Friday, February 11, 2000 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA
BC 8, PC 0 HOCKEY EAST GAME
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PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (HE) 0 0 0 - 0 6-11-0 HE (14-14-1 overall)
BOSTON COLLEGE (HE) 4 2 2 - 8 11-6-1 HE (19-7-1 overall)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
PC 5- 9- 7 -- 21 13 - 26 0 - 7
BC 14-11-14 -- 39 14 - 28 2 - 6
PC - Boyd Ballard 7- x- x - 7 saves/3 goals (15:59)
Nolan Schaefer 3- 9-12 - 24 saves/1 goal (44:01)
BC - Scott Clemmensen 5- 9- 7 - 21 saves/0 goals (60:00)
3 Stars: BC Scott Clemmensen, BC Krys Kolanos, BC Brian Gionta
COMMENTS
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Boston College continued their recent roll, winning their 6th in a row with
a dominant 8-0 win over Providence Friday night. There was no letdown in
this between-the-Beanpot game, as BC scored early and often to put the game
beyond reach. Scott Clemmensen recorded his third consecutive shutout in
goal, making a few good saves but relying on a very strong defense to clear
almost everything from in front. BC played the third period without
several of their top players, resting defensemen Mike Mottau and Bobby Allen
and keeping sparkplug Brian Gionta out to avoid injury. Freshman forward
Krys Kolanos continued his hot pace of late, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists,
giving him 5 goals and 3 assists in his last 2 games.
BC carried the play from the start of this game, setting a pattern for each
period to follow. Providence killed off an early penalty but surrendered
their first to the Eagles' 4th line at 7:06. After a blocked PC shot, BC
countered with a 3-on-2 breakout. Mark McLennan crossed the blue line at
the right side and dropped a pass to linemate Paul Kelly. His sharp shot
took advantage of a partial screen to whistle in at the near post. After
another PC penalty kill, McLennan would set up the second goal. He took
a break pass at the blue line to steam in all alone, but Boyd Ballard slid
across to block his shot. McLennan collected the rebound, though, and fed
Mottau in the slot for a quick shot. Ballard blocked that, but left the
rebound at the edge of the crease, and Gionta swatted it in just before
Ballard's glove covered the puck.
The Friars were unable to get any offense on their own power play, and let
BC make it 3-0 on an Eagle power play. Kolanos slid into the PC zone at the
right boards, pushing a pass to Mike Lephart below the red line. His quick
feed to the slot found Jeff Farkas for a 1-timer; the initial save was made
but it bounced right back to Farkas and he lifted it short side. Providence
coach Paul Pooley lifted Ballard and put in Nolan Schaefer to try to change
the momentum, but it didn't work, as defenseman Rob Scuderi scored his first
of the year just 41 seconds later. It was a soft slap shot from the right
point that fooled Schaefer and slid through his pads at 16:40.
The second period saw a lot more physical play, with frustration and
retaliation being the pattern. It didn't help Providence score however,
and the BC onslaught continued. Gionta scored on the power play by taking
a drop pass above the right circle and slamming a bullet past Schaefer.
Lots of penalties slowed the pace in the middle part of the period, when
Providence had their best chances, but Clemmensen played his angles well
and covered all attempts. Blake Bellefeuille made it 6-0 at 14:24 with a
long rush up the left side, a cut to the front of the net, and a soft shot
that was saved but then trickled in at the far side. (This may have been
deflected off the defense or goalie.) PC worked hard the rest of the way,
but again could not score.
BC came out flying in the third; Farkas's break slap shot was kicked out,
followed by heavy forecheck pressure. Kevin Caulfield set up the first
Kolanos score with a nice flip backhand pass at center ice -- Kolanos came
in to the right circle, and fired a hard wrist shot as the defense came to
him. It was a seeing-eye shot that was just outside the goalie's reach and
just in off the far post. BC mixed-and-matched lines the entire period,
giving the 4th line lots of playing time, and playing just 2 defensive
pairs. They worked well, though, and Kolanos got the final goal at 7:26,
lifting a quick backhand shot from the slot after Bellefeuille lost the
puck during some stick-handling moves. The Friars took a timeout to settle
themselves, and then tried to get a goal before the period ended. They got
2 quick shots after that, and their best chance when Mike Farrell was left
all alone in the slot with the goalie at his mercy. However, Clemmensen
made the save to preserve the shutout. Physical play continued the rest of
the game, with some shoving, roughing, and slashing.
Again, BC got production from all 4 lines, and the defense continued their
strong play, with 4 shutouts in the last 6 games. They are skating much
more consistently than earlier in the season, and showing a lot more
confidence in their game. The defense is taking fewer chances, keeping the
opponents in the corners and on the boards, and not giving up much in the
middle. With good goalie play continuing, the combination has been very
effective.
Providence was embarrassed by this performance, dropping their last 2 games
at BC by an aggregate 14-0 score. Coach Pooley may have given them a
tongue-lashing, though, as they came back on Saturday night to defeat a
good New Hampshire team 4-3. The Friars can still move up to better HE
playoff position, but must improve their defensive work. They face a
home-and-home next weekend with Boston University, a tough set of games.
Boston College is pointing to their most anticipated game of the season, as
they play BU in the Beanpot final on Monday night. Both teams are on a tear,
with BC playing very well and BU undefeated in 2000. BU has been able to
dominate the recent years of the Beanpot, even when they didn't have the
best season (like last year.) BC hasn't beaten BU in a Beanpot game since
1981, and hasn't won over them in a final since 1976. So the Eagles are
hoping that this year is the year the seniors get their Beanpot title. It
should be a very good game, with good goalkeepers, strong offenses, and
tough defenses. If the Eagles can continue to play strong defense, I think
they have enough scoring to win it. I would be surprised if it was more
than a 1 or 2 goal game, though. BU is certainly capable of winning, of
course, and it would just set the tone for possible later matchups in the
HE tournament or NCAA's. Regardless of how the Beanpot ends, BC has 2 more
tough ones next weekend, playing at UNH on Saturday and hosting UNH on
Sunday in the Fox Sports New England Hockey East game of the week.
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Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
"Volunteer reporter" A pleased BC fan. GO EAGLES!
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to
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