Mankato Massacre

Over the weekend, BU was swept at home by Minnesota State in back to back nights at Agganis Arena. It was the first time in the arena’s 12 year history that BU was swept by an out of conference opponent on back to back nights.

The Terriers were, however, swept by Maine on January 27th and 28th in 2012 and again by Vermont in November 2008.

Ty Amonte barrels over Mankato goalie Jason Pawloski on
Saturday night.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Mankato’s experience and BU’s youth showed in this series. There were plenty of examples when the older Mavericks outworked and far outplayed the young Terriers.

“They played men's hockey and we played boy’s hockey,” said Head Coach Dave Quinn after Friday night’s 6-3 loss. “We just weren’t physical at all. Overtime they shot a puck and  we would turn and watch for it. We didn’t defend with our feet in the D-zone. It looked like we had never played D-zone coverage before.”

A constant issue for BU over the weekend was passing and decision-making with the puck. The best example of this was on a power play late in the third period of game two. Chad Krys was able to toe-drag around one defender at the top of the circle, but rather than let go a shot from a quality angle, he dished to the middle and the pass was broken up.

“Instead of five foot passes, we were trying to make 50 foot passes,” added Quinn. “we slowed the game down and started giving up odd man rushes and making bad decisions.”

“We have to shoot the puck when we have chances,” mentioned senior captain Brandon Hickey. “There were a couple times that guys had it in the slot and they looked off the shot to make a pass backdoor when the right play would have been to throw it at the goalie.”  

Between the Pipes
Despite being swept and outscored 9-3, Jake Oettinger still had a strong weekend. Friday night, the sophomore netminder sticked aside 39 shots, including 19 in the third period.  Saturday, he allowed two goals, neither of which was his fault, on 25 shots.

“We gave up 45 shots at home, six goals and our goalie played well. You can’t say that a lot,” said Quinn after game one.

Red Light District
Shane Bowers started the scoring just 2:03 into game one on Friday on the power play, he would later score again in the third period on rebound… Jordan Greenway notched his first of the year on a slick play to bat the puck out of mid-air midway through the first period, Friday on the power play.

At the Polls
The Terriers dropped from second to seventh in the USCHO poll. Denver was again Top Dog, receiving all but one first-place votes. Harvard, who has still yet to play a game, continues to move up and are now slated second. St Cloud picked up the one other first-place vote and come in ranked third, with North Dakota and Notre Dame rounding out the top five.

Hockey East Scoreboard
Friday:
Wisconsin 5, at Boston College 2
UMass 5, at Union 4
Colgate 0, at New Hampshire 5
UConn 6, at American International 4
Nebraska Omaha 6, at Lowell 3
Mankato State 6, Boston University 3

Saturday
Vermont 2, at Quinnipiac 3 (OT)
Wisconsin 4, at Merrimack 1
America International 1, at UMass 3
Nebraska Omaha 2, at Lowell 5
Colgate 3, at New Hampshire 5
Northeastern 3, at RIT 3 (OT)
UConn 1, at Sacred Heart 3
Mankato State 3, Boston University 0

Sunday
Boston College 4, at Providence 3 (OT)
Vermont 3, at Union 2