Monday Lookback: Discipline

Player of the Week
Clayton Keller, 2g 2a
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Friday night was the definition of a tie feeling like a loss. The Terriers had three one goal leads in the third period, but could never find a way to close out Northeastern, who always had an answer. Saturday was a bit different. BU’s penalty kill and goaltending were able to keep the game scoreless, despite taking four penalties in the opening frame. Eventually, BU scored two quick goals in the second period and unlike the night before, NU never answered.

In three home games so far, BU has yet to allow a goal at home.

Discipline was a big issue this weekend and played a huge role in the outcome of each game. As stated previously, BU took four penalties in the first period of game two, but only wound up in the box one more time for the remaining 40 minutes of the game.

While that may seem like an improvement from the night before when BU took nine penalties, coach Quinn was still not thrilled. “Five penalties is still too many. You want to stay under four and we just weren't able to do it, but the last 40 minutes we did a pretty good job staying out of the box,” said Quinn.

Let's go back to the third period of Friday’s game. With 11:05 left, Jordan Greenway scored to give BU a 3-2 lead. It was the last time Greenway was seen on the ice until the second period of Saturday’s game. He picked up a 10-minute misconduct after taunting the NU bench and sat the remainder of the game and the first period of Saturday’s contest.

It was a move that may well have cost BU a point in the standings on Saturday, but hopefully taught Greenway a valuable lesson, which will pay off down the line. Greenway is a force when he is out there. There are certain situations where his size makes him almost indefensible in the college game. He is able to create so much room for his linemates Clayton Keller and Patrick Harper that gives the trio a dynamic look when they are together.

The line showed their ability to shape the outcome of the game on Saturday night when Greenway returned and picked up assists on both goals scored by his linemates in the second period. Quinn sent a message not only to Greenway, but to the entire team. "It was addressed and people won't see that out of our team again," he added

It’s plain and simple: BU is better with Greenway on the ice and not in the box/on the bench.

Clayton Keller
Clayton Keller has done something in each game that stands out. It doesn’t always end up on the score sheet, but there is always something that shows why he was taken 7th overall in the NHL draft. This weekend, it just so happened to be on the score sheet.

Saturday night was Keller’s first of (probably) many multi-goal games. Both goals were incredibly highly skilled plays. The first, his second shorthanded goal of the season, was the most impressive of the two from a highlight reel standpoint. His second, a power play goal late in the third that at the time gave BU a 4-3 lead is what sets him apart. From the high slot, he made a quick stick handle move to gather a pass from Bobo Carpenter. All in one motion, he corralled the puck, drew a defender out of the shooting lane, and released a wrister labeled for the top corner.

It was a move that happened so fast the defender didn’t even have time to turn around before the puck was in the back of the net. NU coach Jim Madigan put it simply saying, “19’s a pretty good hockey player.”

Staying on Keller, he recorded two assists on Saturday to bring him to nine points on the year. Unfortunately, he went down late in the third period and looked to be having trouble putting weight on his leg. He did not finish the game and there were no real comments on his injury afterward.

At The Polls
For the second straight week, BU was slotted fourth in the USCHO rankings. Minnesota-Duluth was once again the unanimous number one ranked team, picking up all 50 first place votes. Denver was second, BC jumped up to third from the fifth slot and Lowell rounded out the top five.

Yes, that means Hockey East has three of the top five teams in the nation for those scoring at home or even if you’re alone.

Hockey East Scoreboard

Friday:
Boston College 6, at Maine 1
UConn 2, at UMass 2 (OT)
Vermont 1, at Lowell 3
Sacred Heart 2, at New Hampshire 2 (OT)
Mercyhurst 1, at Merrimack 5
BU 4, at Northeastern 4 (OT)

Saturday:
Vermont 2, at Lowell 4
Merrimack 2, at Providence 2 (OT)
Boston College 3, at Maine 2
Mercyhurst 0 at New Hampshire 3
Northeastern 0, at BU 3.

Blog News

I would like to announce that I have added an editor to the site. Dan Graham, a high school friend, and former teammate will be joining the staff. Dan is a junior at UMass-Amherst and is a double major in History and English.