REPORT: Quinn To Be Named New Head Coach At BU

David Quinn
(Photo by Melissa Wade,
USCHO)

As BU lost to Lowell 1-0 in the Hockey East Championship Saturday night, effectively ending their season and Jack Parker's career in one fell swoop, a huge question arose. Who will take over for Coach Parker next year?

Well, no one had to wait long at all. Tonight, several media outlets from College Hockey News to Bob McKenzie of TSN, who is arguably the best hockey writer on the planet, are reporting that David Quinn will leave the Colorado Avalanche as an Assistant Coach and become the new Head Coach at BU.

Quinn played at BU from 1984 to 1987, winning two Beanpots and the school's first Hockey East Championship in '86. He came back to BU in 2004 and served as Assistant Head Coach to Parker until 2009, when he left to take the head job as bench boss for AHL Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the farm team for the Colorado Avalanche, and after four years with the Monsters, was promoted to the Avalanche where he served as an assistant to another former Terrier in Joe Sacco.

According to Bob McKenzie, Quinn will stay with the Avs until the NHL season concludes. Currently, Colorado is in dead last in the Western Conference.

The official announcement will come tomorrow at 11am.

BU Falls To Lowell In Finals, Season Ends

Tonight BU and Lowell battled in what will go down as one of the most memorable Hockey East championship games ever.

The teams skated through the first period, second period, and half way through the third before a goal was scored.

Thank You Jack
(Photo by Matt Dresens) 

Finally, at 11:09 of the third period, Derek Arnold beat Sean Maguire on a wrap-a-round chance, scoring the lone goal of the game.

The goal would hold up and Lowell went on to win their first Hockey East Championship 1-0, the same score BU beat Lowell in the 2009 Final.

Both teams had some really good chances over the course of play, none more obvious than when Lowell hit the post on a break-a-way in the early stages of the third. BU controlled the play in the first, out shooting the Riverhawks 8-6. Lowell looked a bit tight to begin the game and at one point consecutively iced the puck three times. Unfortunately, BU could not take advantage of Lowell's slow start.

Lowell's team photo after the game
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Sean Maguire again played very well in the BU net, stopping everything but the wrap-a-round. In total, he made 28 saves. Lowell goalie Connor Hellebuyck was named tournament MVP after shutting out the Terriers, stopping all 36 shots he faced. He only allowed three goals in the entire tournament.

More than anything, this game will be remembered for two things. One, it was the first Hockey East Championship Lowell has ever won. Two, it was Jack Parker's last game behind the BU bench ending his 40 year career as the Terriers head coach.

  

Hockey East Championship Game: BU vs Lowell

Tonight, BU will face Lowell in the Hockey East Championship game in a rematch of the 2009 Final. BU won that game 1-0 after beating BC in the Semis. Sounds familiar eh?

From The Vault
BU hoists the Lamoriello Trophy after defeating Lowell in the
2009 Hockey East Championship game.
(Photo by Matt Dresens) 

Last night, Lowell defeated Providence 2-1 in comeback fashion. PC lead 1-0 all the way into the third, only to seed number one seeded Lowell score twice in the third to advance to their third Hockey East Title game in program history. All three times the RiverHawks have made the championship game, they have faced BU.

BU won in 1994 3-2 and in '09 as mentioned before, 1-0.

Scouting the RiverHawks
Joe Pendenza leads the team in points with 36. In 37 games played, the junior forward has notched 13 goals and 23 assists. Scott Wilson, who scored the game winner vs Providence last night, leads Lowell in goals with 15. In total, he has 33 points. Riley Wetmore, Josh Holmstrom, Chad Ruhwedel and Ryan MaGrath are all players to watch out for, as-well.

In goal, freshman Connor Hellebuyck has arguably been the hottest goalie in the nation in the last month. He is 17-2-0 on the year, with a 1.46 goals against and a jaw dropping .946 save percentage.

----> Lowell swept the season series with the Terriers, winning 4-3, 3-0, and 3-1.

----> BU must win this game if they want to continue their season in the NCAA tournament. A loss would mathematically eliminate the Terriers.

----> BU goes for their 9th tournament championship. Meanwhile, Lowell will looked to win their first.

We Fight On

Last night, BU won one of the most exciting games in recent memory in the most unexpected way. Trailing 2-0 and getting pounded by BC, chances looked bleak for the Terriers to extend their season and the career of Jack Parker.

BU players salute crowd after the victory.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

All that changed in a three minute and thirty eight seconds span midway through the second period. Evan Rodrigues's highlight reel goal at 12:17 got the ball rolling for the Terriers. Patrick MacGreger chipped the puck to Rodrigues in the neutral zone and the standout sophomore did the rest from there. At the redline, he got around Pat Wey, causing him to skate backwards into the BC zone. At the top of the circle, Rodrigues, avoided a sliding Quinn Smith with a nifty toe drag and in one motion, wristed a shot under Parker Milner's arm. It was his first of two on the night.

That changed the momentum to BU for the rest of the night. Roughly two minutes later, Matt Lane showed incredible speed on rout to scoring his fourth goal of the year to tie the game 2-2. Deep in the BU end, he took advantage of a Danny Linell turnover at the blue line after a face-off. Lane blew past Linell and skated all the way in on Milner. Lane swooped in from the far side and while protecting the puck, slipped it through Milner legs, as he came across the goal mouth. Lane has really come into his own in the last half of the season and is playing a huge role on the third line.

Garrett Noonan, coming back from a separated shoulder, made an immediate impact as he gave the Terriers a lead they would never relinquish. After struggling mightily on the power play in the first, Noonan finished off a tick-tack-toe set up from Matt Grzelcyk and Cason Hohmann with a low wrister that beat Milner five hole. The shot actually got through Milner's stick and hit off the right leg and in to the net.

BU had a chance to score maybe two or three more goals in the second, as BC gave up break-a-way after break-a-way and Milner bailed them out every time besides the Lane goal.


The comeback would not have been possible if not for the performance of Sean Maguire for the first half of the game. The first period BC dominated the pace of play, never mind out shooting the Terriers 18-7. Maguire came up with big save after big save, none more impressive than the one in which he robbed John Gaudreau, who was all alone on the doorstep. Gaudreau had what looked like the entire goal to shoot at, but Maguire somehow lunged back and got his glove on the shot, deflecting it out of harm's way. In total, Maguire made 44 saves.

BC's Stevan Whitney tries to hit the puck in with his hand, of
course this would not have counted if it had gone in, but it
did cout as one of Maguire's 44 saves.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

The two BC goals he allowed prior to the comeback were absolutely unstoppable. A strange deflection off a Stevan Whitney shot pin-balled off of Bill Arnold into the top corner to give BC a 1-0 lead with 1:27 remaining in the first. Quinn Smith was completely uncovered and easily redirected a centering pass from Pat Mullane by Maguire to make it 2-0. That set the stage for the comeback.

Following BU's three goal outburst in the second, the Terriers keep rolling, as Danny O'Regan scored twice on the power play in the third. Rodrigues nearly lost the puck at the point which would have given BC a break a way, but regrouped and sent a bullet past to Matt Nieto at the goal line. Nieto then sent a past to the point to Ahti Oksanen, who one touched the puck to O'Regan in the slot. O'Regan was facing the Finnish defenseman when he received the pass. So, he spun and in one motion beat Milner with a low wrist shot inside the far post. The goal came just 1:42 into the third.

A little over seven minutes later, John Gaudreau was sent to the box for five minutes after cross checking Sean Escobedo in the back into the end boards. Escobedo was hurt on the play, but did come back. BU took advantage right away, scoring just 33 seconds into the five minutes power play. Matt Nieto's one timer never got through to Milner, but hit Ryan Santana in the foot, deflecting right to O'Regan in the slot. O'Regan wasted no time and slammed home his second of the period, five hole on Milner. It was his 16th goal of the year.

BC scored on a strange play at 13:43 to cut the lead by one. Stevan Whitney sent a long shot in on Maguire from center ice. Maguire went to catch it, but it deflected off his glove and landed to the left of the net. Pat MacGreger was unable to clear it because he was tied up with a BC forward, allowing Whitney to come in and pick up his trash. He threw a shot off Maguire's back and and it went in.

With 3:54 left, Grzelcyk was whistled for slashing and BC pulled Milner for the extra attacker. It would be a move they would quickly regret, as Evan Rodrigues won a scrum along the far boards and sailed a 175-footer into the vacant BC net. He proceeded to leap into the BU bench and for a quick second it looked like the scene after BU tied the National Championship Game and Nick Bonino Lambeau Leaped into the bench.

The goal sealed the Terrier's most important win since that 2009 season and more importantly, sent the Terriers to the Hockey East Title game where they will face Lowell tonight.

BU Advances To Final

Boston College dominated the first half of the game, taking a 2-0 lead at 8:46 of the second. Bill Arnold notched the games first goal and Quinn Smith scored the second.

From there, BU would score five straight. Evan Rodrigues, Matt Lane and Garrett Noonan scored three goals in 3:38 before the second period ended to give BU a 3-2 lead heading into the third.

BU salutes the crowd after the win
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Danny O'Regan scored two power play goals in the third to put the Terriers up 5-2, before Stevan Whitney scored at 13:43 to cut into the BU lead.

Evan Rodrigues added an empty net goal at 17:31 to seal the game for BU. The Terriers will face Lowell, who defeated Providence 2-1 in the other semi final tomorrow night.

MORE TO COME IN THE MORNING

Hockey East Semis: BU-BC

From The Vault
Garrett Noonan and a BC
player tangle in BU's
4-2 win earlier this year.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

For the first time since early December BU and BC will square off tomorrow night at TD Garden. There are a number of story lines behind this game. For one, the sheer fact that BU and BC are playing at the Garden, but more than that is BU needs to win to keep it's season alive. That being said, if BU loses (baring a miracle) Jack Parker's legendary 40 year stint as head coach at BU will come to an end. I say baring a miracle because there is maybe, just maybe a chance that BU gets into the NCAA tournament with a ton of help. Although I've yet to figure out a way that can happen without BU at least beating BC. 

Lets start with the game. Boston College made quick work of seventh seeded Vermont last weekend, ousting the Catamounts in two games with wins of 4-2 and 4-1. Recently named player of the year John Gaudreau posted three points in the series with two goals and an assist. Parker Milner made 40 saves over the course of the weekend.

A lot has changed since these two last met. For one, BU has lost four players, who all played in the three prior games this season. Wes Myron left for the ECHL, Yasin Cisse went to the Q over holiday break, Alexx Privitera was suspended for two manny game misconducts by the team, and Matt O'Connor suffered a collapsed lung. O'Connor played all three games in net for the Terriers, so Sean Maguire will get his first BU-BC experience in the biggest game of the year, Friday night.

I left Garrett Noonan off this list because he is back. It was announced today that the junior defenseman will return from his separated shoulder and suite up to play the Eagles Friday night.

Boston College won the regular season series two games to one, winning the first game at Agganis 4-2 and the last game at Conte 5-2. BU won the middle game at home by a score of 4-2. 

The last time BU and BC met in the Hockey East playoffs was 2009. BC lead that game 1-0 well into the third, before BU erupted for three goals in 48 seconds. Those 48 seconds will be something that I never forget. I can still see Zach Cohen's shot from basically on the goal line slipping though John Muse's pads to tie the game. The way the BU faithful had not even sat down before Brain Strait floated a shot from the point into the back of the net was really something special. What I distinctly remember after the second goal was saying to myself "Wow that it would be really be cool if they scored again!". Before that thought left my head, Colin Wilson broke out of the corner and torched Muse far side to put BU up 3-1. The whole five minutes (real time) that it took for the three goals to find the twine was just one of many specific events that I probably remember too well from that year.

BU and BC also met in the 2003 Hockey East Semis. This is the first trip to the Garden I actually can remember (I'm told I was at the '97 Hockey East Championship game vs UNH, but I was one and a half when that took place). Anyway, the 2003 game saw Justin Maiser notch a hat trick in a 6-5 double overtime win for the Terriers. Maiser scored the game tying goal with less than five minutes left and then scored five minutes even into the second overtime to win that game. What I remember from the game: I forced my dad to leave early because I had a hockey game the next morning. Sorry Dad. 

Going Gardening

Tonight BU over came deficits of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, to win 5-3 and sweep their first quarterfinal series since 2006. Sean Maguire looked as confident as ever in goal, stopping 39 shots in his 12th win of the season.

Ben Rosen cuts behind the net in the first period. He would
later score the game winning goal in the third.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

After a slow start that saw pretty even play, Merrimack took their first lead against BU in five game this season. With 1:00 even remaining in the first period, Shawn Bates scored on a power play. The lone assist went to Jordan Heywood.

2:30 of game time later, Matt Nieto leveled the game in the second. Danny O'Regan made strong play to open a passing lane from the right side. He slipped a pass over to Netio in the slot and he beat Sam Morrota far side. It was Nieto's 18th goal of the year and it was also his 100th career point as a Terrier. He is the first Terrier since Nick Bonino to reach the 100pt plateau as a junior.

Four minutes later, MC went back up a goal and took a 2-1 lead on a Mike Collins power play goal. The shot came from the far side and beat Maguire blocker side.

That set the stage for a crazy ending to the period. Cason Hohmann tied the game on the power play. He scored after following up his own shot and riffling the rebound past Morotta upstairs. The assists went to Sahir Gill and Matt Grzeclyk.

A little over two minutes later, Merrimack again took a one goal lead. A Patrick MacGreger turnover behind the net allowed Jon Gustavsson to take and uncontested shot in which he beat Maguire five hole. It was just Gustavsson's third goal of the season.

With 7.8 seconds left in the frame, BU tied the game again on the power play. Wade Megan shoveled a shot on goal that was stopped, but no one picked up Sam Kurker, who was added to the power play just before the weekend. Kurker slammed home his third of the season and most likely the most important goal in his life just before the period ended.

BU picked up where Kurker left off and really controlled the pace in the third.

Sean maguire stops Brian Christie on a break a way in the
third period.

They finally grabbed the lead at the 5:11 marker. A scrum in front of the Merrimack net resulted in the puck going in the net. The goal was originally was given to Kurker, but was later given to Ben Rosen. It was Rosen's fifth from Matt Lane. I did not really get a good look at the goal so I'll share what I saw.

Maguire played his best down the stretch, shutting down MC's limited grade A chances.


Sahir Gill added an empty net goal with 4 seconds left to cement BU's place in the Hockey East Semis, where there will face Boston College next weekend at the Garden.

Game 1 Photos

BU Dominates Game One, Blank Warriors 3-0

Tonight BU played their best game since the holiday break. Other than when Merrimack hit the post five minutes in, BU dominated the play and that lead to a convincing 3-0 win and one victory away from the Garden.

Both goalies played well in the first, neither were really tested with a great chance, but made the save when they were called upon. That lead to a scoreless first period.

BU celebrates after Ryan Santana's third period power play goal.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

BU looked to have have gone up 1-0 midway through the second when Danny O'Regan fired a rebound into the back of the net, but it was called back for "a player in the crease". Of course the paying fans who bought tickets to the game never got to see the replay at the game and that was the brief description we all got of why the goal was called back.

BU would later actually take a 1-0 lead at the 6:10 marker. Ahti Oksanen's wrister from the point was tipped past Merrimack goalie Sam Morrota (42 saves) glove side by Wade Megan. It was Megan's 16th goal of the season and the first of two assists for the Finn in this game.

Sean Maguire gets snowed as he
makes one of 30 saves in his 4th
shutout of the season.
(Photo by Matt Dresens) 

Before the period ended, BU doubled their lead on the game's prettiest goal. Evan Rodrigues got the puck from Oksanen at the red-line and and cut to the middle. Once he got to the mid slot he slid to the right creating room to slip a pass through traffic to Matt Nieto in the low slot. Rodrigues's move had Morrota completely off angle and Nieto was staring at an empty 6x4 and did not miss. It was Nieto's 17th of the season.

BU had some carry over power play time after the second and 55 seconds into the third they took advantage of it. Ryan Santana slammed home his second goal of the year on a rebound sitting in the crease. The assists went to O'Regan and and Nieto.

BU continued to control the pace of play throughout the third period, even after a number of penalties were called at the end of the game.

BU will look to sweep for the first time since 2006 tomorrow night. Game time, 7:00.

HEQF: BU vs Merrimack

Tonight, BU and Merrimack will take the ice in Game One of the 3vs6 series at Agganis Arena. This marks the fourth straight year that BU is the three seed. These two teams met in 2010, BU winning in three games. The following year, BU failed to qualify for the semis for the first time in ten years ending the longest such streak in Hockey East history to date. That was to Northeastern in three games. Boston College can match that number this weekend with a series win over Vermont. Finally, BU defeated New Hampshire in one of the most exciting Quarterfinal series in memory last year.

From The Vault
Kieran Millan makes a save in the third period of Game 3
back in 2010.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Merrimack and BU were only separated by three points in the final league standings, but that only shows how close the league was this year. The Warriors come into this series with a 15-15-6 record and barely are still considered a "Team Under Consideration" (TUC) in the Pairwise rankings. This maters to BU because the numebr of TUC victories determines a lot of the PWR. If BU was to win the series they would nock MC off the the TUC Cliff (teams with an RPI grater than .500) and that would lower the number of TUC wins BU has. All previous wins vs Merrimack would be taken away for TUC prepossess, thus lowering their PWR. Confused? So am I.

Scouting the Warriors
Merrimack is lead by junior Mike Collins, who has 37 points, 16 goals and 21 assists in 36 games played this year. Some 18 points behind Collins is defenseman Jordan Heywood. Heywood has posted 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points.

In goal, Sam Marotta has held the fort, going 12-9-4 in 25 appearances. He holds a .927 save percentage and a 2.18 goals against in 1486 minutes played.

----> Garrett Noonan is again out this weekend with a shoulder injury. If BU advances to the Garden, he may return.

----> BU has out scored the Warriors 12-4 this year and did not score a single power play goal in those three games.

----> BU has lead the Warriors for 137:21 out of the 180:00 played this season (from Mike McMahon)

----> BU has gone three games the last six years. They have won five series in that stretch.

Hockey East Quarterfinal Preview and Picks

1. UMass Lowell vs 8. Maine
Site: Tsongas Center, Lowell, Mass

Lowell made an impressive second half, going 16-3-1 after starting the year 6-7-1 to become the first of the non "big four" to win the league. The Riverhawks have been backed by impressive goaltending from freshman Connor Hellebuyck, who holds a 14-2-0 record with a .945 save percentage. Maine, like Lowell made a second half push to make the playoffs. Maine may not have a record that is too eye popping, but then again, what 8 seed really ever does. The thing with the Black Bears is that they may not win every game, but they will hang around. Maine has 8 one goal losses and have played in 10 overtime games on the year. They have only lost one game in overtime. Joey Diamond (when he's not in the box) can and should be the best player in this series.
Pick: Maine in three

2. Boston College vs 8. Vermont
Site: Conte Forum, Newton, Mass

John Gaudreau was a played a
major roll on team USA in the
WJC this winter. Here he scores
against Canada
(Photo by Mark Blinch)

This marks the third year in a row that teams who have played the weekend of the regular season against each other will meet in the quarterfinals. BU and Northeastern did it in 2011 and Providence and Lowell last year. Interesting note: both lower seeded teams (NU and PC) won their quarterfinal series. Last weekend, Boston College took three points with a 4-4 tie Friday and a convincing 7-2 win Saturday. Chris MaCarthy is far and away the points leader on the Catamounts with 30 (13g, 17a) and leads second place Jacob Fallon by 8. For Boston College, the second half theme has been injuries which has held the Eagles back. After winning the Beanpot, they have gone 3-3-2 to finish the regular season. Johnny Gaudreau has been the one constant on the squad and his 46 points is good for 4th in the Nation.
Pick: Boston College in two 

3. Boston University vs 6. Merrimack
Site: Agganis Arena, Boston Mass

Sean Maguire stops a Justin Mayfield
shot in a game between BU and MC
earlier this year
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

For the fourth straight year, BU will be the three seed. In addition to that, BU will now have hosted the quarterfinals every year that the Terriers have called Agganis home. BU is the only team in the tournament to have swept their quarterfinal opponent in the regular season. They did that with  3-1, 4-1 and 5-2 wins against the Warriors. BU and MC met back in 2010 in the first round, with BU winning 3 games to one. Merrimack is led by Mike Collins, who has 37 points (16g, 21a). Sam Marotta has been strong in net with a .927 save percentage. BU will look to Sean Maguire to carry them as far as the freshman goalie can take them with a depleted roster.
Pick: BU in Three

4. Providence vs 5. New Hampshire
Site: Schneider Arena, Providence, Rohde Island

Schneider Arena will host it's first
quarterfinal series since 2003.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

The two teams actually tied for third with BU, the Terriers winning the tie breaker and PC winning the tie breaker vs UNH. So, they will host. Providence starts and ends with goalie John Gillies. He, like Guadreau was a member of the USA WJC team that won the Gold Medal over Sweden. Gillies is the owner of a .932 save percentage. PC has pretty much played .500 hockey since the break, but did come within a win of winning the league. A "W" over Lowell in the regular season's final game would have given the Friars the title. Despite starting the year 11-1-2 and at one point being ranked number one in the country, UNH will once again be on the road in the Quarterfinals. The last time they had home ice in round one was 2011. The Wildcats have not exactly rolled into the playoffs 2-3-5 in their last ten games. Providence is 5-2-3. There has been a lot of overtime played by both teams lately. Might be a great chance to see some free hockey in this series.
Pick: Providence in three. Gillies > DeSmith

Reaction To Parker

As of now, you probably already have heard that 40 year Head Coach Jack Parker is stepping down at the end of this year. I don't want to just recap the events of his tenure, but instead show the reaction from players, coaches and people who have been around him.

Former Terrier's, from the second it was announced yesterday afternoon have been shelling out nothing but praise for their former coach via Twitter. Heres a quick look at what some of them said:

I never got the chance to interview Jack, but did get to talk to him a couple of time at the Friends of BU Hockey Winter Skate. The fact that I was about 11 the last time I did talk to him doesn't really make for a great story, but I will always respect the way he coached and what he did for the program.

Next year, regardless of who ever is behind the bench it will never be the same. Will the team be good? I hope. Will they still play at Agganis? Yes. Will they still be in Hockey East? Yes. Will they still be in the Beanpot? Yes. "Yes" is the answer to all the these questions, but it wont be the same without coach Parker behind the bench. 

Here are links to some of the best posts about Parker:

Arielle Aronson, She's Game Sports

Adam Wodon, College Hockey News

Joe Haggery, (interview with Jay Pandolfo) Comcast Sports Net

USCHO Report

Annie Maroon, Daily Free Press

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell (Interview with Mike Eruzione), Boston Globe

In the coming days, I will post a list of the posable candidates, but my guess is former Terrier David Quinn and Mike Sullivan will be at the top of the list. 

BU Blanks NU, Head to Playoffs as Three Seed

On a night that could have saw BU finish as high as two and as low ad six in the Hockey East standings, the Terriers wrapped up the three seed with a 5-0 win and some other results. A Lowell win over Providence secured the regular season title for the Riverhawks and it also set up a tie between BU and Providence for third. BU won the tie breaker with a 2-0-1 head to head recored against the Friars, giving BU the three seed and PC the four.

Sahir Gill posted his first multi goal game of the year.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Danny O'Regan scored BU's first goal on the power play at 7:01 of the first. O'Regan redirected a shot/pass from Evan Rodrigues through Chris Rawlings' legs. Prior to the goal, BU had two full minutes of five on three and hit two posts. O'Regan's goal came on the latter stages of a five minute major on Dustin Darou for a brutal hit from behind on Wade Megan. 

Much like last night, the second period went scoreless.

Evan Rodrigues put BU up a pair just 1:12 into the third. O'Regan found Rodrigues in the slot from below the goal-line in the corner. Rodrigues grabbed the puck and in one motion flung a shot past Rawlings blocker side, good for his 12th goal of the year.

Halfway through the frame, BU erupted for two quick goals. Matt Nieto beat Rawlings five hole on a delayed penalty with the goalie pulled. O'Regan and Sean Escobedo picked up the assists. 38 second later, Sahir Gill scored on the pending power play. Matt Grezlcyk sprung him in on a semi break away, splitting two NU defenders at the blue line. Gill got tripped up (no call) and from his knees slid it through Rawling's legs. It was his eight goal of the year.

Less than four minutes later, Gill again found the back of the net. Matt Ronan sent a knuckling shot go from the top of the far circle in which Gill got his blade on, redirecting it past Rawlings and in. That was Ronan's first career point as a Terrier. 

Sean Maguire stopped all 25 shots he faced, taking his shutout total to three on the year.

As BU finished 3rd for the forth straight year, they will host Merrimack next weekend in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. 

Photos From Last Night

Terriers Double Up Huskies

BU celebrates after Jake Moscatel's first
goal as a Terrier.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Tonight BU topped Northeastern 4-2 in front of 2,987 at Matthews Arena. All four lines found the score sheet for the Terriers and Sean Maguire made 31 saves including 10 in the third period for his 9th win of the season. 

After a slow start to the game that saw few opportunities for either teams, BU finally got on the board at 12:19 of the first. Jake Moscatel had an open net to Chris Rawlings' left and did not miss, as he potted his first goal in a Terrier uniform. Ryan Santana and Ahti Oksanen picked up the assist on the play. 

Moscatel had this to say about the goal: "To be honest I thought that the goal would've come a long time [ago]. I've been dreaming of being a BU hockey player my entire life." He later said "[Rosen] was the first guy leaning over... I think he was the happiest for me on the bench."

Minutes later, Wade Megan would put BU up a pair. He got a pass from Sahir Gill before skating in and releasing a shot from the middle of the near circle. Rawlings seemed to have made the save, but the puck snuck through his pads and before he could lean far enough back, the puck had slowly slid over the red line. It was Megan's 15th tally of the season.

Before the period could end and it was really close to ending at that, NU cut the lead in half. Cody Ferriero undressed Ryan Ruikka before tossing a shot past Maguire far side with just 1.9 seconds left in the stanza. The goal was unassisted and was Ferriero's 12th of the season.

Sean Maguire played a solid game
in his third straight start.
(photo by Matt Dresens)

The second period was scoreless, with NU having the best chance. A backhanded floater made it's way through traffic and drubbed off the crossbar before harmlessly falling into the corner.

The big news of the second was Garrett Noonan suffered a shoulder injury after taking a hit. He skated off the ice favoring his right shoulder and went right down the tunnel. He did not return and after the game, Jack Parker said he most likely will need season ending surgery to repair a separated shoulder.

BU opened up the game in the early stages of the third. Danny O'Regan capped off the prettiest goal of the evening. A great set up through traffic by Matt Nieto allowed O'regan to redirect the Long Beach native's pass by Rawlings for his 13th goal. Ryan Santana picked up the second assist on the play.

Matt Lane scores at the beginning of the third period.
(Photo by Robert Treiber)

Less than five minutes later, BU made it 4-1. Matt Lane hit Cason Hohmann, who was coming out of the penalty box with an indirect pass. Hohmann got the puck at the blue line and gave it back to Lane who was in the high slot. Lane then took it from there and did all the work. He was calm through the slot and when he had no options he carried the puck to the far side to open a shooting lane. From the low circle, Lane hit the water bottle and basically gave BU the game.

Adam Reid would score a rebound goal off a Cody Ferriero at the 7:28 marker, but that was the closest Northeastern would come to a comeback, as BU held the Huskies scoreless in the second half of the third.

The two teams will faceoff again tomorrow night in the final regular season game of the year. With a point tomorrow night, BU will clinch 5th place. They will need some help to get the final home ice seed (4th).

Weekend With The Huskies

Sam Kurker threads a pass past
Kevin Roy in the January
meeting between the Huskies
and Terriers.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

BU enters the final weekend of the regular season looking to secure home ice in the Hockey East playoffs. The opponent: last place Northeastern, who has beaten the Terriers in the two previous meetings already this year. The first was a 6-5 win for NU in January and the other was a 3-2 victory in round one of the Beanpot.

NU started the year off well, beating BC in one their first games, but last weekend were officially eliminated from the Hockey East Tournament after tying Maine 4-4 in a game that had to win.  The Huskies are 3-10-3 in the second half, two of those wins are against BU.

Scouting The Huskies
Kevin Roy is far and away the best player on the NU roster, but has not played since the 22nd of February. In the 29 games he has played in, Roy posted 34 points, 17 goals and 17 assists. I don't know if he will be in the lineup tonight. Former Terrier Vinny Sapinari will finally play his final college hockey game this weekend. After playing two years at BU and being kicked off the team following his sophomore campaign, he spent a year in the USHL. His plan was to go to BC after the USHL year, but did not get in to school there. Last year he played as a Junior at Northeastern and this year as captain of the Huskies, he has 7 goals, 22 assists for 29 points.

In goal, we will see Chris Rawlings conclude his NU career. Rawlings has a .906 save percentage and a 3.09 goals against average to go along with a 8-12-1 record, this season.

Back

Me after the game tying goal
last friday.
(Photo by Sharon Haggerty)

So, the last few days I have taken a break and did not really cover the Vermont weekend at all. Last weekend was definitely the worst weekend of the year for me personally. Yeah, BU lost Saturday, but my high school team (Medfield) also lost in the first round of the D3 tournament 4-3 to Pembroke in a shootout. Yes, they decided a playoff game in a shootout. Still a little bitter as you can tell. Anyway, we were down 3-0 after the first, only to score three straight goals in less than eight minutes to tie the game 3-3 in the third. I had the tying goal and had never really been more excited about scoring a single goal in all of my career. That being said the low that followed after losing the shootout made it really hard to want to do anything involving hockey the past few days, thus no game recaps or Monday Thoughts.

This weekend I should be able to go to both of the Northeastern games, so there will be recaps and what not in the coming days.