When the local paper runs a preview of a Merrimack game, and it's printed on the front of the sports page the day before the game in question, you know it is eagerly anticipated around here. Source: Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune, Thursday, February 23, 1995 MERRIMACK FACES BU HOCKEY POWER IN WEEKEND TWINBILL by John McLaughlin, Eagle-Tribune Correspondent Ron Anderson became Merrimack's winningest coach Saturday. This weekend, he'll get a chance to add to his total of 219 wins with a home-and-home series against his alma mater, Boston University. Merrimack hosts Friday night's game at 7 p.m., while Saturday night's game is the same time at BU's Walter Brown Arena. The Terriers, currently ranked third in the nation by virtue of a 22-6-3 record, sit second behind Maine in Hockey East at 13-5-3. Merrimack (14-14-5, 7-9-5 HE), riding a record of 13-6-4 since November 19, comes off a pair of impressive wins over Boston College and beat BU in the teams' lone meeting this season, 3-2. "They were a little flat (in the earlier game)," said Anderson. "They didn't go to the net like they're capable of doing." They put plenty of shots on net in the prior meeting, however, as Merrimack goalie Eric Thibeault was forced to make a then-Hockey East record 54 saves to help the Warriors escape BU with the win. It's not certain yet whether Thibeault or Martin Legault, named the Hockey East Player of the Week for his 53 saves in two wins against BC, will get the start in net for the Warriors. What is certain, however, is that whoever mans the net will meet up with Terrier leading scorer Mike Grier, who has 26 goals and 23 assists as a sophomore at BU. Merrimack, which has won just three of the 37 meetings with BU, is led by Matt Adams of Andover, who has 21 goals and 19 assists. Tickets for Friday's game are on sale today [don't know if this means Thur or Fri - mike], 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Merrimack's Volpe Center. Cost is $7 for adults, $3 for students and children. END I believe the BU rotation will have Tom Noble starting in net for BU Friday night. Noble started the game at BU on January 13th and was replaced after the first period with Merrimack ahead, 2-1. Derek Herlofsky finished up by allowing one goal the rest of the way, but that goal turned out to be the game-winner. I'm tempted to think Legault will get the start on the strength of his great play of late (8 goals against in his last 5 games). Thibeault has not started since a 7-3 loss at Northeastern on February 3rd, and his only appearance since then was three minutes in relief at the end of a 6-2 win over UMass-Amherst on February 10th. But Anderson is a strong believer in certain players playing well against other teams, and he may believe that Thibeault has enough confidence following his 54-save effort against BU to deserve a start. I won't be surprised to see both goalies play this weekend, although if BU roars out of the gate, one of them may see a relief performance. BU certainly has incentive...the Terriers can clinch second with a pair of wins this weekend, and if they get help from UMass-Lowell against Maine, they could even stay in the hunt for first. On top of that, I am sure they have been waiting for another crack at Merrimack since the loss in January. Merrimack will have its work cut out for them. But more important than winning either game, may be maintaining the strong and confident level of play they have demonstrated lately. This will be key with the playoffs just around the corner. As with the 3-2 loss at Maine a couple of weeks ago, a pair of strong showings could be as good as wins even if they don't gain any points. Defense will again be a key to Merrimack's chances, as they were outshot 56-20 in the win over BU earlier this year but played extremely well in their own end in the face of the powerful BU attack. They must not allow BU to establish an early lead of 2-3 goals. Both games are tv games. NESN will beam Friday's tilt live, while WABU-68 will carry Saturday's game at BU live. I suspect the Saturday game at BU will be sold out, and while Merrimack has not sold out a home game for at least 6 years, there is a good chance they will at least come close Friday. --- --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93