[Yes, this is very late. Despite the long weekend for the MLK holiday.
On the other hand, hardly anyone else is writing up game summaries any
more, are they? I know at least 3 people who will read this despite its
lateness, so I guess they will appreciate it ...]
(Box from online sources, along with my notes from TV broadcast)
Saturday, January 17, 2004 at Walter Brown Arena, Boston, MA
BC 3, BU 2 HOCKEY EAST GAME
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BOSTON COLLEGE (HE) 1 1 1 - 3 (16-3-3 overall, 9-1-2 HE)
BOSTON UNIVERSITY (HE) 0 1 1 - 2 (6-8-6 overall, 3-7-2 HE)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
BC 8-10- 7 -- 25 12 - 24 1 - 6
BU 14-10- 7 -- 31 10 - 20 1 - 8
BC - Matti Kaltiainen 14- 9- 6 - 29 saves/2 goals (60:00)
BU - Stephan Siwiec 7- 9- 6 - 22 saves/3 goals (58:43)
Referee - Tim Benedetto
Assistants - Joe Ross, Tim Low
Attendance - 3806 (sellout)
1st Period
BC1 J.D. Forrest 3 (Pat Eaves, Andrew Alberts) PPG 8:46
Penalties
BU - Jekabs Redlihs (holding) 1:14
BC - Peter Harrold (obstruction - tripping) 5:26
BU - Dan Spang (high sticking) 8:29
BC - Patrick Eaves (holding) 11:25
BC - Peter Harrold (cross-checking) 12:45
BU - John Laliberte (hit after whistle) 15:44
BC - Brian Boyle (hit after whistle) 15:44
BC - Chris Collins (slashing) 16:03
BU - John Laliberte (obstruction-interference) 19:56
BC - Andrew Alberts (roughing) 20:00
BU - David Van der Gulik (roughing) 20:00
2nd Period
BC2 Stephen Gionta 7 (unassisted) 7:30
BU1 David Van der Gulik 6 (Ryan Whitney, Brian McConnell) PPG 16:30
Penalties
BC - J.D. Forrest (roughing) 0:56
BU - Brad Zancanaro (roughing) 0:56
BC - Chris Collins (interference) 10:19
BC - Tony Voce (cross-checking) 15:26
BC - Ryan Shannon (roughing) 17:03
BU - David Van der Gulik (roughing) 17:03
BC - Andrew Alberts (boarding) 19:04
3rd Period
BC3 Ryan Murphy 4 (Greg Lauze, Ty Hennes) 7:15 GWG
BU2 Mark Mullen 6 (Kevin Schaeffer, David Klema) 13:40
BC Timeout 18:32
Penalties
BU - Mark Mullen (cross-checking) 5:02
BC - J.D. Forrest (cross-checking) 7:39
BU - David Van der Gulik (high-sticking) 8:59
BU - Jekabs Redlihs (tripping) 14:35
3 Stars - 1. BC - Matti Kaltiainen (29 saves, 2 goals)
2. BC - J.D. Forrest (1G)
3. BU - David Van der Gulik (1G)
Boston College
F JOE ROONEY, TONY VOCE, PAT EAVES
Chris Collins, Ryan Shannon, Stephen Gionta
Ned Havern, Ty Hennes, Ryan Murphy
Adam Pineault, Brian Boyle, Justin Dziama
D ANDREW ALBERTS, J.D. FORREST
John Adams, Peter Harrold
Greg Lauze, Brett Peterson
G MATTI KALTIAINEN, Joe Pearce, Robbie Miller
Boston University:
F KENNY MAGOWAN, MARK MULLEN, FRANTISEK SKLADANY
David Van der Gulik, Brian McConnell, Bryan Miller
Kenny Roche, David Klema, John Laliberte
Eric Thomassian, Brad Zancanaro, Matt Radoslovich
D RYAN WHITNEY, KEVIN SCHAEFFER
Sean Sullivan, Jekabs Redlihs
Tom Morrow, Dan Spang
G STEPHAN SIWIEC, Sean Fields, John Curry
COMMENTS
--------
Boston College swept the weekend series with Boston University with a
hard-fought 3-2 win Saturday night at BU. The game was the tale of the
goaltenders, with BC's Matti Kaltiainen having a stellar night under
strong pressure and BU's Stephan Siwiec being responsible for 2 soft goals
that spelled the difference for his club. BU played physically and
effectively, becoming the first team to outshoot the Eagles in a game
this season, but were stymied by Kaltiainen's good positioning and few
rebounds left by the BC defense. The game was broadcast locally by
Fox Sports Net New England (which is how I saw the game.)
BC opened with some quick shots as BU noticeably was working harder at
playing physically and finishing their checks, trying to slow down the
quicker Eagle players. BC was again playing without leading playmaker
and scorer Ben Eaves, out with injury. BC had an ineffective power play,
and BU started to pick up their offense with a stuff attempt and crashing
the crease looking for a rebound. BU got their own power play and had
one good chance in front but John Laliberte's shot was gloved by the BC
keeper. BC opened the scoring on another power play when Pat Eaves
wound up for a big slap shot out high, and the rebound came away to the
right of the crease. J.D. Forrest was pinching in from the point and
was able to swipe the loose puck into the open right side before Siwiec
could recover. BU got their chance to respond when they had a 5-on-3
man advantage in the middle of the frame, but Kaltiainen played strongly
to thwart the Terriers, particularly on a leg save of a Kevin Schaeffer
point shot.
Things continued physical after that, and BU had another late power play
(4-on-3.) BC was effective on the kill, then Pat Eaves went down to
block a wing slap shot and was struck high in the chest/throat area and
went down injured. He left the ice and the game, getting examined and
treated at a local hospital for a big cut and possible damage to his
chest. (Later news indicates that he is not seriously injured, though
it is not clear when he will return to action.) BU again couldn't
penetrate the solid wall that Kaltiainen provided in goal, and after
Siwiec saved a Chris Collins breakaway attempt the period ended at 1-0, BC.
BC opened the second period on a power play but didn't do much with it,
and BU cranked up the pressure after that, peppering the BC goal with
good shots. I think it was Frantisek Skladany who was in for a clean
shot on goal but it was kicked to the netting for a big save to hold
the BC lead. Just a few minutes later it was an innocent looking play
that gave BC a second score. BU turned the puck over in the neutral zone
and Stephen Gionta skated it into the BU zone down the right side. With
no one to pass to he fired a low, hard shot just inside the near post,
where Siwiec was down blocking the ice. But the goalie was too far inside
the goal and couldn't get his leg pad angled properly, and the shot
deflected off his leg and into the net for the score. Not a strong play
by the BU keeper. The Terriers thought they had answered that one just
a few seconds later on a sweet move by Kenny Roche, who swept out from
behind the red line to the slot and fired one into the goal, only to have
it (correctly) disallowed for a man in the crease bothering the BC
netminder. Things went back and forth after that, with BU getting most
of the possession and chances. Siwiec did have to make one good poke
check save on a Gionta cut to the front of the net, but it was BC's defense
that had to do most of the work. Finally, on yet another BU power play,
the Terriers broke through. A high shot from the left side was gloved by
Kaltiainen but David Van der Gulik was skating across the face of the
crease and dislodged the puck with body contact. The puck dropped down
where Van der Gulik was able to swat it into the open net before anyone
could block it. Both defenses did the job the rest of the period and
it was 2-1 BC going to the third.
It was noted later in the third period that BU's Kenny Magowan got hurt
somehow in the middle period and did not play the rest of the game. The
action started with a continuing BU power play and Kaltiainen came up
with the save of the night to stone Mullen (I think) at the left side.
A BU forward took the puck deep down the right side and fired a bullet
crossing pass in front of the net to a wide-open Mullen for the quick
1-timer (into what he thought would be an open net.) Matti, who is a big
keeper, somehow made a cat-like move across and flashed his leg pad
for a great block. Both teams worked hard in the next few minutes,
and each goalie had to make his share of saves or had shots go wide.
Mullen had a tip right in front on another nice setup from a teammate but
was unlucky to have it sail wide. BC missed their chance when Tony Voce
was wide on a point-blank shot on a power play. BU killed that situation
but right after that BC forced the play deep and shot it wide of the net.
Ryan Murphy chased it down and threw the puck at the crease from behind
the goal line, and it deflected off Siwiec's leg pads and into the goal
for a 3-1 Eagles lead. Bad goaltending turned out to be BU's Achilles'
heel for the weekend (or at least inconsistent goaltending.) After tight
checking for a few minutes, BU finally got within one when a shot sailed
wide of the net but bounced out to the left side and came to Mullen, who
potted it into the open net before Kaltiainen could get in position.
BU tried to put on the pressure to equalize, but for the remaining 6
minutes it was the BC defense who was dominant (helped by a BU penalty.)
The Terriers didn't really get a decent shot the rest of the way, even
after pulling the goalie, and the Eagles celebrated a 4-point weekend.
Plenty of others have noted that this was a lost opportunity for BU,
catching BC minus their top player and outplaying the Eagles for more than
half of the weekend. But it was a gritty performance by BC, sparked by
great goaltending by Matti K over the 120 minutes. Very solid, very
consistent, and he was only beat by rebounds and tips in front, never
on a clean shot that he could see. With a solid defense in front of him,
that is a formula for few goals against. They will probably continue to
need strong performances by the defense and goalkeepers, though, as the
forward corps is suffering from accumulating injuries and knocks, and
their productivity has been less than expected. It could be that the
long season is starting to wear on the smaller bodies, or it could be
that they miss Ben Eaves' playmaking just that much. Either way, it seems
likely that having both Eaves' brothers in the lineup is probably a
requirement for BC if they want to get to the Frozen Four in their
backyard this year.
Boston University showed a lot of promise in Saturday's game, playing
strongly and getting 60 minutes from most of their forwards (something
that has been lacking this year.) With just a decent goaltending
performance they should have gotten a 2-1 win in that game. The continuing
inconsistency of this team is hard to explain, but at this point in the
season it is indisputable that they are just an average Hockey East team
overall. They are capable of beating anyone at any time -- but have rarely
done so this year, unlike many years in the past. Faced with another
powerhouse defensive team in Maine this coming weekend for another 2 games,
they will need their goaltenders to answer the bell. I won't be surprised
if BU takes one, but I would be surprised if they could win 2 over Maine
the way things have been going. But that's why they play the games ...
Boston College was very happy to take the full 4 points on the weekend,
especially with Maine dropping a game so that the Eagles have a full 3
point lead in the Hockey East race. With a tough makeup game Tuesday
night at Providence, and possibly missing more players from the lineup,
it isn't clear if they can stretch that lead even more. My inclination
is to say that BC must limit the Friars to no more than 1, possibly 2
goals if they want to win that one, as I don't think they will put up
a lot of scores of their own. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, though,
and see a nice big BC blowout win for a change. (Hey, the backup goalies
need some minutes! Speaking of that, is it possible that Jerry York
will let Joe Pearce have another shot at winning a Hockey East game after
his MVP efforts in the Great Lakes tourney?)
Rick McAdoo
"Volunteer reporter"
A satisfied BC fan. GO EAGLES!
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