BC vs. BU/Maine: Final Thoughts & Predictions

After a fairly successful weekend in which BC entrenched its place atop the Hockey East standings, the Eagles prepare to welcome two of their biggest rivals to Conte Forum on back to back nights - BU tonight, Maine tomorrow.

The two rivals come in to town in much different moods. BU is reeling on multiple fronts. First of all, they're losing, and losing badly, which is bad enough - they're 10th in Hockey East and haven't won a game since November 30. Not good. But to compound their problems, they've also seen Sam Kurker take off for junior hockey and Matt Gryzlyx be announced as out for the rest of the season with an injury. Combined with injuries to three other players that will keep them out of the lineup, BU is expected to roll just 16 skaters tonight.

via cdn2.sbnation.com

Maine, on the other hand, is rolling. They're up to fourth in the league, six points back of the Eagles with two games in hand, and brimming with the confidence of knowing they stuffed BC the last time these two teams met.

From a BC perspective, the story is whether the team can continue its sizzling form in Hockey East play. The Eagles are 8-1-1 against league foes, and a much more pedestrian 6-3-2 out of conference.

In addition to these two games, BC also has a game coming up right away on Tuesday at Merrimack in what could be the mother of all trap games. We'll have more thoughts on this game on Monday, but for those of you playing along in the BCI prediction game, submit your Merrimack predictions here as well - it will all be combined.

BC Roster Notes

As we discussed on the site yesterday, the lines, they are a'changin.

Projected Lines

Gaudreau-Arnold-Hayes
Fitzgerald-Brown-Cangelosi
Linell-Sit-Smith
Calnan-Gilmour-Silk

Savage-Matheson
MacLeod-Doherty
McCoshen-Santini

Billett tonight / Demko tomorrow

Game Times: 7:00 PM both nights

TV: NESN tonight. BCEaglescom tomorrow.
Radio: WEEI 850 AM and BCEagles.com

Record: BC: 14-4-3..... BU is 7-11-2.... Maine is 11-7-2
KRACH: BC #2.... BU #40.... Maine #21

Goal Differentials:
BC:92 GF (1st in HEA).... 49 GA (7th in HEA).... +43 GD (1st in HEA)
BU: 48 GF (10th in HEA)... 65 GA (10th in HEA).... -17 GD (10th in HEA)
ME: 68 GF (6th in HEA).... 41 GA (1st in HEA)... +27 GD (2nd in HEA)

Last Time Out: BU and Maine actually played one another last week. Maine had themselves a jolly old time, winning 7-3.

Common Foes: Oddly enough, Maine and BC did not share any non-conference opponents this year. Maine played a lot of crappy teams, and then Quinnipiac (who they lost to 2-1 in a tight affair).

Storylines: The Return of Doherty. The Neverending Battle of Comm. Ave. And BC's hopes to even the season series against the Black Bears.

Fun Fact: BU sucks at hockey this year. That's a fact, and it's fun.

Also - Students have evidently been camping out for tickets for this game since last night, something that I honestly only ever remember happening for BC-Duke and BC-UNC basketball games my freshman year. You make me proud, kids, you make me proud.

Players to watch: This section is left blank for BU because you never know who is actually still going to be in their roster at any given time. For Maine, Martin "Egg White" Oulette has been outstanding, with a .935 save percentage and backstopping Maine to the best team GAA in Hockey East.

Lingering Questions

What impact will the lineup changes have on BC? Can Brian Billet continue on his winning streak? Will Gaudreau continue his point streak?

Scoreboard Watching: Out-Of-Town Notes

Pretty full slate tonight. Vermont is at Northeastern in a battle of two programs who have dramatically jumped up in the standigns this year. Maine is at Lowell on a pretty damn big game. Merrimack is at Quinnipiac...yeah, something tells me they're not scoring a goal tonight. Tomorrow, BU swaps places with Maine and travels to Lowell.

The Pre-Game Watering Hole

My pre-game festivities will take place at the BC GOLD reception and if you're a graduate of the last decade, yours should too.

Predictions

Joe Gravellese:

BC 8, BU 2

Yes, I'm calling for the demolition job. A Friday night, in front of a packed house, against a hurting opponent... I think BC comes out fired up tonight and shows no mercy.

BC 4, Maine 3

Here's some sound logic for you: I have to miss this game, so I'm sure it's going to be a barnburner. In all seriousness... much like Gillies last week, BC will solve Ouellette. Maine will put up a fight but won't be able to match BC at Conte.

Merrimack 2, BC 1

The tradition has generally been to lose in October at North Andover MDC. New month for this game, same result: Mack edges BC in an epic #TrapGame.

Grant Salzano:

BC 5, BU 0
BC 4, Maine 2
BC 4, Mack 1

Clean sweep.

Dan Rubin:

BC 4, BU 2
Maine 3, BC 2
BC 4, Merrimack 1

Brian Favat:

W - BC 3, BU 0
T - BC 3, Maine 3
W - BC 5, Merrimack 2

AJ Black

W- BC 6 BU 1
L- Maine 3 BC 2
W- BC 4 Merrimack 3

CoachJF:

BCI Prediction Standings

5 points for a correct prediction, minus one point for how far off you were from the victory margin. i.e., predicting a 4-goal win and it ends up being a 2-goal win = 3 points. Also, 1 bonus point for getting a team's score correct. Enter this week's contest by leaving your predictions in the comments.

Last week:

BC 5, Providence 2
BC 3, Brown 3

Staff

Joe: BC 4-PC 2 (5 points).... BC 6-Brown 2 (0 points) --> 5
Grant: BC 4-PC 2 (5 points)... BC 3-Brown 1 (1 point) ---> 6
New Guy: PC 4-BC 2 (lol nope)... Brown 3-BC 2 (1 point... moral victories don't count, new guy) ---> 1
Brian: BC 3-PC 2 (4 points)... BC 6-Brown 0 (0 points)---> 4
AJ: PC 3-BC 1 (0 points).... BC 5-Brown 1 (0 points)---> 0

Fans:

Patty Y: BC 2, PC 1 (3 points)... BC 4, Brown 1 (0 points) --> 0

Maureen: BC 4, PC 3 (3 points)... BC 4, Brown 2 (0 points) --> 3

tommykay: BC 3, PC 2 (4 points)... BC 4, Brown 2 (0 points) -->4

74: BC 4, PC 0 (4 points).... BC 4, Brown 0 (0 points)--->4.

bceagles66: BC 4, PC 1 (5 points)... BC 5, Brown 2 (0 points) --> 5

giantsfan428: BC 4, PC 2( 5 points)... BC 5 Brown 1 (0 points)--> 5
JPDot: BC 4, PC 3 (3 points)...BC 5, Brown 2 (0 points) --> 3
Airforce987 BC 3 PC 2 (4 points)... BC 6, Brown 1 (0 opints) --> 4

Yes, Grant wins. I'm pretty pissed about it too. Let's move on.

Leaderboard:

Grant - 3 wins (Week 5, Week 9, Week 11)
Brian - 2.5 wins (Week 3 tie, Week 4, Week 6 1/2)
Joe - 2 wins (Week 1, Week 7)
ACal6888: 1 win (Week 10)
giantsfan428: 1 win (Week 8)
Conrad - 1 win (Week 2)
BCJacket5 - 1 win (Week 6)
AJ - 0.5 win (Week 3 tie)

Leave your thoughts on the games below and see if you can climb up the BCI leaderboard, to win all sorts of fabulous invisible prizes. Actually, you know what, I'm making up a prize, right now. The winner of the BCI prediction game for the season gets a 15 minute interview done by New Guy on BCInterruption Radio at the end of the season. Yes, New Guy, I'm committing your time and your studio technology without your permission. Go Eagles!