Men's Hockey Seeks Out Sweep of Vermont

March 14, 2015

GAME NOTES: PDF | ISSUU (web based)

TELEVISION: New England Sports Network (P x P: Alex Faust | Color: Billy Jaffe)

RADIO: WEEI 850 AM (P x P: Jon Rish | Color: Andy Powers)

LIVE STATS

BOSTON COLLEGE vs. VERMONT

Vermont returns to Kelley Rink for game two of the Hockey East quarterfinals after the Eagles skated away with a 4-2 game one triumph Friday night. The 2015 quarterfinals series marks the second time in three seasons the Catamounts have come to The Heights from Burlington for a playoff series. In those previous meetings, Boston College swept the Catamounts off The Heights with respective scores of 4-2 and 4-1 on March 15 and March 16, 2013. Boston College extended its unblemished mark in seven Hockey East playoff encounters against UVM on March 13, 2015, pushing its total to 7-0. BC knocked off Vermont five times in the quarterfinals (2015 - game one, 2013, 2006), shut out Vermont in the 2010 Hockey East semifinal (3-0) and came away with the Hockey East Tournament title in 2008 with another blanking of Vermont, 4-0. Vermont remains the only team the Eagles have faced in posteason play where Boston College remains undefeated. In this season's previous encounters on Feb. 13-14, 2015, the Catamounts tripped up BC in the series opener in overtime, 3-2. That victory curbed Boston College's 11-game unbeaten streak against UVM that had stretched back to Nov. 13, 2010. It was also Vermont's first victory at Kelley Rink since Nov. 15, 2009. It was also Vermont's second-only triumph in Chestnut Hill since joining Hockey East. All-time at Kelley Rink, Boston College is 17-2 against Vermont. In the overall series, the Eagles hold a 37-13-5 record with a 24-7-3 total in Hockey East play.

NOTES FROM LAST NIGHT

- Zach Sanford accounted for his first-career two-goal performance in game one of Friday's quarterfinal matchup against Vermont. The Auburn, N.H., native has posted four multi-point outings this season with his career high coming in the form of playmaker (three assists) against RIT on Oct. 18. Sanford's second tally also counted as BC's game-winning tally, marking his second of the season. Sanford also scored the game winner against Providence on Jan. 30.

- Michael Matheson notched his second playmaker of the season with three assists in Friday's triumph. The junior captain has logged three assists in a game on four occasions as an Eagle, with the last occurring against UMass on Oct. 25.

- Noah Hanifin recorded his sixth multi-point performance of the season with a goal and an assist in Friday's victory. The Norwood, Mass., native has scored a goal and an assist three times in his rookie season.

- The Eagles have never lost a playoff game against Vermont. Boston College is 7-0-0 all-time in postseason meetings against the Catamounts.

- Boston College's all-time Hockey East quarterfinal series record is 36-15-1 and all-time tournament record is 63-26-2. As a No. 3 seed, Boston College is now 11-2-0.

- Since 1988, Boston College has never lost a quarterfinals series in which it has won the first game.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT

Boston College owns an overall record of 63-26-2 (.703) in the Hockey East tournament with a record 11 Lamoriello Trophies (1987, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) and the same number of tournament MVPs. As it stands both Boston College and Boston University possess the same number of Hockey East Tournament victories, each posting 63 wins. BU has more games played (63-36-1), but the Eagles own the best winning percentage (.703) in the Hockey East playoffs.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINALS

The Eagles look to avenge last year's early exit from the Hockey East quarterfinals after Notre Dame ousted BC in three games and handed Boston College its first loss in the quarterfinals in 18-straight games dating back to 2004. Boston College will take part in its 26th Hockey East quarterfinals series and has posted an overall record of 36-15-1 in that round of play.

Jerry York IN THE HOCKEY EAST TOURNAMENT

Jerry York's nine Hockey East tournament titles (1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) are the gold standard. BU's Jack Parker is second with seven. York is 53-15-1 (.775) in 66 conference postseason contests. Boston College has advanced to the semifinal round of the league tournament in 10-of-15 seasons overall under York. The Eagles also own the most Hockey East championship appearances in league history with 16.

POSTSEASON SEEDING

Boston College will be the No. 3 seed in the Hockey East Tournament for the fourth time and first time since 2006 when the Eagles played Vermont in the quarterfinals for the first time. As a No. 3 seed, the Eagles have amassed a 11-2 record and made it to the Hockey East Championship on three occasions in the slot, winning the title in 1999 in a 5-4 win against New Hampshire in overtime.

PARSING THE PAIRWISE

Heading into the Irish series, BC is ninth in the Pairwise ranking, possessing an RPI of .5549. The only team the Eagles trail in the Pairwise rankings right now is Boston University, which is sixth, respectively.

WHERE THE OFFENSE STANDS

Through 35 games, Boston College is scoring at a rate of 2.97 goals per game, ranking it 20th in all of college hockey and fifth in Hockey East.

SANFORD SENDS `EM OFF

Zach Sanford notched his first-career two-goal performance against Vermont on March 13 and accounted for his second game-winning goal of the season. Sanford is tied for third in scoring for the Eagles and recorded his first-career game-winning goal against Providence on Jan. 30. Sanford is currently tied for 21st in points per game (0.66) amidst all first-year skaters in college hockey.

DEFENSIVE POSITIONING

BC's defense is currently tied for 15th, surrendering 2.34 goals per game. That mark ranks third in Hockey East.

MATHESON MAKES IT 100

Captain Michael Matheson notched his secod playmaker (three assists) of the season and fourth of his career in game one of the HEA quarters on March 13. Matheson has registered three points in a game on five occassions. In his 100th-career game on Jan. 30, the Canadian captain logged his 50th-career assist.

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE

Sophomore goaltender Thatcher Demko just started his 50th-career game on The Heights on Feb. 13, 2015. This season, Demko is 19-10-3 and currently ranks 25th in the NCAA in goals against average with a mark of 2.18. Demko's save percentage of .927 is good for 17th in college hockey. Demko's winning percentage of .641 has him tied for 16th in the country. Following his freshman campaign, Demko was drafted by Vancouver, 36th overall, in last summer's NHL Entry Draft. As a freshman, Demko turned in in college hockey's sixth-best winning percentage (.729 - 16-5-3) with a 2.24 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.

Boston College Athletics

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