Boston University
Merrimack
Terriers, Warriors Kick Off Home-and-Home Weekend Friday in North Andover
January 18, 2018 | Men's Ice Hockey
| Boston University (9-11-2, 7-7-2 HEA) at Merrimack (7-11-4, 4-7-2 HEA) | |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Friday, Jan. 19 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Venue | Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass. |
| Watch | MerrimackAthletics.com |
| Listen | TSRN |
| Live Stats | MerrimackAthletics.com |
| Game Notes | BU | Merrimack |
| Podcast | Inside BU Hockey - Episode 14 |
| @BUGameDay | @TerrierHockey | |
The Boston University men's ice hockey team will look to carry its momentum from a three-point weekend into a home-and-home series with Merrimack beginning on Friday (Jan. 19) in North Andover. Game time at Lawler Rink is set for 7 p.m.
The Terriers (9-11-2, 7-7-2 Hockey East) earned a 3-2 road win at New Hampshire last Friday before following that up with a 2-2 draw at home against No. 11 Providence the following night. BU now stands in fifth place in the Hockey East standings with 16 points.
Eight of BU's next 10 contests are either on the road or at TD Garden. The Terriers are winless in their past four trips (0-3-1) to Lawler Rink.
Since being swept by Northeastern on the first weekend of December, Merrimack (7-11-4, 4-7-2 Hockey East) has posted a 5-2-1 record, including a 3-2 road win against defending national champion Denver. The Warriors are coming off a 3-0 home win over UConn last Friday and enter the weekend in eighth place in the Hockey East standings with 10 points.
BU and Merrimack have played 112 times since first meeting on Dec. 11, 1964, and the Terriers hold a 85-19-8 (.795) advantage, including a 26-11-5 mark in the 42 meetings that have taken place at Lawler Arena.
Last season, the Warriors completed their first-ever season sweep of the Terriers, posting a 3-1 home win on Jan. 24 before adding a 4-1 road win three days later.
BU and Merrimack are tied for 29th in the nation in scoring defense as each team has allowed 64 goals in 22 games. Both teams have suffered 11 losses overall and seven losses in league play. Shooting percentage has been an issue for each squad as the Terriers (8.6%) and the Warriors (8.5%) rank 46th and 48th in the nation, respectively.
Three seniors are atop Merrimack's scoring list this season as forwards Jace Hennig (8g, 12a) and Brett Seney (6g, 14a) share the lead with 20 points each and defenseman Jared Kolquist has added 16 points (4g, 12a). Junior Ludvig Larsson and sophomore Sami Tavernier are tied for second in goals on the squad with seven apiece.
Junior Craig Pantano has started in goal for 15 of Merrimack's 22 contests thus far and sports a 2.26 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.
BU continues to have a balanced scoring attack with seven players tallying 12 points or more. Sophomore Patrick Harper (8-13--21), junior Bobo Carpenter (11-9--20), sophomore Chad Krys (5-14--19) and junior Jordan Greenway (8-10--18) are the top four and are each separated by one point. Krys is tied for the lead in points among Hockey East defensmen.
The freshmen and sophomores are in a dead heat in the race for scoring by class with 57 points apiece. The rookies hold a 23-19 edge in goals over both the sophomores and juniors.
Sophomore goaltender Jake Oettinger has looked sharp in his three games since returning from World Juniors, posting a .919 save percentage and 2.27 goals-against average during the span.
