Jan. 11, 2008
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Playing away from Agganis Arena for the first time in over a month, the Boston University men's ice hockey team (5-10-3, 4-6-2 Hockey East) travels to face Maine (7-9-2, 3-6-2) on Saturday (Jan. 12) in a match-up between perennial powers who both are looking for a spark to turn around their uncharacteristic sub-.500 records. The game, which will be broadcast live by CN8, starts at 7 p.m. The Terriers are 5-0-1 against the Black Bears over the past two seasons, including wins in each of the last three meetings at Alfond Arena.
This is the first time since Dec. 11, 1982, that BU and Maine have faced off with each team sporting a sub-.500 record. That game - which was just the eighth meeting between the two schools - was also played at Alfond Arena, with BU posting a 5-2 victory. The Terriers entered the contest with a 2-5 record, while the Black Bears were winless at 0-7.
The Terriers and Black Bears have played 96 times since the 1923-24 season, and BU holds a 45-42-9 edge (.516). BU went undefeated against the Black Bears in their 2006-07 league series, posting a 2-0-1 record. After rallying from an early two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at Agganis Arena on Nov. 4, BU completed its first weekend sweep at Alfond Arena in 21 years, posting 6-5 and 3-0 victories on Jan. 12-13.
After going through a winless November (0-4-2), Maine is an even 3-3 since the beginning of December and posted a 4-2 victory over Rensselaer in its non-conference finale on Sunday in Portland. The Black Bears, which are 3-3-1 at home this season, have a balanced offensive attack, as four players - all seniors - share the team's scoring lead with 11 points apiece.
Maine has killed off its last 23 penalties, but its power play, which was tops in Division I a year ago, is ranked next-to-last in the country, operating at 8.3 percent (7-of-84). Junior goaltender Ben Bishop has appeared in all 18 games, making 17 starts, and has posted a 2.63 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.
Senior Pete MacArthur has been very successful against Maine during his career, tallying 11 points (5g, 6a) in nine games. Last season, MacArthur earned the lone hat trick of his career in a 6-5 win over the Black Bears on Jan. 12. Classmate Bryan Ewing has three goals and three assists in seven contests versus Maine, while junior Brandon Yip has six assists in five games. Junior Jason Lawrence has two goals and three helpers in six games, while classmates Matt Gilroy and Chris Higgins each have chipped in with two goals and an assist in those six tilts.
The Terriers are coming off of a 2-2 tie against Vermont on Saturday at Agganis Arena. BU held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but the Catamounts responded each time with the latter coming midway through the second period.
Ewing, who scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season against the Catamounts, leads all Hockey East players in scoring during conference play with 18 points (6g, 12a) in 11 games. His 1.24 points per game ranks 11th in the country. Yip has scored at least one point in seven of his last eight games - including each of the last five - and has tallied six goals and three assists during the stretch.
Sophomore Brian Strait and freshman Colin Wilson will return to the BU lineup after missing the past two contests while playing for Team USA at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship the Czech Republic.
Despite its 5-10-3 record, BU has an even scoring margin with 63 goals scored and allowed. The Terriers and their opponents have also both tallied 20 power-play goals.
