 and outshot the Black Bears by a 27-21 margin. Over the course of the past few weeks though, Maine has stepped up their game a little as they have nice wins over UMass, UNH, and a tie @ Merrimack. The best player on not just the Black Bears, but in the country is Spencer Abbott who has tallied a whopping 12 goals and 23 assist so far this season. I would definitely say that Maine's first line of Abbott-Flynn-Diamond is the best in the league and maybe in the country. Yes, they may have some superstars on their first line but this Maine team lacks in terms of depth offensively. I think BC could really take advantage of the second and third line matchup's as I look for a big weekend from the Gaudreau-Mullane-Whitney line. Goaltending wise, the Black Bears rank near the bottom in every major statistical category in the league. Maine has yet to find a night in and night out goaltender so far but compared to BC, I would say their situation is much worst. Ever since Ben Bishop left, this team has been killed by their goaltending. I look for two hard fought games with a great flow to it since both these teams play a great up tempo style.

Players To Watch 

1. Spencer Abbott- The best player in the league. 35 points on the year. Very dangerous.

2. Matt Flynn. Second in the league in scoring. 32 points on the year for the Black Bears.

3. Joey Diamond. Third in the league in scoring. Leads the team in goals with 15.

Keys for the Eagles 

1. Need to find a way. Yes, it will be VERY hard to overcome this team @ Alfond  but if BC stays poised and gets the offense going, they will win.

2. Score First. BC is 12-2-1 when they score the first goal. It would be nice to get off to a good start at Alfond

3. Goaltending. I think Chris Venti will be great again. Let's hope he turns is another solid performance that leads to a victory.

4. Limit Abbott and Flynn. You cannot shut them down but at least try to limit their chances.


All Time Series- BC leads 58-40-9 all time vs Maine. Coach York is 31-24-8 vs Maine.

Prediction- BC gets three points on the weekend

News- Chris Venti will be in net. Lines will be...

Carey-Arnold-Kreider

Gaudreau-Mullane-Whitney

Almeida-Hayes-Linell

Smith-Sit-Brown

Note- I am going up to Maine (I am extremely excited) so check in for Twitter updates. @bchockeyblog1

Midweek Column-Time to go Black Bear hunting

Alfond Arena, the most famous college hockey rink in the country. 

After a up and down week vs UMass and Northeastern a week ago, BC looks to play some great hockey vs rival Maine this week up at Alfond Arena. The Alfond is a tough environment for anyone to play in let alone the #3 team in the country that has had their fare share of struggles in this place. Chris Venti, who I believe will get another go after his great game @ Fenway, needs to be ready for the biggest challenge he will face all year. I am not just talking about facing Abbott and Flynn, i'm talking about handling this crowd ! There is no crazier group of knuckleheads in the country that like getting on opposing goalies more than the Black Bear faithful. I know BC beat Maine 5-1 earlier this year but both team have really changed since then and that game was @ Conte, these games are @ Alfond Arena. I have been thinking about it, there is really one big key for BC this week. Penalties. Maine has by far and away the best PP in Hockey East and maybe the country as they are loaded with guys like Spencer Abbott, Matt Flynn, and Joey Diamond. If BC gets penalties, I guarantee they will lose because that's how the Black Bears beat you. Lets take a look at some key stats heading into the weekend

STATS 

1. BC is 58-40-9 all time vs Maine and are 7-1-1 in the last nine vs the Black Bears. Maine was able to win the last meeting @ Alfond Arena by a score of 4-1 on 1/16/11.

2. Maine's PP has a PP goal in each of the last 13 games and rank second in the nation with a 28% conversion rate.

3. In the last 20 games between BC and Maine @ The Alfond, BC is just 8-9-3 vs the Black Bears.

4. Spencer Abbott leads all Black Bears 35 points on the year while Joey Diamond leads the team with 15 goals.

5. Maine has tallied 69 goals on the year which is second most in the league behind BC (73)

6. Dan Sullivan ranks 7th in the league was 2.93 GAA and eight in the league in save percentage with a .895 average.


Well there is a quick look at the Black Bears. We will have a full preview on the blog tomorrow

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.

Eagles get big win @ Fenway vs Huskies

Chris Venti was special in his first carrer start. 

Thanks to an absolutely outstanding performance from one of the hardest workers on this team (Chris Venti), BC was able to get a big win vs a Northeastern team that also really needed a win. I think the most credit for this win though should go to Coach York. Having the guts to go with Venti in for one of the biggest games of the year took a lot of toughness. I have to admit I thought that going with Chris could have been a little bit of a stretch but man did he prove me and many others wrong. The kid has really earned his way by keeping a good work ethic and showing the staff that he can go when needed. BC really came out flying in the first as they outshot the Huskies by a 13-3 margin. Chris Rawlings made a terrible play behind his own net that lead to a BC goal from Pat Mullane to put the Eagles up 1-0. NU came back really hard as they were able to take advantage of a fourth line that struggled most of the night to tie it up. I thought Chris Kreider really had a great game as he gave BC a 2-1 with 15 minutes to go. One thing that BC did tonight that they have struggled with is they held up very as the game went on. NU had their chances but BC really limited the "grade A" chances as the game went down to the last seconds. Awesome win for the team but a big weekend up in Orono next week for two against the Black Bears

Why BC Won

1. The PK. A shorthanded goal and holding the Huskies to 0/3 on the PP is very good.

2. Chris Venti. An amazing story, awesome for this kid to do this on this stage. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

3. I thought Chris Kreider really played well tonight. Hopefully this is the start of a big second half for him.

4. Good solid team defense. Limiting the NU chances late were huge

Problems

The fourth line needs to step up, staring to struggle

Player of the game- Come on. Chris Venti

Next Up- @ Maine for a weekend series on Friday and Saturday

More coming tomorrow

Previewing the Northeastern Huskies

Well I would first of all like to tell you that I am writing this from the press box at Fenway. This place is pretty cool. The Eagles looks to get back into first place tonight with a big time matchup vs the Northeastern Huskies here at Fenway Park. In the two meetings thus far this year, BC has beaten NU both times but both were either won in an extra session or a last second goal. NU is coming off a disappointing loss vs BU last night in a game in which they were up by a score of 2-0. One thing that NU is missing this time around that they had the first two games vs BC are forwards Cody Ferriero and Brandon Pimm. These two are out due to a violations of team rules. Pimm is third on the team in overall scoring while Ferriero ranks seventh on the team. I look for a hard fought game tonight since both team are coming of utterly bad losses. NU goalie Chris Rawlings ranks near the top in all major categories so look for a big game from him. I will report who is in BC's net when I can.. For now, GO EAGLES

Players to watch

1. Steve Qualier. 7 G, 12 A on the season. Leads all Huskies in overall points

2. Ludwig Karlsson. Probably the best freshman in the league as he is second on the team in points. Very skilled player

3. Chris Rawlings. One of the best goalies in the who league. Had 34 stops last time vs BC.

Keys for the Eagles.

1. Just come out flying. I look for BC to come out flying after a rough go last night.

2. Start putting the puck in the net. BC really needs to start scoring. Tonight would be a nice to do so.

3. Backcheck. To many times, players are getting caught up in getting to deep in the offensive zone.

All Time Series- BC is 156-43-14 vs the Huskies. Coach York is 43-16-5 vs NU

Check back later for updates