> I haven't seen a single post save a one-paragraph score update regarding
> last Monday's beanpot games. BU makes it's eigth straight appearance in the
> finals, and (again) has the opportunity to becmoe the first school to win
> four years in a row (with freshman eligibility). Harvard fights back from
> deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 for the upset of BC in overtime.
>
> And nobody has anything to say?
 
I apologize to the millions and millions of Hockey-L'ers who have been eagerly
glued to their monitors waiting for some eyewitness viewpoints.  Let me start
by saying that if anyone reading this plans to attend the Phinal Phour at the
Fleet Center and your ticket is located behind the net, do everything possible
to get your seat changed.  Secondly, remember to eat a full meal prior to your
arrival at the arena.
 
The Beanpot has become the BU Invitational, as the Terriers' dominance on the
first two Mondays in February has reached the level of comedy.  In the 46 years
of the Beanpot's existence, BU has been relegated to the consolation round only
nine (9) times.  Actually, they missed the finals in 1994, but Monday's win
marks the 16th time in the last 20 years that BU has advanced to the
championship round.  The class of 1998 now tries to make history as the first
group to post a perfect Beanpot record.  BU did win it four consecutive years
between 1970-73, but freshmen were ineligible during that time.
 
Monday marked the third meeting of the season between BU and Northeastern.
It's hard to believe that in 160 meetings dating back to the 1930-31 season,
there has only been one (1) tie between them.  The first two games played in
January were a split, with the Huskies dominating five of the six periods
played.  Northeastern took an early lead, and for the first half of the game BU
looked sluggish.  BU's power play stinks.  They capitalized big-time on a major
penalty against UMass-Lowell last night, but on Monday night they were
clueless.  Earlier this year they endured an 0 for 30 stretch.  It was BU's
failure to capitalize on the power play in the first period that helped set up
the Huskies' goal.  I suggest that when they play Harvard, whenever the Crimson
are assessed a penalty, the Terriers decline it.  At 10:18 of the second period
NU made a huge defensive mistake in front of the net, and that was it.  BU
scored two more quick goals in the second period.  In all, the game was rather
dull except for one moment:
 
> o  Lots of folks here on Hockey-L have taken to "observing" that Chris
> Drury isn't playing so well this year, that he's not nearly as close to the
> Hobey as many other players... from what I've read about the games, and
> what I did see on the tube, Drury confirmed one of the key reasons he's a
> favorite for the Hobey: HE PLAYS BIG IN BIG GAMES. No, he didn't score the
> winning goal ("just" a fourth-quarter, put-the-game-away kinda tally),
 
If Marc Robitaille had gotten his glove on Drury's shot in the third period, it
still would have gone in. It was one of the hardest shots seen in a long
while.  The question one needs to ask is whether scoring is indicative of a
player's ability and performance.  If the answer is yes, then let's just give
the Hobey to UNH's Jason Krog right now.  Of course, that would be discounting
any goalie and defenseman.  Looking at it from that perspective is unfair both
to those positions and to Krog.  It is also unfair to Drury, who does it all.
He plays at a whole different level than everyone else.  And when you have
someone like that playing for you, it elevates the performance of your
teammates.
 
> think about this: over all the years of great teams and great players at
> BU, BC, Harvard, and Northeastern, it's likely Drury will emerge as the
> ONLY player who's won four Beanpots. I know the Hobey is a "single year"
> award, but winning a fourth beanpot is a pretty major accomplishment.
 
There are other members of BU's senior class who, if BU wins on Monday, will
qualify as winning four Beanpots -- Jeff Kealty, Chris Kelleher, Tom Noble, and
Mike Sylvia.  Peter Donatelli did not play in the 1995 tournament.
 
> o  For those of you following BC this year, how typical would you consider
> their performance? It seems that they pretty much dominated Harvard for
> most of the game -- and then simply blew it. Given the significance of the
> Beanpot, can this same loss of concentration and/or focus be expected come
> tournament time? What happens if BC is given the 4th Eastern seed -- and
> needs to be solidly focused to defeat a strong Western 5th seed like St.
> Cloud?
 
It is hard to imagine any team more thoroughly demoralized than BC was on
Tuesday morning.  That was the kind of loss that lasts a lifetime (yes, I said
a lifetime).  Someone who was there at the end told me that you could have
heard a pin drop after Bala scored (all the Harvard, BU, and NU fans had left).
 
> o  Harvard? They've got a losing record, yet beat a ranked team. Yes, it's
> the Beanpot, where the playing field is leveled, and memories of a losing
> season can be obliterated by hoisting the trophy, but still -- they beat
> BC. Was this a mere fluke, or a sign that Harvard might be picking their
> game up in the coming months?
 
I said last month that this year's Beanpot is up for grabs.  Remember, all BU
has done is won their opening round game.  Anything can happen.  What I report
here is typical of many in attendance on Monday night:
I stayed for the first period of the second game.  BC dominated the play, with
Harvard unable to skate with them.  Like many working folks, I went home.
Watching the game on WABU, I saw BC take a 3-goal lead in the third period.
After BC went up 4-2 I went to bed.  When I woke up the next morning, SURPRISE!
 
Freshman Chris Bala scores a shorthanded goal and the game winner in OT.
Forget what happens in the championship game.  Give him the tournament MVP now.
 
> o  This would be a bizarre occurrence indeed, but imagine if Harvard storms
> through the rest of the season, wins the ECAC playoff, and manages a 5th or
> 6th seed -- and plays through to the final four to join BU and BC. Of all
> the Frozen Fours that have been played, how many have had 3 teams from the
> same region -- let alone the same city?
 
Let's not forget the 1978 championship game, which featured BU versus BC.
They're located on the same street.  Nobody can match that.  BTW, the Terriers
won that game 5-3.
 
--
Edward N. Moller
Controller
Mount Ida College
Newton Centre, MA  02159-3323
[log in to unmask]
Tel:  (617) 928-4515
Fax:  (617) 928-4706
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.