(Box from BC game summary sheet) Friday, January 30, 2004 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA BC 4, PC 0 HOCKEY EAST GAME ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (HE) 0 0 0 - 0 (10-9-6 overall, 2-8-5 HE) BOSTON COLLEGE (HE) 2 0 2 - 4 (19-3-3 overall, 12-1-2 HE) Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play PC 3- 5- 6 -- 14 5 - 10 0 - 7 BC 13-11- 9 -- 33 7 - 14 0 - 4 PC - Bobby Cacciola 11-11- 7 - 29 saves/4 goals (60:00) BC - Matti Kaltiainen 3- 5- 6 - 14 saves/0 goals (60:00) Referee - Tim Benedetto Assistants - James Brown, Tom Fyrer Attendance - 6428 1st Period BC1 Patrick Eaves 6 (Steve Gionta, John Adams) 3:24 GWG BC2 Peter Harrold 1 (Ty Hennes, Ryan Murphy) 7:42 Penalties BC - Andrew Alberts (hooking) 15:44 PC - Stephen Wood (holding) 19:24 2nd Period No scoring Penalties PC - James Pemberton (tripping) 4:39 BC - Dave Spina (slashing) 5:46 PC - Eric Lundberg (slashing) 11:44 BC - J.D. Forrest (obstruction-hooking) 14:08 BC - John Adams (high sticking) 17:08 3rd Period BC3 Patrick Eaves 7 (Andrew Alberts, Steve Gionta) 4:14 BC4 Dave Spina 3 (Peter Harrold, Ryan Shannon) SHG 12:52 Penalties BC - John Adams (hooking) 5:23 BC - Dave Spina (interference) 10:32 BC - Ryan Murphy (holding) 11:13 PC - (too many men - bench minor) served by Torry Gajda 18:15 PC - James Pemberton (cross-checking) 18:55 3 Stars - 1. BC - Patrick Eaves (2G) 2. BC - Matti Kaltiainen (14 saves, 0 goals) 3. BC - Steve Gionta (2A) Providence College: F Torry Gajda, Chris Chaput, Colin McDonald Peter Zingoni, Mike Robinson, Cody Loughlean BILL MCCREARY, TONY ZANCANARO, JEFF MASON David Carpentier, Chase Watson, Jonathan Goodwin D Luke Irwin, James Pemberton STEPHEN WOOD, ERIC LUNDBERG Dinos Stamoulis, Matt Mannina G DAVID CACCIOLA, Bobby Goepfert, Mike Wolfe Boston College: F TONY VOCE, STEPHEN GIONTA, PATRICK EAVES Chris Collins, Ryan Shannon, Dave Spina Joe Rooney, Ty Hennes, Ryan Murphy Adam Pineault, Ned Havern, Justin Dziama D ANDREW ALBERTS, J.D. FORREST John Adams, Peter Harrold Taylor Leahy, Brett Peterson G MATTI KALTIAINEN, Joe Pearce, Robbie Miller COMMENTS -------- Boston College easily defeated Providence College Friday night at BC in a game where BC came to play and PC did not. The Eagles used superior speed to stifle the Friars over most of the game and 2 goals by Pat Eaves provided the main margin of victory. Matti Kaltiainen had to make only 14 saves to get his 2nd shutout of the year. David Cacciola got the start in net for Providence (apparently Bobby Goepfert was held out for disciplinary reasons?) and it didn't take long for his defense to let him down. Strong forechecking and speed by the BC first line led to the puck being kept in at the left point and sent behind the PC net. Steve Gionta skated low and collected the puck and drifted from one side to the other looking for a passing lane. Despite 2 defenders trying to block passes to the slot, Gionta found a lane to get the puck to Pat Eaves as he slid to the right of the goalie, and Eaves nailed a one-timer high over Cacciola's glove. A nice sniper's goal on a beautiful setup pass. BC began to dominate play after that, shots coming from all angles at the PC net. It was a pinch in from the blue line that led to the next score. Peter Harrold dropped down to keep the puck in the zone, and as all defenders picked up other BC players, he kept coming and cut in through the right circle to the edge of the crease. He flipped a hard backhand shot high into the goalie as he was hit by a defender and it handcuffed Cacciola enough that it dropped through him and into the goal. BC continued its dominance, with a few Providence shots coming from outside and deflected by the defense. PC had a chance to recover on the game's first power play, but it was BC's Tony Voce who had the glorious opportunity when he was sent in alone on a breakaway, only to see his shot hit the goalie right in the gut for an easy save. The Friars did get one shot on the rest of the power play but generally were not threatening. The second period was more even as Providence worked harder for their offense, and power play chances both ways kept the play up-and-down for the most part. The Friars has an early chance on a rebound that was left in the crease but couldn't get to for any followup, then later David Carpentier had the goalie down and out of position on a bounce off the back boards but he couldn't corral it in time to pull it to the front and into the net. Torry Gajda was wide on a couple of chances from the slot, and Voce couldn't get 2 shots by Cacciola on setups from teammates. BC had a couple of shorthanded shots saved on a PC power play, then Providence wasted a late power play with poor passing (a huge problem for the Friars all night.) BC started the third period with increased pressure again, forcing a nice save on a quick Ned Havern wrister from the right circle. Shortly after that Andrew Alberts blocked a puck at the left point to keep it in the zone, Pat Eaves collected it high and wristed a high shot toward the net. It deflected off a Providence defender and jumped over Cacciola's shoulder to make the score 3-0 and remove any doubt about the outcome. At least that's the way it seemed, but BC took penalties and PC had a 5-on-3 power play to try to get back into it. They were hesitant with the extra men, though, passing up point shots for angle shots from the circles, and it didn't work. After BC got one man back, the puck was tied up briefly along the boards, then it was popped loose for Dave Spina, who took off unmolested for a breakaway. He glided down the slot, made about 3 headfakes, then pulled to the left and lifted a high backhand under the crossbar for the final goal. A real pretty finish for Spina, just getting his form back after missing much of the season with an injury. Things were a bit wide-open from that point, with both teams having chances, but the only question was whether the shutout would hold, and 2 late Providence penalties guaranteed that it would. This game was a testament to the difference speed makes when one team is fast and the other is not (at least on the defensive end.) BC's forechecking pressure and Providence's inability to make breakout passes kept the puck in the PC end way too much for the Friars to overcome. Providence made it worse by having an absolutely horrible passing game, unable to hold onto the puck and coordinate offensive plays. The result was predictable, despite Ben Eaves' continued absence from the Eagle lineup. Steve Gionta brought energy to the top line in Ben's place, and his setup pass to Pat Eaves on the first goal was as pretty as any that Ben has made. The BC defense didn't miss a beat with Taylor Leahy in as replacement for injured Greg Lauze (one play in particular was impressive, as Leahy trailed a PC forward behind the net and forced him further and further out, preventing him from turning and shooting on goal. Very nice!) Kaltiainen had very few tough saves to make, and Providence made his job too easy with weak or unscreened shots that didn't challenge the keeper. The few good screens or close shots they had mostly missed the target. All-in-all, this was a very bad game by the Friars, even counting the fact they were on the road versus the #2 team in the nation. To their credit, Providence did recover enough Saturday night at home to come from behind for a 3-2 win over UMass-Lowell, keeping them at least a few points out of last place. BC now turns its attention to the first round of the Beanpot Monday night against Harvard. Harvard has already lost to the Eagles once this season, and has been underachieving this year. They have the talent to beat almost anyone but haven't put that talent together much this year. If BC skates well and gets continued good defense and goaltending, they should make it to the final of the tournament. If Harvard can get a goal or two edge, they have the ability to frustrate the BC forwards with their defensive size and hold on for a win. I think it will be a close game, at least into the third period, and BC will probably pull away for a win in the end. Rick McAdoo "Volunteer Reporter" A satisfied BC fan. GO EAGLES!