NCAA regional bonus coverage

Terrier Nation is still buzzing over BU's 2-1 win over New Hampshire in the Northeast Regional final, yet another game in the NCAA tournament that was decided in the final minute of regulation or in overtime.

From GoTerriers.com we have a video highlights clip of all three goals and several spectacular saves by Kieran Millan, thwarting the Wildcats.

USCHCO: features by Scott Weighart and Dave Hendrickson, along with a Manchester notebook.
The Boston Globe: a game recap and a Millan feature.
The Daily Free Press: game recap and Jack Parker's thoughts on reaching the Frozen Four.
Inside College Hockey: Regional wrap-up
College Hockey News: Gilroy post-game interview
The New York Times: recap

►To date, Millan has posted the best winning percentage in the nation at .891. He’s also set a new BU record for most wins in a single season at 27.

►When Jason Lawrence’s game-winning goal was knocked in by UNH’s Jerry Pollastrone, more than a few BU fans were recalling the 2003 Hockey East Championship game. One night after the Terriers eliminated BC in double-overtime, 6-5, BU and UNH went to overtime at 0-0 when a Wildcat centering pass glanced of BU d-man Ryan Whitney’s and past Sean Fields into the Terrier net.

► Lawrence's game-winner was his eighth of the season, which is just shy of 25% of BU's 33 wins. He's second in the nation in game-winning goals.

►So which movie title better sums up freshman netminder Kieran Millan? The media was calling him “Cool Hand Luke” after the Hockey East Tournament. But how about “Road Warrior”? Millan is undefeated (11-0-2) in 13 games played away from Agganis Arena this season. His only two losses were on home ice.

►Puck luck off the ice
With the top seed going into the NCAAs, BU should have faced #16 in the first round of the regionals, but because the NCAA avoids intra-conference games in the first round, the Terriers instead played #15 Ohio State. And Notre Dame, the #2 seed, played—and lost—to the 16th seed, Bemidji State, the tournament’s Cinderella team.

►At the NCAA Frozen Four, BU will--for the fourth time this year--meet Vermont in the late game, beginning at 8:30. Bemidji State and Miami face off at 5:00 p.m.

On to D.C—Terriers nip Wildcats on last-minute goal

After a relatively easy victory in the regional semifinal, BU had to scratch and claw its way to 2-1 nailbiter over a determined New Hampshire team in the final in Manchester, N.H. Jason Lawrence’s power play goal, which deflected off a diving Wildcat defender at 19:46 of the third period, sends BU to the Frozen Four for the time since 1997.

BU dominated the first period and scored on a rebound converted by Corey Trivino. UNH evened the score in the second period, taking over the momentum, but were repeatedly denied a lead by Kieran Millan’s heroics in goal. The final period was more balanced but the Terriers went on a power play with less than a minute to go in regulation when Nick Bonino was hauled down just as he was about to shoot from the slot. Lawrence nailed the game-winner thirty seconds into the power play.

We have recaps from GoTerriers.com, USCHO, HockeyEastOnline, College Hockey News, a comprehensive boxscore, and audio comments from Coach Jack Parker (Regional Final) and from three BU players (Regional Final)—Lawrence, Millan and co-captain John McCarthy.

►Lawrence, with three goals for the weekend, was voted Most Outstanding Player of the regional. Lawrence now has 24 goals for the season, three more than his first three seasons combined. The senior wing, who has 45 career goals, was joined on the all-tournament team by co-captain Matt Gilroy, Millan and Bonino.

►BU’s record now stands at 33-6-4 with the second most wins in school history. Only the 1993-94 team with 34 had more. The Terriers are 26-2-4 in their last 32 games.

►With 10 goals in the two regional games, BU has scored 168 on the season, exactly double the number of goals allowed, 84.

►The NCAA Northeast Regional title is BU's fifth championship of the season. Previously, they won the Icebreaker, Denver Cup, Beanpot Championship, Hockey East Regular Season title and Hockey East Tournament Championship.

►BU extended its unbeaten streak away from Agganis Arena to 17 games (15-0-2). The Terriers last road or neutral site loss was Nov. 7 at UMass.

►Next up for the Terriers is yet another conference foe, Vermont, Frozen Four seminfinals at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. on April 9. The Catamounts are the only team to have beaten BU more than once this season, taking a pair of 4-3 wins last November.

►The other seminfinal matches Miami against the tournament’s Cinderella team, Bemidji State, which followed up its stunning upset of Notre Dame by duplicating the feat against Cornell tonight.

Terriers rout Bucks, face UNH in Regional final

UPDATED COVERAGE -see below


Two goals each by Jason Lawrence and Zach Cohen and four Matt Gilroy assists led the Terriers past Ohio State, 8-3, in the Northeast Regional in Manchester. Nick Bonino added a goal and an assist for the Terriers who improved to 32-6-4. (photo credit Gil Talbot)

HockeyEastOnline has a brief recap and boxscore. Also, Coach Parker's OSU post-game comments and Players' OSU post-game interviews. From USCHO, a recap and a feature on Bonino.

Embedded below is a video highlight clip of tonight's goals. Check back later for more game recaps and coverage.




Additional recaps and coverage:

Go Terriers.com recap & photo gallery; Boston Globe recap; Boston Herald recap & Bonino feature; INCH coverage of both Northeast Regional games; College Hockey News recap

Next up for BU is the Regional final against conference rival New Hampshire, which rallied from two down in the third period--scoring the equalizer with .1 seconds remaining, before winning in overtime, 6-5. Another conference foe, Vermont, reached the Frozen Four with an overtime win over Air Force.

For those who don't have access to ESPNU, you may be able to watch the game online. Click on this link and scroll down to find the NCAA Northeast Regional final at 5:30 p.m. ET.

BU is the only one of the four top regional seeds to advance as Notre Dame fell to Bemidji State, 5-1.

BU's 32 wins are the second most in any season in program history. Tops is the 34 wins in 1993-94.

Game Day -- Terriers & Buckeyes in Manchester

The week between the Terrier's win in the Hockey East finals and their first NCAA game seemed to take forever, but it has finally arrived. BU plays Ohio State, a CCHA team it has matched up with just twice before, in the Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H., with a scheduled 5:30 p.m. start.

From GoBU.com, we have game notes and links to gametracker, the audio Webcast on WWZN and the video Webcast on ESPN360. Also a photo gallery from Friday's practice at the Verizon Center. Additionally, there are Coach Parker's Media Day Comments (and transcript) and the Player Interviews from Media day. The game also airs on ESPN2. CHN offers its Tale of the Tape comparison of the teams.

Regional action got underway in the East and West with upsets dominating the action. Air Force withstood 43 shots to blank Michigan, Vermont eliminated ECAC champ Yale and Miami dispatched Denver. A fourth upset (that is, a lower seed winning) was just 40 seconds away when Minnesota-Duluth scored twice--including a goal with 1 second left in regulation--to tie Princeton and then went on to win in overtime. Recaps are on USCHO and College Hockey News.

Boston Herald feature on senior co-captain and Hobey Baker finalist Matt Gilroy.


Boston Globe game preview.

Friday Linkorama

The 2009 NCAA Regionals get underway today in Bridgeport and in Minneapolis, while the top-ranked and top-seeded Terriers (31-6-4) get back on the ice tomorrow, taking on Ohio State in Manchester.

We have a bushel of good reading including NCAA previews and player features.

Previews: USCHO, College Hockey News , Inside Hockey, Daily Free Press, NHL.com, NHL Fanhouse, Analysis from USCHO's Dave Starman. Inside Hockey (video).


Features: Boston Herald-Brandon Yip, Boston Globe—Skating with confidence. Saugus Advertiser Jason Lawrence, CHN-Senior forwards.

Honors: All-CHN teams .

► Sophomore wing Joe Pereira, who suffered a ruptured spleen during BU's 1-0 win over UMass-Lowell in the Hockey East title game, did not require surgery and was released from the hospital. He continues to recuperate at home in Connecticut.



► The Terriers are making their 31st appearance in the NCAA tournament. The first was in 1950 when BU beat Michigan in the semifinal, but lost to host Colorado College in the final.



►BU will be meeting Ohio State for only the third time. The first, Dec. 28,1974, during the RPI Holiday Tournament, was Jack Parker's second game behind the BU bench.



► Start time for tomorrow's regional semifinal is 5:30 p.m. ET. WWZN will present a 90-minute postseason special beginning with BU All-Access from 4-5, followed by the Terrier hockey pre-game show.



► Head coach Jack Parker is bringing the Terriers to the NCAAs for the 23rd time, breaking the all-time record set by Ron Mason, who made 22 NCAA appearances as a coach (19 at Michigan State, three at Bowling Green).



► If you didn't see BU's semifinal 3-2 win over BC in the Hockey East Tournament, blog contributor candycanes99 has prepared two highlight clips: Game highlights and BU's three-goals-in-44 seconds explosion in the third period.

Looking back—That Championship Season

On this date in 1978, thirty-one years ago, BU won the third of its four NCAA championships, defeating Boston College, 5-3, the only time the two rivals have faced off in the title game. Sports Illustrated game coverage.

Last year, to mark the 30th anniversary, blog contributor mh82 prepared a comprehensive chronicle of the 1977-78 season when the Terriers put up a 30-2 record en route to the national championship. We’ve posted it again, here.

• Senior co-captain Matt Gilroy was named the winner of the 57th Annual Walter Brown Award by the Gridiron Club of Boston. The award is given annually to the best American-born Division I college hockey player in New England. A Hobey Baker Award finalist, Gilroy is the on Hockey East player ever named a first-team all-star three times.

• Earlier this week, Gilroy was interviewed on Toronto's Fan 590 Radio by Doug MacLeand Jack Armstrong about his career at BU. The interview probed at where his pro career will take him, but Gilroy defended as nimbly as he does on the ice.

• The four Hockey East coaches whose teams will play in the NCAAs held a conference call today. Jack Parker’s Mar. 25th comments: PDF.

• Freshman Chris Connolly and his brother, Jack, a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth, who also is preparing to play in the NCAA tournament, are featured by The Duluth Tribune
  

Looking ahead
International Scouting Services (ISS) named 2009 recruit Alex Chiasson its Draft Prospect Performer of the Week in the USHL.

“Alex Chiasson takes the USHL nomination after scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists in 3 games for Des Moines this week. Chiasson, a native of Lorraine, PQ is amongst the highest rated USHL forwards for the upcoming June draft. Chiasson is able to utilize his size and strength to be an extremely valuable player.”

Alex Chiasson, Right Wing. Born Oct 1 1990, Lorraine, PQ. 6.03, 175
Shoots Right 51 games, 16 goals, 31 assists, 47 points, 80 PIMs.

Hockey East title game video highlights

Blog contributor and technical guru candycanes99 has prepared two reels of video highlights from BU's 1-0 win against Lowell in the Hockey East title game. Enjoy....

Part 1






Part 2

On the road again

The BU Athletic Department, the Friends of BU Hockey, and the Dean of Students have teamed up to provided subsidized buses for the NCAA regional games in Manchester, N.H. next Saturday and Sunday, if BU advances.

The cost to students will be $8 per day. The buses will depart from Agganis Way at 3:30 p.m. Reservations on the fan bus will be given out on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve your spot, come to the Student Activities Office on Tuesday, March 24th.

Game tickets will be sold separately via Agganis Area Ticket Office, including a limited number of student tickets that will be sold today (Tuesday, March 24th) between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the ticket office. Ticket price of $82.00 (includes all games over the weekend). In addition, tickets are available online via Ticketmaster. For more information, contact Alan Fioravanti at 617-353-3635

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Tuesday Linkorama

As BU prepares for the NCAA Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H., next weekend, we have plenty for our readers to read and view:

From INCH: Capsules of each team in the Northeast Regional

From CHN: An interview with the chair of the NCAA Division 1 Hockey Selection committee.

Netminder Kieran Millan was named Hockey East Player of the Week for his MVP performance in the conference championships. USCHO, CHN and The Daily Free Press assessed his difference-making efforts in goal.

The DFP also examined the breakout season by senior co-captain John McCarthy.

In many quarters, the controversy over the disallowed goal by Lowell in Saturday’s title game lingers on. Judge for yourself. Video. Comments from Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna.

I heard two things,” Bertagna said of his conversation with the officials’ booth and replay official Scott Hansen. “I called the booth, and I heard the referee said he blew his whistle before it went over the line. There was never a question whether it went in or not. He blew the whistle first. The second thing, which is probably not as much of a factor, is the net did go up and down in the middle of the sequence. The rulebook has said even if it goes up and comes right back down on the pins, that’s the same as being off the net. That was almost like a second reason not to allow it. The real, specific reason was (referee) Timmy Benedetto said he blew the whistle. He lost sight of it, blew the whistle and replayed it. They didn’t have sound up there, so they watched him blow the whistle, they did a count and the puck clearly was not in the net at that point. So that was it.”

►Millan has tied the school record for wins in a single season by a goaltender with 25, previously set by Jack Ferreria (1964-65) and Cleon Daskalakis (1983-84), who also were named All-American in those seasons. Both are members of the BU Athletics Hall of Fame.

► BU is undefeated in its last 15 games away from home (13-0-2), marking the longest such stretch in program history.

► Thirteen of BU’s returnees from last season have surpassed their career high in points this year

►The Terriers are 7-3 in one-goal games this season after going 4-7 in those contests a year ago.

►The Avalanche Prospects blog featured Brandon Yip's game-winning goals from the 2006 and 2009 HE championship games.

Terriers head to Manchester for Regionals

BU, the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, will be the #1 seed in the Northeast Regional in Manchester, N.H. They'll play Ohio State in the 5:30 p.m. game on Saturday, March 28. The other half of the regional pits host New Hampshire against North Dakota, two teams BU has already played this season, in the first game. Saturday's regional final will be broadcast on ESPN2. The regional final, at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 29, airs on ESPNU.

BU will be pursuing its fifth national championship, having won titles in 1971, 1972, 1978 and 1995.

The full NCAA draw is here. USCHO coverage. Past champions.

► Normally, the top overall seed is matched against #16, but the presence of two CCHA teams, Miami and Ohio State as the #13 and #15 seeds forced a change. The NCAA selection committee avoids intra-conference matchups in the first round. So neither of those teams can play Notre Dame or Michigan, which also are regional top seeds. Notre Dame drew #16 Bemidji State, while Michigan faces #14 Air Force.

► The Connolly family Duluth will have some travel decisions to make. In addition to BU freshman Chris, their younger son, Jack, is also is freshmen at Minnesota-Duluth which won the WCHA title as the fifth seed in its league tournament.

►Four of the five conference championship games on Saturday were shutouts. Besides the Terriers' 1-0 win over Lowell, Yale blanked Cornell, 5-0, Minnesota-Duluth shocked Denver, 4-0 and Air Force whitewashed Mercyhurst, 2-0. Notre Dame, the second overall seed in the NCAA tournament, came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Michigan, 5-2.

Hockey East title game coverage--Part 2

Photo by Jim Michaud, Boston Herald

• HockeyEastOnline: Updated coverage with photo gallery and audio links
• The Boston Globe: Gone to the Dogs, Going National, Playing it cool serves Millan
• The Boston Herald: Terriers blank Lowell; Millan Nets MVP
• Inside Hockey: Another trophy for BU; Title game photo display
• College Hockey News: Millan feature
• Lynn Daily Item: Lawrence, McCarthy bask in Hockey East title
  

Terriers snare Hockey East title, 1-0

A first period goal by Brandon Yip and a sparkling 32-save performance by freshman netminder Kieran Millan gave the Terriers a 1-0 win over UMass-Lowell in the Hockey East title game at TD BankNorth Garden. The championship, in the conference's silver anniversary season, was BU's seventh Hockey East tournament win.
Millan was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by co-captains Matt Gilroy and John McCarthy and by Colin Wilson.

With his game-winning goal tonight, Yip, a senior, ended his Hockey East career with a matching bookend to go with the overtime game-winner (video) in the 2006 title game when BU beat BC, 2-1.

BU, which improved its overall record to 31-6-4, has locked up the #1 seed for the NCAA tournament. Tomorrow, pairings for the four regionals will be announced on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

From HockeyEastOnline, a recap, boxscore, an in-game blog and the photo above. More recaps: USCHO, New York Times, GoTerriers.com. NESN video highlights. Comprehensive boxscore. Post-game comments from Coach Parker and the BU players were also made available by HockeyEastOnline and can be found below (click to begin).


►Sophomore forward Joe Pereira suffered a ruptured spleen when his stick became caught in the Lowell net and the handle was forced into his stomach. He was taken to the hospital. For the second consecutive game, BU had just 11 forward for the bulk of the game. Pereira's teammates will visit him Sunday, following the NCAA selection show.

► BU hit posts and crossbars five or six times during the game. During a late third period power play both Yip and Gilroy did so. When Lowell pulled its goalie for an extra-attacker, Kevin Shattenkirk’s long clear seemed headed for the empty net, but struck the post instead.

►The Terriers controlled 34 of 64 faceoffs and as was the case on Friday, they dominated the third-period draws, winning 17 of 26, including the last five.

► BU is now undefeated in its last 15 games (13-0-2) away from Agganis Arena.

USCHO's coverage included several Jack Parker quotes including this one.

"One of the biggest plusses of our team this year, and for me
personally as a coach, is to see the recognition of John
McCarthy. This is a fabulous kid; this is the best student on the team, this is the kid that does everything right. He does
the next right thing all the time and it just comes natural
to him."

Check back for more post-game information and coverage.

Terriers rally past BC, 3-2, to reach Hockey East final

Trailing BC 1-0 midway through the third period, BU exploded for three goals in 44 seconds—a Hockey East tournament record—then held on to squeeze past the Eagles, 3-2 in the league tournament semifinal. BU will meet UMass-Lowell, a 3-2 overtime winner over Northeaster, in the Hockey East championship game on Saturday night.

“Big Train” Zach Cohen (photo, credit Dominick Reuter) got BU untracked, forcing his way from the corner to the BC net and beating John Muse on a low backhander. Just 21 seconds later, Brian Strait’s one-timer from the left point went past a screened Muse. Then Colin Wilson duplicated Cohen’s goal, coming out of the opposite corner.

We have recaps from Hockey East Online USCHO, College Hockey News The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and The New York Times and a comprehensive boxscore. Video highlights from NESN. Post-game comments from Coach Parker and the players below.


► With the victory, BU has 30 wins for the first time since 1995-95.

► Colin Wilson’s goal gave him 50 points. He’s the first Terrier to reach the half-century mark since Chris Drury. Senior Chris Higgin's assist on Wilson's goal gave him 40 points this season.

► Cohen's 10th goal made him the sixth Terrier to hit double figures in goals this season.

► BU spent nearly the entire game down a forward as Brandon Yip took a five-minute major and game misconduct for a hit from behind just 91 seconds into the first period.

►Assistant captain Strait—sporting a playoff beard—made his return after missing two weeks the a knee strain.

► BU scored on its first three shots of the third period and only had one more shot after the barrage.

► The Terrier senior class has a 9-8-2 record in 19 games with BC during four seasons.

►BU went 0 for 5 on the power play, but it wasn’t for lack of good puck movement. The Eagles blocked a slew of BU shots. Jason Lawrence had a great chance with nine minutes left in the middle stanza. The rebound of his shot from the slot trickled off to the side of BC netminder John Muse, but Lawrence couldn’t control the bouncing puck before being leveled.

►BU won 38 of 61 faceoffs, including 20 of 25 in the third period.

►BU met Lowell in the HE quarterfinals last year, beating the River Hawks, 2 games to 1. The teams last met in the Hockey East title game in 1994, with the Terriers winning 3-2.

►Lowell’s 3-2 OT semifinal win over Northeastern was its fourth extra-attacker goal since January. The River Hawks won three of the games in overtime and tied the other one.

Game Day: BU-BC in the Hockey East semifinal

It would be hard to understate the fact that tonight game is BU’s most important matchup of the season, thus far. The Terriers face archrival BC for the right to play tomorrow for the Hockey East title, one of the key milestone that BU has targeted. Having won three in-season tournament this season, the Terriers now seek the first post-season title. BU last won the Lamoriello Cup three seasons ago in 2006 (video) with John Curry in goal.

The Terriers and Eagles will faceoff at TD Banknorth Garden at 8 p.m. (unless the NU-Lowell semifinal goes to overtime). The only TV is on NESN and, in Canada, RogersSports Net. This will be the 246th meeting between BU and BC with the Terriers holding a 122-106-17 edge.

GoTerriers.com has links to game notes, the audio Webcast with Bernie Corbett and Tom Ryan, and gametracker. College Hockey News' stat comparison of BU and BC. We have previews from USCHO, Inside College Hockey, HockeyEastOnline, Inside Hockey, College Hockey News, The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald. Plus some features: The Patriot Ledger on why BU's loss to Maine Saturday might be a blessing in disguise; The Enterprise News on senior Steve Smolinsky, and Colin Wilson’s hometown paper, The Winnipeg Free Press, looks at the Terriers' top scorer.


►The Terriers will be attempting to reach the 30-win plateau for just the fifth time in program history. BU last earned 30 wins in a season during the 1995-96 campaign.


►This is the just the third time BU and BC have met in the Hockey East semifinals, as each team has come out on top once. The Terriers won a thrilling 6-5 double overtime contest (video of Justin Maiser's game-winner) in the 2003 semifinals, while the Eagles posted a convincing 6-2 victory in the 2007 semifinals

►BU is 11-4-0 (.733) in the 15 meetings at TD Banknorth Garden.

►The BU and BC seniors are tied at 8-8-2 in head to head competion over four seasons.

Gilroy, Wilson named Hobey Baker finalists

Senior co-captain Matt Gilroy and sophomore Colin Wilson have been named to the list of ten Hobey Baker Award finalists. This marks the second time two Terriers have been finalists. In 1996, Jay Pandolfo and Chris Drury were finalists and Pandolfo finished as runner-up. Drury won the Hobey Baker as a senior in 1998. Wilson is the first BU sophomore to become a finalist since Drury. This year's winner will be announced at the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C. Award criteria. CHN summary of finalists.

Hockey East claimed four finalists overall, including Northeastern's Brad Thiessen and Vermont's Viktor Stalberg.

Gilroy and Wilson also were among the honorees at last night's Hockey East awards dinner, earning places on the all-league first team. Gilroy is the first defenseman in Hockey East history to be named to the league first team three times. He leads all Hockey East defensemen in points this season with 32 (8g, 24a), has a plus-17 rating and has played in 140 consecutive contests. He was a finalist for Hockey East's Player of the Year award, won by Thiessen.

Wilson, last year's Hockey East Rookie of the Year, was league co-scoring champion with UMass forward James Marcou, has 14 goals and a league-high 35 assists on the season and registered 16 multi-point games.

Sophomore Kevin Shattenkirk and freshman goalie Kieran Millan were named to the league's second team, while senior Chris Higgins and sophomore junior Nick Bonino received honorable mention.

Millan also became the Terriers' second consecutive Rookie of the Year, and the third winner in four years. Brandon Yip won the award in 2006. Hockey East issued a Rookie of the Year highlights video and a video interview with Millan.

Hockey East also released a season highlights video of its 25th anniversary season and video interviews with the coaches of the four semifinalist teams. Link to Jack Parker interview.

Q&A With Tom Ryan

Terrier radio analyst Tom Ryan was co-captain—with current BU assistant head coach David Quinn—of BU’s 1987-88 team. Before arriving at BU, he starred at Newton North High School and this past season he returned to his high school alma mater as head coach. Now in his 16th season as Bernie Corbett’s partner on BU broadcasts, Ryan, a Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice, answered our questions in the latest THFB guest Q&A interview.

Q How has the level and/or style of play changed in Hockey East since you played for BU in the late 1980s?
A As far as the style of play, it was much more of a free wheeling game in the 80's .I think the coaching is so much better now from top to bottom with the advent of film study as well as the different defensive systems . Teams really focus on center ice play and transition as opposed to creating offense on forecheck and odd man rushes, which we used to see more often during the course of a game. I personally enjoyed playing and watching the game in the 80's compared to today’s game, but that's just my opinion. MORE

Connolly and Millan named to HE All-Rookie team

Lots of news from Hockey East this week. The conference announced its all-rookie team which includes freshman goalie Kieran Millan and forward Chris Connolly (photo).

The coaches of the four Hockey East seminfinals participated in a conference call on Tuesday. Audio and pdf links to each of the coaches remarks are here. In his comments, BU coach Jack Parker noted that he expects Brian Strait, on the sidelines the past two weeks with a strained knee, to return to the lineup.

Two more Terriers Colby Cohen and Brandon Yip were recognized as top performers of the QF round in Hockey East’s weekly release.

We have more coverage of last weekend's quarterfinal action from The New York Times and The Daily Free Press, while NESN, which will broadcast the Hockey East semifinals and finals, reviews the Terriers's season thus far.

While the Hockey East conference championship is the next goal for the Terriers, NCAA brackteology discussions and projections are in high gear, too. USCHO offers its latest predictions about the tournament brackets as well as an article focused on BU’s status as #1 ranked team in the PWR. Going into conference championship weekend, 26 teams are still contending for the 16 spots in the NCAA tournament.

College Hockey News offers its own current take on the brackets, plus a tool for predicting final PWR rankings based on different results in the conference championships.

Looking back
Chris Drury's shoot out goal provided the margin of victory for the New York Rangers last night in a 4-3 win over Montreal.

In the AHL, Pete MacArthur recorded his first 2-goal game as a pro in Rockford's 5-4 loss to Houston.

Looking ahead
2009 recruit Alex Chiasson and 2010 recruit Yasin Cissé each scored in Des Moines' 4-1 win over Tri-City in USHL action. Cissé's goal was the game-winner for the Bucs.

2009 recruit Justin Courtnall scored his first post-season goal as Victoria eliminated Cowichan Valley in the BCHL playoffs.

Terriers rebound to eliminate Maine, 6-2

Stung by Maine in game two of the quarterfinal series, BU scored early and often to win the deciding third game of its Hockey East quarterfinal series, 6-2, at Agganis Arena.

BU advances to the Hockey East semifinals for the eighth consecutive season—becoming the first team in conference history to do so. And, for the fifth time in the last six years, the Terriers needed all three games to move on.

On Friday evening, BU will face arch-rival Boston College in the 8 p.m. game at Bank TD North Garden. The Eagles beat New Hampshire in two games to advance. In 2007, BC beat the Terriers in the semifinals. The previous year, the Commonwealth Ave. rivals met in the Hockey East Championship game, with BU winning on Brandon Yip's overtime goal.

Northern meets UMass-Lowell in the other semi-final. This will be the first time that all three Hockey East Beanpot schools--BU, BC, NU--have reached the semis together.

Colby Cohen, who scored the game-winner in Friday’s game, got BU off to a fast start tonight, scoring just 58-seconds into the game. Maine tied the score late in the period, but Brandon Yip and Joe Pereira scored 29 seconds apart for 3-1 lead. BU added three more goals in the second period. Corey Trivino’s fourth goal of the season was followed by Zach Cohen’s (photo) ninth and Nick Bonino’s 16th, during four on four play. Maine added a late goal to close out the scoring.

►Kieran Millan recorded his 23rd victory in 28 decisions.

►The win improves BU’s record to 29-6-4. The 29 wins are the most for BU since its 1995-96 Frozen Four team won 30.

►With his first-period goal, Pereira became the 16th Terrier to reach double-figures in scoring.

►BU received strong efforts by freshmen David Warsofsky, Chris Connolly and Trivino.

►Warsofsky’s pair of assists give him 20 points, making him the 11th Terrier to reach that milestone.

We have recaps from GoTerriers.com, USCHO , The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and The Daily Free Press, along with a comprehensive boxscore and video highlights. Jack Parker's post-game comments are linked below (click to begin).

Maine upends Terriers to force third game

A gift goal in the first minute of play and four power play goals enabled Maine to defeat BU, 6-3, ending the Terriers’ 17 game unbeaten streaks and forcing a third game to settle the Hockey East quarterfinal series.

BU came storming back in the first period after a turnover at the side of the Terrier net became a Chris Hahn goal. Brandon Yip, Luke Popko and co-captain John McCarthy—shorthanded—all scored to give the home team a 3-1 lead, but Maine added a pair to knot the score at three at the end of one. Maine tacked on a power play goal in the second period and two more in the final period, while BU couldn’t solve Black Bear goalie Scott Darling.

Maine's six goals were the most BU has surrendered this year. The Black Bears clicked on four of seven power play opportunities, while the Terriers failed to score in five man-advantage chances. McCarthy's shorthander was BU's ninth of the season.

We have recaps from GoTerriers.com, USCHO and The Boston Globe, along with video highlights, a comprehensive boxscore and Coach Jack Parker’s post-game comments below (click to begin).

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Terriers edge Maine in QF opener

BU overcame a determined Maine Black Bear squad, 2-1, on Colby Cohen’s power play goal with just under three minutes left in regulation. The Terriers take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series. The win extended BU's unbeaten streak to 17 games (14-0-3) and its overall record to 28-5-4. (photo credit Matthew Healy, Boston Herald)

Maine grabbed a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the first period on a power play goal as a deflection eluded Kieran Millan.

BU evened the scored midway through the second when Colin Wilson, standing behind the Maine goal line, found Kevin Shattenkirk in the high slot. He fired home his seventh goal of the season. Terriers dominated play in the second period, but were stopped by Scott Darling on several opportunities.

Maine kept BU bottled up for parts of the third period, but with BU already on a power play, Wilson drove to the net and drew a second penalty. With the 5-on-3 advantage winding down, Wilson wheeled and fired a cross-ice pass to Cohen in the left circle and he one-timed the go-ahead goal past Darling. Millan was forced to make a sharp save in the waning minutes after Maine pulled its goalie. BU outshot Maine 25-21.

We have recaps from GoTerriers. com, USCHO's Scott Weighart, The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald, along with video highlights and a detailed boxscore. Below is a link to Coach Jack Parker's post-game comments (click to start):

BU was the only home ice team in Hockey East to win tonight. UMass came from behind to nip Northeastern, 2-1. BC thumped UNH, 5-3. And Lowell, after tying Vermont at 3-all in the final minute of regulation, beat the Catamounts on a goal scored two two second left in the first overtime. For scores and details of Hockey East playoff games, click here.

Game Day— Hockey East Quarterfinal Previews and Prognostications

Five months of preliminaries are over. The partners have been determined for the first post-season dance. Top-ranked BU puts its regular season achievements in the rear-view mirror and sets off on the road to pursue its two final goals: the Hockey East championship and the NCAA title. Tonight, BU takes on Maine, beginning a best-of-three-games quarterfinals at Agganis Arena.

There’s a bushel of previews and prognostication on the Internet to get you ready for tonight’s games:

●From GoTerriers.com, we have links to game notes, game tracker, the audio broadcast and the Webcast on B2 Network. To watch on B2 Network, you must sign up ten minutes before tonight's 7 p.m. start. Maine game notes.

●In his final weekly Hockey East column, USCHO’s Dave Hendrickson predicts a Terrier sweep of the Black Bears, but sees a few matchups that could go to a third game.

●INCH’s Jeff Howe provides both quarterfinal capsules and his own picks for league all-stars and individual awards, which go heavy on the Scarlet.

●The Boston Globe also has quarterfinal thumbnails, while Nancy Marrapese-Burrell looks at difference-maker Colin Wilson’s standout season and his future plans, which may not be the foregone conclusion that many people assume.

●The Boston Heralds’ Jim Connolly previews the four matchups and examines the added pressure of playing on the road in the quarterfinals.

●We also more previews from Hockey East Online, Inside Hockey and The Kennebec Journal , while USCHO college hockey analyst and broadcaster Dave Starman takes a stab at picking the teams that move on to their league semi-final in Hockey East, the ECAC, CCHA and WCHA.

WBUR’s Doug Tribou spoke with Boston’s two college hockey coaching legends, BU’s Jack Parker and BC’s Jerry York, tracing their long and frequently connected careers. (Audio link)

►Terrier defenseman Brian Strait, who sprained a knee two weeks ago, remains questionable for tonight’s game.

►Does playoff experience make a difference? Maine’s current roster has only five players who have previously played in the Hockey East playoffs. The Black Bears missed last year’s playoffs.

►BU has earned the top seed in the Hockey East playoffs seven times in the league's 25 year history. The Terriers last won the conference championship in 2006, their sixth title.

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Hockey East Coaches' Conference Call

Terrier head coach Jack Parker and the seven other Hockey East coaches whose teams are in the playoffs participated in a conference call yesterday. Parker's comments follow below and you can find the other coaches' remarks here.

Overall Comments:
The goal of every BU hockey team is to make sure we win enough games in the regular season to get home ice in the Hockey East playoffs and to get selected to the national tournament on the basis of our regular-season play without having to win our (conference) tournament.

If you said that the entire college hockey season ended today, we would say we had a very successful season. But that isn’t how college hockey, and certainly not Boston University hockey, is measured. We will be judged on how well we do from here on out, when the two biggest tournaments are available and the biggest championships are available.

So far, so good. Now it’s clean the slate. It’s all new – everybody’s got a chance. As Al McGuire used to say ‘We’re in position to be position’, so we’ll see how it all works out.

On facing a historical rival like Maine in a 1-8 matchup:
At this stage of the game, everybody worries if your team is going to be ready for the playoffs; it doesn’t matter if you’re a four playing a five or a one playing an eight. We have been involved on both ends on it. We’ve been a one team that got beat by an eight team, and we have been an eight team that’s beaten a one team. So we know exactly what can happen in that round, and hopefully our guys know that. The good part about that is that the last time we played Maine, they tied us 2-2 in what was a really well-played, tough contest for us and for them – a really good college hockey game. It’s not like we blew them out and we think it’s going to be an easy game.

On the keys factor in the team’s run since the losses to Vermont in November:
After the Vermont series, we were ranked 35th in the nation in penalty kill, and today we are ranked fourth. From that time on, we’ve been the best penalty-team in the nation, and that has been a big boost for us. The turn- around came with confidence in our special teams. The power play kept going – it was going well and it got even better – and the penalty kill really took off. We also started getting into some games right after that like BC. I would say that was the real turnaround. We tied them here, 1-1, and then beat them up at BC; in fact, I think that we played better in the game that we tied here. I’ve always thought that a good outing against BC can boost our team, because there is so much pressure in those games.

►College Hockey News editor Adam Wodon's take on brackets for the NCAA tournament would have the Terriers--all but locked into the top seed overall--playing in the Bridgeport regional on March 27 & 28.

►Further information on Webcasts of Hockey East tournament quarterfinal games are here. Cost for individual games is $8.

On to the second season

Playoff time is upon us. Three of college hockey’s leagues begin playoffs this weekend while three others have already begun theirs—with some startling upsets in the ECAC. A good place to follow all the action is CHN’s Tourney Watch. Hockey East’s playoff bracket has all four series beginning this Friday. The only game that will be televised is Saturday’s UMass-Northeastern encounters. For those who have been watching BU home games on All-Access, that service is done for the season. However, you can watch any of the HE quarterfinal games (except the NESN game) on B2 Networks at $8/game. We’ll post details later this week.

Sports of Boston.com previews the four quarterfinal series and projects winners for each one. While statistical site PlayoffStatus.com has evaluated the likelihood for each team to win the league crown.

USCHO’s Scott Weighart, who has covered Terrier home games all season, has generously prepared, on two audio files, an assessment of the team and the completed regular season and a look ahead to the playoffs, both of which you can find in the player below (click to select):



While the Terriers must focus their attention on first-round opponent, Maine, BU fans have the luxury of looking down the road to the NCAA tournament where BU is assured of being a top seed. USCHO’s Jim Connelly’s analysis suggests that the Terriers may already have wrapped up the top overall seed. Most people assume that BU will find itself in the Manchester Regional, but Connelly offers one scenario that would put BU in Bridgeport. And, in a comment to the article, THFBlog contributor Todd presents a second possibility.

We have some trailing recaps of Sunday’s win that clinched the regular season Hockey East title. The Daily Free Press, The New York Times and New England Hockey Journal. Meanwhile, NHL Fanhouse.com focuses on Nick Bonino's hot hand of late in its weekly report.

A few items from the Hockey East Online weekly news release:
►The Terriers have five players with 30 points or more this season, placing all of them in the top 10 among Hockey East players.

►BU has one loss since Thanksgiving and is on a 16-game unbeaten streak, its longest since a 17-game stretch (14-0-3) in the 1995-96.

►Co-captain Matt Gilroy and Chris Higgins, both played in their 150th career game this past weekend.

►Brandon Yip became the 76th Terrier to reach the 100-point mark on the final goal of his hat trick in Friday’s 8-2 win at Providence. He's tied on the all-time scoring list with Rich Brennan, a defenseman on BU's 1995 national championship team.

Shutout seals regular season Hockey East title for BU

For six Terrier seniors, there was a déjà vu feeling to their 3-0 win over Providence College that provided the two points the pushed BU past Northeastern and made the Terriers regular season champions. Just as they reached first place on the final day of the current season, three years ago as freshman, they were part of the Terrier squad that beat the Huskies 5-3 in the regular season finale while BC lost to New Hampshire, 5-2. BU squeaked past the Eagles to finish atop the conference for the first time since 1999-00.

BU’s unbeaten streak is now at 16 games (13-0-3). The 2005-06 squad also reached the conference playoffs on a hot streak, 14-1-3.

BU scored once in each period against Providence, with goals scored by Luke Popko, Vinny Saponari and Chris Higgins. Freshman Grant Rollheiser stopped 16 Friar shots en route to his first shutout and the Terriers’ third of the year.

The Terriers, top seed in the Hockey East playoffs, meet Maine next weekend in a best of three series at Agganis Arena., with games Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday. Full conference playoff pairings are listed here.

We have recaps from GoTerrriers.com, USCHO, The Boston Herald and The Boston Globe, along with a comprehensive boxscore, video highlights and Coach Jack Parker’s lengthy post-game comments below:


►The six seniors--Matt Gilroy, Chris Higgins, Jason Lawrence, John McCarthy, Steve Smolinsky and Brandon Yip--were recognized along with their parents in a post-game on-ice ceremony to the cheeers of Terrier fans. Team manager Amanda Gibson also was honored and the names of the senior members of BU’s Pep Band were flashed on the Agganis Arena scoreboard.

►Senior Steve Smolinsky assisted on Popko's goal for his first point of the season.

►Freshman center Corey Trivino’s assist on Saponari’s goal was his tenth point of the season, making him the 15th Terrier to reach double-figures in points.

► Since losing a weekend series to Vermont in November, the Terriers have a 20-1-4 record. The win was BU’s 27th (27-5-4), most in the regular season since 1997-98.

► Hockey East Director of Officials Dick DeCaprio, a former BU teammate of Coach Jack Parker, presented the Hockey East regular season trophy to the Terriers. DeCaprio also coaches Arlington High School.

Among the former Terriers on hand for Senior Day were: Tony Ruvolo, Kirsten Durocher, Tony Amonte, , Mark Hetnik, Dennis O'Connell, Brian Collins, Bill Whelton, Shawn Ferullo, Brad Zancanaro, Peter Fish, Blaine Maus, Stefan Siwiec, Mike Eruzione, Dick DeCaprio, Scott Manty, Ryan Monaghan, Chris Henes and Bob Smith, who was captain of both Harry Cleverly's last Terrier squad and the first one coached by Jack Kelley.

Photo caption: Brian Strait, Matt Gilroy, League Official Dick DiCaprio, John McCarthy and Coach Jack Parker with the regular season Hockey East championship trophy.

Opportunity knocks on Senior Day

As USCHO’s Jim Connolly points out in his recap to last night’s BC win over Northeastern, the Huskies have held first place in Hockey Eastern since conference play began, 114 days ago.

When Northeastern rallied in the final minute to tie and then beat the Eagles in OT Friday night, it looking like the Huntingdon Hounds would indeed hold off the hard-charging Terriers who had closed gap to a single point three weeks ago.

But with last night’s verdict, BU controls its chance to grab its first regular season conference title since 2006. A win against Providence in this afternoon’s 2:00 p.m. matinee contest will give BU the pennant outright. A tie would make BU and NU co-champs, with the Terriers getting the #1 seed in the conference tournament because they own the tie-breaker.

Freshman Grant Rollheiser will get the start in goal for the Terriers today.

Six seniors--Matt Gilroy, Chris Higgins, Jason Lawrence, John McCarthy, Steve Smolinsky and Brandon Yip will be honored in post-game ceremonies today. The “On Being a Sports Girl” blog has posted a series of profiles on the seniors.

Between the second and third periods, former Terrier Tony Amonte will be recognized for his outstanding NHL career.

GoTerriers.com has a preview article with links to game tracker and the audio and video Webcasts.

Going into today's game, Colin Wilson is tied with UMass' James Marcou for the conference scoring lead at 35. Wilson tops the list in assists, while Gilroy is second in points by a defenseman, trailing Lowell's Maury Edwards.

USCHO Jason Moy’s latest bracketology, which includes Friday’s games, has the Terriers holding the top seed in the Bridgeport, Conn., NCAA regional and facing Air Force in the first round. Tim Rosenthal of Inside Hockey sees it differently with BU in the Manchester, N.H. regional, taking on the 16th seed, Bemidji State.

Fantasy hockey site School Your Pool did a Q&A with Kevin Shattenkirk.

2010 recruit Yasin Cisse scored for Des Moines/USHL, which broke a seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Green Bay. Alex Chiasson added an assist.

2009 recruit Justin Courtnall has an assist in Victoria’s win over Cowichan Valley in the BCHL playoffs. The second-round series is tied at one apiece.