Monday Lookback: The First Sweep

Player of the Week
Matt Grzelcyk
2 goals, 1 assist. Also was
named Hockey East
Defenseman of the Week.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

This weekend was a strong case of one game leading to another. After Northeastern scored three goals in a 1:15 (with a Ryan Cloonan goal mixed in there) span on Friday night, coach David Quinn took a critical timeout to gather his team and reset them. Boy did it ever work.

The Terriers would not allow another goal until the last minute of the third period... of Saturday's game. BU scored twice in the third period Friday night to overcome a 4-3 deficit and win 5-4. Saturday was probably their best all around game of the year. They dominated the Huskies from start to finish, other than a garbage time goal that happened after Ahti Oksanen had already sealed the game with an empty netter.

So, after the timeout at 15:05 of the second period Friday night, BU out scored NU 6-1. Because of how the game went Friday, BU had all the momentum going into Saturday. They didn't disappoint, as they took it to the Huskies, outshooting them 18-2 in the first period.

Welcome Back Captain
To say the return of Captain Matt Grzelcyk was impactful is a complete understatement. Grzelcyk instantly made this team much stronger not only with his play, but with his leadership. Yes, the team had Eichel last year, but they also had great leadership, something that was lacking a bit to start the year.

Oh yeah, he also scored twice and added an assist on the game winner by Oksanen on Friday night. Not a bad first weekend back.

Goalie Situation Solved?
Connor LaCouvee has seen action in the last four games and has a 3-0-0 record with a .927 save percentage. I don't think we have seen the last of Sean Maguire, but I think he could be on a short leash. It will be interesting to see if they split this weekend with #1 Providence on the schedule. My guess is that will be determined based on how Friday night's game goes. If LaCouvee gets hosed, or lets in some soft goals, Maguire could very well start game two.

At the Polls
BU was once again number 11 in this weeks USCHO poll. North Dakota lost to Wisconsin, unseating them from the #1 slot. Providence slid up from 2nd to take the number one spot. Boston College was two, North Dakota fell to 3rd. Quinnipiac moved up one slot to 4th and Lowell was 5th.
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There are four undefeated teams left in college hockey: Providence (6-0-1), Quinnipiac (8-0-0), Harvard (3-0-1), and Yale (3-0-1).

Around Hockey East
Tuesday: BC destroyed UMass 7-0 at home.

Wednesday: Merrimack rolled past Bentley 5-1 at the John Ryan Rink in Watertown.

Friday: BC blanked Maine 3-0 at Conte... UMass doubled up UConn 4-2 in Hartford... Lowell dropped Vermont 5-3 in Burlington... New Hampshire was shutout by Michigan State in Lancing... Notre Dame snuck past Minnesota 4-3 in South Bend. BU came back to beat Northeastern at home 5-4.

Saturday: UMass completed the sweep of UConn with a 4-3 win at the Mullins Center... Lowell shutout Vermont to finish off the road sweep... Merrimack topped Canisius 3-2 in Buffalo... Minnesota avoided the sweep with a 4-1 win at Notre Dame... Michigan State beat New Hampshire again at home.

Sunday: BC again shutout Maine at home.