Boston College Athletics
Men's Hockey Focus Shifts Back to Hockey East
January 07, 2015 | Men's Hockey
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BOSTON COLLEGE vs. NORTHEASTERN
Boston College returns to league action following its first tournament victory of the season and sets its sights on its first-round opponent in its next tournament, the 63rd Beanpot. The Eagles skate down Huntington Ave. to Matthews Arena, the site of BC’s last overtime victory when Adam Gilmour dialed up the walk-off winner on Nov. 2, 2013. This cross-town battle stretches back almost 82 years when BC won the opening game of the 222-game series in 8-6 fashion on Feb. 4, 1933. In all, the Eagles lead the Huskies 161-47-14 with a 74-30-9 advantage in Hockey East tilts. BC has dominated the series from the onset, winning 57 of the first 65 installments. When BC and NU collide on Saturday afternoon on NBC Sports Network, it marks the last game between the two programs until they meet at TD Garden for the Beanpot. In games played immediately before the Beanpot against NU, Boston College is 14-2-2 against the Huskies. The last time Northeastern defeated BC marked a significant end of a run. The Huskies opened their 2012-13 season at Matthews Area and topped the heavily-favored Eagles to curb BC’s 19-game winning streak, dating back to their most recent national title dating back to their most recent title captured in Tampa, Fla. Friday’s matchup marks Jerry York’s 12th contest against Northeastern’s Jim Madigan. York is 10-1 against Madigan over the course of the last three seasons.
HOW ‘BOUT THOSE HUSKIES
After going winless in their first nine games and starting with a 0-8-1 record, all the Huskies have done since then is go 6-3-1, including a 7-2-1 mark over the course of the last 10 games. Northeastern was shutout in three of its first eight tilts to start 2014-15, but has scored three of more goals in six of its last eight outings. In fact, Boston College and Northeastern are one of four teams currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak, each possessing a 4-0-1 mark, which is tied for fourth-longest in college hockey. Junior forward Kevin Roy, who recent became NU’s 47th player in team history with 100 points, and 21st player to accomplish the feat in three seasons or less leads Northeastern with 20 points, including a team-best eight goals and the second most assists with 12. From the blueline, third-year defenseman Colton Saucerman is tied for 10th in the country with four power play goals and one of four defenders in the nation with that figure. The Huskies have split goaltenders Clay Witt and Derick Roy as Witt’s 5-5-1 mark yields a .909 save percentage (47th) and 2.82 goals against average (50th) while Roy is 2-5-1 with a .901 save rate (62nd) and goals against of 3.11 (60th). Northeastern’s offense is ranked 40th in college hockey, averaging 2.42 goals per game while the defense is slotted 43rd, allowing 3.11 goals against. NU goes tout a top-10 power play unit as 19 of NU’s 46 goals have come via the power play. Northeastern is 19-of-88 (21.6 percent) with the extra man while the penalty-killing efforts are on the opposite end of the spectrum, ranking 55th in college hockey.
BACK ON TRACK
After a bit of an uneasy start (4-5-0), Boston College has rattled off a 7-2-1 record, including four-consecutive victories dating back to Dec. 6 against New Hampshire. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last five outings (4-0-1), tying for fourth longest in the country. A victory against Northeastern on Friday night would give the Eagles their longest winning streak of 2014-15.
COMEBACK KIDS
In the last two consecutive contests Boston College has trailed heading into the third period, the Eagles have either rallied back to tie or win. At New Hampshire on Dec. 5, Austin Cangelosi netted the game-tying goal with 4:45 left in regulation in Durham while Chris Calnan and Teddy Doherty teamed up in the third period at Dartmouth on Jan. 2 to overcome a one-goal deficit and take down the Big Green, 3-2, after trailing heading into the final period.
TAG, YOU’RE IT
When Boston College scores first, the Eagles have mounted an 8-2-1 record.
#TROPHYSEASON
Boston College captured its first trophy of the season after knocking off ECAC fores Brown and Dartmouth, respectively, on Jan. 2-3. The 2015 Ledyard Classic marked the Eagles third showing at the tournament. Boston College is 2-for-3 at the Ledyard Classic. The Eagles won in 2010 after beating Colgate and Mercyhurst and lost in their first showing in 1978.
POWER PLAY IS PARAMOUNT
Scoring on the power play has proved to be key to the Eagles’ success in the early goings of the 2014-15 schedule. Boston College is an unblemished 7-0-0 when scoring at least one power play goal. When denied a power play goal, the Eagles are 4-7-1.
MAN-UP MAYHEM
Over the course of the games on Jan. 2-3, the Eagles netted three-consecutive power play goals. Adam Gilmour and Austin Cangelosi both scored on the power play to close out Brown while Gilmour opened the scoring against Dartmouth with a power play strike. With that, Gilmour became the first Eagle to score power play goals in consecutive outings this season.
MOVIN’ ON UP
Following the three-point weekend against New Hampshire, Boston College is now in a tie for sixth place with nine points in Hockey East play. From here on out, the only remaining non-conference tilts for the Eagles are the two Beanpot contests.
SHOOTING GALLERY
Shots on goal has had a significant impact on the Eagles’ results this season. When BC limits its opponents to 20-29 shots, the Eagles are 8-4. When allowing 30 or more, Boston College is 3-4-1. When BC takes 30 or more shots, Boston College is 7-3.
AMERICAN EAGLES
Thatcher Demko, Noah Hanifin, Ian McCoshen, Alex Tuch and Miles Wood (incoming in ‘15-’16) represent Boston College as five of 23 skaters for the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team roster as announced by USA Hockey on the night of Dec. 25. Team USA was dealt an early exit following a loss to Russia in the quarterfinals, but Tuch accounted for a goal and an assist while Hanifin logged a pair of assists over the course of the 2015 World Junior Tournament.
WHERE THE OFFENSE STANDS
Through 19 games, Boston College is one of 21 clubs averaging over three goals per game. The Eagles are scoring at a rate of 3.11 goals per game, ranking them 18th in all of college hockey and third in Hockey East.
GILMOUR GOALS
Adam Gilmour leads Boston College with four power play goals on the season and eight for his career. The Hanover, Mass., native scored a power play goal in consecutive games on Jan. 2-3, marking the first time an Eagle has scored power play markers in consecutive games. Nationally, Gilmour is tied for 10th amongst all power play goal scorers and tied for second in Hockey East. For his performance at Dartmouth, Gilmour was named to the Ledyard Classic All-Tournament Team.
FITZ BLITZ
Ryan Fitzgerald posted his first three-point performance of the season and third of his career with a goal and two assists against Brown on Jan. 2. The North Reading, Mass., native’s last three-point outing took place at the Eagles’ last holiday tournament against Penn State (Pittsburgh) on Dec. 28, 2013. Fitzgerald also scored BC’s game-winning goal and now leads the Eagles with three on the season. Fitzgerald is tied for sixth in the country in game-winning goals.
CAL ON ME
Chris Calnan has accounted for five points in his last four outings (3-2-5), including his first-career multi assist performance on Dec. 13 against Michigan. On Dec. 6 against UNH, Calnan secured his second two-goal outburst in six games, turning the trick original on Nov. 21 at UMass. In both of those games, Calnan secured the game-winning goal. Not only was Calnan’s game-winner a career first at UMass, so was his power play tally. Calnan also posted his first-career three-game point streak (11/21-28). Calnan’s 0.44 goals per game is tied for 48th best in the country.
CAGED UP CANGE
Austin Cangelosi scored his first-career power play goal on Jan. 2 against Brown. Cangelosi’s first extra-man marker fell on his 57th-career game. The Estero, Fla., native has now scored three goals in his last four outings after going scoreless in his first 14 games this season. Cangelosi scored BC’s first game-tying goal of the season on Dec. 5 and followed that with another on Dec. 6.
ALL TUCHERED OUT
First-year forward Alex Tuch is tied with Zach Sanford for the lead in rookie points, but has logged the most goals out of the three freshmen. The Baldwinsville, N.Y., native is tied for 18th in the country amongst all rookies.
RED-HOT TED
COLD-BLOODED (PENALTY) KILLERS
