#8 Terriers return to conference play tonight with a road game against Merrimack. Puck drop at Lawler Rink is at 7 p.m. with ESPN+ providing the live stream.
This will be the teams’ third meeting of the season with BU claiming victories at Agganis (6-3) and in the Friendship Four tournament in Belfast (6-2).
The Warriors went 5-10-1 during an injury-plagued first semester, but are 5-5-0 since the calendar turned, including a road win over BC, a home victory over UMass and a sweep of Northeastern. Last weekend, they dropped a 4-2 decision to UMass and a 3-2 decision to Lowell.
A pair of defensemen, BC-transfer Seamus Powell and junior Zach Bookman, lead Merrimack’s offense with 15 and 13 points respectively. They’re supported by sophomore Ty Daneault (12), freshmen Nick Pierre (11) and Caden Cranston (10). Sophomore David Sacco, who has a team-high eight goals, is the son of Terrier All-American David Sacco who is #2 in career points (216) for BU.
BU’s recent visits to Lawler Rink have proved challenging even when the Terriers appeared to have a distinct edge in talent. The teams have split the last six games in North Andover with two of the last three resulting in ‘Mack victories.
“It’s a tough building to play in up there,” Coach Jay Pandolfo pointed out in his media call. “We have to make sure we play a simple, direct road hockey game... It’s a tight barn and things happen fast.
"You have to make sure you’re playing North. You start bringing pucks back and it's not a good recipe. [We need to] Make sure we’re determined to play a certain way and do it from the drop of the puck.”
Mikhail “Big Mike” Yegorov will get his fourth consecutive start in the BU goal, Pandolfo announced. "It's really just game-to-game for us. He's played very well...he's only played three games on the year, so it's not like he needs any sort of rest right now."
Junior defenseman Gavin McCarthy, who left Monday’s Beanpot game late in the second period after a hit to the head, won’t be available tonight. However, Pandolfo expects him to be in the line-up for the tournament final on Monday. Next man up would be sophomore Mick Frechette who has appeared in 16 games this season.
Pandolfo offered some praise for burly freshman wing Nick Roukounakis, who, after playing in just a handful of games first semester, has appeared in the last four, collecting three assists.
"I see a physical presence. He's got an identity as a player, he's been finishing his checks, he's been getting to the net. He's been doing all the things we've asked of him, and it's great to see him getting rewarded," the second-year head coach explained.
CHECK BACK FOR TONIGHT’S BU LINE-UP
● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, BU All-Access (audio), BU Men’s Hockey Twitter
● Live Stream ESPN+
● Coach Pandolfo Media Call
● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape
● BU Hockey Stats Week 18 Preview: Return of the Mack
►A new episode of Boston Hockey Blog's Terrier Hockey Talk examines the Beanpot opener and the women's win against Northeastern.
►Quinn Hutson, Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman are among the 26 finalists for the Walter Brown Award for best American-born player in New England
►A Bauer Hockey video take a behind-the-scenes look at the Terriers practicing and prepping for games.
►TSN has added 30 NCAA games to its broadcast schedule, including BU men’s and women’s games. For the men: All Beanpot games, Feb. 25 at UConn, Mar. 6 vs. Providence. For the women: Feb. 21 at UConn.
Beanpot Parties
The BU Alumni Association is hosting a series of events for alumni, friends, and fans to come together, celebrate, and cheer on the Terriers. Click here for details and reservations for the Beanpot Pre-game party at Causeway Boston and on Beanpot Watch parties at 14 locations throughout the nation.
Looking ahead
2025 recruit Jack Murtagh scored Team USA’s first goal on a breakaway and then set up the overtime game-winner as the U18s defeated Finland, 3-2 at the Five Nations in Sweden. The 6’1” wing has a 13-19-32 line in 31 games and is tied for third for points (one behind the co-leaders) despite missing nine games.
2025 recruit Callum Hughes scored his seventh goal in Erie's 4-3 shootout win over Guelph.
2026 recruit Luke Schairer assisted on three goals in Team USA’s 6-3 win over Finland in the U17 Five Nations Tournament in Helsinki. A 6’2” right-shot defenseman who previously played at Mount St. Charles, Schairer has a 3-18-21 line in 36 games.
tw-align-centerThree points for Luke Schairer, first win for Brady Knowling, first goal for Parker Trottier + a nice #U17FiveNations win this Thursday 🤙
— USA Hockey’s NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) February 6, 2025
📰: https://t.co/7t8BJupPW9 | #USAvsFIN pic.twitter.com/y5ywiMU6Ae
Looking back
Jack Eichel scored his 19th goal in the Golden Knights' 3-1 win against New Jersey.
Charlie McAvoy reflects on wearing a letter at the 4 Nations Face-Off where he'll play for father-in-law, Mike Sullivan.
● NHL.com Bruins McAvoy has goosebumps for U.S. 4-Nations leadership role
tw-align-centerCan you believe that eight-year-old Macklin Celebrini attended Martin Jones' day with the #StanleyCup in Vancouver?! 🤯
— NHL (@NHL) February 6, 2025
(via @Sheng_Peng) pic.twitter.com/FujzC2pGm2
Women’s Team
#14 Terriers, who sit atop the Hockey East standings, host second place UConn Arena to begin a two-game weekend at Walter Brown Arena. Puck drop tonight is at 7 p.m. with ESPN+ live-streaming the game.
BU will host Providence on Saturday in a 4 p.m. start.
UConn is the defending Hockey East champion, having defeated Northeastern in last year’s title game. Last weekend UConn defeated Merrimack, 3-1, and lost to Northeastern, 4-3, in overtime.
With six points in the last four game, junior Sydney Healey is now the Terriers’ co-leader in points with 17 and the goals leader with 11. Grad student Julia Shaunessy also has 17, while grad students Tamara Giaquinto and Lindsay Bochna each have a 6-9-15 line.
● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, BU Women’s Hockey Twitter● Live Stream ESPN+
● Coach Watchorn Media Call
● Boston Hockey Blog preview
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