No. 4 Merrimack Warriors (25-8-4, 16-8-3 Hockey East) vs. No. 1 Boston College Eagles (29-7-1, 20-6-1 Hockey East)
What: 2011 Hockey East Tournament Championship
Time: 7:00 EST
Date: Saturday, March 19, 2011
Place: TD Garden (cap. 17,565), Boston, Ma.
TV: NESNplus (DirecTV 629)
Internet Radio: BCEagles.com (Jon Rish play-by-play and Ken Hodge color)
Last Time Out: The Eagles defeated Northeastern 5-4 to advance to the Hockey East Championship
Series: BC and Merrimack have previously met 76 times. Boston College leads the all-time series 53-20-3.
Last Meeting: Merrimack 5, Boston College 3 (Nov. 26, 2010)
Last Meeting at TD Garden: Boston College 7, Merrimack 2 (1998 Hockey East Semifinals)
Last Meeting in Hockey East Tournament: Boston College 2, Merrimack 1 (2003 Hockey East Quarterfinals -- Mar. 8, 2003)
Last Five Meetings:
L - at Merrimack 5, Boston College 3 (November 26, 2010)
L - at Merrimack 4, Boston College 2 (October 30, 2010)
W - at Boston College 3, Merrimack 2 (October 29, 2010)
W - at Boston College 7, Merrimack 0 (February 23, 2010)
L - at Merrimack 5, Boston College 3 (November 1, 2009)
Trends: Merrimack will be making its first ever appearance in the Hockey East Tournament Championship. BC holds a 9-5 all-time record in the Hockey East Championship, having won 5 of the last 6 Championships played. The senior class of Muse, Whitney and Gibbons extends its record in postseason play to 21-1 and 13-1 in the Hockey East Tournament. With 33 saves last night, John Muse passed Greg Taylor on the school's all-time saves list with 3,638.
Merrimack's Leading Scorers: So. Stephane Da Costa (14-28-42), Sr. Chris Barton (14-25-39), Sr. Joe Cucci (14-21-35)
Merrimack's Leading Goaltender: Jr. Joe Cannata (25-8-4, 2.37 GAA, .913 SV%)
Leave your thoughts on the game below. Go Eagles!
Prediction: Boston College 6, Merrimack 4
Record-to-date: 25-9-0