It’s an element that comes and goes over the course of a tenuous season. Without it, a team can plummet into mediocrity. But with it, no feat is beyond reach.
The Boston University men’s hockey team boasts no shortage of confidence entering this weekend’s two-game series against the No. 7 University of New Hampshire (13-7-1, 9-4-1) — and for good reason. BU (7-11-4, 6-6-3) owns a five-game unbeaten streak against Hockey East opponents, and has claimed eight of 10 points in league play since Dec. 30.
“We’ve gone from a bad situation to a decent situation,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “And this weekend, we’ve got a chance to make it a very good situation.”
“Everybody’s feeling really good,” said freshman forward Colin Wilson. “We’ve really been putting it together and playing really well. We’re definitely a little more confident than normal.”
At long last, the Terriers are in position to make the run they so desperately need. After three months of maddening inconsistency, BU is finally on the road to recovery from the ills that plagued it earlier this year.
“I think our guys are very confident,” Parker said. “They’re confident in their goaltender. The individuals are confident playing in their own zone and playing hard defensively.”
“It helps the team when individuals are confident. [Goaltender Brett] Bennett feels better about himself. [Defenseman Kevin] Shattenkirk feels better about himself. [Defenseman Colby] Cohen’s playing well. The two forwards on our first line [seniors Bryan Ewing and Pete MacArthur] are two of the top scorers in the league. There’s a lot of confidence to go around.”
There might not be a more confident Terrier these days than Bennett. The sophomore (6-5-3 overall record), whose .600 winning percentage during conference play ranks third among Hockey East backstops, assumed the starting role earlier this month when senior Karson Gillespie sustained a high ankle sprain. In four games as BU’s No. 1 option, Bennett provided stability to a position that crippled the Terriers earlier this season.
“He’s played really well lately,” Parker said. “He’s going in the right direction, he’s playing with more confidence — and he’s also winning.
“Early in the year he was really floundering and didn’t look very comfortable. Frankly, he didn’t look like a goalie. He looked like he wasn’t sure what position he was playing out there. Then all of a sudden he put it together. Maybe he got some confidence because Gillespie went down and he knew he’d have to do the job for us. From that day on, he’s gotten better and better. He’s given us a boost.”
Bennett’s continued success will be crucial this weekend, when BU visits Durham, N.H.’s Whittemore Center tonight before returning to Agganis Arena tomorrow. Like the Terriers (3.45 goals per game), the Wildcats’ strength is their juggernaut of an offense, which averages 3.43 goals per contest. Each club features three of Hockey East’s top-15 point scorers, with UNH’s Matt Fornataro (25), James vanRiemsdyk (20) and Mike Radja (19) joining BU’s Red Line of Ewing (28), MacArthur (28) and Wilson (19).
With high-scoring affairs expected in both games, Parker pointed to a more subtle key to the series.
“I really think the biggest [key] will be who controls center ice — how well we do making sure they don’t get jumps through center ice, and whether or not we can get jumps through center ice on them.”
Third-period play also figures to be critical. Despite showing the ability to stay in contention through two periods (50-44 goal differential through 40 minutes), the Terriers have coughed up 28 goals in the final stanza while scoring 26.
Parker doesn’t attribute the late-game struggles to a lack of composure. His goal is to get a maximum effort out of his team for 60 minutes.
“I don’t think anyone’s worried that we’re back on our heels in the third period,” he said. “I’m more concerned about emotion and effort — and those are the same whether it’s the first or third period.”
News ‘ Notes
Bennett will start both games this weekend . . . Parker said junior center Chris Higgins will join junior Brandon Yip and freshman Nick Bonino on the team’s second line. Freshman Joe Pereira will accompany junior Jason Lawrence and sophomore Luke Popko on the third unit . . . UNH is unbeaten in five games at Agganis Arena.