The Maine Event UPDATED

Tonight's game will be the Terriers first real test of the season and a chance to see what they're really made of. Are they really the #3 team in the country? Are they really the best team in Hockey East? I don't know, but I will after this game. 

BU is 6-0-1, their best start to a season in recent memory. Maine is off to a good start as well, ranked 7th in the nation with a 4-1-2 record. Last weekend, The Terriers swept Lowell in a home and home series. Maine upended Vermont 3-2 in overtime.

The Black Bears got off to an up and down start to the season. In the first game of the year Maine wiped the floor with Lowell, 8-2. The next night they tied the ultra competitive UConn 3-3 at home. After tying and losing at Michigan State, Maine played to their potential, crushing then #2 North Dakota in two games. 

Maine's captain, Taner House will miss the game due to an upper body injury. 

Millan will likely get the start in goal for BU.

What To Watch For (there's a lot) 

• Gustav Nyquist, Maine Forward. Last season Nyquist was a Hoby Hat Trick finalist. He racked up an astronomical 61 points(19g, 42a) in 39 games and he looks like he is having no trouble finding the score sheet this year, either. In just seven games he already has 12 points (2g, 10a) and does not even lead the team in points. That would be Spencer Abbott, who shockingly, is next on the list.

• Spencer Abbott, Maine's point leader. Last season he tallied a measly 28 (9g, 19a) points compared to Nyquist. This year he looks to be outdoing his fellow teammate by leading him in total points with 13. Abbott has netted six goals on the season, good for 6th in the nation. 

• Robby Dee, Maine forward. Dee ranks 10th nationally in overall points with 11. He is a high speed, high tempo skater who has many tools to make guys miss. 

• Joey Diamond, Maine Forward. He was one of the reasons BU's season ended last year. Diamond scored the first goal of the Hockey East semi finals. This season he has 4 goals and 4 assists for the Black Bears.

• Maine Power Play vs. BU Penalty Kill. This should be interesting. Maine has the 7th best power play in the nation, converting on 13 of 51 (25.49%). On the other hand, BU has the 3rd highest PK % in the country at 91.2%. Special teams will win this game!! What ever has the better night, PK or PP will come out on top. 

The Last Time They Met...
was in the Hockey East semi finals back in March. BU never showed up and Maine skated away with a 5-2 win.

In Other News

Former Terrier Captain, Kevin Shattenkirk made his NHL debut Thursday night for the Colorado Avalanche. Shatt was drafted 14th overall in the '07 draft by the Aves. This game also saw another former Terrier Captain, David Van Der Gulik, score his first NHL goal. It was all in a losing effort though, as the Aves fell 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. The goal came on Former BC goalie Cory Schneinder.