UNH survived a ferocious third period assault from the Boston College
Eagles and held on to win its Hockey East opener, 5-4.  UNH's Eric
Flinton began the scoring at 3:19 off a blind backhand pass from the
left corner by Jason Dexter.  The Eagles got the first of four (!)
powerplay goals when BC's Callahan stuffed in a rebound that was lying
in the crease.  UNH regained the lead five minutes later when Savo
Mitrovic left a drop pass for Joe Flanagan at the top of the left
face-off circle, who slapped it home.  UNH dominated the first period,
having players in alone on BC netminder Scott LaGrand at least four
times, but came up empty.  BC's defense looked extremely suspect.
 
In a four-on-four situation early in the second period, Scott Morrow
and Flanagan combined for the prettiest goal of the night.  Morrow
left the puck on the right wing for Flanagan and headed for the net.
Flanagan continued down the right side and slid a pass across the slot
for Morrow, who redirected it past LaGrand to the far side.  The two
goal lead didn't last long though.  With Domenic Amodeo in the box,
Franzosa picked up another rebound and roofed it over a fallen Levy.
BC's third powerplay goal came when Spalla hit the post from the right
circle, followed up by Joe Cleary's slapshot off the rebound past
Levy.  Less than two minutes later, UNH broke the tie.  With the
Wildcats on a powerplay, Greg Klym broke in alone.  In desparation,
Sal Manganaro tripped him from behind.  Referee Frank Cole called for
the penalty shot.  With the entire crowd on its feet, Klym skated in
and beat LaGrand through the five-hole.  It gave UNH a big lift,
coming right after BC had tied the score.
 
New Hampshire's last goal came on a powerplay in the third period.
Mitrovic, standing to the left and behind the net, tried to center the
puck for Flanagan.  The pass deflected off LaGrand's stick/skate for
the goal.  BC got its fourth powerplay goal at 9:37 when Callahan
scored his second of the night, again off a rebound.  BC managed to
pull LaGrand for the last thirty seconds of the game, but could not
score.  The last ten seconds of the game were played directly in front
of the net, and no one knows how the puck stayed out of the net.  BC
players had their arms up twice, thinking they had scored, but the red
light ever went on. From my seat at the other end of the ice, all I
could do is watch the two lamps to see which would light first.
Thankfully (for UNH fans), the green lamp won :-)
 
The three stars of the game, chosen at the rink, were (3) Morrow, (2)
Klym, and (1) Callahan.
 
It was a strange game.  UNH dominated as long as they weren't
shorthanded.  The Wildcats need some serious penalty-killing work.  BC
went 4-5 on the powerplay, while UNH was 2-8.  BC put a bunch of shots
on in the third period, but Levy handled most with ease, only getting
in trouble when his shorthanded teammates couldn't clear the rebounds.
 
UNH returns home tomorrow (Saturday) night to face Northeastern.  A
key for the Wildcats is the status of senior captain Savo Mitrovic.
Mitrovic took a heavy hit (marginal boarding) in the third period and
had to be helped off the ice.  He did not return.
-------------
[A few BC names may be butchered.  I didn't have a program.]
 
at Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA
Friday, November 15
 
New Hampshire	2   2   1 - 5
Boston College  1   2   1 - 4
 
First period:
 
UNH 1, BC 0:  Flinton (Dexter), 3:19.
Penalty:  UNH, Messina (slashing), 7:49.
UNH 1, BC 1:  Callahan (Franzosa, Moran), 8:53 (PPG).
Penalty:  BC, Spalla (hooking), 9:20.
UNH 2, BC 1:  Flanagan (Mitrovic), 14:40.
Penalty:  BC, Hall (holding), 15:31.
Penalty:  BC, Cleary (elbowing), 17:35.
Penalty:  BC, Callahan (roughing), 19:57.
Penalty:  UNH, McGrath (roughing), 19:57.
 
Second period:
 
UNH 3, BC 1:  Morrow (Flanagan), 0:42.
Penalty:  UNH, Amodeo (high sticking), 1:04.
UNH 3, BC 2:  Franzosa (Moran, Beran), 1:21 (PPG).
Penalty:  BC, Franzosa (hitting after whistle), 6:02.
Penalty:  UNH, McGrath (hitting after whistle), 6:02.
Penalty:  BC, Delay (holding), 9:47.
Penalty:  UNH, Donovan (cross-checking), 12:00.
Penalty:  UNH, Morrow (elbowing), 13:00.
UNH 3, BC 3:  Cleary (Spalla, Callahan) 13:24 (PPG).
Penalty:  BC, Joyce (holding), 14:09.
Penalty:  BC, Manganaro (tripping, penalty shot), 15:09.
UNH 4, BC 3:  Klym (unassisted, penalty shot), 15:09 (PPG).
Penalty:  BC, Franzosa (holding), 17:29.
 
Third period:
 
Penalty:  BC, Canavan (hooking), 5:37.
UNH 5, BC 3:  Mitrovic (Flangan, Morrow) 5:54 (PPG).
Penalty:  UNH, Morrow (hooking) 8:04.
UNH 5, BC 4:  Callahan (Franzosa, Cleary) 9:37 (PPG).
Penalty:  BC, Beran (roughing) 11:42.
Penalty:  UNH, Russell (roughing) 11:42.
 
Shots on goal:
 
UNH	12   8   7 - 27
BC	 7   5  17 - 29
 
Goaltenders:  UNH, Levy; BC, LaGrand.
Officials:  Cole (ref), Jones, and Paquette.
Attendance:  5143.