Weekend Lookback: Moving On

Player of the Week
Danny O'Regan
1 goal, 1 assist. This one wasn't
stats based, but eyeball test. He
was the best player on the ice
for either team last night.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Last night, for whatever reason, felt like the ultimate grinder of a win. That might be because it was the first real "playoff" type game of the year. Also, BU has come from behind so many times, it was almost weird having the lead for so long in that type of game. 

Coach Quinn also shared this view. "It got a little hairy there when it was 2-1. I thought we had plenty of chances to make it 3-1. As that game keeps going on, it only takes one goal to change momentum. I thought we responded well after they made it 2-1, I know we spent a lot of time in their own end… Just a good team effort."

It was really a team effort. In fact, the whole weekend was a team effort. BU picked up seven goals from six different players, with Robbie Baillargeon being the only player with two goals. Both Sean Maguire and Conor LaCouvee registered wins. Even though LaCouvee only played 5:49 of the Merrimack game, he still stepped in and did his job, getting the win. 

Cleaning Things Up
The thing that made last night's 3-1 win over NU such a grind was BU's defensive zone play. There were several instances where plays could have been made to get pucks out, but instead were kept in at the NU line. The lone Husky goal was a perfect example of this. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson won the face off to Matt Grzelzyk and then forced it up the boards, to the line but not out. NU quickly set up a point shot and John Stevens banged home a rebound. 

There were other times the Terriers would turn pucks back down on themselves when they had a clear lane to at least get the puck out. Thankfully, Sean Maguire played yet another strong game to help bail out his teammates. 

You could say I'm being a bit nitpicky here, but to anyone who watched that game, they know how close it was. With BU not able to solve Ryan Ruck after the first period the door was still quite a bit open for NU to pop in a goal or two. 

Buckling Down
That all being said, it was impressive what BU did defensively after the NU goal. With around two minutes left, BU proceeded to hold the puck down in the NU zone for a solid minute with a strong shift from the Matt Lane line. Okskar Andrén beat out a very close icing call with just over a minute left. It was a huge play in the game because Northeastern didn't get to set up a play off an attacking zone face off and the clock kept running. 

Trap Game? Not Really
One would think that the game between the Beanpot would be a game that is easily over looked and could lead to a slip up. Well, it hasn't really been the case for BU. Since 2000, in years that BU has advanced to the championship game, they are 9-3-0 in the game between Beanpot games. This is not counting the five games that were played between Beanpot games last year while we were getting slammed with snow. Friday night, BU plays at UMass. 

At The Polls 
This weeks poll came out prior to the Beanpot, and BU stayed in the number nine slot. Quinnipiac was again first, North Dakota second and St. Cloud third. BC moved up one peg from fifth to fourth, while Michigan slid into the top five from sixth.

BU moved up from 11th in the PWR to 8th following the NU game. 

Around Hockey East
Tuesday: UConn fell 7-4 at home to Sacred Heart.

Friday: Providence topped New Hampshire 3-1 at Schneider… Maine found some much needed offense and took down UMass 5-2 at the Mullins Center… Boston College blanked Notre Dame 4-0 in South Bend… Lowell skated past Arizona Sate 4-1 at home… BU shutout Merrimack 4-0 at Agganis.

Saturday: New Hampshire managed a slip with Providence with a 3-1 on the road… Maine complete the road sweep of UMass with a 5-4 win… Lowell steamrolled ASU 8-1.

Sunday: Merrimack absolutely destroyed Arizona State 10-0. They were up 9-0 after two periods.

Monday (Beanpot): BC came from behind to beat Harvard 3-2… BU advanced to the Final with a 3-1 win over Northeastern.