Game 22: Boston College-BU Hockey Gameday
By Joe Micik
#17 Boston College faces its biggest game of the season to date today on BU hockey gameday.
The Eagles, unbeaten in their last seven games (5-0-2), have the unenviable task of going down the street and trying to beat the #2 team in the nation, the Boston University Terriers in the “Battle of Comm Ave.” They would be very pleased to do it, but a difficult job to be sure.
Boston College may have been winning lately, but they are not gaining ground. Over the last few weeks, since the beginning of the second half, the Eagles have a record of 3-0-1 but have dropped two spots in the national polls.
Likewise, there has been only marginal improvement in the PairWise Rankings, with the Eagles still on the outside looking in at 20th. To have any chance at an at-large bid, Boston College needs to get to at least 16th, but realistically has to get to 13th or 14th because of “bid-stealers.”
What’s one way — or the only way, really — Boston College can move up in the PWR? Beat good teams. Boston University, despite the fact that they will win no popularity contests on this end of Commonwealth Avenue, is a good team. They also have something we want; namely, the Hockey East lead. A win tonight for the Eagles would not only advance them in the national rankings and PairWise, but it would be a clear sign that they are not out of the race in the conference.
More to come today on the Hockey East standings and scenarios for Boston College to win, depending on today’s result.
For approximately the billionth time, it’s BC-BU hockey gameday, and much is on the line. What could be better?
Boston College-BU Hockey Gameday:
Game #22 Info
Gametime
7:00pm Eastern
Venue
Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Television
NESN (Tom Caron, Billy Jaffe, Sarah Davis)
“Radio”
WEEI 850AM (Jon Rish, Andy Powers) (Live stream)
Boston College Eagles
Records and Rankings
Boston College, now ranked #17 in the nation, has an overall record of 12-7-2. In their most recent game on Saturday, the Eagles defeated Northeastern at Conte Forum, 4-2.
The #2 Boston University Terriers are 12-3-4 overall. On Saturday, BU defeated Wisconsin on the road, 6-1.
Boston College Recent History vs. BU Hockey
November 8, 2013: Boston College wins, 5-1 (at BU)
January 7, 2014: Boston College wins, 6-4 (at BC)
February 3, 2014: Boston College wins, 3-1 (at Beanpot)
November 7, 2014: Boston University wins, 3-0 (at BC)
This is the 267th all-time meeting between the Eagles and Terriers. BU leads, 130-119-17.