So what exactly is the best way to approach a regular season finale without playoff implications?
For Boston University women’s ice hockey coach Brian Durocher, the answer is simple.
“I expect us to be 100 percent ready to get after it,” Durocher said in anticipation of Saturday’s season-ending matchup against Northeastern University at Walter Brown Arena.
The Terriers (18-12-3, 9-9-2 Hockey East), who were bounced from playoff contention after Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to No. 4 University of New Hampshire, close out the 2006-07 campaign with yet another game against the dismal Huskies (5-25-2, 4-14-2). The clubs have met on three previous occasions this season, with BU owning a pair of wins, most notably including a 4-2 victory in the first round of the Beanpot tournament.
Though NU has struggled this season, Durocher expects a focused Huskies team to invade Babcock Street — where BU is 9-5-0 — tomorrow afternoon in pursuit of a quality Hockey East road win to end the year.
“[Northeastern] is an extremely proud and talented program,” Durocher said. “They’ll be playing for pride Saturday, so we should see their best effort. I expect them to battle and compete for next year and the off-season.”
As for the Terriers, it’s hard to foresee them giving a hard-fought quality effort in their first contest without their playoff lives on the line. Then again, Durocher intends on making sure his team plays an attentive game on Saturday.
“We need to figure out a way to bring our ‘A’ game when the circumstances are a little more difficult,” Durocher said following Wednesday’s loss. “Right now, I’m focused on this team practicing well on Thursday and Friday so we’ll be ready for Saturday.”
The fact that NU is currently riding a season-high two-game winning streak – after sweeping league doormat University of Vermont last weekend – doesn’t faze the Terriers in their approach toward tomorrow’s contest.
“We need to focus on our game,” said co-captain Cara Hendry. “We should beat them if we play our game.”
The Terrier offense has asserted itself at will in the last two games against Northeastern. On Feb. 3 at Matthews Arena, BU erupted for four third-period goals to manage a 4-4 draw, and then followed up three days later by erasing a 2-0 first-period deficit in the Beanpot en route to the 4-2 victory.
“The last two games against Northeastern were very emotional coming back from those two or three goal deficits,” Hendry acknowledged.
For the senior forward, Saturday will be more than just the last game of the 2006-07 season: It will also mark Hendry’s final game as a collegiate athlete. She and fellow senior forward Jessica Lortie will be honored before the contest to commemorate their final game in a BU uniform.
“We just need another good game to end the season,” Hendry said. “It’s my last game, so I want to go out on a good note.”
One of the younger Terriers, rookie goaltender Melissa Haber, is expected to start between the pipes tomorrow for the first time since allowing six goals in a blowout loss to No. 8 Boston College in the Beanpot championship Feb. 13. Haber beat the Huskies on Jan. 13 at Walter Brown, before yielding four goals in a Feb. 3 tie.
BU’s other regular netminder, Allyse Wilcox, has played the last three games, finishing the season 10-9-1. The sophomore boasted a 2.46 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, improving from her rookie season in both categories.
Although the Terriers will not be playing beyond this weekend, Durocher identified the team’s more immediate goals for Saturday’s contest.
“Nineteen wins are better than 18 wins,” Durocher said following the UNH game. “Pride is the optimal word . . . you’re not playing for anything but pride right now.”