Usually, a player’s not going to admit that one game is bigger than another.

Usually, it’s not No. 12 Boston University (13-7-2, 7-5-0 Hockey East) playing No. 8 Boston College (12-5-3, 8-3-1 Hockey East).

‘BU-BC is always a lot more emotional to play,’ said Terrier captain Freddy Meyer.

The two Hub college hockey heavyweights face off tonight in the first game of a home and home matchup at Walter Brown Arena, in a rematch of the Eagles 3-2 win back in November.

Since then, BU has gone down then up, going through a rough stretch after the BC loss, but following it up with a 6-1 mark over the last seven games. BC’s season hasn’t been all roses either, winning only one game during a six-week span from Thanksgiving to last weekend.

But records are irrelevant in this matchup. A special kind of hatred is shared by these two teams, and with BC’s earlier victory comes a longing for revenge from the scarlet and white.

‘One of our goals of the season is to win every series,’ Meyer said. ‘Especially against BC, we hate to lose to them especially. We want to make the series 2-1 and hopefully meet them in the Beanpot final.’

BU meets a team that was energized last weekend by the early return of its captain. Junior forward Ben Eaves, thought to be out for about a month with what was feared to be a fractured hip. Luckily for the Eagles, their cornerstone player came back last week in a big way, with two goals and six assists in two BC routs of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (one goal and three assists in each).

Along with Eaves, BU needs to be especially wary of fellow junior forward Tony Voce, sophomore forward Ryan Shannon and junior defenseman JD Forrest, all dangerous point producers for Hockey East’s highest scoring team.

In November’s matchup, the Icedogs were able to silence the Eagles’ top line, keeping Eaves and Voce off the scoresheet. But BU had no answer for BC sophomore defenseman Andrew Alberts, as the physical big man dominated at both ends of the ice.

During the Terriers strong recent stretch, junior forwards Frantisek Skladany and Mark Mullen have provided most of the punch. Skladany and Mullen are one and two on the team in scoring with 18 and 17 points respectively. Add in the return up front of sophomore center Brian McConnell from the World Junior Championships, the return to form of senior center Brian Collins and the consistent goalscoring of John Sabo, and the Terriers have the depth and skill to match the higher ranked Eagles.

Goaltending may be the deciding factor, and BU has to like it’s chances in that department, with junior Sean Fields playing his best sustained hockey of the season in the last seven games. Look for the Eagles to play senior Tim Kelleher younger brother of former BU 1997-98 co-captain Chris who played a strong game in the BC win over the Terriers in November.

BU’s recent stretch has come about through more consistent play, and the emotional control the Terriers have displayed will be essential in the charged up atmosphere at Walter Brown tonight. Stupid penalties cost BU last time, with Meyer’s foolish slash and McConnell’s repeat offenses preventing BU from mounting a strong comeback in the final period.

‘[Controlling our emotions] is one of the keys of our game, whether it’s not taking stupid penalties, making the right decision with the puck, whatever it is. We need to play in control and not let the emotions take over,’ Meyer said.

Whatever they do, the Terriers can’t lose sight of the importance of the two games against BC, a Hockey East rival as well as a city rival.

‘It’s big for the standings, it’s two huge league games and we have to try to get four points,’ said freshman forward Brad Zancanaro.