Merrimack at Boston College: The Beanpot Tune-Up

Andrew B. Fielding-USA TODAY Sports

By Monday evening, few, if any, Boston College hockey fans will even remember that the team played the Merrimack Warriors on Friday night.

Indeed, this game has the unfortunate distinction of being this year’s “game between the Beanpot.” It doesn’t always happen, but this season, the Eagles have just happened to draw Hockey East’s worst team.

If we’re going to be honest, technically, this game means more than the Beanpot final, which is a fun but non-conference contest. Beating Merrimack would push the Eagles two points closer to clinching the top seed in Hockey East. You’ll never convince some about that, however, and a bunch more people will be looking at the results of Monday night’s game as opposed to this one.

The Warriors are 7-15-3 (2-9-2), having fallen far from their solid season just three years ago in which they made the Hockey East championship game and then the NCAA Tournament. This Merrimack team is a hollow shell of that one, last in the conference with less than two goals per game (1.92) and ninth in defense (2.76 gapg). They take a lot of penalties and their power play isn’t any good. In Hockey East play this season, the Warriors have been outscored 40-18.

Doubtlessly, the Eagles will see this as a good opportunity to tune up for the official start of “trophy season,” but also a chance to extend their unbeaten streak and push closer to Hockey East’s regular-season title.