Friars On Deck in Sunday Matinee in Providence

BOSTON COLLEGE vs. PROVIDENCE
Boston College makes its way to Schneider Arena for the first time in almost a year and a half as the last time the Friars hosted the Eagles, it took place at 4 Yawkey Way, or better known as, Fenway Park. David Cotton scored the game winner with 3:11 left to play to give the Eagles a 2-0 season sweep in league play over the Friars last season. In the meeting at Kelley Rink on Oct. 28, BC took care of business, 3-1. That win on The Heights marked Boston College's 13th win in the last 14 meetings over Providence at home. In the last 27 games overall, dating back to 2008, Boston College has dominated Providence, owning a 21-2-4 mark. BC posted a 15-0-2 mark from March 14, 2008 to March 1, 2013 against the Friars. Before beating BC in 2013, Providence had not won in Chestnut Hill since Oct. 31, 2006. Overall, the Eagles own a significant margin in the overall series, 1112-48-14, and a 60-24-12 mark in Hockey East play. Since Nate Leaman arrived in Providence, Jerry York has had his number, owning a 9-3-1 mark over the Friar skipper.

FRIAR FOCUS
The Friars had the whole weekend to prepare for the Eagles, fresh off a big season-opening weekend road sweep over Miami Ohio last weekend. Providence took out the Redhawks, 3-1, 3-2, respectively on Oct. 6-7. As the Eagles possess the top combined special teams ranking, the Friars are second, killing off 13-of-14 of their penalty-killing opportunities and scoring on 2-of-8 of their power play opportunities. Providence spread out the scoring in its first two outings as all six goals came from six different Friars, including Ryan Tait, Erik Foley, Josh Wilkins, Kasper Björkqvist, Vimal Sukumaran and Greg Printz. Goaltender Hayden Hawkey has been sturdy between the pipes, turning aside 49-of-52 shots faced for a .942 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average.

SCORING IN GRAND(O) FASHION
In Boston College's second outing of the season, first-year forward Christopher Grando found the back of the net midway through the third period for his first-career tally donning the maroon and gold. He was assisted by his classmate, Logan Hutsko, who notched his first-collegiate point on the tally.

GRAHAM McPOWER
In his 41st-career game as an Eagle, sophomore Graham McPhee lit the lamp with the extra skater for his first-career power play goal on Oct. 13 against Wisconsin.

SPECIAL EAGLES
Despite the goal-scoring margin in two outings, the Eagles' special teams units on both ends has been spectacular. Boston College is converting at a 40 percent clip with the extra skater (2-of-5) which is currently tied for fifth-best in the nation. On the flipside, the Eagles' penalty-killing unit has been stifling, stopping all nine opponents' chances with the extra skater as Boston College is one of seven programs to be batting 1.000 on the penalty kill thus far. In turn, Boston College's combined special teams (11-of-14 - 78.6 percent) leads the nation in that category.

TORTORA TIES IT UP
Newcomer Jacob Tortora scored his first goal in BC's home opener in game-tying fashion while junior captain Casey Fitzgerald and classmate JD Dudek picked up points with the help. Tortora's tally was a power play goal, as well. The Victor, N.Y. native is one of 12 freshmen skaters to have attained a power play goal. The speedy winger is also tied for third amongst all first-year skaters with 1.00 point per game. Tortora's game-tying goal was also only one of five scored in the country so far.

PROTECT THE NEST
The Eagles surrendered only goal in their first outing of the season against Quinnipiac but ran into a worthy offense in Wisconsin on Oct. 13. BC gave up five goals to the Badgers and are now yielding three goals per game which is tied for 29th in all of college hockey and sixth in Hockey East.

KILLIN' IT
The Boston College penalty-killing unit is one of seven teams in the country to own a perfect record, going 9-for-9 on the kill in its first two outings.

FITZY FINDS 50
Casey Fitzgerald assisted on Jacob Tortora's first-career goal on Oct. 6 against Quinnipiac. Fitzgerald's assist stood for his 50th-career point as an Eagle. The North Reading, Mass. native hit that mark (9-41-50) in his 77th game in the maroon and gold and as his career point total is nearly double that of any other current teammate.

THE BRICK WOLL
Sophomore backstopper Joseph Woll has stopped 45-of-50 shots faced in his first two outings for a .900 save percentage which is currently 44th in all of college hockey while his 2.41 goals against average ranks 32nd inthe game. Woll has stopped 957 - of - 1049 shots faced (91.2 save percentage) with a career mark of 2.63 goals against average. Woll was also one of 20 goalies named to the watch list for the 2018 Mike Richter Award, which annually honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA Division I men's hockey. The winner of the fifth annual award will be announced at the 2018 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. He looks to become the second Eagle in program history to college this award. Thatcher Demko earned the prize as a junior at the end of the 2015-16 season in Tampa, Fla.

THE ROARING 20s
A funky note came to light following Boston College's 1-1 tie against Quinnipiac in the home opener on Oct. 6. Boston College recorded its first regular-season draw to open the season since the 1922-23 season, and second ever in program history with the 1-1 stalemate on Friday night. The Eagles tied the Boston Hockey Club on Oct. 25, 1922, 3-3.

FROSH SCORING FIRST
First-year forward Jacob Tortora scored the Eagles' first goal of the season, marking the third time in the last five seasons a rookie lit the lamp for the first time of the year. In 2015-16, Miles Wood scored BC's first goal at Army on Oct. 9, 2015 while Ian McCoshen' started off the scoring for BC at Yost Ice Arena at Michigan on Oct. 10, 2013.

Friars On Deck in Sunday Matinee in Providence

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Players Mentioned

David Cotton

JD Dudek

Casey Fitzgerald

Chris Grando

Logan Hutsko

Graham McPhee

Jacob Tortora

Joseph Woll