#1 Boston College Hockey Makes Everything Alright ... Again
by Grant Salzano on Nov 5, 2011 1:47 AM EDT
in Boston College Hockey
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Tonight's game against Maine was exactly what the doctor ordered after the football team's train wreck on national television Thursday night. It was a full-on, dominating effort in a game that was never in doubt.
Midway through the first period, after a Kevin Hayes tripping call put BC shorthanded, Chris Kreider took a Patch Alber feed across the center line for a clear breakaway - he could have had a cup of Jerry York's favorite Dunkin Donuts coffee and coasted into the slot before anyone from Maine would have caught up to him - and wristed one past Sullivan for the 1-0 lead. From that point, the party was on. The Eagles took a 2-0 lead into the locker room on a Kevin Hayes power play goal and Bill Arnold scored just 28 seconds into the second to make it 3-0.
Down by three, Maine's one goal came on a perfectly executed 3 on 2 rush (one of the few odd man rushes they had all game) where Milner didn't have any chance. He managed to get screened (though how that managed to happen on an odd man rush, of all things, I'm still not sure) and the trailing Maine shooter only had to tap it into a wide open net. Fortunately, Steve Whitney scored just 48 seconds.later and before you could even say "comeback," it was 4-1 Eagles.
The fourth goal chased Sullivan from the game as Maine put in Martin Ouellette (Or "Omelette," as the BC students were happy to call him) who didn't fare much better. Barry Almeida scored midway through the second for the final goal of the game.
BC dominated play on both ends of the ice. They built a relentless attack - as is their style - with their speed with several odd-man and even one-on-one rushes with the puck carrier just blowing by the Maine defense on the outside. Defensively, the Eagles really tightened things up, even with the big lead, breaking up several Maine chances before they even had a chance to take shape with some nice individual efforts. It was a refreshing change from the game against Lowell last week where they sat on the big lead and had some defensive lapses late... perhaps a sign of a young team maturing.
BC improved to 8-1-0 with a perfect 6-0-0 record in Hockey East. Maine could very well be the third best team in the conference, but the league is having quite a down year. The Eagles are far and away the favorite and Merrimack, of all teams, looks like a solid number two. Behind them, however, is a mess of other teams who could finish anywhere from 3rd to 10th.
Saturday BC is at UMass, who we've handled well recently... Our last loss came in 2008, and since then we've gone a perfect 12-0-0.
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I expect us to start off relatively slow and heat up after Christmas. Impressive start – can’t wait to get to a game
Agreed
I know it’s still very early but seems like this year’s team is well ahead of schedule. Love the young guys making a huge impact right away.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Nov 5, 2011 9:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
How’d the defense look without Wey in the lineup?
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Nov 5, 2011 9:05 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Very crisp… the best of the year actually, I thought. It was impressive, we’re skating 5 D and other than Maine’s goal, which was more Maine execution than a BC mistake, they played about as well as you could ask. York said after the game it was the best we’ve played “in a long time.”
by Grant Salzano on Nov 5, 2011 9:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What about attendance?
Good showing again?
PS- Its great having you aboard. Love having a knowledgable hockey guy around.
Writer at BC Interruption SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
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by A.J Black on Nov 5, 2011 9:55 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Attendance was a little late showing up, but was solid again – students especially. Being number 1 in the country definitely helps but student attendance has been steadily climbing for the last 3-4 years or so.
The thing that gets me is that on a Friday night on a college campus, when students could be out doing any number of other things that college students usually do on a Friday night……. they decide to show up to the BC hockey game. Not only do they show up, but even up by 4+ goals, like this week and especially last week against an inferior opponent, they stayed! That’s what blows my mind, and suggests that the campus is really getting energized by the team, rather than just going because it’s the cool thing to do.
And thanks! Glad to be able to write about my #1 team.
I know, I hate myself a little bit for saying this, but who cares? BC has one of, if not THE best hockey programs in the country, but what good are bragging rights when no one else cares? Think our ACC foes could give two hoots about us winning national championships in sailing and hockey? Nope.
Believing that BC hockey restores some respectibility to the program overlooks just how important football is to the prestige of every athletics department. Go Eagles, beat Maine win a national title, but without football doing well, nothing else matters too much.
The saddest comment in BC Interruption history.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Nov 5, 2011 9:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
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