The Rivalry Continues: BC Heads To Other Side of Comm Ave.

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 (7:30 p.m.)

WHERE: Agganis Arena / Boston

GAME NOTES: PDF / WEB

HOW TO FOLLOW
- Video: Online Stream
- Radio: WEEI 850 AM -- Jon Rish (Play-by-Play) // Tom Grace (Color Commentary)
- Live Stats

THE BATTLE OF COMM AVE.
The 271st installment of the Battle of Comm Ave. commences on Friday evening at Kelley Rink as the Boston College and Boston University continue to write its storied history. Last season, the Eagles and Terriers split their meetings as each club claimed victory on one another's home turf. BC and BU met only twice last season, marking the first time the two Boston institutions faced off only twice in a season since 1982-83. In recent history dating back to the 2010 Beanpot, the Eagles have maintained their success against BC, sporting a 15-5-1 mark over that span. Three of Boston University's wins over that stretch, however, have taken place in Chestnut Hill. Head coach Jerry York is 6-1-1 against his BU counterpart, David Quinn. Prior to Quinn's arrival, the Eagles faced off against legendary coach Jack Parker 155 times dating back to 1973, including 82 meetings against York. In all, York is 43-39-8 against Boston University as head coach of the Eagles. Friday also marks the 126th encounter in Hockey East play. Following last year's regular-season series, BC took advantage of the head-to-head league record, 57-55-12 against BU. In all, the Terriers hold an eight-game advantage over Boston College in the overall series, with a 130-122-18 mark.

THE RHETT REPORT
Just over a week ago, six Terriers and three Eagles teamed up to help Team USA win the World Junior Championship, but now that all have returned to their respective sides, BU has maintained a four-game winning streak within the stretch of a depleted roster. The Terriers skate into Friday's contest with a 12-5-2 record and a 5-2-2 mark in league play. The Terriers, who had four of its members selected in the first round of last year's NHL Entry Draft, are currently led by freshman Patrick Harper and his 1.22 points per game (7-15-22). While the offense ranks 16th overall with 3.32 goals per game, it's the BU defense that has stood tall all season, thanks to first-year goaltender Jake Oettinger. BU's goalie is fifth in goals against average (1.94), ninth in save percentage (.930) and tied for fourth in shutouts (3). The Terriers' penalty kill is third best in college hockey, closing out opposing power play opportunities at a rate of 90.2 percent (101-of-112).

POINTING THINGS OUT
No other team in college hockey has scored as many points as BC has this season. The Eagles are first in the NCAA in total points (219), assists (141) and tied for first with three (3) hat tricks. Boston College is also second in the nation in most road points scored with 133. Boston College is second in goals scored with 78 and back up to send place in plus/minus differential (+29).

ACROSS THE BOARD
Boston College has produced some even scoring as 11 Eagles are in double figures in points while eight skaters have at least five goals through this point. The Eagles are now averaging just under four goals per game (3.39 gpg) on the season which is 13th best in all of college hockey. For almost the entire first half of the season, that figure led Hockey East but has since slid to fifth after scoring only four goals in three games from Dec. 10-30.

GOOD-REAU
BC's points leader heading into the second half had an eight-game point streak snapped at Notre Dame on Dec. 10, accruing three goals and nine assists over that time span. It marks Gaudreau's second-career eight-game point streak. In the final game of his point streak on Dec. 6 against NU, the Carneys Point, N.J. native accounted for his second-career playmaker (three assists). As the second half gets under, Gaudreau ranks 74th in the country in scoring, averaging 0.96 points per game and is tied for ninth in Hockey East.

HERE'S MY PLUS-ONE
The Eagles are outscoring their opponent at a significant margin and possess the ninth-highest mark in the NCAA. BC's + 1.04 goal differential is fourth in the league as the Eagles have netted 78 goals and given up only 54. The +29 plus / minus mark, as a club, is second best in the NCAA.

AGAINST THE ODDS
Boston College currently owns the 14th-best winning percentage in college hockey (.652) heading into the BU series. The Eagles have amassed such a strong mark, though, by having to trot out the penalty-killing unit 138 times, third most so far this season. At such a high frequency, BC is killing off opponents' power play opportunities at a rate of 81.9 percent (113 - of - 138).

DEFENDING THE HEIGHTS
The combination of first-year goaltenders Joseph Woll and Ryan Edquist have filled in nicely for the departed Thatcher Demko. Woll has earned the brunt of the work, amassing an 11-6-1 (.639 - 19th in the NCAA) record, with a 2.43 goals against average (22nd in the NCAA) and a .920 save percentage (16th overall). Edquist has been the primary back up with nice numbers, including a 3-1-1 record with a 1.89 goals against and a .930 save percentage. Edquist recently turned in a career-best 36 save effort against Ferris State in a 1-1 tie on Dec. 30.

DEFENSIVE DEEDS
Following the Frozen Fenway victory over PC, BC is surrendering 2.35 goals per game which is 13th best in college hockey. Boston College is only one of two teams in Hockey East that has given up 10 goals or less, combined, in the first period, starting off strong defensively. BC has given up only 10 first-period goals thus far (PC leads w/ eight.)

PLUSSES N MINUSES
Veterans Austin Cangelosi and Scott Savage are currently tied for seventh, nationally, in individual plus/minus rating with a +15 figure. Those figures are tied for second best in Hockey East. Teammates Christopher Brown and Michael Kim are both weighing in with a +13 rating, which is tied for 18th across the land.

INTERNATIONAL EAGLES
Freshmen Joseph Woll alongside sophomores Casey Fitzgerald an Colin White represented Team USA while brothers Jesper and Julius Mattila donned Team Finland uniforms at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal. The Finns went 0-3 in their opening slate of tournament play while Team USA raised its fourth gold medal in tournament history. BC's own White led Team USA in goals scored ( 7 ) and finished second in the entire tournament behind Russia's Kirill Kaprizov. Fitzgerald finished with three assists while Woll has won the two games has started and posted a .935 save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average.

100 FOR CANGE
Senior centerman Austin Cangelosi snapped an 11-game goal-scoring drought an empty-netter on Sunday night at Fenway Park. The goal stood as the Estero, Fla. native's 100th-career point as Cangelosi added an assist on Michael Kim's equalizer midway through the second period. Cangelosi also remains college hockey's most lethal faceoff man, winning 65 percent of his draws (332-of-511). His 332 faceoff wins are the most in college hockey.

COTTON SMOOTH
Freshman David Cotton scored his seventh goal of the season with 3:11 left in regulation, standing as the game winner at Frozen Fenway on Sunday evening. The Parker, Texas native has accounted for four game-winning goals and four power play goals in 23 games as an Eagle. Cotton is one of eight skaters in all of college hockey with four game-winning goals this season. Cotton leads all BC rookies in scoring (7-7-14) and tied for sixth, overall.

KOUNTIN' ON KIM
Second-year defenseman Michael Kim scored back-to-back game-tying goals on Dec. 30 against Ferris State and Jan. 8 against Providence at Fenway Park. The Toronto native t ied the game at 8:22 of the second period against PC, marking his third goal of the season. Kim also tallied a goal with 4:47 left in regulation against Ferris State on Dec. 30, marking his first-career game-tying goal. Kim also scored his first goal of the year in dramatic fashion, at Northeastern on Nov. 29. The Toronto, Ontario native stole the puck on the penalty kill and rifled it past Northeastern's Ryan Ruck to win it for the Eagles with 22.9 seconds left. Kim's goal was not only his first-career short-handed goal, it also counted as his first-career game-winning goal. Kim has 20 points (4-16-20) in 47 games as an Eagle defenseman.

FITZY'S BACK
Senior forward Ryan Fitzgerald returned to the lineup after missing six games (Nov. 27) with a lower body injury. The North Reading, Mass. native assisted on Cangelosi's 100th-career point on the empty netter.

The Rivalry Continues: BC Heads To Other Side of Comm Ave.

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Players Mentioned

Christopher Brown

Austin Cangelosi

David Cotton

Thatcher Demko

Ryan Edquist

Casey Fitzgerald

Ryan Fitzgerald

Michael Kim

Julius Mattila

Scott Savage

Colin White

Joseph Woll