Boston University defeated Northeastern tonight, 9-3 at Walter Brown Arena (BU)
 
It was a great game to be a BU fan, not so great otherwise.
 
With all its defensemen back and healthy (Yeah!), BU scored its first goal just
16 seconds into the game.  New starter Pierce put a shot on Veisor that he
stopped, but did not find.  Jacques Joubert picked up the X-mas gift by
flipping in the rebound by a clueless Veisor.
 
BU then scored again, just apx. 1:09 into the game to take a 2-0 lead as Doug
Friedman put a dump-in/slapper on net that just went right through Veisor's
pads.  Even Doug could not believe it... and the rout was on.
 
The second minute of play was more even... :-)
 
Although BU had some defensive breakdowns that cost them goals (NU CAN score if
you give then the chance), they were all meaningless.  It was a credit to the
coaching that BU did not totally tank it and coast.
 
The goals came easy and often for BU as Veisor was off his game (he's a much
better goalie than that, IMHO) and the NU defense was wearing orange (cones).
 
 
It was nice to see the entire BU team getting into the offense with patience
and poise.  There was a little bit of selfishness in the third, I thought,
(some players began to take rushes, looking to pad a stat or two) but as long
as it does not become regular, I can accept it. (for examples, see defenseman
Kaj Linna leading the break as the first player over the blue line at one time,
while 2-3 minutes later, Doug Wood (also a defenseman) charges up, carrying the
puck, and slips another one by Veisor for BU's ninth goal.)
 
 
 
On a side note, this was the first BU game done by referee Leavitt since going
ejection-crazy at Merrimack.  It was nice to see Leavitt call a quiet game,
making most calls that were there and ignoring dives.
 
I'm always going to disagree with a call or two during the game (I'm a BU fan),
but overall I thought he and Fitzgerald did a pretty consistent job and kept
the game under control without dominating the game.
 
 
 
Saturday night, BU travels to always interesting Mathew's Arena (formerly the
Boston Arena) to battle NU again.  The offense is always plentiful in Mathew's
with those cooky boards and horrendous ice.  Ah, but the historian in me always
loves looking around and realizing that this is where the Celtics played their
first game... this is where the first Beanpot was held... this is where the
Bruins played before the Garden was built... This is an old building!
 
I always look forward to Matthews Arena, no matter what the outcome.  The
oldest indoor rink in the world.  First Matthew's, next Rome. :-)
 
 
Tony