The first test for this Boston University men’s hockey team is coming up.
The No. 1 Terriers host third-ranked Michigan State at Agganis Arena on Friday and Saturday night. Both puck drops are at 7 p.m., and Friday’s game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Being one of the best squads in the country was an expectation for BU heading into this season. Giving attention to detail is also important, as one of the youngest teams in the NCAA.
“All these little things we’re capable of doing, it’s just do we want to or not, and that, again, is a sign of a young team not being ready to play,” said head coach Jay Pandolfo. “So there’s a lot of lessons to be learned.”
The little things were a key topic for the Terriers (3-0-1) this past weekend against Colgate. Avoiding a loss elevated BU’s ranking to No. 1 in the entire nation — courtesy of a commanding 6-2 win on Friday, followed by a 2-2 tie on Saturday.
BU’s counterparts in the top four of the USCHO rankings last week can’t say the same — every other team (No. 4 Penn State, No. 2 Michigan State and No. 1 Western Michigan) suffered an upset loss.
The Terriers learned that even when they triumph in peak offensive form, they have to carry it into the second game — especially on the power play.
Colgate fell victim to Cole Eiserman on two of the Terriers’ three man-advantage attempts on Friday. However, the Raiders didn’t roll over — stopping all five of BU’s power plays the day after.
“I think for my unit, nothing really changed,” said Cole Hutson. “We knew they were gonna sit on Eisy. We would do the same thing with a shot like that.”
The overturn in offensive output wasn’t the whole story in how BU finished the weekend. But it does present some eye-catching subjects that the Terriers must tackle as they get set to take on a Big Ten behemoth.
Boisvert gaining traction on full return
The sophomore transfer has been dealing with an injury since leaving in the second period of BU’s exhibition game against RPI.
Last weekend, Boisvert entered Saturday as a game-time decision after being sidelined on Friday. He made a brief return to the ice in a limited role before exiting midway through the game, never to return.
Pandolfo updated on Thursday that Boisvert has looked “better every day” for the past two days, and his “expectations are that he’s going to play.”
“If he’s going to play, I don’t really want to have to manage his time,” said Pandolfo. “I want to play him like he’s ready to go…I think he’s going to be ready.”
A standoff in the crease
One of the main reasons why this matchup is so intriguing is the goaltending both teams boast. Many know of Mikhail Yegorov’s midseason emergence last season, when he backstopped the Terriers to a national championship appearance last season.
MSU has its own elite goalie in Trey Augustine, who has nearly 70 games of NCAA experience with a career .918 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average. He’s also helped Michigan State to two Big Ten titles and the United States to two World Juniors gold medals.
“I expect it to be a great matchup, Augustine’s got a little bit more experience than Big Mike does, but Big Mike gained a lot of experience only half a season last year,” said Pandolfo. “So obviously this year he’s coming a little bit more comfortable and knowing what to expect.”
Youth movement on the big stage
BU is the youngest team in the nation with an average age of 20.1, per College Hockey News. Michigan State’s average age is a full year younger at 21.1, which ranks as the fourth youngest roster.
Both programs will look to take advantage of the bright lights of this big game. Especially BU, which enters its Hockey East schedule next weekend.
“Throwing the young players right into the fire this early on is great. Even before the Hockey East season, because the Hockey East schedule alone is very difficult,” said Pandolfo. “For our guys to gain that experience this early on is going to be very beneficial down the road.”
A look at Michigan State
The Spartans lost their home opener to UNH by a score of 4-3. They finished out the weekend with a 2-0 win in the follow-up game on Friday.
Michigan State prides itself on shooting the puck, especially through its first two games. The Spartans averaged 37.5 shots over their two games against UNH.
But wait…there’s more
Ryder Ritchie will be facing some familiar friends this weekend in Porter Martone and Cayden Lindstrom. Ritchie won the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup gold medal with both for Team Canada in 2023-24. Lindstrom and Ritchie were part of the WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers last season.
34 total NHL Draft picks will play between both sides in this matchup. BU has 19 to Michigan State’s 15.
Fun fact for Friday
The last time BU hosted Michigan State at Agganis Arena was on October 24th, 2014. The only goal scored in that game came from defenseman Ahti Oksanen. Oksanen’s goal was his first of 25 he’d score that season — he’d finish second on the team in scoring to Jack Eichel.
