2014 Beanpot: Eagles Seeking Lucky 13th Against Terriers

The 2013-14 hockey season is flying by, such to the point that the first Monday of the 2014 Beanpot is already here.

The #2 Boston College Eagles are riding into the 62nd edition of this Boston classic having won the last four tournaments in a row, but more importantly, they are seeking to extend their unbeaten streak to thirteen consecutive games. The Eagles are 11-0-1 in their last twelve, not having lost a game since late November.

Tonight, their task is to defeat the Boston University Terriers for the third time this season. In their first two meetings, both of which were Hockey East games unlike this one, the Eagles won at Agganis, 5-1, and at Kelley Rink, 6-4. Unless the Terriers somehow advance in the Hockey East Tournament, it is unlikely these two teams will face off again after tonight.

For the Eagles’ opposition, their first year without Jack Parker has not been kind. The Terriers have fallen hard, now at 8-14-3 (3-8-2) and in tenth place in the conference. Essentially all for which they play now is a chance to knock the Eagles off of their perch, even if just metaphorically. Since this game is part of a special tournament, there are no Hockey East implications, but it counts in the overall standings all the same. The Terriers can knock Boston College down a peg as they look for a fifth-straight Beanpot win and much bigger things in March and April.

Boston College will reportedly be without defenseman Ian McCoshen in this game, while one of the star forwards, Kevin Hayes, appears to be day-to-day. Hayes in particular has been a revelation for the Eagles, nearly matching Hobey Baker frontrunner Johnny Gaudreau point-for-point this season. Thanks to those two, Boston College has been the most dominant offense in college hockey this year, to the tune of 4.38 goals per game.

Boston University would be a “bad loss” for the Eagles given their record, and the Eagles will hope the third time this season is not the charm for the Terriers.