By Kevin Dillon/DFP Staff
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Seventy-two years.
That’s how long it has been since the last time the Boston University men’s hockey team was shut out in back-to-back games. The 1941-42 Terriers lost 8-0 to Yale University before dropping a contest with Princeton University 3-0 three days later.
That was until Saturday night, when BU generated 22 shots and no goals against the No. 15 University of Notre Dame goaltender Steven Summerhays in a 2-0 loss at Compton Family Ice Arena. It marked the second consecutive game that BU was held to fewer than 25 shots.
Even a lineup shakeup that moved freshman forward Kevin Duane to the first line, sophomore forward Danny O’Regan back to center and sophomore winger Matt Lane down to the third line could not spark an offense that has scored 2.29 goals-per-game this season – the third worst in Hockey East.
“I’m trying everything right now,” said BU coach David Quinn. “It’s been frustrating for everybody and it’s just, I just want to shake it up because we’re not generating a lot. It’s been frustrating.”
Perhaps the most frustrating thing for the Terriers was that the offense did not kick in when the team needed it most. While BU was outshot 11-7 in the first period and 12-8 in the second period, the shot differential spiked up to 17-7 in the third and final frame. Grade-A scoring chances in the third period were 10-2 in favor of the Fighting Irish.
Part of this has to do with the fact that BU struggled to get the puck anywhere near the front of the goal on the weekend. Notre Dame played five defensemen that were 6-feet or taller – four of which were over 200 pounds. BU only had three forwards at 6-feet or taller in its top-nine forwards – two of which were over 200 pounds.
Plus, BU simply could not get the puck out of its own zone. Notre Dame attempted 66 shots Saturday night compared to BU’s 39 shots and most of the Terriers’ shot attempts were on the initial rush instead of after sustained puck possession.
Senior captain Garrett Noonan said that the key to getting more offense was to improve upon the team’s play in its defensive zone.
“I think defending with our feet a little better,” Noonan said. “I know coach touched on that in the room and it’s something we need to work on, we keep working on. Again I think we defended pretty well we just didn’t sustain any zone time and that happens.”
The BU offense has even struggled when it has had the man advantage as of late, as it has failed to score a power-play goal in seven of its last eight games. It has gone 2-for-35 during that span, including a five-minute stretch with the man advantage in the third period where it only managed one scoring chance. The rest of the time, BU was chasing the puck back into its own zone.
“Obviously it has peaks and valleys and right now we’re in a little bit of a valley,” Noonan said. “We need to get out of it quickly because you get a chance like that you can win a hockey game like that if our power play’s going so it’s just frustrating.”
The Terriers have only scored one goal in its last three games, which is a trend it will have to break if it wants to be competitive against Northeastern University in the final series of the season. BU will be facing goaltender Clay Witt, who has the best save percentage in the league (.940) this season. It will also have to outscore a Northeastern team that is second in Hockey East in goal scoring (3.28 goals-per-game).
A win against Northeastern would give BU a good chance of facing Notre Dame, the team that just shut it out twice in a row, in the first round of the Hockey East Tournament.
“I want to win a game, so yes I hope to come back here,” Quinn said. “I’d like to win two games.”
Messing with line combinations for the first line at this point in the season is a sign of desperation.
They have lost 20 games. Would you prefer to do nothing?
So DQ did something in one year that Parker was not able to do in 30+ years. Way to go DQ! Go for 3 shutouts in a row this year.
Damn that DQ for not scoring at all last weekend. Man he is a sucky player.
Dude, you are so.lame. Your boyfriends Parker and Bavis are the reason this season went the way it did. Those poor kids had no business being told they could handle D1 hockey. SHAME on Parker (since he had the final say in who bavis so call “recruited”. Not sure getting in your car or hopping the T to watch a potential player qualifies as recruiting, but Parker approved.this sub par roster and then high tailed it out of here. He should’ve gone out on a high note and left in.09 while he was on top. Now he’s going to have three debacle of the last 5 yrs, this one included, having people shaking their heads About him. I know I am. How he in good conscience, let these kids on the Bu Roster. Baffling.
Parker made it through last year with less talent than this team and didn’t get shut out twice in a row. Unfortunately, DQ could break a 75+ year old dubious record. Thank you DQ!
HA!!!! Less talent?? Shows how much you know. Parker BLEW it this year and if you knew anything about anything, besides your HATRED of David Quinn, you would be able to see that. TTFN troll