Contrary to what casual Terrier fans may believe in the aftermath of Monday’s first-round Beanpot exit, all hope is not lost.
The logjam known as the Hockey East standings reveals as much, with the Boston University men’s hockey team (8-14-4, 7-8-3 HE) sitting three points out of fourth place — and home-ice advantage in the first round of the conference tournament.
While the Terriers enter tonight’s game against the No. 17 University of Massachusetts-Lowell at Tsongas Arena a hot streak away from postseason security, they’re also one or two rough weekends from fading into playoff obscurity.
Such is the state of Hockey East, and the Terriers can only hope they find themselves before the conference becomes more defined.
“It’s unbelievable that we haven’t buried ourselves,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “We’ve had so many disappointing performances, but at the same time we’ve had some very good games that have kept us in the hunt. We’re in sixth place and one point out of fifth. If we could wind up in the top-four, it would be quite a recovery for us.
“There’s a bunch of reasons to believe if we can continue to get better — and I think we have gotten better in the second half — we could be a pretty good team. We’re good enough to play with anybody if we come to play. If we don’t come to play, we can’t beat a soul.”
The River Hawks (12-9-4, 7-7-4) typify the parity of the league. Four months after a predicted ninth-place finish in the preseason poll, UML is two points behind No. 14 Northeastern University for the coveted fourth slot. And one year removed from an eight-win season and talks of cutting the program for financial and political reasons, coach Blaise MacDonald’s team is a force to be reckoned with.
“[The talk of cutting the program] probably gave them some incentive to go out and play harder, saying ‘Hey, we’re happy to be in this league. Let’s go out and show we belong,'” Parker said. “They could wind up in the top-four in our league. That would be a big feather in their cap.
“It’s not as if they’ve been the doormat every year. They’ve made the top-four a few times. They’ve lost in the Hockey East finals. They’ve had some ups and downs, but they’ve been more competitive than some other schools.”
Backed by emerging sophomore goalie Nevin Hamilton (2.50 goals-against average, .915 save percentage), Lowell runs its steady offense (2.88 goals per game) through 10 double-digit point scorers, notably sophomores Kory Falite and Ben Holmstrom (20 points each).
Hamilton, who backstops Hockey East’s stingiest defense (a league-low 58 goals allowed), is the centerpiece of a stout penalty kill that turns away 87.6 percent of opposing power plays.
BU’s defense, in contrast, continues to pull at straws in search of answers. The Terrier blueliners were thoroughly outplayed by No. 9 Boston College for extended stretches of Monday’s third period and overtime, leaving spectators to wonder not if the Eagles would pot the game-winner, but when.
“The overtime was all BC jumping all over us. We were back on our heels,” Parker said. “It’s amazing we’re not in the Beanpot final for the second time in 25 years. All good things must come to an end.”
News ‘ Notes: Sophomore goaltender Brett Bennett will make his ninth straight start tonight. . . . Senior goaltender Karson Gillespie (high ankle sprain) is “about 60 percent” healthy. “He’s got a long way to go,” Parker said. . . . Defenseman Matt Gilroy (high ankle sprain) is doubtful for tonight’s game. If he does not play, Parker said the junior will also sit out next Monday’s Beanpot consolation game. . . . Senior forwards Pete MacArthur and Bryan Ewing were named semi-finalists for the 56th Walter Brown Award on Monday. Former BU goaltender John Curry was the recipient of last year’s award, which honors the best American-born college hockey player in New England.