(Full boxes posted to INFO-HOCKEY-L list.)
Friday, January 16, 1998 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE 0 0 0 - 0 (6-5-0 HE, 12-7-1 overall)
BOSTON COLLEGE 1 2 3 - 6 (7-4-2 HE, 13-6-3 overall)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
PC 4-14- 6 -- 24 15 - 38 0 - 5
BC 12-13-14 -- 39 13 - 26 3 - 6
PC - Boyd Ballard 11-11- 5 - 27 saves/5 goals (50:41)
Mark Kane x- x- 6 - 6 saves/1 goal ( 9:19)
BC - Scott Clemmensen 4-14- 6 - 24 saves/0 goals (60:00)
Saturday, January 17, 1998 at Schneider Arena, Providence, RI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON COLLEGE 4 2 2 - 8 (8-4-2 HE, 14-6-3 overall)
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE 0 0 0 - 0 (6-6-0 HE, 12-8-1 overall)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
BC 11-15- 8 -- 34 7 - 14 4 - 7
PC 12- 4- 7 -- 23 11 - 30 0 - 4
BC - Scott Clemmensen 12- 4- 7 - 23 saves/0 goals (60:00)
PC - Boyd Ballard 7- 8- x - 15 saves/6 goals (25:43)
Mark Kane x- 5- 6 - 11 saves/2 goals (34:17)
COMMENTS
--------
This weekend's series between Boston College and Providence demonstrated
the difference between a dream and a nightmare. The Eagles had a great
dream weekend with 2 dominant shutout wins over Providence, while the
Friars lived through an unexpected nightmarish sequence. Given PC's
recent success over BC, and the tough defensive game that the Friars gave
BU the week before, no one expected this type of action, with the
Eagles outscoring Providence 14-0. BC's freshman goaltender Scott
Clemmensen now has 3 shutouts in a row, and counting the final 56:34
of the game against BU where he held them off the board, he now has a
shutout streak of 241:34. Providence, who also was shutout last week
versus BU, now hasn't scored in over 9 periods of play.
It takes a good bit of luck to put together strings like that, both
good and bad, and that was part of the explanation for the weekend. But
Boston College did dominate the play all over the ice in both games, with
a stellar defense keeping rebounds away from Clemmensen. Combine that
with a forechecking buzz saw and a power play that scored 7 out of 13
chances, and the Friars had no chance. BC, who had been getting plenty
of shots on goal in previous games but not a lot of goals, finally broke
out of that pattern with a vengeance.
In my opinion, all 4 of BC's forward lines played better than any of
Providence's lines, and BC's defense was able to skate the puck out
of danger and set up the BC offense without much trouble in both games.
Providence, on the other hand, had stretches where they couldn't get the
puck into the BC zone at all, or were limited to outside shots in many
cases. When they did get good chances or breaks, especially on Saturday
night, Clemmensen came up big with the necessary saves. Also hurting
PC's chances were some wide-open shots that were whistled wide of the
net.
Numerous BC players got into the scoring column, but the 2nd Eagle line
of Brian Gionta, Jeff Farkas, and Andy Powers was unstoppable for most
of the weekend. They scored 6 of the 14 goals and were close to scoring
a half a dozen more. Many of the goals scored on Ballard were not his
fault, but indicated an atypical collapse of his defense in front of
him. The Friars tried to force a physical, defensive style at times,
but largely were unable to put bodies on the faster, shiftier BC players
in any consistent way. Frustration led to penalties, and penalties
turned into goals much too often for coach Paul Pooley's taste.
GAME ONE
--------
The first period was played like many past BC-PC matchups, with a fairly
defensive style and not a lot of shots in the early part of the game.
Things opened up on a 4-on-4 midway through, and Marty Reasoner opened
the scoring with a laser-like shot inside the near post on a 2-on-1
break opportunity at 12:44. Both teams had some chances after that,
though BC carried more of the possession. Clemmensen made one nice
save on Pisani on a quick stuff attempt to hold the Friars off the board.
Physical play and penalties came to the fore in the second period.
PC's Jon Cameron's early shot was blocked, and after a hard check he
retaliated with a slash to give BC a power play. Mike Lephart, left
alone in front of Ballard, got a nice pass from Marty Hughes and flipped
a shot that trickled over the shoulder and into the net. The turning
point came next when BC successfully killed a 5-on-3 power play with
one of their key defensemen, Mike Mottau, off the ice with a temporary
injury. Frosh D Rob Scuderi was on the ice for much of the kill and
played tremendously (his defensive work and 2 assists earned him the
number 3 star of the game. Scuderi is the biggest surprise of the
very good BC freshman class.) Both teams had scoring chances after
that, but BC got their third goal on another power play at 14:24. Good
puck movement gave Gionta the puck below the left circle, and he quickly
fired a high shot into the net. A late PC power play was largely
ineffective, and the period ended 3-0. Providence had played better,
though, and it looked like they could make a game of it if they could
play a good third period.
Alas, it wasn't to be. Just 1:05 into the period Gionta came barreling
down the left side and tried a move on Ballard. The puck came off his
stick briefly, but Ballard had already committed; Gionta regained control
and stuffed a short-side backhand into the goal to deflate the Friars.
BC continued the pressure for several more minutes, forcing Ballard to
make some good saves. PC got a clean break opportunity midway through
on a nice long pass, but Clemmensen was able to sprawl and smother the
shot. More penalties followed (matching), and Gionta worked more magic
on a 4-on-4 by circling in the zone, then pushing a pass to the right
side where Farkas fired a low backhand through Ballard. Mark Kane
came in at that point to replace Ballard, but it made no difference.
The remainder of the period was dominated by Boston College, with PC
only getting a couple of shorthanded chances by Jon Coe late in the
game to try to break the shutout. The Eagles finished the scoring on
that same power play as Matt Mulhern got a nifty pass to Chris Masters
coming into the zone on the left side, and he fired a slap shot off
Kane's body for the score.
GAME TWO
--------
A good crowd turned out in Providence to watch the rematch (with a large
BC contingent as usual), and most people figured it would be a much closer
and tougher game than the previous night. Who knew?
Providence had two great chances in the very first minute, as a forward
walked down the slot and forced Clemmensen to make a sprawling save, then
the rebound (toward the open net) was blocked by the BC defense. PC got
more chances on an early power play; Omicioli's stuff attempt was just
barely blocked. Gionta had a steal in the PC end while forechecking,
though, and almost scored -- it was a sign of things to come. Jamie
O'Leary got the puck, worked his way between players to the left circle,
then spun and fired it toward the net, where it deflected off a defenseman
and trickled in. (This was first credited to O'Leary, then changed to
a tip-in by Caulfield, then was changed back to O'Leary.) Jon Coe,
stymied all night, had a wrap attempt blocked, and Ballard made a great
diving save on a Blake Bellefeuille 1-timer after a cross-ice pass. BC
was putting the pressure on, though, and the roof fell in on Providence
with 3 goals in a 3:20 sequence, all from the Powers/Gionta/Farkas line.
All 3 goals were similar scores, in that the puck was moved from one side
to the other to open wingers who fired quick 1-time shots into the mostly
open net. Powers got the first from the left side on passes from his
linemates at 7:29. Clemmensen got a stick save on a Pisani attempt, then
Gionta came back with a quick give-and-go setup with Powers. Powers sped
down the right side to collect the lead pass and fired it back to Gionta
breaking down the slot, who flipped a quick shot over Ballard. The
Friars took a timeout to try to regroup at this point. However, just 12
seconds later, Gionta was able to return the setup similar to the previous
goal and Powers had his second of the period from the left side. To PC's
credit, they kept working hard, and had some good chances in the latter
part of the period, but could not get the shots past Clemmensen (or worse,
they started to have accuracy problems, where wide open forwards fired
shots over the top or wide of the goal.) Overall, it was not a good
period for Providence.
It was expected that Providence would come out in the second period with
fire in their eyes, to finally get some goals and make BC pay for the
dominance they had to that point. Penalties put an end to that hope,
as Leigh Dean got a double minor just 1:30 into the period. (Assistant
ref. Steve Arnold had called one on a delayed penalty, then Dean gave
a cross-check right in front of the referee after the whistle. Not smart.)
BC's Marty Hughes was injured during the power play and did not play the
rest of the game. PC played pretty well early on the kill, and even had
a great chance on a shorthanded 3-on-2, but Sheppard fired the shot wide.
Captain Mike Mader, who had a frustrating night, then was called for
roughing, giving the Eagles a 5-on-3. Less than a minute later Mike
Mottau fired an outside shot in to continue the rout. Under heavy BC
pressure only 1:21 later, another power play goal came from Chris Masters
when his shot bounced off Ballard and trickled over the line. Kane
replaced Ballard in goal at that point, but the game was over for all
intents and purposes.
Boston College continued to carry most of the play for the rest of the
period, though Providence started to play a smarter physical game to
keep BC from scoring again. The Friars had some shots but few were on
net, as they were either hurried or bothered by the Eagle defense.
The third period was much of the same, with Providence missing their
good shot opportunities and BC capitalizing on more power play chances.
Reasoner fired a 1-timer past Kane from the low right circle at 4:31,
and Matt Mulhern was able to tip home another power-play goal at 11:34.
Farkas almost scored on 2 quick chances right after that, but then BC
seemed to settle in to try to protect the scoreless streak. Libby,
Sheppard, and Coe all had shots or tips go wide, and the BC defense
was able to clear most rebounds to preserve the shutout.
NEXT GAMES
----------
BC plays an away-and-home series with UMass-Amherst, the worst team in
Hockey East, next weekend. Though it is unlikely that the scoreless
streak will continue much longer, if the Eagles continue to play well
defensively they could put up some record-breaking numbers. Of course,
if they go into Amherst thinking they can mail one in, UMA could spring
the big upset. The Minutemen have yet to win a Hockey East game this
year and would love to catch BC napping. Given the way the whole team
is playing, however, a BC sweep is probably expected, keeping BC at the
top of HE going into the game at UNH on the 27th.
Providence, struggling with offense, has to get back on track. They are
not as bad a team as it appears from this past weekend, and they play
a winnable pair with UMass-Lowell next weekend. I would be highly
surprised if the Friars go scoreless again. But they have to get some
points against Lowell if they want to keep fighting for home ice in the
HE playoffs. They would be advised to practice their shooting and get
more shots on net -- something is bound to go in eventually.
Finally: There was talk among the BC faithful early in the season that
this team would be at its best in the second half, due to the youth of
the team. The freshmen have played better than anyone really expected
so far, and it looks like that early projection may be coming true.
Gionta and Farkas are playing extremely well since returning from the
World Junior tournament, the lines are settled and beginning to be
productive from top to bottom, and the defense has been phenomenal
lately. All 3 pairings have been solid, contributing to the offense,
killing penalties well, etc. It doesn't hurt that the speedy forwards
have also been very tough with forechecking and backchecking. Goalie
Clemmensen has gotten more consistent, and has been making the big stops
when he needs to; he also is facing a lot fewer good shots than his
predecessor (Greg Taylor) did, and it makes a big difference. After
struggling for most of the 90's, Eagle fans are really enjoying this
years renaissance. With such a young team, it is hard to say where they
will end up in the playoffs. But it should be a very interesting run
through the end of the season.
-------------------- ----------------------
Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
"Volunteer reporter" An excited BC fan. GO EAGLES!
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
|
