Tuesday Take--- Week 4

Player of the week: Matt O'Connor

 Well, that could have gone better.

Overall the Michigan trip will be remembered as the weekend we couldn't hold a lead. A while back, BU had a record when leading after two periods of something ridiculous like 55-0-1. That was back in 2008-10/11, maybe, I'm not really sure; all I know is it was an impressive stretch.

This weekend was the exact opposite of that streak. Carrying a 1-0 lead deep into the third period should get you at least one point. Well, in both games BU had that 1-0 lead in that situation and came away with a pair of frustrating defeats.

It's not to say they should have won these games, though. If not for the play of both Sean Maguire and Matt O'Connor, this weekend would have been a complete debacle. BU was thoroughly out-played in both games, as both State and Michigan dominated the time of possession, shots on goals and especially scoring chances.

At points in both games BU looked flat and rather un-aggressive. It was only towards the very end of both games when the team was trying to tie the game did they really crank up the offense. It was frustrating to see them not score more goals, but 44 shots in two games isn't going to get the job done. 

Next week not only doesn't get easier, it gets a lot tougher and a lot more important. A home and home with Providence, who is up to number three in the USCHO rankings, and the first weekend of Hockey East play will truly test the young Terriers. 

At The Polls

BU fell to 18th in the USCHO Poll after the tough weekend in Michigan. Minnesota was the unanimous number one, taking all 50 first place votes. Notre Dame remained at number two. Providence (as mentioned before) is third, moving all the way up from 8th. Michigan stayed at four, and North Dakota moved up one slot from six to round out the top five.

Around Hockey East

Friday: Providence got past Miami 3-2 in overtime at home... Northeastern doubled up St. Lawrence 6-3 in Canton, New York... Lowell upended Michigan State 4-1 at Munn Arena... Maine one upped UMass at Alfond 3-2 in overtime... Boston College and Minnesota skated to a 3-3 draw in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes... Notre Dame beat Minnesota Duluth 3-2 in Duluth... BU fell to Michigan 2-1 at Yost.

Saturday: Vermont slugged Penn State 5-2 in Philadelphia... Merrimack topped Army 4-2 at Lawler Arena... Miami and Providence tied 4-4... New Hampshire was downed by RPI in Troy... St. Lawrence handed Northeastern their first loss 6-4... Lowell snuck past Michigan 2-1 at Yost... Maine steamrolled UMass 8-4 at home... Minnesota Duluth won 4-1 over Notre Dame... Michigan State came back to beat BU 3-1 at home.

Sunday: BC was torched 6-1 at Minnesota.