BC vs. Merrimack

[wolverineneshl]

MC has been playing well of late and fighting for a playoff spot. They have a couple of players in Barton and Da Costa. I expect a close game. Dennehy has done a good job with this team.

[claver2010]

Shocked to see Milner start yesterday as this game had Milner written all over it. Merrimack is a great home team 11-2-0 and an awful road team 2-12-1. They are in the battle for a HE playoff spot currently sitting in 8th with 21 points but a win would put them up to a point out of home ice. Just a complete log jam from 4-9 should make it interesting down the stretch.

[bignick33]

We've split the last two weekends. With two home games this week against lesser teams, I'd say that 4 points are a very reasonable expectation. With UNH facing a much tougher weekend, we may be able to gain 2 or more points on them in the standings.

[claver2010]

As we head down the home stretch BC has an opportunity not only to put some pressure on UNH but to escape from the log jam in the middle of Hockey East. This isn't the Merrimack of old as they are battling for a playoff spot and aren't too far from home ice. This team has been two completely different teams depending on where the game is played. They are currently 11-2-0 at home including wins over: BC, BU, & UNH; however away from their home ice they are 2-13-1. Recently Merrimack is coming in hot (6-2-1 in last 9) after a complete nosedive from mid November until the end of January where they went 1-10-0. We have played Merrimack twice before this season, back in November where we won a too close for comfort game 4-3 at Conte and two days later lost to them at their place 5-3 after allowing 5 unanswered goals. Their offense is lead by two people, freshman import from Paris Stephane Da Costa (14-25-39 in 27 games) and junior Chris Barton (18-16-34 in 29 games). They have a platoon between the pipes with either Cannata or Braithwaite both being somewhat mediocre .500 goalies both around 3.00 GAA. As a team they are in the middle of the road offensively and defensively in HE.

The Eagles have sputtered somewhat roaring into Christmas break, but have picked it up starting on Beanpot weekend as they are 6-2-0. We currently sit #7 in the PWR and have an opportunity to boost our win total, as this weekend we don't play any TUCs. Ever since putting the big 3 of Gibbons, Atkinson and JWhitney together they have gelled and formed a very dominant top line. They sit 1, 2, 3 in points on our team. Gibbons comes in extremely hot after netting a hat trick and an assist on Sunday against NU (also gained his 100th point as an Eagle). He is also moving up the list on leading scorers in HE as he sits 4th. Something that has gone complete under the radar this year is the play of BC's D. We are known for a high powered offense (currently 2nd in HE at 3.7 goals/game) but considering there are 3 freshmen (at times 4) and a freshman goalie for some of the games between the pipes for a third of the games -we are tied for first in HE in goals allowed per game and if you look inside HE play we are 1st by far. A unit that I would like to see get on track is the first PP unit. Since Whitney arrived on campus has played 5 forwards on the first unit and this year he has each Whitney manning either point. Both are very good puck handlers and pass very well but don't look for their shot enough. I would like to see them break them up on either unit and put a bid D man back there (Sneep, Dumoulin, Cross) to blast it with Hayes/Smith infront of the net. Not sure who is going to be between the pipes as this game had Milner's name written all over it but after him playing on Sunday I would assume to see Muse both today and Friday.

HE Standings:
1) UNH -32
2) BC -28
3) Maine -26
4) BU -24
5) NU -23
6) UMA -22
6) UML -22
8) Mack -21
9) UVM -20
10) PC -12

[AdamBC]

Claver - I am blatantly stealing the above.

http://www.eagleoutsider.com/wiki/index.php?title=Boston_College_vs_Merrimack_2/23_and_Massachusetts_2/26/10

[bcsoxfan12]

Who knew MC had it in them…. I think the credit goes to Dennehy after watching some of the game against Umass. He has been able to motivate his kids and they just seemed really hungry for a playoff spot. I think we should be able to handle them with no problem at Conte and our offense might overwhelm them to a point where we see another final score like Sunday. Claver is right I would expect 2 in a row this week for Muse. We just need to handle out business on the ice, collect the two points and get ready for the minutemen on Friday night. I’m sure there will be wide open spaces tonight @ Conte

[pick6pedro]

7-0! Pad 'em stats babay!

[commavegarage]

Looked good tonight...Merrimack also sucks a lot. That game was incredibly boring to watch.

[claver2010]

Yeah just a complete domination -not much to say about this one.

Again, this Atkinson, Gibbons, & Whitney line is really hot right now -since Gibbons got a hat trick on Sunday, Atkinson on Tuesday, that means it's JWhitney's turn on Friday.

Wey was out last night with a groin problem, nothing major apparently.

[AdamBC]

Wey was out last night with a groin problem, nothing major apparently.

Too many hockey hos?

[bignick33]

Wey was out last night with a groin problem, nothing major apparently.

Too many hockey hos?

You mean puck fucks?

[AdamBC]

Wey was out last night with a groin problem, nothing major apparently.

Too many hockey hos?

You mean puck fucks?

fka/dba/aka