Gryba signs with Ottawa

Senior, Eric Gyba has signed with the Ottawa Senators today. Gryba was the assistant captain of BU this past season and scored four goal and racked up 6 assists. All that adds up to be the best offensive season he  has ever had with BU. He was drafted by the Senators in the third round of the 2006 draft. Gryba will not play with the Sens right away, instead he will head to their AHL team, the Binghamton Senators. If he was to make the NHL Senators he would join UNH stand out Bobby Butler who left the Wildcats yesterday.

Gryba started out at BU and was a fan favorite from day one. He would go to the corner hard and there he would always hit some one. The refs did not like this and for the most part of his time at BU, he was a penalty waiting to happen. He would hit guys and because he was just taller they were shorter, he would get an elbowing call. Last year, playing with David Warsofsky seemed to really help and he has greatly improved his game over the course of his time at BU.

Bonino nets first goal 
Last night BU's latest member to find the NHL, Nick Bonino, found the back of the net for the first time in his pro career. Bonino was on the top line for the Anaheim Ducks playing with 600 goal scorer, Teemu Selanne, who picked up the puck and handed Nick his puck.
Click hear for a video of Bonino's goal

Red Hawks and Eagles punch their tickets to Detroit

Finally, a day in which there were no upsets but still drama-packed. Number one ranked and the tournament's overall number one seed Miami Red Hawks beat Michigan 3-2 in double overtime.There were many chances for both teams to end this game. Michigan had a goal called back after the ref said that he blew the play dead before the puck was in the back of the net. Michigan's Matt Rust hit the cross bar with about 12 minutes left in the first overtime. Miami's net minder, Conner Knapp, shut out Michigan from the second frame on, recording 55 saves. Finally, in the start of the second overtime, the Red Hawk's Alden Hirschfeld potted the game winner, beating goaltender Shawn Hunwick blocker side.

Back in Worcester, Boston College and Yale played one of the crazier games in NCAA tournament history. In total, 16 goals where scored between the two schools, including seven in the second period alone. At one point in the second, the Eagles lead the Bulldogs 6-2. Yale came back and before the end of the second had managed to cut the BC lead to 6-4. BC would again take control of the start of the third. They would jump the score all the way up 9-4 only to have the pesky Bulldogs come back and make it 9-7, the final score.

Miami(OH) and Boston College will tangle in the national semi finals in Detroit, April 8th.

Catching up with BU
2010 recruit, Charlie Coyle score two goal in the Kings 9-2 win over the Walpole Express in the USA Hockey Tier III Championships     

Nick Bonino played in his first NHL hockey game a couple of nights ago. He played 13 minutes and picked up a trip to the sin bin. He is now the fifth member of the Terriers National Championship team to make the NHL, joining Colin Wilson, Matt Gilroy, Brandon Yip, and John McCarthy.

RIT leads the way in another upset filled day

Starting in Albany, RIT upended the university of New Hampshire 6-2. The RIT Tigers will advance to their first ever Frozen Four. The other team that will be moving on to Detroit, comes out of the west regional, will be Wisconsin. The Badgers downed St Cloud State 5-3 and will now take on the RIT Tigers in the Frozen Four less then two weeks from today.

In the northeast regional, in Worcester, Boston College just got by Alaska 3-1. In the later game, Yale upset WCHA champion North Dakota 3-2. Today Yale and BC will face off for the right to go to Detroit.

In Fort Wayne, part of the Midwest regional, Miami skated past Alabama Huntsville 2-1. Later Michigan blasted Bemidji state 5-1. Miami and Michigan will tangle in a rematch of the CCHA semi finals, for a spot in the Frozen Four.

Click her for an updated bracket 

Crazy day

Yesterday there where four games in the NCAA tournament and it took two overtimes for the first higher seed to win a game. Saint Cloud State won their game 4-3 over Northern Michigan in two overtimes. In the first game of the tournament, RIT the 15, seed beat number two ranked Denver (a one seed) 2-1. Then keeping with the east regional, the three seed UNH upended Cornell 6-2. Wisconsin, after sitting around for the St. Cloud Northern Michigan game to end, beat Vermont 3-2.

UNH will now play RIT and Wisconsin will play the Cloud. All will be looking to head to Detoit for the Frozen Four.

Today, Boston College will take on Alaska and North Dakota will face off with Yale in the Northeast regional. Then, out west in Fort Wayne, Miami will play Alabama Huntsville and later Bemidji State takes on Michigan in the late game.All games can be seen on ESPN U.

Colorado claims Cohen

Yesterday Zach Cohen (photo) singhed an entry level contract with the Avalanche. He is not expected to join the Av's and will instead play for their AHL team the Lake Erie Monsters, coached by for BU standout and associate head coach, David Quinn. 

Cohen struggled through the first few years of his time at BU. Last year, Parker almost cut him but thanks to then captain Matt Gilroy, he stayed with the team. In the national championship game, last season, scored one of the most important goals in BU history. With 54 seconds left in the game he found a louse rebound and roofed it cutting Miami's lead to one. 20 seconds later BU would ti e the game and then win the National Championship in overtime. This year he was one of the leading scores on the team and was one of the main factors in BU second half comeback.

A special connection

That's what BU and the Av's have. Currently there are two former Terriers on Colorado, Brandon Yip and their head chach Joe Sacco, who played with BU in the '90s. In the comming years there could be as many and three or four former Terriers on the Av's. Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen are both picks of Colorado from the 2007 draft. Shatt was the 14th pick in that draft, while Cohen was the 44th. Last season Colorado took BU's curent netminder, Keiran Millan.

A major kick in the crotch

That what most BU fans will feel after they read this. Junior, Nick Bonino will likely be leaving BU and signing with the Anaheim Ducks and will be forgoing his final year of college eligibility. He was a 6th round draft pick by the San Jose sharks in 2007 and then was traded to the Ducks last season. 

Throughout the course of his career at BU he was a standout. Last season he totaled 50 points and scored maybe the most important goal in BU hockey history. Yha I'm talking about the National championship game tieing goal with 17.4 seconds left in the game. Earlier this season he picked up his 100th point in a BU uniform.

The skating 16

The field for the 2010 NCAA tournament and no shock, BU did not make it. Three Hockey East teams did make the field, Boston College (a one seed) UNH, and Vermont. I still really don't know why they took Vermont. I mean a team that finish 8th in the league gets in but the team, Maine, that loses the Championship game in overtime does not get?  I really don't get it.


Any way here are the rest of the teams in the dance.

• Midwest Regional: (1) Miami vs. (4) Alabama-Huntsville, (2) Bemidji State vs. (3) Michigan
• East Regional: (1) Denver vs. (4) RIT, (2) Cornell vs. (3) New Hampshire
• West Regional: (1) Wisconsin vs. (4) Vermont, (2) St. Cloud State vs. (3) Northern Michigan
• Northeast Regional: (1) Boston College vs. (4) Alaska, (2) North Dakota vs. (3) Yale

My pick to win the National Championship is: North Dakota. Later this week I will put out my complete bracket.

Click here for a printable bracket

Slow start kills BU

Game provides a carbon copy of the year


BU started the game much like they started the year, slow. Maine jumped out to a 1-0 lead mid way through the first. Joey Diamond, picked up a louse puck in the middle of the right face-off dot and skated in on Millan, who tried to poke check the puck and misted. Diamiond, after avoiding the poke check, skated around a flopping Millan and pushed the puck over the goal line.

After killing of a Maine power play, the Terriers where flagged for another call. Maine's Brian Flynn took a wrist shot that Millan never saw and could have bean tipped. The puck found it's way to the net and the Black Bears where rolling.

“We’ve been talking about [penalties] all year,” said Parker. “We couldn’t get that out of our game. The best power play in the nation and we take a third of the game off killing penalties. It’s insanity.”

BU could not do any thing, in faked they only mustard five shots on goal the whole period, two coming on the short hand. Looking back this was kind of how the first half of the year. They lost the first two game, came back and beat Michigan and Lowell. Then BU went on a dreadful four game losing streak. Sounds a lot like the first period, right? A few good chances but not really any good ones.

In the second Maine grabbed the only goal of the frame not to long into they period. Robby Dee was able to walk right in on Millan and roof a back hander. Kevin Shattenkirk, who looked like the only BU player to show up in this game, let Dee just go right by him.

Despite the goal, BU did look a little better. Much like the middle of their season. Instead of losing game they were tying them

Kevin Shattenkirk picked up his last goal as a Terrier after he picked up a Nick Bonino rebound. This kind of sparked BU. Then the Terriers took some questionable calls, but looked to be more affective on the PK then Maine was on the power play.

This really showed after Vinny Saponari scored a short handed goal with about five minutes left to go. The original call on the play was no goal, but after maybe the longest review in history the ruling was over trued. BU was still short handed though.

Still BU looked to have the edge. Goal scorer, Vinny Saponari found Ross Gaudet who was all alone on a break a way. Maine goalie Dave Wilson flashed the right leg pad and stoned Gaudet. This was the Terriers last shot as 20 seconds later Maine's David deKastrozza golfed a wobbling puck into the top shelf.

Maine would also grab an empty net goal.

So like the season, BU came back strong but then did not have enough gas in the tank and died
 
Maine will play Boston Colege for the Hockey Easy championship later today.

BU set to tangle with Maine

The Terriers and Black Bears have had some historic and epic battles in this Hockey East tournament. Highlighted by the 1991 championship game. BU's Tony Amonte made a great pass to Shawn McEachern who scored the game winning goal in overtime. But BU has not fared well in semi final play against Maine. In fact they have never beaten the Black Bears in the second round. The Terriers are a dismal 0-4 in semi final play with Maine. The last meeting came in 2004, Maine win 1-0 on a very fluky goal scored by Mike Hamilton. I really think that BU will take this one though.

Tonight's game, along with the BC, Vermont game will be on NESN. The BU gam starts and 8:00 and The other games starts at 5:30. Both game will be played at the TD Garden.

The Maine event

The Black Bears are lead by, Hoby Baker candidate, Gustav Nyquist. One of the key parts of Maine's game is their goaltending. Except this game they will be without their starter, Scott Darling, who violated team rules. Instead, Maine will have Dave Wilson take the start. Wilson, last year, was the reason that Maine was able to tie BU, 2-2 in a game in late February.

Maine had struggled for the latter half of the season but did turn it on last weekend and beat Lowell two games to one.

The last time they met....

was back in February for two games. BU dominated the first night winning 7-4. The next night BU started strong, and finished stronger downing Maine 5-2.

In Other News

Colby Cohen has bean named a Hockey East first team all star. Cohen, is second in the nation with goals scored by a defenseman. 

Max Nicastro was also named to the Hockey East all Rookie team. 

Injury Report

When Max Nicastro went down in the corner with blood gushing from his right wrist, it was hard to tell what had just transpired. With a with an ever larger red blood stain creeping toward the Sullivan Tier sign behind the net, the immediate though was not good. Nicastro needed 26 stitches to repair cut in his right forearm from a skate blade. No nerves or tendons were severed and Max will likely play against Maine, Friday night.

In other news

2010 recruit, Charlie Coyle was named the EJHL Rookie of the Year. 

Another 2010 recruit, Sahir Gill, helped his team, the Vernon Vipers, to a 5-0 win over Quesnel. Gill had a goal an assist. 

At the polls

BU rejoined the national poll this week and are ranked 20th. BU must win the Hockey East championship to make the NCAA tournament. There is no chance at an at large bid.

Back Country vs Inner City

It's the two most northern teams in Hockey East vs the two center city teams. Vermont and Maine, clearly are the schools of the northwoods and BU and BC are the teams of Boston.

BC, the 2 seed, swept Umass in the quarterfinals. The sweep looks good but when you take a closer look you will see that it was one of the more difficult sweeps. In game one, Boston College head coach Jerry York showed no confidence in starting goalie Jone Muse. Instead he opted to go with backup Parker Milner. The move payed off, sort of. The Minutemen did comeback and make it a game. It proved to be to little to late as BC, lead by a hat trick from Cam  Atkinson, upended Umass 6-5. The next night was a different story. Umass kept it a game through the first two periods but BC was to much to handle as they skated past Umass 5-2 to advance to the semi finals. There, they will play the number 8 seed, Vermont. Vermont got waxed in their first, 7-4 game against UNH but then came back strong the next night and snuffed out the Wildcats 1-0. The next night, Vermont again prevented the UNH ritual of throwing to fish on the ice after they score their first goal. Vermont would shutout the Wildcats, in overtime 1-0, behind stealer  goaltending from Rob Madore.

BU, as you should know, beat Merrimack two games to one and advanced to their 9th consecutive trip to the Garden (new league record). In the first game, the Terriers found themselves down two nothing to Merrimack in the second period. Then David Warsofsky changed the tide of the game, after he scored on a break-a-way. BU would tie the game not long after. Vinny Saponari picked up Nick Bonino's rebound and scored. In the third Saponari would strike again and BU would take game one. In game two, despite great play form Kieran Millan in goal, the Terriers would fall in overtime, when Joe Cucci scored. Game three showed that BU was just better the MC on all fronts. Millan played well again and the Terriers picked up a three nothing shut out, the first of the year. In the semi finals BU will take on Maine. Maine, some what a surprise, made the Garden after dropping two game to a struggling Umass team, the week before the tournament started. In game one it looked like much of the same as Lowell dropped the Black Bears 2-1. Saturday, Maine would shut out Lowell and force a deciding game three. With Lowell up late in the third it looked like Maine's season was over. Then lighting struck Alfond arena, and Maine caught fire. They would tie it before the end of regulation and the in overtime, Will O'Neill scored sending Maine to the Garden for the first time since 2006.

Predictions 
Vermont- 2 BC-1 (ot)
BU- 5 Maine- 3

Terriers blank Warriors and advance to the Garden

Millan picks up first shut out of the year 

Millan turns away one of 34 late third

Last night was yet another great example of how close Hockey East really was. The number 8 seed, Vermont beat number one UNH 1-0 in over time. Vermont will play Boston College in the semis. Maine, the 4 seed came back and beat Lowell 3-2 in overtime and that who BU will play, Maine.

With Millan backstopping the defense the offense was lead by Kevin Shattenkirk, who had three assists and a goal, Nick Bonino, and Chris Connolly, who both had goals.

“Our really important guys answered the bell,” Parker added, citing Bonino, Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen and David Warsofsky among the skaters. “They all had tough nights last night and bounced back and played great tonight. And our most important guy played great all weekend, Kieran Millan. Great to see him get a shutout.”

BU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Bonino, digging in the corner, some how got the puck over to Shattenkirk. Shatt came right down into the high slot and put one past Joe Cannata short side.

At the end of the frame, Bu was dominating, Merrimack and taken a penalty, BU controlled the play for a good minute during the delayed call. Bonino was able to take a shot that hit Cannata in the mask, the puck popped up and Colby Cohen knocked it in. After further review the goal was taken away, the ref said that Cohen hit it in with a high stick.

Less then 15 seconds later the once aggravated Jack Parker was happy again. Bonino, on the power play was able to walk right in and take a shot. Cannata made the save bur Bonino was right there and flipped a back hander into the net.

In a mainly uneventful second period, Millan looked just as good or if not better then he did the night before. He made big save after big save.

In the third, Chris Connolly would net the third and final goal for BU. It came on the power play, Vinny Saponari set him up for a one time that Connolly got all of and hit the back of the net.

Connolly's shot beat Cannata 

BU will play Maine in the late game of the Hockey East semi finals next weekend in the TD Garden.

Cucci nets ot winner, Merrimack ties series

The story of the game was the fact that BU when one for eleven on the power play. Also Millan made big save after big save until overtime, When Joe Cucci potted Merrimack's winning goal.

Goal scorers for the Terriers were Eric Gryba and Wade Meagan.

The winning goal came less then three minutes into overtime.

Late in the second period Max Nicastro went down in the corner, his glove fell off and his fore arm was skated over. He needed 26 stitches and could be back next week.

Saponari leads BU comeback

Terriers skate past Warriors 3-2

It was very clear that BU was the better team in this game. They dominated the play thought the game but Merrimack did manage to get on the board first and take a 2-0 lead. Lead by Vinny Saponary's two goals BU came back and scored three unanswered goals to down MC.

“The first thing that jumps out at me was how hard both teams played,” Terriers coach Jack Parker said. “It was a really physical game, an emotional game, a fast game. There were a lot of good opportunities on both ends of the rink. I know I’m pleased with my team, and I thought they played hard, too.”

I guess that it was the luck of the Warrior, because both of their goals were complete flukes. The first coming about ten minutes in to an uneventful first period until this point. BU had bean storming Merrimack and then Matt Moulakelis flipped the puck to a cherry picking Pat Kimball at center ice. The puck did not go directly to Kimball, instead Max Nicastro booted the puck as he went down on one knee like a second baseman. The puck snuck thought to Kimball who then had a break a way. He beat Millan low glove side scoring his first goal of the season.

MC would continue to implement the cherry picker through out the game but to no real success.

“I’ve seen two or three coaches who have really enjoyed using it and do it a lot,” Parker said. “It’s a game of 4-on-4 in their zone, and when you get possession it’s 5-on-4 — we had a couple of power plays going for a while — but you’d better be careful because if you let it go. … In general, we did a good job of going in and then coming out again when we realized there was imminent danger.”

That was al the scoring in the first. The Terriers continued to pressure the Warriors but had nothing to show for it.

In the second Merrimack would go up two nothing when Chris Barton dashed up the right wing. He then dropped a pass to Jeff Velecca who tossed a back hander on Millan the he stopped but the puck bounced up in the air and fluttered into the goal.

BU would get their own Break a way goal from David Warsosky at the 7:55 mark of the period. Zach Cohen destroyed Merrimack defender, Adam Ross at center ice, allowing Warsofsky to take the puck and skate in on goalie Joe Cannata. He beat Cannata five hole and from there on BU never looked back.

Less then two minutes later Vinny Saponary would net his first of the game. MC was scrabbling around in their zone and Cannata was flopping around like a beached wale. This lead to a wrap a round try by Nick Bonino, that was stopped but left a huge rebound for Saponari to jame home. Game tied at two.

Thats how the frame ended with the score tied.

Not long into the third Saponari would strike again. He and Andrew Glass had a two on one. Vinny opted not to pass and skated right down Broadway, then decked Cannata and roofed a back hander giving the Terriers the lead for good.

Things got chipy in the middle of the period resulting in many penalties called and lots of big hits.

What Happened around the league

UNH-7 UVM-4
BC-6 Umass-5
UML-2 Maine-1

Series preview: Merrimack @ BU, The start of something new

It was very clear that the race to get into the Hockey East playoffs was extremely tight, in fact the tightest it has ever bean. Before the final weekend of play, Parker said that he would not mined playing any team except Merrimack. This will be the fourth time that BU and Merrimack meet in the quarterfinals (1991,'95, '98). BU has leads the series 2-1 with the lose coming in 1998.

The game will be shown on NESN starting at 7:30

What's up withe Warriors
Lately MC has been one of the hotter teams in the league and also have one of the best freshman in the entire nation, Stephane Da Costa. On the 13th of February the Warriors won their first road game of the season, as the took down Vermont at Guterson Field house in Burlington Vermont. This is some thing that BU could not do is win a game in Vermont. MC also has deadly special teams. They are almost 30% on the power play and are over 80% on e the kill.

The last time they met...
was back on the 16th of january. Seven different Terriers had point as BU rolled past the Warriors, 6-4.

2009-2010 Hockey East tournament preview

In a year were almost every team was in a fight for there lives, I will try my best to give you a good idea of what the Hockey East playoffs will look like. Since it is so close there is a very good chance that i will be wrong in the prediction area.

#1 New Hampshire vs #8 Vermont

 Although, UNH did not have to fight for a playoff spot on the final weekend of regular season play, they did go down the wire with Boston College for the number one seed.UNH has a 15-6-6 in league record and 36 total points. Vermont on the other hand, was in a fight for their playoff life. they took a big step in making the postseason after they swept BU and then lost and tied Lowell. With the tie they clinch the 8th spot. UVM had a 9-11-7 and 25 points.

The pick: UNH will take this series in three games. Vermont takes the second game.

#2 Boston College vs #7 Umass

BC, like UNH was already in the tournny before the weekend started. The Eagles could have won the regular season championship if they took had won both games against UNH. They were up 3-0 in the second on friday night and the Wildcats came back and tie the game giving them the title. The Eagles lost by one point to UNH with 35 points. Umass thought, turned their season around in a big way last weekend, after going up to Maine sweeping the series (this is the first time that any one has sweped in Maine) Umass had not won a game since January and most people wrote them off as the 9th place team, me included. Its clear that the Minutemen had some thing left in the tank and lets see if they can kick it into high gear and take down the Eagles.
The Pick: BC will move on to the Garden but will have to come back after Umass wins the first game. 

#3 Boston University vs #6 Merrimack 
Both teams on the last weekend of play could have gone from third place to out of the tournament. BU sweped Northeastern, knocking them out, and then needing Vermont to win or tie Maine to get third. Everything worked into the Terriers hands and they clinched third. BU finished the season with 28 points tied with Maine, but BU won the tie breaker because they sweped Maine three weeks ago. Merrimack, to get in the tourny had to take two points from Providence in the final weekend and they did. MC could have got home ice if they sewped PC and the BU would have had to lose to NU on Saturday. MC had a 12-13-2 in league record and finished with 26 points.
The Pick: BU heads to the the Garden after after a very close series that ends in overtime in the third game.

#4 Maine vs #5 Lowell

Again both teams fought to get better position in the final weekend. Although Maine was already in they could have moved into third by just winning one game against Umass. They did not they finished in fourth and still had home ice. Lowell was in the same boat, they also could have finished third. After beating Vermont friday night the River Hawks locked up a playoff spot. The next night the tied UVM and fell to the 5th spot.
The Pick: Maine has struggled lately losing the final two against Umass, But Maine still has bean very close to unbeatable in Alfond Arena this year. Lowell takes this series because Maine's starting goalie, Scott Darling has bean suspended for the play offs. this is to much to over come for the Black Bears Lowell is going to the Garden for the second straight year. 

An other Hockey East honor

Yesterday, Alex Chiasson (photo) was named the Hockey East rookie of the week. He scored the Terriers third goal in saturdays home ice clinching game and also had two assists in the Terriers 5-4 win over Northeastern. This is not the first time that Chiasson has won the award. HE got it in the first week of the season after he scored two goals in his first ever collegiate game. The Terriers would go on a lose that game 3-2.

In other news
BU now has their first member of the 2013 recruit class. Matt Grzecyk a defenseman from Belmont Hill, he has played in 31 game and has two goals and 18 assists.

Fridays quarterfinal game against Merrimack will be shown on NESN starting at 7:30

I will later this week be previewing the Hockey East tournament and it will also have my picks as well.

BU woman down Uconn, take first ever Hockey East championship

Last the lady Terriers would win their first Hockey East championship after upending Uconn in overtime, 2-1. With the win they also clinch their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament where they will face #1 ranked Mercyhurst in the first round. 

BU got on the board first after they scored on the power play. Jonnie Blomers took a trip around the boards and the through the puck on goal. There I bounced and Jenelle Kohanchuk then picked it up and dished it over to a wide-open Karthryn Miller who would tap to over the goal line.

BU would take the 1-0 lead into the dressing room thank in large part to tournament MVP Melissa Haber who made a great save with less then 10 seconds left in the period.

The Husky's would solve Haber and pull even at the 6:50 mark of the second. Michelle Binning notched her 20th of the season, when see picked up a rebound in front and then picked a corner on Haber.

After a scoreless third, the Terriers would claim the title in overtime. Tara Watchorn barely was able to keep the puck in the zone after she was hut with a pass with some steam on it. Watchorn gathered her self and then let a bomb go that looked to hit a Uconn player in front. The puck found the upper right corner of the net and the BU bench then fell in to celebration.

Video highlights
Hockey East online recap
Woman's NCAA tournament bracket 

BU drops NU out of playoffs, Terriers take third place

Gilroy (photo) nets game winner

Last night all the stars aligned for BU to get the third seed in playoffs. BU won and then got some help (some would say luck) from Umass as they upended Maine twice in Alfond arena. That was not all BU needed to get the third slot. Vermont had to win or tie Lowell and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. So, BU will take on Merrimack in the quarterfinals of the Hockey East playoffs next friday night at Agganis Arena.

“Would you believe that,” said BU Head Coach Jack Parker. “I would believe how hard we played tonight. I would believe how well we played tonight. I wouldn’t believe two weeks ago that we were going to end up in third place in Hockey East. It was a heck of a weekend for us.”

Not far into the game, the Husky's took the lead. Wade MacLeod, beat Millan glove side high. This would be how almost all the Husky's goals were scored over the weekend. For most of the season, teams have pick up the fact that Millan has a very weak glove and Northeastern took advantage of it.


BU would even the score up about a minute after they had a power play. Nick Bonino rushed it in along the boards and then took a wicked shot that hit the inside of the post and then the back of the net. Two Husky defenders were left alone to watch the puck beat their goalie, Chris Rawlings. 


Around the seven minute mark of the period, Eric Gyba was called for elbowing. A minute into the power play, Kyle Kraemer slid home a rebound from a Jake Newton shot.

In the second, the Terriers dominated the play. NU only recorded three shots on goal and BU had 16. The total shot count for the game was 32-12, at that point.


Photo of the Terriers celebrating after the game. 


BU opened fire with some great passing. Sean Escobedo found Vinny Saponari camped out behind the net. Vinny, then found an open Zach Cohen who took a one timer that beat Rawlings, tying the game.


 BU would take the lead in the opening minutes of the third frame. Chris Connolly skated in and looked like he was going to shoot. He did not and instead dished over to Alex Chaisson who one timed the pass into the back of the goal. This was BU's first lead of the game.

The lead was short lived as NU would strike on the power play. Wade MacLeod, found Newton who then found Kraemer who once again beat Millan high glove side. 


Photo of several Husky's who are less then pleased after they are nocked out of the playoffs 


BU would take the lead for good after they won a face off in the Husky's zone. The puck came to the brother of former Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy, Kevin Gilroy who took a shot that Rawlings never saw. It beat him low blocker side and the goal was the first of the season for Gilroy.

BU would hold off the Husky''s in the final minutes, despite having to kill off two Northeastern power plays. 
BU will take on Merrimack, the six seed, in the opening round of the Hockey East playoffs.

Terriers state their case, edge NU 5-4

BU, last nigh took one step closer to clinching a playoff spot as they downed Northeastern at home. Vinny Sapinari (photo) scored the game winner with about nine minutes left in the game. He found a rebound in front of the net and beat NU goalie, Chris Rawlings, blocker side.
Wade Meagen scored the first goal and from then on the game was a shootout. The teams would trade goals for the rest of the game.
Jake Newton would pull the Husky's even, when he picked up a louse puck out side the faceoff dot. He would then walk in on Millan and score.
79 seconds later BU would take the lead and this time the goal came from
senior, Zach Cohen. He forts triied a rap-a-round but Rawlings was there. Rawlings then left the post and thepuck sitting there for Cohen to tap in, BU 2-1.
NU owould answer though would come back and tie it up when Justin Daniels broke into the zone and beat Millan glove side
The Terriers would take the lead into the locker room when Alex Chaisson through a puck in front of the goal, there Chris Connolly would find it and then score giving BU the lead.
Only two minutes into the second, David Warsofsky would get a pass from Chaisdon. Warsofsky one time the pass into the top corner if the net over Rawlings glove.
NU would get the next two in a span of less then a minute.
With the game tied four, four on the third Vonny Saponari would pick up a lose rebound and score giving BU the win.
The two teams play again tonight at Matthew's arena.

Senior Night

Lets not hope that this weekend is the last time that we ever see Eric Gyba, Luke Popko, and Zach Cohen in a BU uniform. It has been a great for years at BU for all three players and Cohen and Gyba a having the best seasons ever with BU. Popko's best was his freshman year, as he dominated the third line for BU.

Luke Popko

Popko, as I said, had his best season in 2007. Though the team did not do that well that year Luke was one of the reason that BU was still able to make the NCAA tournament. Jack Parker would always put him out on the PK unit tow center that line. The one thing that Popko really excelled at was winning faceoffs. just and other reason why Parker would put him out in thoughts situations. His freshman year was his bets but the best thing that he ever did at BU was in the National semi Final, last year against Vermont. BU's Colin Wilson scored the go ahead goal with about five minutes left in the game. BU when in to a total lock down defense after that. Popko, spear headed that in keeping the puck in the UVM zone for almost a full minute. Popko, last week, scored his first goal of the year against Vermont.

Eric Gryba

Gryba, started out at BU and was a fan favorite from day one. He would go to the corner hard and there he would always hit some one. The refs did not like this and for the most part of his time at BU, he was a penalty waiting to get called. He would hit guys and because he was just taller they they where, he would get an elbowing call. Last year, playing with David Warsofsky seemed to really help and he has greatly improved his game over the course of his time at BU. I think that maybe not next year the big man could be playing in the NHL. I say this because he looks to be more sure of what he is doing an is not making stupid plays with the puck.

Zach Cohen 

Cohen, like Gyba, struggled through the first few years of his time at BU. Last year, Parker almost cut him but thanks to then captain Matt Gilroy, he stayed with the team. In the national championship game, last season, scored one of the most important goals in BU history. With 54 seconds left in the game he found a louse rebound and roofed it cutting Miami's lead to one. I think you know hat happens next. This year he leads the team in scoring and he seems to be one of the main factors in BU second half comeback.

THANK YOU SENIORS!!!!!!!!!

Weekend Preview: BU & Northeastern

Tonight could very well be the last game of the season played at Agganis Arena. The Terriers, and the rest of Hockey East will look to lock up the final field of 8 for the Hockey East playoffs. This weekend all BU needs to do to get in is take one point from the Husky's. To find the entire lis of whys BU can make the HE tournament, click here.

the teams will play a home in home series. the firs game will be at Agganis Arena and the saturdays game will be held at Matthew's Arena.

Notes on Northeastern 
After this weekend is done the Terriers and Husky's will have met four times. Right now that looks like that will be the only four times the will play each other. They can not play each other in the first round of the HE tourny.

Northeastern, after losing to BU in the opening round of the Beanpot won five games in a row including one against Boston College. Since beating BC the Husky's have not won a game. They lost to the next night to the Eagles and the lost an tied UNH. NU will also look to get in to the tourny tonight and saturday.

The last time they met...
was the first monday in February in the Beanpot semis. BU won when Alex Chaisson beat the NU goalie short side to give BU the lead. They would go on and lose to BC in the championship game.

Hockey East, a shot in the dark---Updated

BU, after losing both games over the weekend to UVM, sit in a three way tie for 5th place in Hockey East. They are tied with the same Vermont team they just played and Northeastern. All three teams have 24 points. Lowell sits in fourth, alone with one more point then BU. In the third slot is the University of Maine with 28 points. Yes it looks like BU can still get third, but they would have to win both games against Northeastern and then have a struggling Umass team take two from Maine in Maine where the Black Bears are nearly unbeatable. Then BU would have 28 points and would be tied with Maine for third. The Terriers would win the tiebreaker, because they have a better head to head record. In second is a surging BC (32 pts) and UNH still is the leader going in to the final weekend of regular season play, with 35 points.

	W	L	T	pts.
1 UNH	15	5	5	35
2 BC	15	8	2	32
3 Maine	13	10	2	28
4 U Lowell	11	11	3	25
5 BU	11	12	2	24
5 Northeastern	11	11	2	24
5 Vermont	9	10	6	24
8 Merrimack	11	13	1	23
9 Umass	11	14	0	22
Providence	5	17	3	13

Team(s) in Gold have already clinched a playoff spot
Teams in Gray have clinched home ice 
Team(s) in Blue are already out of the running 


BU can clinch a playoff spot by winning both game against Northeastern. They also can get if Maine beats or ties UMass, if Providence beats Merrimack, if Lowell sweeps Vermont. 


Then on saturday BU can get in by beating Northeastern, if Umass losses, if BU and Merrimack tie, if BU and Umass tie. 


The Terriers can not be eliminated on friday night. 

So who we going play?

Since the race is so close it is nearly Imposable to tri and predict the final field of 8. All that is know is that BU can not play Northeastern. The Terriers can play either, UNH, BC, Maine Vermont, Lowell or Merrimack. This is one of those years that you just wish that all ten teams made it and that I did not have to sit here and tell you all this crap! So we will see if the Terriers even get in to the dance of the Hockey East tournament.