From The Vault
Justin Maiser scores in double overtime in first ever semifinal matchup
between BU and BC back in 2003, sending the Terriers to the finals to
face New Hampshire.
Boston College made quick work of Vermont in the 3-6 matchup. BC started out hot, scoring eight seconds into game one, and they didn't let up. In total, BC outscored the Catamounts 14-4 over the two nights.
Head to head, unless you live under a rock, you know that BU is 3-0-0 against BC this year. The Terriers swept a January home and home series with 2-1 and 3-0 wins. BU also won the opening round of the Beanpot with a 3-1 victory.
Special teams have played a huge role in the three prior meetings. BU has held BC to just one power play goal in 11 opportunities over three games. The Terrier PK has continued to be strong and was a large part of advancing past Northeastern last weekend. BU held the second most efficient power play in the country goalless on seven chances.
Last weekend, BU went 4 for 8 (50%) on the power play, while BC was equally impressive, going 5 for 11 (45.5%).
Scouting the Eagles
Austin Cangelosi and Matty Gaudreau both are tied for the team lead in points with 34. Cangelosi leads the team in goals scored with 20 and has added 14 assists. Gaudreau has just eight goals but has notched an impressive 26 assists. The ever dangerous Colin White is right behind those two with 33 points by way of 16 goals and 17 assists. Bruins Prospect Ryan Fitzgerald, Scott Savage, Mike Kim and David Cotton are other players to watch.
In goal, Joe Woll continues to be steady, holding a .913 save percentage and 2.61 goals against with a 16-12-3 record in 32 appearances.
History
The Terriers and Eagles have met four times before in the semifinals, with BU owning a 3-1 record. The first meeting was in 2003 and in this instant classic, Justin Maiser compiled a hat-trick, scoring late in the second, again in the final three minutes to tie the game, and once more in double overtime to win send the fifth-seeded Terriers past #2 BC 6-5. In addition, Sean Fields made 46 saves in 85 minutes of play. BC’s lone win came in 2007 when the Eagles dispatched the Terriers with a convincing 6-2 win while a heavy March snowstorm blanketed Boston. Thanks to three goals in 43 seconds from Zach Cohen, Brian Strait, and Colin Willson, BU slipped past BC 3-2 in 2009. Finally, BU was able to dig themselves out of a 2-0 hole to win 6-3 in 2013. Danny O’Regan notched a pair of goals and Sean Maguire was phenomenal in net.
The Early Game
Lowell and Notre Dame will face-off in the early game. This year, the final four features the top four teams in the league based on points and the only real surprise out of last weekend was it took top-seeded Lowell three games to get past 10th-seeded New Hampshire. In fact, It was the only series to go the distance, but Lowell advanced with wins in games two and three. I was on hand in Lowell for a game three massacre of the Wildcats, an 8-2 one-sided affair.
I think this game has the potential to be a defensive struggle. Both teams have exceptional goalies in Tyler Wall and Cal Peterson, but it's hard to pick against the River Hawks this time of year in the Garden. Lowell has advanced to the championship game the last four seasons and I don’t see this year being any different. Lowell by a goal, 3-2.
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