Friday, November 6, 1998 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA
BC 5, NOTRE DAME 5 (OT) NON-CONFERENCE GAME
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NOTRE DAME (CCHA) 2 3 0 0 - 5 (6-1-1 overall)
BOSTON COLLEGE (Hock.East) 1 1 3 0 - 5 (4-0-1 overall)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
ND 9-12- 9- 2-- 32 8 - 16 3 - 7
BC 9- 9-10- 0-- 28 8 - 16 2 - 7
ND - Forrest Karr 8- 8- 7- 0 - 23 saves/5 goals (65:00)
BC - Scott Clemmensen 7- 9- 9- 2 - 27 saves/5 goals (65:00)
COMMENTS
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Boston College and Notre Dame played an exciting, back and forth game
last Friday, and it ended with a 5-5 tie, reflecting the even play. ND
took advantage of BC penalties to score 3 power play goals and take a 5-2
lead into the third, and BC came roaring back with 3 goals in 3 minutes
to even the score. Both teams had good chances in the 3rd period and
overtime, but could not score a game winner.
BC was forced to kill a 5x3 power play early in the first, then came back
to get the first goal on a BC power play. A shot from Mike Mottau at the
left point was deflected to a wide open Jeff Farkas at the right side
of the crease, and he popped it into the open net. Notre Dame evened the
score on another power play. Ben Simon flipped a high backhand shot at
the net, and though Clemmensen made the save, BC's Bobby Allen accidentally
pushed the puck through the goalie's legs as he tried to glove the puck
away from the crease. Simon got credit for one of his easier power-play
goals. Play was up-and-down from that point onward, and good ND work
in the corner kept the puck in the BC zone late in the period. The puck
was fed back to Aniket Dhadphale at the top of the left circle, and his
quick one-timer slid through a screen of players to find the far side of
the net, giving ND a lead going into the second period.
Notre Dame increased the lead just 18 seconds into the 2nd when Brian
Urick fired a very sharp-angled shot at the goalie, and somehow it slid
off the pads into the net. Not a good effort by Clemmensen. BC fans
thought they had one back just a minute later but it was rightly waved
off as it was kicked into the net (very clear to me at my seat, and the
assistant ref right in front of us immediately made the call.) Notre
Dame was unable to capitalize on a subsequent power play (one of several
stupid penalties taken by the Eagles.) BC got their own chance when ND
took 2 penalties in a row. The Irish were able to hold out on the 5x3,
but a controversial goal at 9:58 brought BC within one. There was a
major scramble at the crease, the puck was loose and BC was poking away
at it. Just as the referee blew the whistle to stop play, the puck slid
into the net. Though it clearly went in just after the whistle, the ref
also immediately pointed to the goal, signifying it was good. (Perhaps
he was ruling that it was pushed clear and in during the time between his
decision to blow the whistle and the actual sound?) The intensity level
shot up at this juncture.
Karr made a nice pad save on a blistering Masters slap shot, then BC
took 2 more penalties to give the Irish another 5x3 power play. They
worked the puck nicely around the zone and got one on a high slapshot
from the right point by Dan Carlson. Still on the power play, they got
their 5th and last goal just 14 seconds later. A BC defenseman missed
a rushing ND forward along the left boards, and Van Arkel got a nice
pass, waited for Clemmensen to drop down, and lifted the puck into the
open side. BC took at time out at this point to settle things down, and
the period ended with no more scoring.
After trading penalties early in the third period, BC gradually cranked
up the pressure on the Irish, repeating a pattern they've shown this year
(less effective 2nd periods, very effective 3rd periods.) Rob Scuderi
sent a high shot in from the left point, it deflected down into the slot
right at Chris Masters feet, and he lifted it high over Karr to make the
score 5-3 at 6:33. This picked up the tempo even more, and hard work by
Tony Hutchins to win the puck in the left circle led to a soft pass to
Masters as he charged into the zone. He hammered a 1-timed high slap shot
at 8:28 to bring the Eagles within one. BC kept buzzing, with the puck
deep in the Notre Dame zone. Brian Gionta finally slipped the puck free
behind the net, fed Andy Powers in the slot, and his shot (a weak one
that bounced) somehow eluded Karr and tied the game at 9:31. The crowd
was on its feet and noisy -- Notre Dame took their timeout to calm things.
Action was fast and furious from this point on, and the crowd was often
brought to its feet on successive rushes up the ice by both teams. Solid
defense and some good saves kept the teams off the scoreboard and forced
overtime.
Overtime was a bit more cautious but also showed some up and down action;
BC had several chances but shot just wide of the net while Clemmensen
made 2 tough saves against Notre Dame. The Irish were blessed a bit, as
they had a blatant too-many-men situation overlooked by the ref midway
through the overtime. It finally came to a close, with both teams rather
exhausted and willing to take the single point.
Notre Dame was disappointed at not preserving the 3-goal lead and winning
the game, but BC is a strong offensive team when they skate hard, and
holding on after the 3 goals in 3 minutes comeback was a decent result.
BC fans found some new respect for ND, as their size and speed was more
than many fans were expecting. (It certainly set the tone for close
games for the weekend, as Saturday's football game came down to the wire
as well.)
ND remains one of the top 10 this week on the strength of their tie with
BC and win over Northeastern on Saturday night. BC suffered their first
non-win of the season, but was fairly satisfied with the come-from-behind
point against good competition. ND resumes play this weekend with games
against Bowling Green and Michigan, both at home. Boston College
returns to league play with a home-and-away series with Northeastern
this Friday and Saturday.
BC Note: BC Hockey is again holding a "Lets Talk Hockey" night on
Tuesday, November 17, in the Shea Room at Conte Forum. Coach Jerry
York, captain Brendan Buckley, and assistant captains Chris Masters and
Mike Mottau are scheduled to appear. It starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is
free -- R.S.V.P. @ (617) 552-3028 by Fri. Nov. 13 to reserve a spot.
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Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
"Volunteer reporter" A pleased BC fan. GO EAGLES!
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