Friday, January 24, 2025

UPDATED Game Day: Terrier host BC at sold-out Agganis; Inside BU Hockey

 Game day graphic featuring photo of Ryan Greene skating out to the blue line during introductions. BU vs. #1 Boston College, Agganis Arena, Jan. 24, 7 PM on ESPN+ and NESN.

It's the weekend that Terrier coaches, players and fans have long had circled on their calendars: The Battle of Commonwealth Ave. #8/9 Terriers will host #1 BC in the front end of a pivotal home-and-home series. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. with NESN airing the game and live stream on ESPN+.

Tonight's contest is the 296th meeting in the series that began in 1918. BU holds a 140-134-21 (.510) lead despite dropping three of four to the Eagles a year ago, including the Hockey East title game.

Besides the ever-present bragging rights, first place in Hockey East is at stake. Terriers currently are on top, two points ahead of their ancient rivals. 

BC has won four of five games this month with the only blemish a loss to Merrimack. BU has swept two series since the calendar turned.

While BC's attack boasts several high profile scorers--Hockey East's #2 scorer Gabe Perreault (28 points) and the #1 goal-scorer Ryan Leonard (15) as well as star freshman James Hagens (25 points), it's the Terriers with the better scoring offense numbers. BU is #2 nationally in team scoring with 3.90 goals per game, and, as well, owns the fourth best power-play success rate (28.0).

The Eagles, who are producing 3.24 goals per game, have the third stingiest defense yielding just 1.81 gpg. Sophomore Jacob Fowler, a USHL teammate of both Shane Lachance and Brandon Svoboda, has a 1.83 GAA, along with a .935 save percentage, and has pitched five shutouts.

BU's team defense is an unattractive 3.90--inflated by the 20 goals surrendered in the series with North Dakota and Michigan, and seven at Yale--but in the last five conference games, it's a more acceptable 2.20.

"I think everyone's really excited," Coach Jay Pandolfo told the media Thursday. "I think it's a really good challenge for our group, playing against number one, a huge rival...but also they're the No. 1 team in the country. So it's a great opportunity for us to see where we're at as a team."

Juniors Quinn Hutson (25 points) and Ryan Greene (23; 6-4-10 in the last five games) have been wielding hot sticks for BU. So has Cole Hutson with 3-7-10 in his last five) and Cole Eiserman's 13 goals are the most for a freshman nationally.

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“They obviously have a really good top line that we’ve got to make sure we contain to the best of our abilities,” said sophomore captain Lachance. We just have to make sure we have all of our guys back. They have super skilled players that can finish.”

Success against the top-ranked Eagles will require a more disciplined game from BU, limiting penalties. 

“I feel like we’ve gotten a little better recently, but there’s still some games that we’re taking penalties that are unnecessary,” Pandolfo said. “It’s something that we’re still trying to improve on. Our guys have an understanding of that, but they’re not showing it quite yet, game in and game out.”

Goalie Mikhail Yegorov, a second-round NJ Devils draft pick, has been added to the roster, but senior Mathieu Caron will be between the pipes Friday evening. 

Mathieu Caron skating to the blue line during introductions at Agganis 

“He’s coming off two really solid weekends for us, but he played excellent Saturday night against UNH, especially in the third there when we took three penalties,” Pandolfo said. “Made some big saves on the penalty kill.” 

TONIGHT'S BU LINEUP 

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● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, BU All-Access (audio), BU Men’s Hockey Twitter
● Pandolfo Media Call
● Live Stream ESPN+

● Boston Hockey Blog BU men’s hockey readies for home-and-home series with rival Boston College

● BU Hockey Stats Rivalry Week and a Homecoming (Week 16 Preview)

● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape
● College Hockey News BU-BC Meet in Aftermath of its Players Dominating at World Juniors
●  USCHO.com This Week in Hockey East

 


Episode 13 of Inside BU Hockey features Bernie Corbett's extended interview with Coach Pandolfo. 

Looking back 

Clayton Keller scored his 17th goal in Utah's 4-0 blanking of Minnesota.

 

Macklin Celebrini's 15th goal brought the Sharks even with Nashville at 5-5, but the Predators went on to win 6-5. Celebrini has 35 points in 39 games, four points behind rookie scoring leader Lane Hutson.

Women's Team

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Terriers return to conference play with a home-and-home series against Holy Cross. Tonight's game at Hart Center Rink in Worcester begins at 6 p.m. ESPN+ provides the live stream. BU is currently in third place in Hockey East, just one point behind co-leaders BC and UConn, but has a game in hand against both.

● GoTerriers.com preview, Live Stats, Game Notes, BU Women's Hockey Twitter

● Live stream ESPN+

● Boston Hockey Blog game preview

 

 

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