Game Day: BU Vs. Northeastern--UPDATED

On yet another snowy New England evening, Terriers travel crosstown to Northeastern’s Matthews Arena to begin a home-and-home series with home ice in the playoffs at stake. BU sits in fifth place, two points behind Providence. If the Terriers can pick up two more points than the Friars—who play red-hot Lowell this weekend—and the teams finish tied, BU will take the fourth home ice spot because it won the season series with PC. That is, unless Merrimack, a point behind BU, doesn’t pass BU and PC this weekend. With six teams separated by just five points and innumerable scenarios for the final standings, the Terriers will need to adopt the advice of the late Oakland Raiders owner, Al Davis: “Just win, baby.”

The game will air on CBS Sports Network with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m.

Sean Maguire will be in goal for BU for both games and throughout the post-season. Matt O’Connor’s collapsed lung required surgery (see reports below), and his season is over.

Both team are led in scoring by a freshman. Danny O’Regan (photo, credit Michelle Jay, DFP), with a 12-18-30 line, is one point ahead of his linemates, Matt Nieto and Evan Rodrigues, and Cason Hohmann. The Huskies’ Kevin Roy (17-17-34) is Hockey East’s top-scoring rookie; however, he missed last weekend’s games with an upper body injury and is questionable, according to the Daily Free Press preview. Vinny Saponari has 29 points and scored the game-winner in NU’s 6-5 win over BU on Jan. 18 after the Terriers had rallied from a three-goal deficit.

● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, WWZN Radio Webcast, Twitter Updates

● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog; O’Connor surgery

● Daily Free Press preview

● WTBU Sports Notebook, Tournament Scenarios, O’Connor surgery

● Hockey East Online live scoreboard and weekend preview

● USCHO picks and predictions

● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape

● GONU.com preview

CORRECTION: In Thursday's blogpost, the NESN featuring involving senior Sean Escobedo was incorrectly identified as a report on BU Hockey's involvement with Autism Speaks. The focus of the story was Sean's work with one austistic boy through Athletes 4 Autism, a sports inclusion program for kids with autism that was developed by former Terrier Kevin Gilroy and now is a program of the Autism Research Foundation. 
● NESN Video at Agganis Arena

Looking back

Adrian Aucoin, the ex-Terrier with the longest current NHL tenure, at 39 is providing leadership to the young Blue Jacket defenseman. He is profiled by the Vancouver Sun.

Dave van der Gulik’s 17^th goal was the game-winner in Lake Erie’s 2-0 win over Peoria.