Five BU seniors will advance to their fourth career Beanpot final next week, but defenseman Pat Aufiero will contribute a little differently than the rest. Aufiero tore a tendon in his ankle Friday, suffering a deep laceration that will keep him sidelined for three to six weeks.
Aufiero watched last night’s game from the press box, walking around on crutches with his leg cast. He won’t be able to join his teammates on the ice next week when they take on Northeastern, but senior forward Mike Pandolfo was quick to note the off-ice impact Aufiero had on last night’s game.
“He was our biggest cheerleader in the locker room, and he wasn’t even playing in the game,” the senior co-captain said.
Without Aufiero, there was increased pressure on BU’s defensemen to step up. Freddy Meyer paired with John Cronin, while Mike Bussoli and Bryan Miller played together. The tandem of Chris Dyment and Ryan Whitney remained consistent, as it has all season.
Parker was especially impressed by the play of Whitney, who scored BU’s third goal, a fluke tally for his third goal of the year.
“I thought he played extremely well tonight,” Parker said of the freshman. “I thought a couple of times this year in big games he played a little jumpy and was nervous with the puck. I thought he was really poised tonight, made some great plays, and got that out of his system. This could be his biggest game at BU so far.
“I was really interested to see how the freshmen defensemen – especially Miller and Whitney – played. I thought both of them played real well.”
Statistically, senior co-captain Dyment was the most dominating of the lot, registering a plus-4. Whitney was plus-2, while the other four defensemen were even.
After allowing just one shorthanded goal in its first 22 games, the Boston University hockey team has now surrendered one in each of its last two games.
But the special teams worries don’t end there.
The Terriers also gave up an uncharacteristic power play goal to Boston College, which would not be cause for concern were they not so inept with the man advantage. The Icedogs have converted less than 17 percent of their chances this season, including an 0-for-4 effort last night during which they mustered just three shots on goal.
“I thought the only time we had problems in the game [last night] was when we were on the power play,” Parker said. “I thought we killed a couple of our power plays off pretty well tonight, but they got a shorthanded goal and had more chances when they were a man down than at other points in the game.”
BU possesses the top penalty kill in Hockey East but will have its hands full in the Beanpot final with a Northeastern University attack that tallied three power play goals in three attempts. First-line anchors Jason Guerriero and Mike Ryan were especially lethal with the man-advantage, racking up two assists and two goals, respectively. At even strength, Harvard University battled Northeastern to a 2-2 draw.
BC head coach Jerry York on what he said to his team after the game: “I think we have a championship team in this locker room. When we get healthy and get back to our full hockey squad, these players will be a lot better because of what we’ve gone through. I think we’re going to be a dangerous team down the stretch.” … BU junior forward John Sabo on why he decided to crash the net after Pandolfo stole the puck from a BC defenseman: “I saw Mike get the puck at the blue line, saw he had a step on the guy – actually, I knew he was going to shoot cause he always shoots the puck – so I just went to the net, got a good bounce, and put it under his arm.” … Parker on whether there is more incentive to avoid the consolation game or to beat BU’s archrival: “It’s a bigger incentive to beat Boston College if you’re playing at the skating club at 3 o’clock in the morning.”
When the national anthem wasn’t played before they watched their team play, the Northeastern fans sitting in section 310 took it upon themselves to salute America. As they belted the Star-Spangled Banner, fans in the lower levels stood, cheering the rendition as the Doghouse neared the end of the song … Midway through the third period, Husky fans serenaded the Crimson contingent with chants of “Safety School.” Harvard’s fans offered no audible response … Appropriately for a tournament with a history so deeply rooted in Boston, Northeastern forward Mike Ryan’s (Milton) hat trick last night was the third in three years by a local player. BU’s Brian Collins (Shrewsbury) had three goals last year against Northeastern, a year after Terrier forward Jack Baker (South Boston) turned the trick against Harvard … Up 5-2 with 2:43 to play, Northeastern fans fired the first shot in next week’s fan war, covering their bases no matter who won the second game with chants of “BC sucks” and “Sucks to BU” …Baker (goal) and Collins (assist) maintained a tie for the lead in Beanpot scoring among active Terriers with eight points apiece … Parker is now 16-3 against BC and 43-14 overall in the Beanpot as a coach.
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