Whoa, we're back again. After a midweek win at Harvard it's a quick three-day turnaround for BC as they make the long bus ride to Orono to face Maine at Alfond Arena. Both teams will be coming off high-scoring wins: BC, on the heels of winning 5-1 at Harvard; and Maine, on the heels of thrashing BU 7-0 last weekend. Game on!
BC Roster Notes
Jerry York reported after the game on Wednesday that Thatcher Demko could return tomorrow, but I would anticipate that Maine native Brian Billett will still get the call between the pipes, even if Demko is healthy and available to back him up.
Projected Lines
Gaudreau-Arnold-Cangelosi
Fitzgerald-Hayes-Straight
Smith-Brown-Gilmour
Silk-Sit-Calnan
Doherty-Matheson
MacLeod-Linell
Savage-McCoshen
Billett
Game Time: 7:30 PM
TV: WVII in Maine; Fox College Sports Central on Comcast & DirecTV
Radio: WEEI 850 AM and BCEagles.com
Record: BC is 8-2-2.... Maine is 5-4-1
Goal Differentials:
BC:54 GF (1st in HEA).... 26 GA (8th in HEA).... +28 (1st in HEA)
Maine: 30 GF (7th in HEA).... 22 GA (2nd in HEA).... +8 (6th in HEA)
Last Time Out: BC is coming off a 5-1 midweek win over Harvard. Last weekend, Maine played just one game, a 7-0 win over BU on Friday night.
Common Foes: Maine is 2-1-1 against the UMass Minutemen this year, a team BC is 1-0-1 against. Maine also faced BU and blew them out, even more dramatically than we did.
Storylines: This is Maine's biggest test so far in their inaugural season under coach Red Gendron. They've had a pretty good season so far, but St. Lawrence might be the best team they've played (losing both games out at St. Lawrence to start the regular season). For BC, they've had quite a bit of difficulty with Maine in recent years, being swept by the Black Bears at home last year, and being swept up in Orono the year before. Brian Billett will likely once again have the opportunity to try to win a game in his home state.
Players to watch: Be on the lookout for a pair of NHL-drafted sophomores who are having very good starts to their season: Devin Shore, a forward with a 2-5--7 line, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Hutton, a defenseman with 4 goals and 3 assists.
Fun Fact: Joey Diamond finally graduated from Maine last year. He left as the program's all-time leader in penalty minutes..
Lingering Questions
Can BC grab a win at Hockey East's most hostile arena? Will Billett look good in net again? What will Maine's game plan be to slow down Johnny Gaudreau? How will their approach be under their new coach? Can he really down a moose with a bow and arrow? Did I make that rumor up or is it actually true?
Scoreboard Watching: Out-Of-Town Notes
Big weekend. BU hosts North Dakota for a two-game set. UMass-Lowell is hosting Notre Dame in a massive series for both. And UNH has a two-game set with Providence.
The Pre-Game Watering Hole
Johnny's Diner in Old Town, Orono, was a treat when I went a couple of years ago. Great breakfast, great coffee, and friendly locals. Their lunch menu looked good too. As has been mentioned before in this space, Alfond Arena features a can't-miss concession item: a baked potato that you can dress up to your delight with various fixin's.
Predictions
Joe Gravellese:
Maine 3, BC 2: I know, I've been so pessimistic in these predictions lately. I don't get it either. I actually DO think BC is as good as their record indicates so far - but I guess I just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and for BC to have a bad game. Because it hasn't really happened since @ Minnesota (the UMass games were aggravating, but ultimately you have to be pleased with a 1-0-1 weekend in this league).
I'm feeling this game goes a little bit like the Michigan game where Maine roars out to a first period lead, BC fights back, but it's not enough. We'll probably look back at a big power play goal for Maine that made a big difference.
North Dakota sweeps BU: Lock of the week.
UMass-Lowell takes three points from Notre Dame: Because screw Notre Dame. #HotSportsTakes
UNH and Providence split: I'm sticking by my UNH optimism for a while.
Brian Favat:
Boston College 3, Maine 3
Dan Rubin:
BC 4, Maine 2. This BC team can score goals. #EvenHotterSportsTakes
Grant Salzano:
BC 5, Maine 3.
A.J Black:
Conrad Kaczmarek:
Womp
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:
Boston College 5, Harvard 1
Staff
Joe: BC 4, Harvard 2 (3 points)
Brian: BC 5, Harvard 1 (7 points)
Grant: BC 4, Harvard 1 (5 points)
Dan: BC 5, Harvard 2 (5 points)
Conrad: DNQ
AJ: DNQ
Fans
Amy C: BC 6, Harvard 1 (5 points)
Patty: BC 4, Harvard 1 (5 points)
joeyfenn: BC 6, Harvard 2 (4 points)
bostoncollegeNYR: BC 5, Harvard 3 (4 points)
BCJacket5: BC 4, Harvard 2 (3 points)
tommykay: BC 3, Harvard 2 (1 point)
BCEagle74: BC 3, Harvard 2 (1 point)
Airforce987: BC 4. Harvard 1 (5 points)
Everyone did pretty well this week, but Brian nailed it with the 5-1 prediction - extending his lead atop the standings. LAME LAME LAME LAME LAME
Leaderboard:
Brian - 2.5 wins (Week 3 tie, Week 4, Week 6 1/2)
Joe - 1 win (Week 1)
Conrad - 1 win (Week 2)
Grant - 1 win (Week 5)
BCJacket5 - 1 win (Week 6)
AJ - 0.5 win (Week 3 tie)
Can BC win at Maine on Saturday night? Or will the 7-game unbeaten streak be snapped? Leave your thoughts below.