BU Avoids Trap game, Beats Lowell 3-1

The game started very slow. Literally, because it started a half hour late because Lowell's bus was stuck in a terrible traffic jam (so was I). The actual game play was slow as well. Both teams had a few good chances to score but the goalies made quick work of any scoring opportunities.

Kieran Millan stops Lowell's Al Butler on a break-away,
one of 30 saves the Junior netminder made last night. He
was also named the number one "Star of the Game" for his
efforts.
(Photo By Matt Dresens)

BU grabbed the lead in the second on a tic tack toe passing play. Joe Pereira fed Chis Connolly who then found a pinching defenseman, Max Nicastro right in the high slot. Nicastro got a stick on it to deflect it past UML goalie Marc Boulanger.

Four minutes later, BU went up 2-0 on the power play on another nifty passing play. Adam Clendening tossed a back handed pass over to Corey Trivino who one timed the pass to another pinching defenseman in Garrett Noonan. Noonan tapped the pass into the net for his second goal of the year.

The Terriers would make it 3-0 in the third again on the power play. Clendening's blast from the point deflected off of Joe Pereira and past Boulanger. The play went to review to see if Pereira had kicked it in but the goal stood.

It looked for a while like Kieran Millan would get his first shutout of the year but it was not to be. Towards the end of the game BU took a lot of stupid penalties, which gave Lowell a five on three and then a six on three when they pulled Boulanger. They made quick work on the power play and David Vallorani beat Millan low glove side.

BU will take on BC in the Beanpot opener Monday night.

Game Photos:



Video Highlights 

BU Battles Lowell

Lowell is really the lowest this year,
ranking 54th out of 58th in all of D1
College hockey in the Ratings % Index
(RPI)

Tomorrow night BU will take on the Lowell RiverHawks in their last game before the Beanpot showdown with Boston College. Last weekend, BU took three out of a possible four points at the University of Maine. Lowell, on the other hand, has a 4-20-2 record on the season, not great by any stretch of the imagination, but the RiverHawks have accomplished something neither BU nor BC have and that is win a game at Lawler, Merrimack's Barn. Lowell has played .500 hockey the last four games.

Players to watch 

• Rilley Wetmore, Lowell Forward. Wetmore is the leading scorer for Lowell. He has 11 goals, 12 assist in 26 games played. 
• 
  
• Maury Edwards, Lowell Defenseman. Edwards is really having a down year, but since Lowell really has no other talent he makes the list. He ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 12 points. 

The last time they met...

was a weekend series on Halloween weekend. BU swept the two games 5-1 and 2-1. 

In Other News 

Here's a little video I made. Its from the Maine game in which Kieran Millan made 41 saves. 

An Overall Good Weekend *UPDATED*

Millan during his freshman year.
(Photo by Mat Dresens) 

Whenever a team goes up to Maine and takes three out of four points it is a good weekend. BU did just that last weekend. This is the second time in three years (only played Maine once at Alfond last year) that the Terriers have three points from the Black Bears. That last time came back in 2009 and in 2007 BU swept Maine in a weekend series in Orono.

Millan Named Hockey East Defensive Player Of The Week
BU Net Minder Kieran Millan was named Hockey East's defensive player of the week after he stoned the Maine Black Bears this past weekend. He had an expressive 41 save game Saturday night. After being scored on only 21 seconds into the game, Millan responded to stop every other shot he faced that night.

BU, Hockey East's Team Of The Week
After a win and a tie in Maine, BU was named the team of the week by Hockey East.

In Other News 

Joe Pereira scored his first career short-handed goal in Saturday's 1-1 tie.

John Curry, BU former goaltender, took part in the AHL Skills Competition and in the All Star Game over the weekend. 

Former BU Captain Sean Sullivan had the hit of the year a few nights a go. Here is the video:

At The Polls 

For the second time this season, Boston College submitted the USCHO rankings. They were followed by Denver, Yale the former #1, Minnesota Duluth, and North Dakota round out the top five. BU moved from 16th to 14th. 

They were also 14th in the USA Today Poll and 15 in the INCH Power Rankings 

Millan Stands On His Head As BU Ties Maine

Last night BU's netminder, Kieran Millan made 41 saves in a 1-1 tie against the Black Bears. Millan is the only reason that the game resulted in a tie, because BU was way out played and out chanced in all phases of the game.

This may have been the best game that Millan has ever played
as a Terrier. The only other game that comes to mind is the
Northeast Regional Final against UNH in the '09 playoffs.

Maine grabbed the lead just 21 seconds into the game. Will O'neal's blast from the point was the only shot that got by Millan the whole night. He was definitely screened and never had a good look at the shot.

Later in the frame, BU picked up their fourth short handed goal goal on the season. After a tape to tape pass from Chis Connolly, Joe Pereira it past Maine goalie Martin Ouellette to tie the game. The score would stand for the remainder of the game.

Both teams had great chances to break the tie throughout the game. BU had a five minute power play after Ben Rosen got caught with a cross check to the face. During the five minute man advantage, Maine was called for another penalty and the Terriers had a full two minute 5 on 3. They did not score.

Maine had their own two man advantage in the third period. Thanks to Millan the game stayed tied.

The important thing is, BU came away with tree points in Orono, something that is never easy. Next weekend BU and Lowell will face off for their final meeting of the season. Then next Monday is the Beanpot showdown with Boston College.

BU Comes Back And Dumps Maine

After trialing 3-1 in the second period, BU scored three unanswered goals to beat the #12 ranks Black Bears 4-3 last night. Corey Trivino scored the first Terrier goal followed by Alex Chiasson, Wade Meagan and David Warsofsky's winner.

Millan played well in net, again and Trivino came up clutch on faceoffs towards the end of the game.

Video Highlights:

Terriers Trip To Orono

Alex Chiasson slips a pass through
the legs of Maine's Joey Diamond

BU will travail to the Maine Black Bears tonight to kick off a weekend series at Alfond Arena. For both teams this is a pivotal weekend. Maine and BU could not be closer right now. Just one points separates them in the Hockey East Standings and Maine is only point slot higher then the Terriers  in the Pair Wise, at 17.

If BU were to sweep this weekend or even get three points, they would be in the drivers seat for home ice in the conference playoffs. After this weekend, BU plays the bottom half of the league, Lowell followed by a trip over to Amherst to play UMass between the Beanpot games and then two game series with Providence, Vermont, and Northeastern to close out the regular season.

Players to watch 

• Gustav Nyquist, Maine Forward. Nyquist this season leads his team in points at 28 but only has six goals on the year. Last year he had 30+ goals and was a Hoby Hat trick finalist. 

• Spencer Abbott, Maine Forward. Abbott is second on the team in overall points, 26 and goals with 12.  

The Last Time They Met..

was back in November. After being down in the third period, BU came back and tied the Black Bears 2-2 at Agganis Arena. Last Year the Terrier fell 3-2 at Alfond Arena

Millan Hitting His Stride

We have been waiting a long time for this; the return of Kieran Millan to his Freshman form. Named the  National Rookie of the Year in 2009, Millan was one of the better goalies not only in Hockey East, but in the nation. That season Millan had one of the best season by a goaltender ever in college hockey, an unbelievable 29-2-3 (.897%) record with 3 shutouts and only 67 goals against the whole year. Never mind the fact he did not lose a road game the entire season. Also in '09, he posted a .921 save percentage and 1.94 goals against average.

Millan sticks aside a shot in his freshman campaign
during the Hockey East playoffs against Maine.
(Photo By Matt Dresens) 

Last year was definitely a sophomore slump for the Edmonton Alberta native. Millan had a not so hot .500 win%  and an equally bad .891 save%. Despite having more total saves in '10, he had almost a two goal difference in goals against, a very average 3.15.

This season he has looked almost as good as his first year with the Terriers. While the win% and GAA are still higher than the National Championship year, his save % is not far off at .913. Let's also remember that the team in front of him is no where near the caliber of the 2009 squad.

In the last three games alone, Millan has stopped exactly 100 shots against three top 20 teams. His best performance came on last Saturday against New Hampshire, where he held the #7 Wildcats to just one goal. In that game he stopped 38 shots including 13 in the third period alone.

Millan will have to stay on his game for the rest of the season if BU wants to make a run at either the Hockey East Championship or the NCAA tournament.

Next Weekend could determine the fate of the Terriers as they travel to rival Maine next weekend for two games. As of right now, the Black Bears sit just one point behind the Terrier in the conference standings.