With an uneven start to the season punctuated by moments of promise and stretches of unpredictability, No. 5 Boston University (3-3-1, 1-1 HE) is looking to steady its rhythm.
The Terriers will hit the road for an away series against the No. 12 Maine Black Bears (3-2-1).
BU is coming off a weekend split with UConn.
Friday’s game was defined by what head coach Jay Pandolfo called “losing hockey,” culminating in an 8-4 loss for BU.
After holding a lead during the first period, the Terrier’s clean play unraveled, and the Huskies took advantage.
Saturday told a different story. The Terriers earned a 3-1 win, marked by direct, disciplined play. BU didn’t try to get fancy.
Instead, they stuck to simple, straightforward hockey — a formula that appears to be working early in the season for them.
This weekend series presents another opportunity for BU to break a recurring trend of inconsistency — one that underscores the team’s struggles as a young squad.
Cole Eiserman out this weekend
BU’s assistant captain and leading goalscorer, Cole Eiserman, will be sidelined for this weekend’s game against Maine.
After absorbing a heavy hit in the first period of Saturday’s game against UConn, Eiserman went down the tunnel and did not return. He was later spotted on crutches during the ESPN broadcast.
Eiserman remains “week to week,” according to Pandolfo. Though he’s no longer using crutches, he is “going to have some further evaluations.”
“He will be back sooner rather than later,” Pandolfo said.
Eiserman is a key contributor to BU’s forward lineup and anchors the top power-play unit. In his absence, the Terriers will need to make adjustments to fill the void left by their star forward.
“Other guys are just gonna have to step up,” Pandolfo said.
Conrad Fondrk poised for a larger role
During Wednesday’s practice, freshman Conrad Fondrk skated on a line with Kamil Bednarik and Ryder Ritchie, the same trio that featured Eiserman prior to his early exit in Saturday’s game.
Fondrk has stepped up for BU. After breaking his leg in February, an injury that required surgery, “he’s getting back into game shape,” Pandolfo said.
The New Jersey Devils’ second-round pick has tallied four points this season (goal, three assists) and continues to showcase his versatility, contributing offensively for BU alongside a rotating cast of linemates.
“He’s continuing to improve every week,” Pandolfo said, “and I think again you will see another jump in his game this weekend.”
Big Mike between the pipes
This past weekend, goaltender Mikhail Yegorov put up one of his worst performances, but also one of his best.
In Friday’s game, he had difficulty tracking the puck and gave up six goals, resulting in his lowest save percentage of the season, .813. He was promptly pulled early in the third period and replaced by Max Lacroix.
Yegorov rebounded on Saturday with his best performance of the season, making key saves throughout to post a .960 save percentage.
“He just had a presence there on Saturday in net where he was just in great position, read the play really well, so it was great to see, so hopefully he builds off that,” Pandolfo said.
This weekend marks Yegorov’s first trip up north to the Alfond — a notoriously difficult rink to play in.
“I’ve heard many stories. So, it’s just cool to see how different teams approach it and how different fan sectors also approach it,” Yegorov said. “So I’m actually very, very excited to play against them and to hear everything that they can come up with.”
Scouting the Black Bears
The reigning Hockey East champions, Maine, enter their first conference matchup ranked No. 12 in the latest USCHO poll. The Black Bears are coming off a series split against Colgate and now face BU in their Hockey East opener.
The Black Bears return Mike Richter award finalist from last season, junior Albin Boija. Boija currently holds a .904 save percentage on the season.
Freshman forward Justin Poirier leads the team with eight points on the season (five goals, three assists). The rookie from the CHL potted a hat trick in his debut game with the Black Bears and has not let up since, tallying a point in all but one game.
The Bears have a strong forecheck, aggressively disrupting puck battles and maintaining a defensive presence in front of the net, making it tough for opponents to get clean shots through.
“They gain momentum by forechecking, and getting their crowd into the game,” Pandolfo said.
