Gilroy's pair powers Rangers past Isles

Goal-less in his first 21 starts this season, former BU co-captain and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy scored twice to lead the Rangers past their local rivals, the Islanders last night, 7-2. Gilroy, who has been in and out of the New York lineup this season, but has registered a +10 in his past 13 starts, scored 44 seconds into the game--assisted by BU's other Hobey Baker Award winner, Chris Drury. Then, in the second period, he broke a 2-2 tie with a wrist shot (video) that knuckled past former Lowell goalie Dwayne Roloson. Drury had two assists.

Commenting on Gilroy's recent improved performance, Rangers coach John Tortorella said:

Even when I sat him out and we played the other six, we didn’t feel he was that far away., Right now I think he is one of our six (defensemen). He has hung in there and done the right things to be ready to play and has taken advantage of the opportunity.

The Terriers return to action on New Year's Day, taking on Brown in the first round of the Shillelagh Tournament at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, outside of Chicago. BU, who will meet either Notre Dame or Minnesota State in the second round, will be bolstered by the return of junior co-captain Chris Connolly who missed the past five games with a broken bone in his hand.

The Terriers will have a full contigent of blueliners available, too. Last week we incorrectly reported that Adam Clendening had been injured during a Junior National Team exhibition game against the Czech Republic. He did limp off the ice after block a shot but returned to action and didn't miss any shifts.

BU will be without Charlie Coyle, who is on the U.S. team in the World Junior Championships in Buffalo. Team USA, which edged Finland, 3-2 in overtime on Sunday, returns to action tonight, taking on Slovakia in an 8 p.m. ET start that will air on the NHL Network.
• USA Hockey's WJC blog.

The BU Alumni Association invites alums, family and friends to a pre-game reception at the Sears Center on Saturday. The reception begins at 1:30 p.m. with puck-drop set for 3:05 p.m.

Hockeysfuture.com profiles Terrier freshman Matt Nieto in its ongoing series on 2011 draft prospects.

WTBU Sports’ Chris Aliano takes a crack at what Coach Jack Parker might be wishing for as the Terriers enter the second half of the regular season.

Former Terriers Brian Strait and John Curry, currently with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins will be at Pittsburgh new Consul Energy Center this Thursday taking on the Hershey Bears as part of the undercard for this season’s NHL Winter Classic matching the Penguins and Capitals on New Year’s Day at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.