BC Men’s Hockey: BU Series Preview
By Luke Ballard
An excellent weekend showing for the Boston College Eagles (19–10–1, 13–7–0 Hockey East) saw them jump UConn (17–9–4, 11–7–2 HEA) in the NPI and Hockey East standings after a dominant weekend sweep of the Huskies. BC saw itself move up to second in Hockey East, behind only Providence, which has been dominant all year long, and to no. 12 in the NPI rankings. UConn has fallen to third in Hockey East and 14th in the NPI after the tough weekend series.
It seems that the Eagles are heating up at the best possible time, as they roll into what is sure to be a tough weekend against arch-rival Boston University. In what will be the 301st and 302nd iterations of the Battle of Comm. Ave., BU most definitely will not go down without a fight, despite recent struggles. The Terriers (14–15–2, 10–11–0 HEA) sit 28th in the most recent NPI rankings, which is certainly a fall from grace compared to the standards the program has. After an embarrassing loss in the Beanpot Final, BU will look for revenge and a chance to potentially ruin BC’s postseason hopes.
Coming off a weekend series with the struggling UNH Wildcats, the Terriers split the series with a 1–4 loss Friday, and bounced back with a 5–3 win Saturday. Cole Huston, Cole Eiserman, and Jack Harvey all scored in Saturday’s win at Agganis, as they continue to be the driving force of the Terriers’ forward lines this season. Hutson and Eiserman also picked up an assist each, adding to their team’s leading point totals. Huston leads the team with 27, while Eiserman and Harvey have 20 and 17, respectively. When BU’s top lines are clicking, like they did Saturday, the Eagles should be in for a challenge.
Although BU’s record this season has been less than satisfactory, they are still a force to be reckoned with, especially when the top lines are firing on all cylinders as aforementioned. It is important to note that regardless of record, BU still has 19 NHL draft picks rostered, the most out of any team in the NCAA, leading Michigan State who is closest behind with 15. BU also leads the nation with the most first and second-round draftees rostered. From a talent perspective, the Terriers should be the undisputed no. 1 team in the country, as they were in preseason.
What makes BU so dangerous is that it seems almost random when they flip a switch and start working as one cohesive unit. Despite this switch seemingly being off for most of the season, as their sub-500 record shows, they tend to turn it on in big games. Beating NPI no. 14 UConn earlier in the season and taking NPI no. 1 Michigan State to the wire in both games, BU has flashed signs of brilliance.
It can be expected that for these two upcoming games, BU will try to flip that switch to avenge their two previous losses this season. Like the UConn series, we can expect a physical and hate-filled showdown; I foresee many unnecessary and unsportsmanlike penalties called, as both teams have struggled heavily this season with after-the-whistle extracurriculars. The Terriers have taken 74 penalties this season, while BC is one behind with 73, and both being among the top in the nation.
Ideally, BC can look to bait BU into taking unintelligent penalties, as they did to UConn, to allow their top-ranked power play to flourish. As for BU, their special teams units continue to struggle, sporting only a 15.4 percent conversion rate on the power play.
BC must avoid letting these games become traps; anything less than two wins over NPI no. 28 would severely hurt BC’s postseason hopes.
Keep an eye on James Hagens, Dean LeTourneau, and Ryan Conmy, BC’s three leading point scorers, as they face the Terriers’ defense. Hagens and LeTourneau have both surpassed the 30-point mark this season, with 38 and 33, respectively, while Conmy has seen a late-season push with 23 points. Conmy, providing 10 points since the new year and four in the Beanpot final, will look to replicate his recent success against a struggling Terriers defense, making his matchup with their blue line especially crucial.
Both the Friday and Saturday games will kick off at 7 pm, with game one being held at Agganis, and game two here in Conte Forum.