In a game of subplots and side stories, the best and most entertaining will probably begin to unfold from the time the puck is dropped tomorrow night.
Sure, it’s Boston College at Boston University. And yes, BC is the nation’s No. 1 team. And of course, each team is riding at least a four-game winning streak.
But the showdown between the teams’ top lines promises to be itself worth the price of admission. BU’s senior assistant captain John Sabo and sophomores Brian McConnell and Justin Maiser are playing as well as any trio in the league — except, maybe, for BC’s top guns, juniors Tony Voce and Ben Eaves, and the latter’s freshman brother, Patrick.
The Icedogs’ first line has handled the crux of BU’s offense so far this season, with McConnell and Maiser leading the team with nine points apiece. Sabo’s five goals is a team-best, with the line combining for 26 points and 31 percent of the team’s total offense.
What makes the matchup, however, is that BU’s most potent line is comprised of three of the team’s best defensive forwards. All three are capable penalty killers and each enjoys throwing his body around, evident by the group’s 48 minutes in penalties amassed through eight games.
But even BU’s best defensive front line might not be enough to stop the Eagles’ onslaught. Voce and the Eaves brothers are among the primary reasons BC has surged out of the gate at 7-0-1.
In a 6-1 win at Providence College on Tuesday, BC’s top line combined for eight points, including a four-goal outburst that turned a one-goal game into a blowout. Voce had two goals and has six on the season, while both Eaves’ boast even more impressive numbers. Patrick Eaves has eight goals in his rookie campaign, while the elder Ben has 12 points in just five games, leaving McConnell searching for the solution to stop the familial duo.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘They’re both pretty good players. Just hopefully not give them very much room. Take away their time and space. They’re real good players; if they have time, they’re going to make a good play.’
SHOULDERING THE LOAD Freshman forward John Laliberte had been skating with McConnell and Maiser, but he separated his shoulder two weeks ago against Northeastern University and has missed the past two games.
Laliberte has been practicing this week, and is set to return this weekend for BU’s weekend set with BC and the University of Maine, a pair of games he anticipates will be fun to be a part of.
‘My official visit last year I came to a BC game,’ he said. ‘It was just crazy. I was sitting with my parents and was just like, ‘Oh my God.’ It’s a pretty crazy rivalry. Coming from high school, there’s obviously big rivalries in high school but nothing that compares to this.’
Hailing from Saco, Maine, it might be expected that Saturday’s game against the Black Bears would be extra-special for the Icedogs forward, but he never really considered going to school in Vacationland.
‘I talked to them a little bit, but I didn’t want to go there in the first place. I really had my heart set on a Boston-area school,’ Laliberte said. ‘It was not really the academic atmosphere that I wanted. Not really the type of school that I was looking for. I thought BU was a lot better fit.’
JACKED AND PUMPED McConnell on playing BC as a freshman: ‘I was probably nervous for all of [the BC games]. They weren’t as physical as I’d expected, but they were just so intense mentally more than physically. I just want to beat BC more than anybody. I mean, you always want to take all the games seriously, but BC you definitely want to play a little bit harder, smarter and with more aggression.’ … Saturday night’s game comes a day short of one year since the Terriers went to Conte Forum 6-0-1 and were beat, 3-1. BC enters Saturday at 7-0-1 … After winning last year in Orono, BU went 0-3-1 against Maine at the end of last season, including losses in the Hockey East semifinal and the NCAA East Regional final.
