This Week In '06: Playoff Preview

In a two game set, BU faced Boston College on Friday night and UMass on Saturday. This was a bit of foreshadowing as BU would play both the Eagles and Minutemen in the Hockey East playoffs in just a few weeks time.

Friday January 27, 2006
This was a strange, streaky kind of game. Both teams had nine, yes nine power plays and both teams went 2 for 9 on said power plays. BC opened the scoring on five on three goal in the first and took a 2-0 lead into the dressing room after one. Peter Herald and Andrew Orpik both found twine for the Eagles.

BU respond by scoring the game's next four goals. Kevin Schaeffer, on the power play and Eric Thomassian scored in the second frame. Brandon Yip and Brad Zancanaro (power play) scored in the third. The Zancanaro goal was the eventual game winner. Brett Motherwell's third period strike registered BC's only goal after the first stanza.

John Curry made 30 saves in his second victory over the Eagles on the year. BC was number one in the country coming into the game.

“He’s the best goaltender in BU history as far as stats are concerned,” said Terriers head coach Jack Parker, defending the consistent play of his own goaltender. “He’s a hell of a goaltender and we like how he’s playing right now.” - From USCHO

Saturday January 28, 2006

Behind a strong crowd (6,156) back in their home barn, BU ground out a 3-1 over UMass. The Terriers picked up two goals over the first two periods from Kenny Roche and Bryan Ewing. The lead was threatened when Chris Davis scored a short handed goal midway though the third. Peter MacArthur silenced any hope of come back with a goal five minutes later.

“I was very concerned about this game after last night’s game, and maybe it was self-fulfilling prophecy, but I don’t think we played as well as we should have played,” Parker said. “I think we played okay in the first period. I thought Massachusetts outskated us, outbumped us, and played harder than we did-I’d say for most of the game. We were fortunate we got the 2-0 lead; we were fortunate that they didn’t get two goals in the second period.

“I thought John Curry played great. The three stars in my mind were John Curry, John Curry, and John Curry. That’s why it was a struggle because we didn’t play as hard as UMass did; we didn’t match their intensity.” From USCHO

With the two wins, BU extended the nation's best win streak to seven games in a row.

Current Record: 14-8-2

Current Ranking: 8, up five slots from 13.