In a bit of a surprise, Coach York gave the start to Boston College senior goaltender Chris Venti against Northeastern at Fenway Park on Saturday. Venti had come in in relief of Brian Billett after Billett gave up three goals in the second period of a 4-0 loss to UMass. Venti responded in a big way, stopping 19 shots faced in over 90 minutes of work, including posting a 2-1 victory over Northeastern at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Could there be a three-way goaltender controversy brewing on the Heights?
BC junior netminder Parker Milner started the season as the Eagles #1 goaltender, and has backstopped the Eagles for over 64 percent of the season. Milner maintained a 10-5-0 overall record, a 2.39 GAA and a .905 save percentage. However, after starting the season a red hot 8-1-0, Milner lost three of his next four games (including losses at Massachusetts, Boston University and at Notre Dame) before giving way to freshman Brian Billett. Since giving way to Billett, Milner has had just one start -- a 2-1 victory over Michigan Tech -- in well over a month.
Similarly, Billett came blazing out of the gate to the tune of a 3-0-0 record, including wins at Yale, at Boston University and Providence. But Billett also hasn't played all that well of late, posting a 0-3-1 record including the Eagles' worst performance of the season -- a 4-0 drubbing at UMass on Friday.
Venti, who came on in relief of Billett in the UMass game, has only played in two games this season. He has a 1-0-0 record, a 1.33 GAA and a .905 save percentage against UMass and Northeastern.
So who does York go with on Friday up in Orono? Does he go with the hot hand (Venti), the freshman (Billett) or the season-opening starter (Milner)? Whoever he ultimately decides to go with, I hope that that goalie steps up and gets a good share of the minutes as the Eagles gear up for the February-March stretch run.