2009 NCAA Tournament: Frozen Four Game Previews

It’s almost time.  By this time tomorrow, we’ll know which teams will be playing for all the marbles.  It’s FROZEN FOUR time!  Bemidji State, Boston University, Miami, and Vermont have all been preparing and recovering for the past week.  They’ll hit the ice at the Verizon Center in Washington DC, ready to face the hurdles before them, and hopefully punch their ticket to the national championship game.  Let’s take one last look at these four participants before the games finally get played.  Get excited, folks!

Game 1 (5 PM, ESPN2) Bemidji State v. Miami

Bemidji State Beavers

The Beavers have been a true Cinderella story this tournament.  They took down powerhouse Notre Dame and ECAC power Cornell with relative ease.  Their top line is one of the greatest, fastest threats in all of college hockey.  These guys really showed that the CHA can be a force.  Tom Serratore has gotten the best out of his players when he’s needed to.  Matt Dalton has been a rock all tournament long so far.  The biggest factor, besides being the obvious underdogs, is that the Beavers are unable to capitalize on their momentum.  Serratore will have to hope he can bring back the team that played so well two weekends ago.  That being said, it’s feasible that the Beavers will continue their run right into the national championship game.  The WCHA will definitely be thinking twice when they vote on whether or not to accept Bemidji after what this team has done so far this year.

The Beavers will need to play very smart hockey (as they’ve done so far) in order to take down Miami.  Miami is a very defensive minded team, and will be looking to shut down Bemidji’s first line, a line that proved deadly in the Midwest Regional.  Serratore and his club will need to find a way to overcome that, perhaps by getting some scoring from the other lines.  Dalton will also need to be on top of his game, and limit the mistakes, play his angles, and control the puck when he needs to.

Miami Redhawks

After having their season ended by Boston College in dramatic fashion a year ago, Miami came into this years’ tournament an unlikely contender.  They started the season off very well, but tapered off towards the end, losing in their first round series in the CCHA Tournament.  Overshadowed by Michigan and Notre Dame all year, it is Enrico Blasi and his Redhawks that have advanced to the Frozen four.  It hasn’t been an easy path, as they needed to take on a very tough Denver team.  Of course, the Redhawks made it look easy, taking advantage of a Denver team that looked like it needed an extra day to prepare.  The Redhawks then held off Duluth, the team I picked to make it out of the West Regional, in a very tight 2-1 contest.

The Redhawks have played excellent defense thus far in the tournament, giving up just 3 goals.  Miami will hope to continue their shut down defense, and must try to neutralize the top line of Bemidji State.  Overall, the Redhawks are the more talented team, and if they can stick to their game plan, they should be able to contain the Beavers.  However, it will be up to the forwards to take advantage of their chances.  Matt Dalton has played excellent recently, and will be tough to beat.

Game 1 Prediction

Should I even bother?  I don’t know.  On paper, Miami should win this game, but if we went by paper, then the tournament would already be decided, and that’s why we play the games.  That being said, I think that the time off will hurt Bemidji more than it helps, and Miami will take advantage of their chances on the big national stage.  I say the Redhawks will advance, 3-1. My pick is Miami, final answer.

Game #2 (8:30 pm, ESPN2) Boston University v. Vermont

Vermont

This years’ edition of the Vermont Catamounts has swayed away from what they’ve been known for for the past few years.  A strong defense based around an excellent goalie has been the calling card of the Cats.  They were never really known for being a high scoring team.  That has changed, especially with the emergence of Viktor Stalberg.  That’s not to say there’s no defense or goaltending… I’m sure Patrick Cullity and Rob Madore will have something to say about that.  Vermont does have the honor of being the only team to defeat Boston University twice this season.  They’ve actually accounted for 33% of the Terriers’ losses…. neato!  That weekend, however, proved to be a turning point for BU, and I’m sure that Kevin Sneddon will not let his team think that they can beat BU again without trying too hard because they’ve done it before.   Anyway, Vermont advanced by crusing by Yale, then winning a thriller in Double OT over the Air Force Falcons on a shot that went through the net.  Have to admit, I want to see the flyboys make it, but it wasn’t meant to be.

The Cats will need to try to strike quickly, and beat Millan early, as he seems to get better and better as the game goes on.  Vermont will also need to try to revert back a few years and play excellent defense, as BU has very very fast forwards, and defensemen who like to step up into the play.  For a game plan that could work… they should probably review the tape of the BU / UNH game at the Northeast Regional last week.

Boston University

Ah yes, my beloved Boston University Terriers.  Undoubtedly one of the top teams all season long, BU has almost always managed to find a way to win.  After tough wins in the Hockey East Tournament, BU cruised to victory over Ohio State before getting a lucky bounce against UNH in the Northeast Regional.  UNH definitely played better in that game, but good teams always find a way to win.  For sure, BU will be looking to seek revenge against a team that beat them twice in the friendly confines of Agganis Arena this season.  The pressure is all on the shoulders of the Terriers, who are the clear favorites to take home the title this year.  At this point of the season though, anything can happen, and BU will need to bring it’s best game to take down Vermont.

The key for Terriers will be special teams.  The power play needs to find it’s groove again, to take advantage of a Vermont ‘D’ corps that isn’t quite as strong as in years past.  However, Vermont is much more explosive on the offensive end this year, so BU’s defensemen will need to be careful of breakaways.  There were way too many in the game against UNH.  Again, staying out of the penalty box is something the Terriers will need to do as well… the PK is good, but at this point of the season you don’t want to take too many chances on the shorthand.

Game 2 Prediction

I could try to predict this game, but like I did for the Northeast Regional, I’m going to let this one play itself out.  This is definitely the matchup that I think will produce the next national champion, but I have been wrong before.  Regardless, its going to be a great game, and I can’t wait to catch the end of it.  I’ll be sure to watch after I get out of the Bruins game tomorrow (or tonight, rather).  Go BU!!!

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2009 NCAA Tournament: Northeast Regional Preview

It’s roughly 11 and a half hours till the first teams will hit the ice at the Verizon Wireless Arena for the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional.  This, in my opinion was one of the more difficult regionals to be in.  There are the three traditional powerhouses in BU, UNH and UND, and a team that is probably better than your typical #4 seed in Ohio State.  Of course, after seeing the results of yesterday’s games, we can see that anything can happen.  Congrats to the Flyboys at the Air Force Academy, the Redhawks of Miami, the Catamounts of Vermont, and the Bulldogs of UMD for advancing to the next stage in the tournament.  Excellent games today, and I wish I could’ve seen them instead of just listening.  With the upsets in mind, let’s take a look at the teams in the Northeast regional.

Game #1:  #2 North Dakota (24-14-4, 17-7-4 WCHA) v. #3 New Hampshire (19-12-5, 15-8-4 Hockey East)

This game features two clubs that I have always associated with high flying offenses, hitting hard, and having very skilled players.  Well, that’s no different this year for the Sioux and the Wildcats.  Both teams are averaging over three goals a game.  The difference this year will be in net.  Freshman Brad Eidsness of the Sioux and Sophomore Brian Foster of the Wildcats will be tested a lot this weekend.  Both are coming off disappointing ends to their respective conference seasons and are looking to redeem themselves in Manchester.

For New Hampshire to win this game, they’ll need to harness the excitement of the home crowd, and make the most of their power play opportunities, a component of their game that just hasn’t been that strong this year.  They’re struggling big time at 11.5%.  The Sioux don’t have the greatest penalty kill, so the Wildcats should do their best to take advantage of that.  For the Sioux, it will be getting out to an early start, using their big defensemen and balanced scoring to wear out the ‘Cats.  Personally, I think that people are already counting UNH out, but I think they can pull it off.

Game #2: #1 Boston University (31-6-4, 18-5-4 Hockey East) v. #4 Ohio State (23-14-4m 13-11-4-3 CCHA)

On paper, BU is the clear favorite in this game, especially with their stifiling defense giving up less than 2 goals per game.  BU’s offense is also a little more high powered, averaging nearly 4 goals per game, led by talented centers Colin Wilson (15-35-50), and Nick Bonino (16-28-44).  However, as Air Force and Miami showed, you cannot overlook the #4 seed, and Coach John Markell is sure to let his team know that it’s possible to take down a team like BU in a one and done situation.  Coach Parker is sure to let his boys know the same.  BU has been sluggish in their last few weeks, but have still find a way to win, which is a trademark of a good team.  However, at this point in the season, that’s not going to cut it.

For the Buckeyes to take this game, they’ll need to do what Maine did to BU a few weeks ago.  Do what BU does, but do it Better.  It’s possible to catch the Terriers looking in the mirror, and trapping to take away the transition game from the Terriers.  Ohio State will need to make the most of their opportunities, and convert on the power play.  BU is one of the most penalized teams in the nation.  For BU, they’ll need to draw on their experience, skill, and speed to attack the young Buckeyes, and try to take away the game before Ohio can settle into a trapping style game.  Staying out of the box will be key for BU (I’m talking to you, Eric Gryba), so that the skill players can remain fresh for the 5 on 5 and Power Play situations.

Predictions:

I’m not going to try to pick a winner in the BU game, as its been too crazy tonight with all the upsets.  I’m worried that the Terriers will take this game too lightly and look towards the “stronger” competition in UND and UNH.  That would be a huge mistake.  As for game 1, I’m going to say that UNH will pull it out, and prove people to people they can win at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

I’ll be heading to Manchester in a few hours… and settling in at Murphy’s Tap Room at about 12:30 pm.  If you’ve read this, I’ll probably be there before the games both days, so feel free to come by and say hi!  Go Terriers!

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Why I Have a Quiet Confidence About Tonight

Well, for starters, I am one of the few people out there who picked Lowell in two straight, and I nailed that.

But seriously, while I have a nervous energy about me knowing that in the same way that Appalachian State CAN beat a Lloyd Carr-coached Michigan team in college football team, anytime young men align on opposing sides – yes – conceivably, any result is possible tonight.

And while I certainly underestimated the talent and ability to execute of this Maine squad (and probably most importantly their sheer will and unqualified doggedness NOT to have their season come to an end NOR to have a senior class pass through having never once beaten Boston University), the reason that BU will be playing in the semifinals for the fifth straight year, and the reason that in four of those seasons it took a third and final game before BU won its quarterfinal and advanced to where they fully expect to be and will be next weekend: At the Garden in Boston playing a very stout Lowell squad for the chance to take on the winner of the semi between BC and the winner of tonight’s rubber match between UMASS and Northeastern.

Coach Parker himself went on record last night as saying that before the season this team had six goals, so far they have achieved four of the four, and despite the lackluster performances of the last two evenings he expects that they will be able to advance to the semis – and by no means is he diminishing the amazing run of play that Maine has had over the last 48 hours – and here is why.

To be honest, despite putting together an impressive winning streak, losing last night was in some ways the best thing that could happen to Terrier squad and here is why: The team has been playing rigid and uninspired hockey since the tie at Maine following the first game of that two game series in Orono. And while a good team goes out every night with the expectation of winning, the truth is this team has been playing tighter than Marie Osmond or Valerie Bertinelli PRIOR to joining their weight loss clubs trying to squeeze her way into her “skinny jeans”.

As I just eluded, this team started the season with the goal of winning the tournaments it played in, winning the regular season Beanpot, winning the Hockey East Regular Season Title, winning the Hockey East Tournament Title, and winning the NCAA Title. How have we fared so far? Icebreaker - Check; Denver Cup – Check; The Beanpot – Check; Hockey East Regular Season Title – Check. That is four for four, with two to go. Matt Gilroy and Coach Parker spoke to the team before the season and listed these goals. They have achieved a perfect four for four so far, and with their backs against the wall FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL SEASON tonight there is not a better combination of Coaching and player talent and desire than I would rather have than Coach Parker, and a roster full of Hockey players who shine bright in these types of situation. Led by Mattie Gilroy and fellow Captain John McCarthy, along with future NHL stars like Colin Wilson and Kevin Shattenkirk; coupled nicely by top flight playmakers in Chris Higgins and Nick Bonino and David Warsofsky, and combined with finishers like Jason Lawrence and a reborn Brandon Yip, and I think that this team will relish the challenge of having been outcoached, outhustled, outperformed on Special Teams, showed mediocrity at best in the goal, and they will want to prove to America, but more importantly, prove to Coach and the Agganis faithful that this truly is a team of destiny and that having the ALBATROSS of a winning streak loosen the vice grip on their creativity and their ability to convert at ridiculous levels on the Power Play, that is why I am confident that you can take the last two nights, throw them out the window and this team will do whatever it takes to get to next Friday ON THE ICE in the semis, and the only way to do that is to win BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY tonight, which indeed they will.

The pressure under which this team has thrived all season, the student body being back from break, the players knowing that they let one get away from them last night when they should have buried Maine once gaining a three to one lead, the hapless PK and despite some beautiful passing and execution the inability to finish on the Power Play is not gonna happen for a second straight night at Agganis. So BU might win Big, they might win easily, or they might need a game-tying goal in the final minutes to find a way to send it to overtime and win it their. But I leave for the game tonight knowing that with a SENIOR CLASS led by Messrs. Gilroy, Higgins, Yip, Lawrence, McCarthy, and Smolinsky will not allow this team’s Hockey East run to come to an end.

Scott Martineau is a Regular contributor to Let’s Go Terriers.  You can find him on Twitter at SCOTTCMARTINEAU.

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#1 BU v. Maine: Hockey East Quarterfinal Preview

#1 Boston University Terriers vs. #8 The University of Maine Black Bears

Boston University has been involved as an eight seed that upset a one seed in the quarters previously and The Terriers have also been a one seed upset by an eighth seeded Merrimack.  Not this year, not this time, not this Team.  It ain’t gonna happen.

To show just what different directions these programs are going in, Maine has been on an eight game winless streak that started exactly a month ago when BU went to Orono and took a win handily over the Black Bears on Friday, February 13th when Maine raised the white flag less than a minute into the second period as Colin Wilson paced BU with a goal 16 seconds into the first period and topped by his second and the team’s fourth on a goal 11 seconds into period number two.  Maine pulled starting goalie Scott Darling at that point as the route was on with a 4 goal deficit. Over the next 26 minutes of play, the teams traded a total of four goals, and after Maine cashed in on a power play cutting the lead back to four at 6 to 2, Kieran Millan came out of the pipes for the first time since his freshman record 18-1-1 start had become a multi-game starting streak to get Grant Rollheiser some much needed work.  BU won easily by a final score of seven to two.  For the second game of the two straight played in Orono, Maine and BU both made wholesale changes.  Both starting netminders were given the night off and Rollheiser was granted (no pun intended) his first start since the injury that was the precipitant of Millan taking over the number one goalie chores as opposed to the rotation they used for the first third of the season.  And Darling was replaced by a game Dave Wilson who was ready to shine after losing the battle for the number one job in pre-season camp.  Wilson was steady enough to lead Maine to a 2-2 tie with a tight, conservative defense.  While that point was the last one earned by Maine and has been followed by eight straight losses to some opponents that they should have emerged victorious against, BU has gone in the opposite direction taking four points in three of their four weekend series and playing to two exciting ties in a home and home against Northeastern, the team that had held BU at bay until the final game of the regular season before finally relinquishing its spot atop the standings the very day the regular season came to a close.

So let’s try to look at this series objectively.  Inside College Hockey, one of the three major national publications devoted solely to NCAA Hockey, just within the last 24 hours named its All Hockey East First Team players, and it is hard to argue with a single name on the list.  Colin Wilson, Kevin Shattenkirk, Mattie Gilroy, and Kieran Millan made up 4 of the 6 slots all from BU, and Viktor Stalberg of UVM and Brock Bradford of BC rounded out the squad, but truth be told Btadford has no business on that team – for a second forward slot as well should have been filled by another Terrier, either the rapidly improving Nick Bonino, or the sniper who benefits from the great playmaking of Wilson and Chris Higgins – Number 21 Joey Lawrence who is the team leaders in goals scored and second in the nation with thirteen Power Play goals.

The reason that BU is different this year from BU teams that have won conference titles in the past is because of the emergence of a second goal scoring line that is every bit as lethal as the first line.  Center Nick Bonino has been on a tear: having a five point evening in the penultimate game of the season and having been named Reebok’s Hockey East Player of the Month with 14 points and scoring in 8 of 9 games while leading BU to a 6-0-3 undefeated record over that time, and Senior Winger Brandon Yip now consistently scoring and reminding us of those flashes of brilliance he showed while earning Hockey East Rookie of The Year Honors as a freshman, including a Hat Trick in his final road game eclipsing the 100 point mark on his career, and Captain Forward John McCarthy as the workhorse on the line, regularly battling in the boards to keep the puck in the offensive zone and be persistent on the fore-check allowing Yip and Bonino to score with such aplomb.  Add to that the increasing load that freshman forwards Chris Connolly and Vinny Saponari have taken on, and we have three legitimate scoring lines. Luke Popko’s opening salvo in the clinching Providence game reminded everyone that BU doesn’t just dress a fourth line to sit on the bench.  And we have nine forwards and five defensemen who can all legitimately play on the Power Play with virtually little to no dropoff.  That is impressive.

With Strait still a question mark while rehabbing his leg from the injury in the UMASS series, Coach Parker is so confident in his blue-liners that he says only half-jokingly, “I am not sure Strait would win his spot back even if he is ready to go with the way Smolinsky has played in his absence.”  Gilroy and Strait (or Smolinsky) as one pair, Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen as the second pair, and David Warsofsky and stay-at-home NHL prototype blue-liner Eric Gryba are all so impressive that one NHL director of player personnel has told me he expects all six to not just make it to the NHL, but to be first and second defensive units at that level almost immediately after finishing (or leaving) school.

You really have to nitpick to find any flaws in BU’s game.  Going into the UMASS series I guess one complaint I could have had is that they had not yet come back to win a game when trailing by two goals after the first period, but that myth was shattered when BU had a third goal scored on them early in the second period and instead of tanking they instead scored six unanswered goals.  Their power play is tops in the nation and HE, while their PK is second in conference play by a couple tenths of a percentage point to Lowell BUT is right at the tops overall nationally when non-conference games are included.

And while there is some promise on the horizon in Maine’s feeble offense in that their three leading scorers Gustav Nyquist, Brian Flynn, and Tanner House (the only three players on the Maine Squad to reach 20 or more points) are Freshman, Freshman, and Sophomore respectively, and despite hitting a slump down the stretch Scott Darling seems to be the real deal as a goalie, but there is just too much to overcome for Maine to have a snowball’s chance in Miami of making a game of it on either night.

In their three previous meetings this season BU won at home 4-1, on the road 7-2, and tied the second day in Orono 2-2.  One of the things that speaks volumes to BU’s selfishness despite its star power is in its ability to spread the scoring around.  Colin Wilson, by many accounts the leading Hobey Baker Candidate in this year’s race, is actually 4th in goals scored on his team, and BU has 10 players with 20 or more points.

Look for BU to win both games easily, and to maybe even split the goaltending duties assuming that they win as easily as they ought to so as to have two elite goaltenders for the playoff run.  Also look for BU to be working on aspects of their game that have slipped a little of late (PK is down –need to work on that, Colin is not finishing as often as we’d like, stop taking so many penalties, and stop taking for granted our stick-handling prowess as we have had way too many turnovers in our own defensive zone simply being lazy on the first pass of the breakout).

Ever since Matt Gilroy, a Hobey Candidate and probably our best defenseman both on the ice and as an ambassador to the program, announced he was passing up 23-24 professional contracts to return for his senior season as a Captain himself, you had the feeling that this might indeed be The BU Squad that puts it all together.  The scary thing is even had Gilroy not returned, with the giant leaps that Shattenkirk and Strait have made since each had his trip to the worlds, coupled with Gryba’s consistency and Warsofsky’s emergence coming quicker than expected, and BU would still have the best defensive corps in the country SANS Gilroy.  Thankfully, that is only a hypothetical but it does bode well for next season.  BU has been remarkably healthy this season.  Sure, a lot of players are dealing with nagging injuries at this time of year, but to have Strait sit out for a second weekend as a precaution is our most significant injury this season of which to speak.  Couple that with goaltending that can steal games for you for the first time since we had Curry in the net, and I don’t see anybody (with the possible exception of a no longer intimidated Northeastern Huskies Team) even coming close to mounting a challenge against The Terriers in either The Hockey East Finals OR The NCAA tourney.  And I am writing using deductive reasoning, not letting my rooting interest come into play at all in my analysis of this series.

Still, by far and away the easiest series to pick

My prediction: BU in two, 6-0 and 6-1.

Scott C. Martineau is a contributing columnist to this site. If you have interest in adding him as a tweeter follower, his Twitter address is SCOTTCMARTINEAU

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Game 36 Recap: BU 3, Providence 0

At the beginning of the season, no one would have expected the final Hockey East game to be as meaningful as it was.  While Hockey East is always a league that runs wire to wire, the matchup between Boston University and Providence College on Sunday had major implications…. it would determine the Hockey East Regular Season Champion. Read more

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Game 35 recap - BU 8, Providence 2

Having just returned from a trip down I-95 to Schneider Arena at Providence College, in a game the Terriers knew that they needed and thus could not concern themselves with Payback from the only loss that they have suffered since Thanksgiving when newcomer Friar Goalie Alex Beaudry previously looked to be every bit the second coming of former Friar Great and Hockey East legend Chris Terreri Read more

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Countdown to Senior Day: Chris Higgins - The Quiet Sparkplug

In 2005, a group of six very talented Freshmen made their way to Boston University. That class has made a major difference in their time at Boston University. As the days towards their final regular season home game approach, Let’s Go Terriers and a few other blogs are going to take a look at their stories, and the impact they have made at BU on the ice. Read more

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Game 34 Recap: BU 7, UMass 2

Following up their impressive come-from behind victory at the Mullins Center Friday night, the Terriers convincingly showed why they are the number 1 team in the nation, scoring 7 consecutive goals en route to a 7-1 victory at Agganis Arena on Saturday night.  6 different Terriers factored in the scoring, showing just how talented this team is from top to bottom. Read more

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Seniors, Trusted Second Goalie Keys to Friday’s Comeback Win

After possibly leaving a point on the ice, frankly, by inexplicably sitting Kieran Millan while on his way to improving his greatest winning percentage to start an NCAA career start record that he set (breaking BU’s own and current Terrier Women’s Ice Hockey Coach Brian Durocher) after getting Grant Rollheiser much-needed ice minutes the previous evening when The Terriers jumped out to a multi-goal lead and had a four goal insurmountable lead less than 20 seconds into the second period in the first game at Orono two weekends ago, Read more

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Game 33 and 34 Preview: #1 BU v. Massachusetts

It seems all too familiar.  BU is heading to Amherst with the #1 ranking, a huge target on their back.  The last time that happened, UMass managed to stun the Terriers and come away with a 5-1 victory.  A lot has changed since that game, but these two games are definitely not games to look past.  BU has a very favorable schedule to end the regular season, but the road to the end of the regular season goes through UMass.  One could say that BU controls their own destiny despite the fact that they are behind Northeastern by one point in the Hockey East Standings.  So how do these two clubs match up? 

Offensively and defensively, BU holds the edge.  However, UMass is a very prolific scoring team, and it shows in their 2.94 goals per game.  What has doomed the Minutemen in close games are penalties.  Last week, UMass took huge leads against Maine only to nearly give them up with major penalties at the end of the game.  This works out very favorably for BU, since the Terriers feature one of the best power plays in the nation.  After converting just once against a hot Northeastern team last week, BU special teams must feel they are due.  UMass will need to be careful not to draw penalties.  On the flip side, the UMass power play will need to pick up their play.  They are converting at a meager 16.1%, which is good for BU, as they are one of the highest penalized teams in Hockey East.  Personally, if it turns into a special teams game, BU should have no trouble.

Who to Watch Out For

James Marcou - He has quietly built up 40 points this season, good for second in Hockey East, behind Boston University’s Colin Wilson.  He’s been on quite a hot streak recently, racking up 9 points in the last 4 games for his club.  4 of those points come against Northeastern.  Those 4 points represent more than the total goals the Terriers scored last weekend.  How’s that for a dangerous kid?

Alex Berry - A linemate to Marcou, Berry has definitely benefited.  He has already eclipsed his point total in any other season with 25 this year.  If I remember correctly from the Ice Breaker, Berry is extremely fast and will make the defense pay if they get lackadaisical.  Just because Marcou is on the ice at the same time doesn’t mean you can’t pay attention to Berry or he’ll burn you.

Other Considerations

UMass is a very strange team.  They have played teams in the top 5 and have performed very well.  However, it’s the losses to the weaker clubs that have plagued the Minutemen this year.  Sitting just under .500, and in 7th place in Hockey East, Massachusetts has a lot to play for.  The way the league currently stands, these two clubs could potentially play 4 games in just 3 weeks.  That could breed a lot of bad blood. 

It should be a very good college hockey weekend.  The Mullins Center is sure to be crazy on Friday night, and you know that Terrier fans will come out in droves for the game Saturday night at Agganis.  Unfortunately, only one of the games is on TV, since CN8 disbanded.  Regardless, the trip to the Mullins center is one that I will have to make one day.  It will not be this Friday though, as I’ve got to work.  The DVR is set though!  I really wish that NESN would use the HD cameras for college hockey.  It looked great for the Beanpot!

Game time is set for 7:30 pm at Mullins Center on Friday, and at 8pm Saturday at Agganis Arena.  You can catch the BU broadcast online from BU’s official website or on AM 1510.  The Massachusetts broadcast is here, or on 100.9 FM.  Friday night’s tilt will be on NESN, as part of NESN’s Hockey East Fridays.

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