There was no better way this could go for entertainment value.
Both the Boston University men’s hockey team and Boston College decimated their opponents in the Beanpot semifinals last Monday. No. 8 BU (15-10-1, 10-6-1 Hockey East) beat Harvard 7-1, and No. 1 BC (21-4-1, 13-3-1 HEA) dismantled Northeastern 8-2.
This Beanpot is a rematch of the rivalry series that happened just over three weeks ago. The Eagles swept the home-and-home set, 6-2 and 2-0, including three empty-netters across both games.
The games were more competitive than the final scores show, but BU was unable to score a 5-on-5 goal the entire weekend. The second game especially showed the Terriers can play well, but the Eagles just played better.
Despite its takedown of Harvard last week, BU is coming off an overtime loss Friday night to Merrimack, who they had already beaten twice earlier in the season.
BU has created a track record of struggling on Fridays, and this game fell neatly into that pattern.
“We’ve learned a lot of lessons as a team this year,” head coach Jay Pandolfo said in a media call Sunday, “and I do like the way our group responds, so we just got to make sure we’re playing together, competing, playing the right way.”
BC is a tough opponent to bounce back against, so BU will have to find a way to respond in the two teams’ third meeting of the season.
Here’s what you need to know.
Mikhail Yegorov will be BU’s starting goaltender
The freshman goaltender has already solidified his position in the net after getting thrown into the flames at the Conte Forum. He only let in one goal in that game and in that environment, and it was a power play goal in the first 24 seconds of the game.
Yegorov conceded two goals in BU’s rout over New Hampshire, one of which was also early on the power play. Same thing against Harvard. The first goal for Merrimack was also in the first period, also on the power play.
Otherwise, Yegorov has been a strong presence in net behind a young defensive group. His confidence has become an asset to the team.
Unsurprisingly, Pandolfo has named Yegorov the starter for the Beanpot final.
Yegorov has proven he can play under the bright lights, both against BC and in the TD Garden with a trophy on the line. He has been able to maintain his composure and keep the Terriers in a position to win each game.
Again, discipline is the key
Pandolfo’s biggest issue in the games against BC was the Terriers’ lack of discipline. The first game, it was less about staying out of the box like it had been throughout the rest of the season, but the little details. The Terriers were not connecting on their lateral passes, leading to turnovers that gave the Eagles ample opportunity to score. The Terriers were caught trying to do too much, and BC did not let any little mistake go unnoticed.
“Our guys want to make plays, but you can’t make a play every time,” Pandolfo said. “You got to play the game that’s in front of you.”
The Terriers have been struggling with penalties again. They have served 19 penalties in the last four games and have given up a power play goal in each of those games as well.
If the Terriers are to keep themselves in this game, they have to manage. Every misstep could cost them, and Yegorov can only bail out the skaters so many times.
Scouting the Eagles
BC is on a 9-game winning steak. It has outscored their opponents 38-7 in that span.
The Eagles have separated themselves from the rest of the NCAA pack as the clear No. 1 team in the country for a few weeks.
Sophomore goaltender Jacob Fowler has had a significant role in the team’s success. He has started the vast majority of BC’s games this season, a role he has earned over and over again. He boasts a .936 save percentage and has allowed an average of 1.66 goals a game, good for fourth in the country.
The Eagles’ penalty kill also ranks near the top of the country with over a 90% kill rate, good for second behind only Western Michigan. BU could be a challenge for that kill with their 5th-best power play percentage at 27.5%.
Sophomore forwards Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard lead the team with 35 and 34 points respectively. Freshman star James Hagens does not trail too far behind with 29. Nine different players have double-digits in points. Leonard, however, is the clear leader in goals, with 23, the best in the country.
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