After last weekend’s poor showing by the Boston University men’s hockey team against Boston College, it’s an understatement to say the women’s team will have a tough time reclaiming bragging rights over the Eagles at Walter Brown Arena tonight.
As if the stakes weren’t already high enough in this rivalry, the Eagles (7-3-3, 4-3-1 Hockey East), one of the best clubs in the conference, enter tonight’s action hotter than they have been all season. In last weekend’s two-game series against the University of Connecticut, BC came away with a tie and a dominating 6-3 victory over the then-No. 9 Huskies.
Forward Kelli Stack, the reigning Hockey East Player of the Week, will be the go-to player for the Eagles after netting the game-tying goal with 36 seconds left in regulation last Thursday night before tallying four points in Saturday’s victory.
And the second-year standout brings friends to the party. Her team-leading seven goals, seven assists and 14 points are matched by linemate Deborah Spillane. But BU coach Brian Durocher is especially concerned with sophomore forward Allie Thunstrom (30 goals in 2006-07), who recorded four points in a Jan. 20 victory over BU last season.
“She is every bit an elite player,” Durocher said. “She thrives on the indirect pass and taking a puck that bounces off someone’s shins and going the other way for the footrace. We’ve got to keep an eye on her to make sure we’re not making errors and stay out of a footrace.”
An otherwise sparsely attended Walter Brown Arena will be filled with the sound of the BU pep band tonight, adding much-needed noise to what Durocher expects will be a good hockey atmosphere.
“I expect a real good hockey game with hopefully a good atmosphere,” Durocher said. “We’ve had a pretty good atmosphere in this building for the BC games [in the past]. I think it brings the curious local hockey fan here because it’s BU and BC both playing. [The band] should generate a little bit of enthusiasm and noise.”
After two well-played contests last weekend, the Terriers have an opportunity to capture some serious momentum with a win over BC. BU came within seconds of notching its first-ever point against the No. 1 University of New Hampshire last Saturday when the Terriers surrendered the game-tying goal late in the third period before allowing the game-winner with three ticks left in the overtime period.
The Terriers bounced back from the heartbreaker by disposing of the University of Vermont, 3-0, the next afternoon at Walter Brown.
Junior Allyse Wilcox will start in net tonight after being named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week for her superb play against UNH and Vermont. Wilcox stopped 41 shots against the Wildcats before blanking the Catamounts’ 21 shots. Another brilliant game from Wilcox must be on order for BU to stave off BC’s dynamic forwards.
“Most of this game revolves around the goaltender,” Durocher said. “Whether you give up 15 shots or you give up 40, you’re still going to need her to make the saves. That’s been a constant with our program. If we make a mistake, we always have the confidence of a good goaltender. It’s a nice luxury to have.”
