Sunday, November 7, 1999 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA
BC 4, UML 1 HOCKEY EAST GAME
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UMASS-LOWELL (HE) 0 1 0 - 1 1-2-1 HE (2-5-1 overall)
BOSTON COLLEGE (HE) 3 1 0 - 4 3-0-0 HE (5-1-0 overall)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
UML 7-11- 3 -- 21 6 - 12 0 - 4
BC 12- 9- 7 -- 28 4 - 8 2 - 6
UML- Cam McCormick 9- 8- 7 - 24 saves/4 goals (60:00)
BC - Scott Clemmensen 7-10- 3 - 20 saves/1 goal (60:00)
3 Stars: BC Blake Bellefeuille, BC Brian Gionta, BC Jeff Farkas
COMMENTS
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Boston College ran their Hockey East record to 3-0 by jumping to a quick
lead over UMass-Lowell and then getting a strong defensive effort in a
tough, grinding game Sunday night. Senior Blake Bellefeuille figured in
all 4 BC scores with a goal and 3 assists and was named number one star.
Scott Clemmensen made only 20 stops but several were key saves on open
breakaways to preserve the Eagle lead.
BC jumped all over the Riverhawks with 2 goals in the first 3 minutes.
Bellefeuille won a faceoff in the UML zone, shoving the puck directly to
Gionta in the slot where he slammed a quick shot past McCormick at 0:53.
The Eagles were buzzing early, and Lowell took a too many men penalty that
put the potent BC power play on the ice. UML got through the first minute,
but when the top BC unit got back on the ice, it was only a few seconds
before the puck was in the net. After trading passes at the point, a long
shot was saved only to have Bellefeuille sweep in from the side, collect
the loose puck in front, and slide the stick around the downed goalie for
an easy marker. The Eagles continued to dominate the play, killing a UML
power play with no shots on net; in fact, Lowell didn't record a shot on
net until past the halfway mark of the period. The Riverhawks finally
began to skate better and play physically (as is their norm) and things
started to even out. Clemmensen had to make a couple of good saves as
the Lowell forecheck bottled up BC, then BC's Brooks Orpik came back to
just tip the puck off the stick of a Lowell forward who was sent in clean
on a long pass.
Things got really physical after that, and Bell took a boarding penalty,
giving BC another power play chance. BC peppered McCormick with shots,
keeping possession in the UML zone. Gionta was smashed into the boards
(no call, perhaps questionable), then UML was clearing the puck when they
did get called for a slashing behind the play. BC set up the 5-on-3 with
passing at the blue line, but forgot about Bell, who stole the puck when
he came out of the penalty box and took off for a clean breakaway. He
swerved to the left side and tried to lift a backhander over Clemmensen,
but the goalie got the pad out and blocked it. A quick rebound a few
seconds later was also blocked, and BC went back on the attack. Gionta
eventually drove down the left side into the Lowell zone, fed a pass to
the middle, past Bellefeuille, and finally to a streaking Farkas in the
slot. He quickly fired it to the low right side to make the score 3-0
at the 19:31 mark.
The second period was better for the Riverhawks, who used good forechecking
to keep BC bottled up in their zone and produced several good scoring
chances. The pressure paid off at 6:42 when a wild scramble produced
several saves and a pile of players in front of the net. The puck squirted
free in the high slot, and Nick Carso came in and fired a low shot that
found a gap in Clemmensen's pads and trickled in. Lowell kept the pressure
up and had BC scrambling for coverage, and the Eagles ended up taking back-
to-back penalties to give UML a 5-on-3 power play. Clemmensen made two
good saves to keep the puck out of the net. BC then turned the play that
Lowell couldn't do in the first period, when Mike Lephart took the ice as
the first penalty ended, got a break pass from his defense, and raced in
alone on goal. He shifted to the right and snapped a quick shot 5-hole
that McCormick just couldn't close on -- it trickled through his pads and
into the net for a shorthanded backbreaker. 4-1, BC, at 9:35.
The game turned into a tight-checking, defensive grinder from that point
forward, and the goalies both had good saves to keep the score at 4-1.
Clemmensen had to make another point-blank save on a Lowell breakaway after
a turnover at the blue line, and McCormick stopped 2 BC stuff attempts in
close late in the second period.
The third period was even more defensive, with few shots, especially for
Lowell as the BC defense stepped up and the Eagles played a containment
strategy. Not the prettiest of hockey, but with a 3 goal lead Boston
College seemed content to just hold on. UML doesn't have a strong offense,
and they were not able to create the chances they needed to force a
comeback. No more scoring in the third.
This was far from the most artistic or entertaining of college hockey games,
not that it was a bad game, but the style didn't offer the flair or the
flow of other games. (Saturday's Harvard-Vermont game, for example, where
there was a lot more up-and-down, smooth action.) UML doesn't have a lot
of firepower, and they can't get behind as they did in this game if they
want to win. BC again struck quickly, then was forced to fight hard to
get the puck out of their defensive zone. They made some defensive
mistakes and turnovers that Clemmensen saved them from with his stellar
work on the breakaways, and that meant the difference. It remains to be
seen if he can keep up the effort, but Scott has played much better this
year on a consistent basis, and with the good defense in front of him, his
save pct. and goals-against average have both improved.
Lowell is a bit of a puzzle. They are big, strong, not fast but not slow
either, and the goalkeeping seems to be competent. As others have
commented, they're having their problems putting the puck in the net. If
they solve that, they could be dangerous later in the year. They also need
some more leadership, especially on the blue line. I believe they really
miss Cappelletti from last year.
The crowd was listed as 4423, not bad for a Sunday night game. This is new
for BC this year, with several games scheduled for Sunday night. The
students haven't yet discovered the ice rink in large numbers; I expect it
will be a lot louder for next week's game against Maine, Sunday at 2 PM.
That game is listed as a sellout at the BC ticket office window. The
Eagles must first get past a tough Northeastern team Friday night at
Matthews Arena. UML has another tough game Friday when they visit Boston
University, a team they have had much trouble with in the past. BU has
played better than expected early this season and should provide a stiff
test for the Riverhawks. I expect there will be a few more penalties in
that one than there was for the BC-UML game, if past history is a guide.
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Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
"Volunteer reporter" A pleased BC fan. GO EAGLES!
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