Fresh off a weekend sweep of University of Massachusetts-Lowell, the No. 3 Boston University men’s hockey team will put its unblemished record on the line Saturday in a home game with No. 7 University of Maine. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Agganis Arena.
The ranking is BU’s (6-0-1, 4-0-1 Hockey East) highest of the season, and the jump from No. 5/6 bumped the Terriers past No. 4 Boston College in the rankings, making BU the highest-rated team in HE according to both major national polls.
BU coach Jack Parker, for one, isn’t getting overly excited about the nationwide show of respect with the Black Bears (4-1-2, 2-0-0).
“I don’t think it means anything at all,” Parker said. “It means we’ve been on a pretty good roll and beaten some good teams. People are saying, you know, “They must be pretty good.’ But as Bill Belichick says, “Six wins in this league doesn’t mean anything.’
“Our job is to make sure we keep playing and trying to get better.”
Maine will be the Terriers toughest test of the season, and their first matchup against a nationally ranked opponent since facing No. 19 University of Notre Dame on Oct. 10.
The Black Bears are bolstered by the fifth-best offense (4.43 goals per game) in the nation, thanks mostly to a dynamic group of forwards in juniors Gustav Nyquist and Spencer Abbott as well as senior Robby Dee.
Nyquist (six goals, seven assists, 13 points) returned to Maine as one of the country’s elite scorers, having led the nation in assists (42) and points (61) in 2010-11.
The Swedish sensation is particular dangerous on the power play, as is Abbott &-&- the reigning HE Player of the Month &-&- and Dee. The threesome, as well as senior Tanner House, have helped put together the nation’s seventh-best power play this year, scoring at a robust 25.49 percent clip.
The Black Bear power play will be a big test for BU’s penalty kill, which ranks third nationally with a 91.2 percent kill rate.
“Something has to give there,” Parker said. “Their power play for the most part is, “Get the puck to the net.’ We have to not get outnumbered in our zone. Their power play is very simple.
“One of the reasons their power play . . . was so good last year was they weren’t trying to make a whole bunch of pretty plays. They just knew that if you get the puck to the net, you might get a chance to get a goal. They’re continuing that this year.”
Parker hinted last weekend that junior Corey Trivino, sophomore Alex Chiasson and freshman Matt Nieto will likely matchup with the Nyquist&-Abbott&-Dee line, though the coach also expressed confidence in all four of his lines defensively.
“We’ll see how that unfolds,” Parker said. “I think every one of our lines is pretty good defensively, but probably Trivino’s line has been proven best over the year.”
Of the few rain clouds hanging over BU’s so-far sunny season has been the team’s disappointing play at home. The Terriers are 2-0-1 at home, but Parker and his players have acknowledged the team has struggled putting together 60-minute efforts at The Greek, something Parker hopes will change this weekend.
“The way we play at home is not as focused and not as physical as we need to be,” Parker said. “There’s more intensity, more physical play on the road. It’s been, “Since we have the advantage of home ice, we can play different.’
“I don’t think that’s unusual at any level. The pros even have that problem where they play a little harder or a little more focused on the road sometimes. A lot of it is they believe they have an advantage playing at home, but it’s only an advantage if you play hard.”
In net, junior Kieran Millan will get the start for the Terriers. Millan is 4-0-1 for the year with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.
Cisse out for season: Freshman forward Yasin Cisse underwent surgery today to repair a torn ankle tendon and will miss the rest of the 2010-11 season, according to BU coach Jack Parker.
Cisse injured the ankle tendon in BU’s regular-season opener against against University of Wisconsin. The injury is the same one that cut Cisse’s United States Hockey League season short last year.
Parker said Cisse will redshirt this season.
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