Game Gab - Nightly Post-Game Analysis

Boston University 5, Merrimack 3 - Saturday, March 16, 2013

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Boston University 3, Merrimack 0 - Friday, March 15, 2013

Boston University was dominant, winning for the fourth time in as many meetings against Merrimack. We see the effect of the win, though, on the Pairwise. As expected, the loss drops Merrimack from the rank of TUCs. And because Record vs. TUC is a main criteria of the Pairwise, that 4-0 mark against Merrimack no longer counts for BU. It's a Catch-22. Still, it was better to win than lose, but BU dropped two spots in the Pairwise to 19th.

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Vermont 5, Boston University 2 - Saturday, March 2, 2013

The ground BU has made up recently, takes a hit with this loss. It still controls its own destiny, however. Vermont, meanwhile, came close to sealing a playoff bid, and is in pretty good shape in seventh place. See more in our Hockey East blog.

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Mass.-Lowell 3, Boston University 1 - Saturday, February 23, 2013

Only a third-period shorthanded goal prevented BU from getting shut out in back-to-back games for the first time in 72 years. The shots were 39-16 Lowell, and BU's season has completely disintegrated. The program was embattled last year by players leaving mid-season and the arrest of two players. But this season has been even worse, not so much legally, thankfully, but on the ice, with more players packing up and leaving, and then Alexx Privitera being suspended by coach Jack Parker for the remainder of the season. At this point, it's gone from bad to worse, with BU slipping to sixth in the standings, and 23rd in the Pairwise.

But that's not for Lowell to worry about. Joe Pendenza stayed red hot, and the River Hawks got a balanced attack all weekend, as they moved ahead of BU into fifth, and up to 11th in the Pairwise.

See more in our Hockey East blog.

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Boston University 5, Maine 4 - Saturday, February 16, 2013

It's been another tumultuous season for BU, with players leaving the program mid-season, and coming in last place in the Beanpot. But there's still time for BU to turn things around. This weekend -- a tie Friday, followed by blowing a lead Saturday only to win in overtime -- is not going to convince anyone of a turnaround, but it was a necessary three points. Despite everything, and a 14-12-2 overall record, BU is tied for third, just two points out of first place in Hockey East, and would currently qualify for the NCAAs.

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Providence 3, Boston University 3 - Saturday, January 26, 2013

Read about this game in our blog.

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Mass.-Lowell 4, Boston University 3 - Saturday, January 19, 2013

Two unassisted goals, including a shortie from Adam Chapie, in the third period, helped give Lowell the margin. Chad Ruhwedel, who had the game winner Thursday against Providence, and whose offensive contributions from the backline have been part of Lowell's surge, scored again. The River Hawks have now won nine in a row, putting to rest ideas that last year's team was a one-hit wonder. Particularly recently, against some good teams, Lowell is also proving that the turnaround isn't just a mirage, it's very much for real. ... It's also significant to note that, after Connor Hellebuyck won six straight starts, Doug Carr was back in net for this game. An All-American last year, Carr has been in danger of losing his job, so this was a big pick-me-up for him.

BU is slumping, losing three of the last four while giving up 16 goals in those losses. It sleepwalked through a large part of Friday's game against Northeastern, stormed back for a 5-5 tie, then lost 6-5. It has fallen well off the pace for first place now, and dropped near the Pairwise bubble. "Too little too late," BU coach Jack Parker told reporters after. "But competitiveness was back in a lot of guys, which is nice. ... It’s amazing we were in that game because of what we did with penalties."

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Boston University 1, Maine 0 - Saturday, December 8, 2012

Boston University brushed off the mid-week loss of struggling forward Yasin Cisse to the Western Hockey League, and got a hard-fought victory Thursday over New Hampshire. It was important, then, to follow up with this win, in order to keep pace in the three-way logjam atop the Hockey East standings, with UNH and Boston College. The Terriers had to kill off a late five-minute major penalty to preserve the win.

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New Hampshire 3, Boston University 1 - Sunday, November 18, 2012

Casey DeSmith fell just short of his fourth shutout, but the UNH netminder continued his dazzling play as the resurgent Wildcats took down BU. He stopped 45 shots, including all 17 in the third period, and is a big reason why UNH is back on the national scene in a big way this season after a mediocre 2011-12.

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Boston University 4, North Dakota 2 - Saturday, November 3, 2012

BU coach Jack Parker gave freshman goaltender Sean Maguire another chance to start Friday, after a bad first start. He was OK in the loss. But Saturday, it was back to fellow freshman Matt O'Connor, who was Hockey East Rookie of the Month for October, and that made a big difference. It's clear it's his job now, though Maguire may get worked in still here and there for a bit. A couple off other freshmen, Matt Lane and Danny O'Regan, scored late goals to give BU the split. See the full story.

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Boston University 3, Massachusetts 2 - Saturday, October 27, 2012

Sean Escobedo scored the game winner late, and freshman Matt O'Connor continued his great early play with 34 saves, improving his record to 3-0. BU is another in a long line of prominent teams starting freshmen goalies this season. O'Connor has clearly outpaced fellow freshman Sean Maguire so far. Maguire was hit hard in the team's only loss so far. Read more from Michael King our Hockey East Blog.

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