The BC hockey team embarks on a critical two-game stretch in Hockey East this weekend as they host the 7-10-3 Boston University Terriers tonight (NESN, starting at 7:30). The Eagles will be looking to avenge their 3-2 loss to BU in front of 38,472 fans at Fenway Park.
Boston College then travels to Lowell to face the 12-9-2 Lowell Riverhawks at Tsongas Arena on Saturday night. Lowell blew a huge opportunity to gain ground in the Hockey East standings last weekend, getting swept by UMass in a home-and-home series.
The Eagles go into the weekend one point behind league-leading New Hampshire. UNH goes on the road this weekend to face Providence and BU. After falling to BU at Fenway, the Eagles have blasted league foes Providence and Maine to the tune of 10-2. Sophomore Cam Atkinson has turned on the scoring of late, registering 3 goals and 2 assists last week in the games against Providence and Maine. For his efforts, Atkinson was awarded Hockey East Player of the Week honors.
One cause for concern is the thinning Eagles blueline. After losing defenseman Patrick Wey to injury, the Eagles will now be without the services of Tommy Cross. Cross injured his knee (with an apparent MCL sprain) in the 6-1 victory over Maine. He will be out 3-4 weeks. The injuries to Cross and Wey leave York and the Eagles with only 6 starting defenders. Coach York hopes that freshmen Malcolm Lyles and Patch Alber will come off the bench and fill in for the injured defenders.