Game Day: Another Dogfight—BU vs. Minnesota-Duluth

The #2-ranked Terriers take on #7 Minnesota-Duluth in the Northeast Regional final in Manchester with puck drop set for 5:30 ET. UMD defeated in-state rival Minnesota for the fourth time in five tries yesterday, 4-1, on the strength of three first-period goals; while BU edged Yale in overtime, 3-2, on Danny O’Regan’s  22^nd goal and fourth game-winner.  (Recaps below in last night's post)


ESPN2 will broadcast today’s game as will TSN2 in Canada. (Try http://cricfree.sx/tsn-2-live-stream for a live stream)

►►BU is offering $5 bus rides to Manchester for today's game (details)

Despite a late season slump, the Bulldogs were the second seed in the Northeast Regional and #6 in the PairWise rankings. Junior Tony Cameranesi leads UMD in points with 30, while sophomore Dominic Toninato has a team-best 16 goals. Freshman netminder Kasimir Kaskisuo has a 2.28 GAA and a .917 save percentage  (UMD stats)

BU and UMD last met in December 1999, with the Bulldogs winning, 8-5. Overall BU has a 10-7-3 record again the Bulldogs. Today’s game is the first ever meeting of the teams in NCAA tournament play.

►The BU Alumni Association and the Friends of BU Hockey have organized another pregame gathering today at Margaritas at 1037 Elm Street in Manchester. (details).

Watch parties will be held in both New York City (details) and Washington D.C. (details)

● Game Notes, GameTracker, Terrier Sports Radio Network webcast

● BU NCAA Tournament Central

● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog

● CHN Northeast Regional preview
● ESPN TV schedule for March 28

Episode 3 of BU—The Season traces the Terriers’ run to their 30^th Beanpot title.

 

More from the opening round of the Northeast Regional

● Boston Hockey Blog: Plusses and Minuses

● Boston Herald: Terriers stick to the script 

● USCHO: Northeast Regional Central

● Boston Globe: Team loosens and gets past Yale

● Minneapolis Star Tribune: Gophers thumped by Minnesota Duluth

BU's win was the 40th NCAA tournament victory in program history. BU has reached the national tournament 33 times, fourth best among all Division 1 schools.

Danny O’Regan was named first star of the night by NCAA. Minnesota-Duluth goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo, who stopped 31 Minnesota shots, gets the 3^rd star.

With a nation’s best 67 points, freshman Jack Eichel is now tied with three former Terrier All-Americans—Jay Pandolfo, Mike Hyndman and Herb Wakabayashi—for ninth most points in a season at BU. Evan Rodrigues’ 59 points are eighth best for a BU senior, tied with Dick Lamby and Bob Marquis.

Looking ahead

2015 recruit Jordan Greenway and 2016 recruit Clayton Keller each scored a goal in the NTDP U18s' 8-2 win over Chicago. Greenway, who also added an assist, has 11 points (3G, 8A) in his last six games.

2017 recruit David Farrance scored twice and added an assist for Syracuse, which dropped a 5-4 decision, in a shootout, to Chicago Mission, in the Tier 1, 16U National Championships.