Sabo Leads ‘Dogs To Final

The little man came through big time.

Boston University junior forward John Sabo — he of the 5-foot 8-inch, 174 pound frame — scored two goals in last night’s 5-3 Beanpot first-round win over defending champion Boston College, including the eventual game-winner.

Sabo set the tone early on in the game, coming out as he usually does — hitting anybody who wasn’t in scarlet and white, and hitting them hard. He plowed through BC’s Ryan Murphy to prevent a chance on sophomore goalie Sean Fields. He knocked over defenseman Andrew Alberts — all 6-foot 4-inches of him — and then got blasted by Alberts, later in the shift. But Sabo, as he always does, got back up.

It was Sabo’s equally minute linemate, senior Jack Baker who evened things for BU in the second frame after BC’s Tony Voce gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

And after the Eagles took a 2-1 lead on Alberts’ shorthanded goal, it was Sabo’s turn to even things up, with a little help from a great forecheck on the penalty kill by senior co-captain Mike Pandolfo, who stole the puck from BC defenseman Brett Peterson and then went to work.

“I saw Mike had the puck, and he was headed to the BC goal,” said Sabo. “Mike always shoots the puck, so I skated to the net hoping there might be a rebound.”

There was, and Sabo swatted it in for his sixth goal of the season, a shorty that swung the momentum to the scarlet side.

In the third period, Sabo combined with freshman center Brian McConnell, who held off BC blueliner J.D. Forrest, and dropped a beautiful touch pass to Sabo, who in turn faked BC goalie Matti Kaltiainen out of his shorts with a beautiful move that may have surprised everyone at the FleetCenter but the guy who executed it.

“I saw McConnell and he was stuck on the guy, and he just made a great backhand dish, just threw it back,” Sabo said. “I just came in and I knew what I was going to do. I was going to go long-side, short-side and come back, that’s the move I’ve been working on my whole life.”

It looked like it, as Sabo knocked in his seventh goal of the year and crashed into the net afterwards, maybe to spend a bit more time with his first-round-winning puck.

It was Sabo’s fourth goal in his last four games, a hot streak that has put him, at seven goals and nine assists, almost equal with his 18-point output of his freshman year.

For Sabo, those points coming will be an added bonus because he’s skating hard and playing his top physical game. For his coach, those points are a welcome and overdue addition to the junior’s excellent penalty-killing skills and hitting.

“It looks as if Sabo is out of his scoring slump over the last few games,” said Parker. “He’s moved the puck well; he’s started to play the way he did freshman year, playing a little bit more loosey-goosey.”

Even so, the junior is more concerned with staying physical and playing smart; then he’ll worry about numbers.

“Something I try not to think about is getting points,” Sabo said. “I think if I’m playing a good game then the points will come.”

Perhaps the biggest reason for Sabo’s recent explosion was the change in linemates. While Sabo and Baker remained on opposite wings, McConnell and junior center Brian Collins switched places, and the change has been beneficial for all parties involved. Collins, Pandolfo and sophomore Mark Mullen have provided a solid first line, and the second line of McConnell, Sabo and Baker has been arguably the team’s best combo in the last three games.

“I’m glad coach made the switch,” Sabo said. “As he said before, everyone has benefited from it. It’s great to see a little change can do a lot.

“I like playing with Baker. He’s a great guy to play with, almost like the same style as mine. He gets in there and gets at it, and McConnell is a great playmaker, a great all-around center. Everything’s just been flowing for the line, everyone’s been playing well.”

For Sabo, the win was that much sweeter, because, as he has repeatedly stated, last year’s BC win in the Beanpot final against BU left a more-than-sour taste in his mouth.

“It was great to keep winning against BC,” Sabo said. “I really can’t stand them having the trophy, and I really want it back, big time, and this game, we had to win this game to do that.”

Thanks in part to Sabo, the Beanpot is one game away from coming back to the Boston side of Commonwealth Avenue for the 24th time in its storied 50-year history.