Tuesday, February 22, 1994 at Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA
HOCKEY EAST GAME
Merrimack Warriors (14-16-2, 6-13-2 HE t7th) 0 2 0 - 2
Boston College Eagles (13-13-4, 5-11-4 HE t7th) 0 2 2 - 4
FIRST PERIOD BC-MC
No scoring.
SECOND PERIOD
1. BC1, David Hymovitz 16 (Rob Laferriere, Don Chase), 0:30. 1-0
2. MC1, Rob Atkinson 17 (Matt Adams, Dan Hodge), 4:29. PPG 1-1
3. MC2, Chris Ross 5 (Eric Weichselbaumer), 5:28. 1-2
4. BC2, Chase 11 (Hymovitz, Laferriere), 7:31. 2-2
THIRD PERIOD
5. BC3, Toby Harris 1 (Laferriere), 10:46. GWG 3-2
6. BC4, Jack Callahan 12 (John Joyce), 19:15. 4-2
SHOTS ON GOAL: Merrimack 5-12-12 = 29
Boston College 12-11-12 = 35
SAVES: MC, Martin Legault (60:00, L, 12-15-2, 35 sh-31 sv).
BC, Greg Taylor (60:00, W, 12-12-4, 29-27).
POWER PLAYS: MC 1 for 2. BC 0 for 3.
PENALTIES: MC 4/8. BC 3/6.
REFEREES: Steve McBride, Scott Leavitt. LINESMAN: Matt Good.
ATTENDANCE: 1,733.
THREE STARS: 1. LW Rob Laferriere, Boston College (0-3--3).
2. G Martin Legault, Merrimack (35 sh-31 sv).
3. RW Toby Harris, Boston College (1-0--1, GWG).
Toby Harris's first career goal at 10:46 of the third period broke
a 2-2 tie and sent Boston College on to a 4-2 home win over Merrimack.
The win enabled BC to move into a tie for 7th with the Warriors; both
teams are now two points back of 6th place Maine and four points
behind 5th place UNH. It also prevented Merrimack from sweeping
the season series, which ends at 2-1-0 Merrimack.
The winning goal came on a controversial play, as referee Steve McBride
stood twenty feet away and watched Don Chase dump Merrimack D John
Jakopin, then hold him down to the side of the slot as Harris came
in to take a pass from Rob Laferriere and beat Martin Legault seconds
later. Jakopin would have been in position to cover that side of the
ice had the uncalled infraction not been committed.
Legault stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced and had another strong
game. His defense was lacking at times, though. At the other end,
although BC goalie Greg Taylor had a decent night, it was the BC defense
which shone and deserved perhaps a collective star of the game. They
bottled up the slot well when Merrimack was pressing in the last ten
minutes and allowed no passes to Warriors camped out there.
Laferriere set up the first three Eagle goals and was named the game's
first star. Don Chase also played well for BC with a goal and an
assist, and David Hymovitz's 1-1--2 was indicative of the solid game
he had. For Merrimack, Rob Atkinson's second period goal gave him
40 points on the season (17-23--40), making him only the third Warrior
to reach that plateau since 1989. The others were Dan Gravelle and
Andy Heinze. Atkinson's career totals stand at 42-73--115.
Merrimack juggled lines a bit, as high-scoring Matt Adams was swapped
with freshman Claudio Peca, who has been playing well lately. Peca
was joined with Naylor and Atkinson on the first line on an attempt
to jumpstart those two. Although the new combo played well at times,
the only points came from Atkinson on the power play.
FIRST
There was no scoring, but both goalies had to make some tough saves.
Merrimack carried the play out of the blocks and Taylor robbed Tom
Johnson with his glove on a shot from the left circle. Then, Daryl
Krauss walked in but lost control of the puck on his backhand and
could not get a shot off. After that, the tide turned to BC, which
outshot Merrimack 12-5 in the period on the strength of two power plays.
Legault made a right pad save on Michael Spalla from the point, and
later while down and out, he somehow stopped a point blank shot by
John Joyce.
SECOND
BC came out and scored quickly to take a 1-0 lead. At 0:30, Hymovitz's
shot from the left circle went right through Legault's pads, one of
the few bad goals Legault has surrendered this year. It was the 16th
goal of the year for Hymovitz.
After Harris was called for slashing at 3:52, Merrimack tied the score
just 37 seconds later. On the power play, Dan Hodge tried a shot from
the right point. It was blocked in front and came to Matt Adams, who
tangled with a defender and then got it to Atkinson who spun around
and beat Taylor from the bottom of the circle. The Warriors went ahead
2-1 at 5:28 as the fourth line clicked. Chris Ross took a feed from
Eric Weichselbaumer and fired a shot from 20 feet out that found net.
The scoring binge (for these teams) continued at 7:31 as the Eagles
tied it, 2-2. Chase tipped Laferriere's shot past a screened Legault.
Merrimack was called for too many men at 9:26, the game's last penalty,
but BC could not get anything going on the man advantage. Shots were
about even in the period, favoring Merrimack 12-11.
THIRD
Both 'tenders made nice saves early on to keep the score even. On a
3x2, Legault flashed the glove on Jerry Buckley. Later, Johnson's
one-timer from in front was turned aside beautifully by Taylor. Atkinson
had two chances on one play that Taylor was equal to.
Harris scored his GWG at 10:46 on the play I described earlier. Soon
after, Legault made one of the most incredible saves of the year to
keep his team within one. Joyce had his first shot stopped, but the
rebound came right back to him and he headed around the net for a
wraparound attempt. Legault appeared down and out, and Joyce had the
whole side of the net as he circled. But just as Joyce tried to stuff
it, Legault somehow pushed his right skate across and foiled the scoring
bid. Truly remarkable.
Merrimack picked up its play and was skating better than at any other
point in the game. Seems like that only happens when they're trailing
late. Ross fed Weichselbaumer for a bid, but Taylor made a good pad
stop. Nearly every line that went out controlled the play and had
guys get into the slot in front of Taylor, but when the puck was centered,
the BC D would lift their sticks or somehow tie them up so they could
not get off a good shot.
Merrimack was trying to get Legault off for a sixth skater in the final
minute, but BC's Jack Callahan rushed the puck on Mark Cornforth.
Cornforth was not able to contain Callahan, but the puck came free and
Legault reached out to try to poke it free. As he did, Callahan shot
it past Legault to make it 4-2 and seal the win.
POSTGAME
For BC, it was a much needed win that keeps alive their hopes of not
finishing last. They lose the tiebreaker to Merrimack, but the schedule
favors BC, which has a game in hand:
Merrimack: at Maine (2), Lowell
BC: at PC, PC, at NU, Maine
The Eagles were clearly frustrated at having lost twice to Merrimack
earlier and were determined not to lose again. Their defense played
as well as I have seen it play this season.
For Merrimack, it was a disappointing loss even with the lousy non-call
that allowed the GWG to be scored. This game and the NU loss Saturday
pointed out the problems I had been worrying about even during the five
game win streak. All four lines are skating well, but the snipers
aren't there. They weren't able to get the shots on Taylor late when
they needed to, even though they controlled the puck well. Two goals
a game won't be enough to win, even when the defense and Legault are
doing their job. It could be a last place finish and a quick 2-and-out
in the first round unless some of the forwards start finishing their
chances.
BC next has a home and home with Providence, with Friday's game at
Providence scheduled for NESN. Merrimack travels up to Orono for
a two-game set with Maine on Saturday and Sunday, both 7 pm. We hope
to have both games on WCCM, but that is only if everyone involved
comes through to make it happen. Either way, Heather and I will make
the trip and so there will be no reports from this end on those games
until at least Monday or Tuesday.
--- ---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93
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