A Key Point

BU faces BC tonight and if you didn't know that already, then what are you doing here? Anyway, the lone game this weekend could be a critical point in the year.

BC's Stevan Whitney attempts to hit the puck in with his
hand vs BU in lat year's Hockey East Semi Finals. The puck
never actually went in on this play and BU won 6-3.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

These types of games have a way of shaping a season. Take 2012 for example. BU was a middle of the road team before steam-rolling BC 5-0 in mid-November. After that game the team reeled off an impressive 7-1-0 streak to close out the first semester.

This year, BU has a chance to do something similar. After BC, the schedule softens up for a weekend before North Dakota comes to town for a pair of games the following weekend.

A win Friday night should act as a spring-board for the 2014 Terriers. They are a team that has proven they can hang (at least scoreboard wise) with the best teams in the nation. The Michigan game proves that. They also have shown the ability to struggle with lesser teams, i.e Michigan State.

BU is a classic case of a young team looking for an identity. Eight games through the year with a 4-4-0 record, a win over Boston College would go a hell of a long way in proving this team can compete with top level teams.

They beat #3 Providence in the first come-from-behind win of the year, last Friday night. Is PC really a top tier team?

Who knows, but from what I saw on Saturday night, BU hung right with them and that game was very evenly matched.

So, say PC is a top five team this year... Does that make BU a contender? Again, who knows, but this weekend will be a key point in proving that question, win or lose.

Scouting Boston College
BC is 4-2-1 on the year and have notable wins over RPI (7-2) and Wisconsin (9-2) and a tie against number one Minnesota. They have lost to Michigan (3-1) and Minnesota (6-1).

The Eagles are led offensively by standout junior Johnny Gaudreau. In 7 games played, Gaudreau has 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points. Kevin Hayes is second with a 3-6-9 line in seven games, and Bill Arnold is one point behind him with 8.

In goal, both junior Brian Billett and  freshman Thatcher Demko have split time in the cage this year. Billett is 2-2-0 in four starts with a 3.63 goals against average and a .887 save percentage. Demko is 2-0-1 in three starts, posting a 2.27 goals against and a .920 save percentage.

The Last Time They Met...
March 22, 2013... BU 6, BC 3 in the Hockey East Semis.