Sunday, December 7, 1997 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA
BU 5, BC 1 HOCKEY EAST GAME
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BOSTON UNIVERSITY 1 2 2 - 5 (5-1-0 HE, 11-1-0 overall)
BOSTON COLLEGE 1 0 0 - 1 (5-4-0 HE, 11-5-0 overall)
Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
BU 6- 3-12 -- 21 16 - 38 1 - 6
BC 9-15- 6 -- 30 16 - 35 1 - 6
BU - Michel Larocque 8-15- 6 - 29 saves/1 goal (60:00)
BC - Scott Clemmensen 5- 1-10 - 16 saves/5 goals (60:00)
Full box posted to INFO-HOCKEY-L list.
COMMENTS
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Boston University rode their hot goaltender and some opportunistic offense
to defeat Boston College 5-1 Sunday afternoon at BC. It was a highly
anticipated game as BC has raised their level of play this year, but BU
showed that they are still the top team in Hockey East. The game was much
closer than the final score would indicate, as BC carried much of the play
in the first two periods and had an edge in shots on goal. BU goalie
Michel Larocque earned the game's number one star, surrendering only a
single power play goal early in the first period. BU star Chris Drury
had two scores, including the game-winner, while freshmen Carl Corazzini,
Juha Vuori, and Russ Bartlett had the other BU goals. BC frosh defenseman
Bobby Allen got the lone Eagle tally.
The game started on a BU power play, as Boston College was assessed a bench
minor for "violation of game protocol", apparently for tardiness in getting
to the ice prior to the start of the game. After a brief BU flurry on the
advantage, BC got its chance on an early power play of its own. Allen
fired a long shot from the left point that was screened by a BU defenseman,
and it hit the net for an early Eagles lead, 1-0. BC dominated the early
part of the period, winning all the faceoffs, controlling the puck, and
getting the better scoring chances. BU's Greg Quebec jumped on a bad pass
during a BC power play and had a breakaway, but Clemmensen was able to
make a good leg save. Quebec and a BC defenseman collided with the corner
of the goal cage and Quebec hit the boards hard behind the net, incurring
a right leg injury that removed him from the game. (Quebec was on
crutches after the game.) Play started to even out after that, and a
bad BC penalty gave the Terriers a chance to equalize. After some frantic
moments on the power play, a shot from the point deflected off bodies in
front of the net and dropped right to Corazzini in the slot. His high shot
went in over Clemmensen's shoulder at 15:57 to tie the game. Larocque
made a nice set of saves shortly thereafter and BU exerted pressure at the
end of the period but could not score again.
The second period was heavily dominated by the Eagles from the start, with
BU not getting a shot on goal until after the 10 minute mark. Larocque was
able to block a slapper on an early 2-on-1 break for BC, but the rebound
went right to a charging Eagle winger with an open net available. Larocque
dived back into the crease and extended his stick to deflect the shot --
the stick went sailing to the corner, but despite vocal protests from BC,
no penalty was called. (This was especially annoying to BC, as Greg Taylor
had a similar save a couple of years ago and was called for throwing the
stick and a penalty shot was awarded.) BC continued to pressure Larocque,
but the defense was able to stop some shots and clear rebounds. Following
a BU power play with no shots, BC was pressuring along the boards and
thought they had it contained. The Terriers' Tom Poti showed otherwise,
however, and flipped a nice pass to Drury as he cruised over the BC
blue line all alone. Unlike Quebec, Drury made no mistake as he shifted
from left to right and flipped the puck past a sprawling Clemmensen at
15:40. Less than a minute later a bouncing puck escaped Clemmensen as
he was out of the net and Vuori jumped on the loose puck and slid it into
the empty net for a 3-1 lead. The two BU goals came on only their second
and third shots of the period. BC had a couple of good chances late but
could not get past Larocque.
The third period started quickly, with both goalies having to make good
saves, then BU kept the puck inside the BC zone with good forechecking.
Scott Perry flipped a high rebound attempt and hit the crossbar for BU.
The Eagles were finally able to break it out for a Matt Mulhern tip
attempt on a break, and Larocque made a great sliding save to preserve the
lead at the 4 minute mark. BC played aggressively, trying to get back into
the game, and it ended up costing them. Hughes was caught up ice trying
to hold the puck in the BU zone, and Bartlett was sent rushing down the
right wing on a 3-on-2 break. He slid around a BC defenseman, shifted
from right to left, and tapped a low shot for a 4-1 lead. That took most
of the wind out of BC and the crowd, and the Terriers carried most of the
play for the remainder of the third period. BC had a few shots, but
nothing too threatening. Drury ended the scoring by hammering a clear
slap shot from the right circle through Clemmensen and into the net.
BC's Brendan Buckley rode Drury to the boards in the corner after the
score, and BU's Nick Gillis flew in to help his teammate. Buckley
punched Gillis as he skated into the bunch, and a mild donnybrook broke
out. Buckley and Gillis both received punching majors and were ejected
with disqualifications, which means they will miss Tuesday's rematch at
BU. With injuries to BU's Quebec and BC's Blake Bellefeuille (as reported
on USCHO) it means that both teams will be missing two players for the
game Tuesday night.
While the two teams made the over on the over-under for penalties for the
night (I had set it at 24 total), it seemed a bit less boisterous than
some past BC-BU games, at least until the final flurry of penalties after
Drury's second goal. (Frustration for BC, no doubt.) The game was a
sellout, though empty seats were seen (perhaps some were watching the
Patriots game?) The BC faithful had high hopes for this game, thinking
that perhaps BC would now be near the same level as BU. In all honesty,
the Eagles played fairly well. There were at least two or three shots in
the first two periods that would have scored on most goalies, and given
some luck it may have turned out differently. They will have to find a
way to score on BU, though, and Clemmensen may have to raise his level
of play (though he didn't play badly.)
BU managed to only get 9 shots on goal in the first two periods and yet
emerged with a 3-1 lead. The most impressive thing about the Terriers is
the strong defense, led by their two experienced goalies. They are able
to force teams to work extra hard to try to score, and even when they make
mistakes the keepers' are coming up with the big saves. The BU offense
seems oriented more toward special teams and counter-attacking, rather
than dominating in possession, perhaps because of their youth. (The only
two seniors on offense are Drury and Mike Sylvia, who admittedly are very
good players.) BU has lost only one "official" game so far (discounting
the season-opening game in the Icebreaker tourney) and you can see why.
If you don't hold them to 2 or 3 goals you are not likely to win, and
scoring 4 or more on BU has proven to be very difficult.
Given BU's history of having a mild slump in the November-December time
period, only to follow with a rush in the new year, my comment during the
game was that Jack Parker must be worried that his team is peaking too
early. :-)) There is a long way to go and a lot of talent in
Hockey East this year. But BU still looks like the top team for now
(sorry, UNH fans.)
Boston College is hoping they can turn it around and get the split on
Tuesday, otherwise they will fall to 5-5 in the league. BC has shown
some moments of brilliance, though they often cannot sustain it for 60
minutes. The defense is improved, and doesn't make as many mistakes as
in the past, which has cut down on the number of shots Clemmensen has
seen. But rookie Clemmensen will have to start showing the ability to
raise his game to a higher level for BC to have hopes of challenging for
the top. He has had a couple of stellar games, but the goals-against
average is way too low given the types of shots he has seen. The Eagles
have to step it up again. They rode two good wins over a very good UNH
team to gain national prominence, but have slipped with losses to
Merrimack, Northeastern, and Clarkson (all at home.) With a tough
sequence of games coming up they have to again elevate their play to
regain a top ten ranking. (Next 6: BU, Badger Classic vs. Northern
Michigan and then possibly Wisconsin, BU again, then Maine and two with
high-flying Providence.) The last third of the season features games
against the less successful half of Hockey East, though this year that
doesn't mean much -- anyone can beat anyone.
BC plays at BU at 7 PM Tuesday night, and the game will be broadcast on
WABU-TV (channel 68 in Boston.)
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Rick McAdoo [log in to unmask]
"Volunteer reporter" An excited BC fan. GO EAGLES!
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