Weekend With The Friars

Starting tomorrow, BU will play what has quickly become one of the most important weekends of the year. With a win at UNH coupled with BU getting swept last weekend Providence has moved themselves into a tie with BU for the third spot in the Hockey East standings. Tomorrow's game will be down in Providence with Saturday's tilt at the Greek. BU won the first game of the series 4-2 at home. I will not be at the game Saturday, as I also have a game that night. That (hopefully) will be the last game I miss this year.

Evan Rodrigues (26) and Matt Nieto (17) help celebrate
Sahir Gill's (28) goal

Following the holiday break, Providence has played solid hockey. Two hard fought losses at Minnesota Mankato, followed by a sweep of UMass lead into the team's two most challenging games of the season. A Thursday night contest saw the Friars bow 2-1 to Lowell before topping UNH 6-5 at the Whitt. The recent league success has vaulted Providence into home ice contention in the Hockey East Playoffs. Currently the Terriers and Friars have 18 points.

Junior Derek Army leads the team in points with 17. In 21 games played the North Kingstown, Rhode Island native has posted 10 goals and 7 assist. Behind him is standout Sophomore Ross Mauermann, who is the holder of a 7-8-15 line in 21 games. Freshman Mark Jankowski, who has been riddled with injuries all season, was a first round pick in last year's draft. He is certainly a player to watch for.

In goal, Providence will send the USA World Junior Team's backup netminder between the pipes. In 18 games played, Jon Gillies has a 10-6-2 record to go along with a .927 save percentage and a 2.12 goals against average.

To counter, BU will go with the hot hand and make Sean Maguire the starter Friday night. Saturday will see Matt O'Connor back in the BU net.

---> Garrett Noonan will miss both games this weekend due to a suspension. Here is the press release from Hockey East: "Hockey East Coordinator of Officials Dan Schachte announced on Tuesday an additional one-game suspension for Boston University Junior defenseman Garrett Noonan.

Noonan will sit out a total of two games, which includes one game from his disqualification penalty in the UMass- Lowell game on Saturday, January 19. Noonan will be eligible to return to the Terriers' lineup on Friday, February 1 at Massachusetts."