Stakes are high for BC and BU in Hockey East tournament
It was a popular refrain throughout the winter: It has been a down year for Hockey East, and in particular for traditional powerhouses Boston College and Boston University.
Yet as the season shifts to the conference semifinals Friday night at TD Garden, the familiar foes will face off to get the evening started at 5 p.m., with Northeastern and Providence meeting in the nightcap.
Of course, that’s not to say the concerns were entirely without merit. While BC (20-13-3) won the regular-season crown, its nonconference record of 0-7-3 has the Eagles on the bubble as far as the NCAA tournament is concerned.
“I think in the 24 years that I’ve coached in Hockey East, this has been the most competitive, top to bottom, that I’ve seen,’’ said BC coach Jerry York. “The competition within the league has really been terrific. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these four teams that advances to the national tournament can bring home a trophy.’’
BU (19-13-4) finished in fourth place in the league, good enough to earn a bye into the quarterfinals, where it swept Connecticut. Like BC, the Terriers enter the weekend knowing the only sure way into the NCAA tournament is with a pair of victories.
“It’s what makes these jobs so much fun,’’ said BU coach David Quinn. “You want to be involved in high-stakes games, you want to be able to compete for championships. The pressure’s on, no doubt about it. That’s why you get involved in sports. These are the games you love to play.’’
That’s what makes this year different. Most years, this game would serve merely as a measuring stick for both schools, with the winner improving its seeding for the NCAAs. This year, the loser goes home. Season over.
“Would we have loved to have won a few more games during the year where we would know we were in the national tournament? Absolutely,’’ said Quinn. “I’m sure Jerry feels the same way. But we’re both in similar situations.’’
The teams met twice during the regular season, in the first weekend of December, with the visiting school winning each time. It is the second straight year that they will meet in the semifinals. BC won last year’s tilt, 3-2.
This time around, York feels good not only about his team, but for the league as a whole.
“We’re all getting better,’’ he said. “We’re kind of an underrated conference this year. We’re not going to have a No. 1 seed. It’s been a long time since that’s happened, but we have a chance to do something very special. Hopefully it’s our team that get’s hot.’’
Quinn embraces the high expectations, and understands that some fans might be disappointed in a fourth-place finish in the regular season.
“Your program, in my mind, is always measured as, how bad is your bad year?’’ said Quinn. “Both BC and BU still have a chance to win a trophy, and to make the national tournament. If you win the Hockey East championship and you’re playing in the national tournament, that’s a pretty good year.
“Around here, and up the street, some people might think that’s a bad year or a down year. That’s the great part of playing and coaching at these institutions.’’
As far as the second game goes, both Northeastern (23-8-5) and Providence (22-10-4) appear to be locks to hear their names called Sunday during the NCAA selection show. Just don’t tell NU coach Jim Madigan that the Huskies are playing to improve their playoff positioning.
“Our focus is on winning Hockey East,’’ said Madigan. “This is a major tournament. This is the best league in the country.
“We know we have to get through Providence first, but we’re not looking beyond this weekend. This is a great opportunity for our young men, and they take it seriously. This league is tough, top to bottom, and winning Hockey East is a tremendous accomplishment.’’
NU and Providence met twice this season, in the last weekend of January, with both games going to overtime. The game at Matthews Arena ended in a 4-4 tie, while Providence prevailed at home the next night, 2-1.
Providence coach Nate Leaman points to the leadership of Brian Pinho (12-19—31), while junior Erik Foley (16-19—35) leads the Friars in scoring. While much has been made of NU’s firepower — particularly the line of Adam Gaudette (30-29—59), Dylan Sikura (20-32—52), and Nolan Stevens (24-17—41) — Leaman views the Huskies as a complete team.
“You’ve got to play a complete game,’’ said Leaman. “We knew that when we played the series earlier in the year against them. I think their defense probably isn’t given as much credit, but I think they are a team that can get out in front early, and forces teams to chase games a little bit, and I think that helps their defense.’’
The matchup will feature all six Hockey East first-team all-stars, as Gaudette and Sikura are joined by teammates Cayden Primeau (goalie) and Jeremy Davies (defenseman). Foley was also selected to the team, along with fellow Friar Jacob Bryson (defenseman).
Stevens was named to the second team, along with Friars goalie Hayden Hawkey, BU’s Bobo Carpenter and Dante Fabbro, Casey Fitzgerald of BC, and Maxim Letunov from UConn.
Sikura and Gaudette were among the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, along with Harvard’s Ryan Donato.
Last Sunday, with the Crimson playing in a must-win game against Dartmouth, Donato (26-15—41) tallied a hat trick in a 4-2 win to send Harvard to the ECAC semifinals in Lake Placid, N.Y., where it will face No. 10 Clarkson.
The victory over Dartmouth could prove to be Donato’s last game at Bright-Landry Arena, depending on whether he decides to forgo his senior year to sign with the Bruins.
