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.

Millan Helps BU One Up UNH

Ross Gaudet scored his second goal of the
season in the second period.
(Photo By Matt Dresens)

For the second night in a row BU's netminder, Kieran Millan has returned to the form of his freshman year. Tonight he made 38 saves including 13 in the  third period. 

After a scoreless opening period, UNH jumped out to a 1-0 lead on their first power play of the night. There was a huge scrum in front of the BU with about everyone on the ice standing in the slot. The puck found it's way on to the stick of UNH's Greg Burke who put it past Millan for his first collegiate goal.

About three and half minutes later BU tied the game on a power play goal of their own. At the point with the puck was Adam Clendening. His slap shot hit the dead center of the post and bounced into Charlie Coyle's lap who tapped it past New Hampshire's goalie, Matt DiGirolamo

BU's second came just minutes later. A bad turnover by a UNH defender lead to a semi break-a-way for BU's Ross Gaudet. Gaudet's shot looked like it hit off the leg of a Wildcat player. The deflection found it's way past DiGirolamo, five hole,  giving the Terriers their first lead in three games.

There were three plays that went to review, all being dis-allowed goals. Sahir Gill's high stick goal in the first period was called off after video review along with Alex Chiasson's strike with the net off it's pegs. The third a final one was UNH's Paul Thompson's goal that never crossed the line.

In the third period UNH dominated the Terriers. All the play was down the BU end, but thanks to Millan, The Terrier came away with the win and more importantly gained two points in the Hockey east standings. They are now in third behind BC and UNH. 

Slow Start Kills BU

Garret Noonan scored his first collegiate goal
in the first period.
(Photo By Matt Dresens)  

For the second game in a row, BU fell behind three nothing. Boston College scored three first Period goals to put the Terriers in a deep hole from the start.

Steven Whitney put the Eagles up 1-0 less then five minutes into the game. Paul Carey fond Whitney skating into the slot and hit him with a perfect pass. Whitney wasted no time a riffled one post Millan, off the post and in.

BC's second goal came on the power play. BU was caught up ice on a short handed rush. BC turned it up ice and had a 3 on 1 into the BU zone. The Eagle's Brain Gibbons scored a tap in goal after a couple of nice passes.

The Eagle's third tally also came on the power play. Brian Dumoulin, a member of the US WJC team, seemed to take a harmless wrist shot from the point. Millan never saw it through a screen and the puck found it's way into the back of the net.

After a terrible first period, BU rebounded nicely in the second scoring two goals of their own. Both goals were a result of the power play.  Just after BC got its man back BU's Alex Chiasson won a battle in the corner, then slipped a pass to Garret Noonan, who put it pass BC goalie John Muse from the top of the crease.

BU's second goal came on the power play. Chis Connolly took a slap shot from the point. It was deflected up in the air and gloved down by Charlie Coyle. Coyle gave it back to Connolly who fed David Warsofsky with a perfect one timer pass. Dave's bomb found it's way past Muse to make it a one goal game.

The third period saw both teams have their fair share of chances, all being denied by great goaltending. Milllan made some big stops to keep it a one goal game while Muse did the same.

Bu travels to NewHampshire tonight to face the Wildcats.