Thursday, March 02, 2023

Terriers prep for regular-season finale series

 

At his weekly media call, Head Coach Jay Pandolfo pointed out that there’s a lot on the line for both teams as BU takes on Providence and that the two games should set the tone for the playoffs. While first-place BU has a regular-season title in its sights, the tied-for-sixth Friars are looking to move up and avoid a first-round playoff game.

“They didn’t play last weekend. They’re going to be fresh. They’re going to be hungry,” Pandolfo said. "We have to match that. This is playoff time now. We’re playing for a regular-season title. There’s a lot on the line for us, so we have to make sure we respond well."

He also spoke about getting better results from the power play.

“We’ve been working on it three or four times a week—with pressure, without pressure. We’ve moved some guys around. The units are similar. Wilmer ended up going with [Dom] Fensore’s unit. We put [Devin] Kaplan on [Lane] Hutson’s unit. We’ve moved [Jay] O’Brien into the bumper. So, just a little bit more moving parts. It was good last week. We only had two opportunities. I thought they moved it really well.”

He noted that, while Luke Tuch’s goal was technically not a power play goal, it came one second later when UVM still had just four on the ice.

“Hopefully we’ll build on that. When you get into the playoffs, special teams are important.”

Pandolfo indicated that the forward lines were likely to remain the same as in the Vermont series and that senior John Copeland will continue with his expanded role as sixth defenseman.

“Based off of last weekend, it was the most minutes he’s gotten in consecutive games,” he explained. “I thought he handled himself very  well. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow night. He’s coming off a really strong weekend. Hopefully he’s gained some confidence from that weekend. When you start playing over 10 minutes, it certainly helps your game.”

With Providence being a strong face off team (nearly 53%), Pandolfo says he’s looking for a stronger team effort from his skaters to help control draws.

"That’s an area of our game that [in] the second half has not been as good as it was the first half," he explained. "It’s something we have to get better at going into the playoffs. For us, it’s not just on the centers. There are a lot of pucks just laying there, 50-50 pucks. All five guys on the ice have to help out."


Hockey East Playoffs

Once again, all rounds are single elimination. BU is guaranteed home ice for the Quarterfinal Round. Here is format, date and ticket information:

2023 HOCKEY EAST PLAYOFF FORMAT

All Games Single Elimination

Opening Round - Wed., March 8

#6 hosts #11 Vermont

#7 hosts #10

#8 hosts #9

 

Quarterfinal Round - Sat., March 11

#1 hosts lowest remaining seed

#2 hosts next lowest remaining seed

#3 hosts next lowest remaining seed

#4 hosts #5

 

Championship Round at TD Garden

Semifinals - Friday, March 17

Final - Saturday, March 18

● TD Garden Ticket Information

 

►USCHO’s This Week in Hockey East delves into the possibility that the conference might be represented by only one school—BU at this point—in the NCAA tournament, and why growing parity would be the reason.


Runners-up

BU’s streak of winning at least one Hockey East Monthly award, which had begun in December 2021 ended with the February award announcements. Dom Fensore, who was Defender of the Month in February 2022 and December 2002, was runner-up for Player of the Month last month.

Lane Hutson, who this season was Defender of the Month in October and November and Player of the Month in January, was runner up for February’s Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month.

Other winners in the streak: Ty Gallagher, Defender of the Month for January 2023; Drew Commesso, Goaltender of the Month for December 2021 and January 2021; and Vinny Duplessis, Goaltender of the Month for February 2022.

 

►Terrier Nation lost one of its most dedicated and passionate fans last weekend when John Cooney, known to many friends and fans as “The Cardinal,” passed away at age 77.  A lifelong resident of Newton, Mass., he graduated from BU in the late 1960s.  John was a season ticket holder at Walter Brown Arena since it opened in 1972 and also at Agganis Arena, which opened in 2005. Before the advent of on-campus arenas, he was an “every gamer” for Terrier games at the Boston Arena for years before that.  Remarkable for a guy who didn’t drive. He attended the 1960 Frozen Four, played at Boston Arena, then went to a couple more in the ‘60s.  From 1969 through 2019, he missed the Frozen Four only once when he missed a flight to Duluth in 1981. Missed 2021 because of COVID precautions.

An acquaintance and fellow BU fan recalls that John was a “glass half full” guy, who felt no lead was ever big enough and that he had an undying admiration for Jack Kelley.

Family and friends will be gathering for a memorial on March 7, 4-7 p.m., at Magni Funeral Home, 365 Watertown St, Newton 02458. Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, 1317 Centre St, Newton 02459, with burial to follow at St Joseph Cemetery, 990 Lagrange St, Boston.  Obituary.

 

Looking back

Charlie McAvoy’s fifth was the overtime game-winner that gave the Bruins a 4-3 win against Calgary. The right-shot defenseman, who was an All-American in his sophomore season as a Terrier, has 42 points on the season.

Jack Eichel scored his 21st and 22nd goals as Vegas edged Carolina, 3-2.

 

►The Travis Roy Hockey Classic, a benefit hockey game, will be played tonight (3/2) at Madison Square Garden to raise money for The Travis Roy Center for Enhanced Independence at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. Those who have raised or donated a minimum of $3,000 will play 60 minutes, skate for another 30 with family and friends, and gather in a suite to watch the New York Rangers play the Ottawa Senators.

● NHL.com Travis Roy Classic to be played at MSG

 

Women’sTeam 

Brooke Disher, who also was runner-up for the Pro Ambitions Hockey East Rookie of the Year Award. She had a 7-9-16 line and was fifth on the Terriers in scoring.

● GoBU.com Disher named Hockey East Rookie of the Month, Runner-Up for Rookie of the Year

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