With all the talk about incosistency at BU, it is a lot better writing now
that they took two from UNH this weekend.  My question is, if every year
(or so it seems) they go into a slump in December, and then catch fire
towards the end of the season and finish very strong, isn't that actually
being consistent?  If you can count on that year after year, I think that
is a good thing.  It is pretty rare for a team to win all of their games,
so I prefer they get the losing out of the way before the season heats up,
and the Beanpot, and the playoffs.
 
I turned on Friday night's game in the second with BU up 3-2.  I really
enjoyed seeing them score the next 5 goals.  UNH was pretty sloppy with the
puck and really left the goalies on their own a lot.  The BU forwards took
advantage of almost all of their opportunities.  I think their best chance
however was one they missed, but really showed the way UNH was playing.  I
think it was Pierce, got the puck alone in front of the UNH net after a
scramble along the boards and had all day to make moves on the goalie to
get him down and out.  Unfortunately he missed the shot.  The other play
that really impressed me kind of went unmentioned by the announcers.  The
puck was down low in the corner and was passed up to the point to one of
the BU defensemen.  He didn't have much time and fired a weak wrist shot at
the net.  A BU forward (I think O'Connell) was tied up to the side of the
net and fell down, but he saw another BU forward coming to the net, and he
laid he stick down to stop the puck about 1 foot in front of the goalie,
before the goalie could trap it (the goalie was down by this point), and
the other forward (Sylvia or Bates, I forgot, it is 3 days later :),
scooped up the puck and easily beat the down and out goalie.  At first I
thought this was just luck, but from the replay it really looked like
O'Connell saw the whole play and made it happen.
 
The third, almost expectedly, got a little chippy.  I didn't think that
Wright deserved a DQ.  At least not from the replay.  Can someone who was
there let us know what happened?  On TV it just looked like a wrestling
match.  Didn't see any punches.
 
Didn't see Sunday's game until the NESN replay at night because of the
Patriot's game.  It looked like a very well played game by both teams.  I
really expected UNH to win because of Friday night, and that BU was
shorthanded.  They didn't dress a full team, one of the problems of not
having any extra players on the roster.  I did see Tom Poti out there and
wondered how he made it back from Switzerland.  Today's paper said that
they had him rush back and he actually didn't make it until the 3rd period.
I was going to be very happy with a tie.  On Sylvia's game winner in OT I
couldn't believe how he was able to walk out in front all alone like that.
I think that the other players were paying so much attention to Drury that
they forgot to get the man coming out from the corner.  I think they all
thought he would pass.  He showed great patience in getting the goalie
down, and then roofing the shot.
 
This was a huge weekend for BU and hopefully they will keep it up.
 
Congratulations to Team Canada on an unprecendented 5th in a row at the
WJC.  Even though the USA lost, I am really happy with their best ever
finish, and that they played well in the final.  Maybe next time the gold!
 
Dave (Go BU!)
 
p.s. Has anyone who sent away for tickets to the regionals in Worcester
gotten a response yet?  I mailed my check on November 18 and haven't heard
anything.  I can't remember when they mailed the tickets two years ago, but
I sent the check in at the same time.  Thanks for any responses.
 
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