Game 19 Preview: #2 BU v. Maine

Coming off a big win at the Denver Cup, BU will take on the Black Bears of Maine on Saturday at Agganis Arena.  Maine has been quite the enigma this year, and has been playing much better than expected.  BU will benefit from the return of Colin Wilson and Kevin Shattenkirk.  In any case, BU / Maine games are always fun to watch.  Let’s take a look at how the teams match up.

On the offensive side of the puck, the ice is clearly tilted in favor of the Terriers.  BU has one of the most high-powered, potent offenses in the country, and showed that they can score even without the services of Colin Wilson.  Maine isn’t scoring nearly as much, but boast a very good defense, only allowing 2.05 goals per game.  The only problem with that is that BU’s defense is nearly as effective, allowing 2.06 goals per game.  Maine comes into the game with a 10-7-2 record, and are on a bit of slump, with only one win in their last 4 games.  That being said, Maine is still playing much better that anyone expected so far.

Who to Watch Out For

Gustav Nyquist - A 2008 draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, Nyquist currently leads the Black Bears in scoring, with 18 points.  He has scored a point in a majority of Maine’s games, including a point in 7 of the last 8 games.  He has been quite impressive for being the youngest player on the Maine roster.  He’s not that tall, so I expect him to be a pest, digging into corners and trying to speed past the defense.

Scott Darling - How often has a big goalie managed to carry Maine?  Well, if history says anything about how big (read: tall) goalies might help Maine, then Darling might just be the cure to help the Bears turn around.  Standing tall at 6′ 5″, Darling has been a surprise this year, winning the starting job as a freshman, and putting up some pretty good numbers.  He’s allowing a stingy 1.84 goals per game.  BU will need to get to him early to prevent him from getting hot.

Other Considerations

This could easily be a trap game for BU.  On paper, BU is the clear favorite, but it should be noted that BU has been the favorite in most of their games this year.  Maine will be looking to turn things around for the second half to try to get home ice for the playoffs.  It’s very important that BU does not underestimate Maine, because of how wide open the league is this year.  One loss now could mean disaster later.

We should also consider the Maine fans that are going to be making their way to Boston.  Fans from opposing teams have been able to make their voices heard this year, coming out in droves.  I expect no difference from the MAINE-iacs.  If you’re coming out, feel free to drop a comment, let me know what you think I should know about this Maine squad.  Expecting a great game… can’t wait, especially since I missed the two at home last year!

Game time is set for 7pm at Agganis Arena.  You can catch the BU broadcast online from BU’s official website or on AM 1510.  The Maine broadcast can be found here.  If you’re in Maine locally reading this, you can listen to the game on 103.9 or 91.9 FM.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!