No. 5 BU Visits No. 3 BC on NBCSN Friday
November 7, 2014 | Men's Ice Hockey
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Inside BU Hockey - Episode 5
This is the first time since the 2012 Beanpot final that the Terriers and Eagles are facing off with both squads in the top five of the national rankings.
BU has won both of its road games thus far this season. Last year, the Terriers had just one road victory and it did not occur until the regular-season finale at Northeastern.
The Terriers are allowing just 1.20 goals per game, which ranks second in the country, trailing only Northern Michigan (0.83). BU leads the nation in combined special teams at 63.9 percent (23-of-36).
Freshman center Jack Eichel was named the HCA National Rookie of the Month for October on Wednesday. He has opened his career on a five-game point streak and leads the Terriers in points (9), goals (4) and plus-minus (+9) while sharing the team lead in assists (5). EIchel currently leads Hockey East in conference scoring, recording seven points (3g, 4a) in league play.
Junior goaltender Matt O'Connor won his first three starts this season and has allowed only five goals in four games. His 1.26 goals-against average and .958 save percentage both rank third amongst Division I goaltenders with at least two starts this season.
The Comm. Ave. rivals have met 265 times and the Terriers lead the series, 129-119-17 (.519). BU is 16-20-4 (.450) in its 40 visits to Conte Forum. Over the past six years, each side has won the teams' Hockey East season series three times.
BU was swept by BC last season, as the Eagles won both Hockey East meetings before holding off the Terriers, 3-1, in the first round of the Beanpot.
Senior Cason Hohmann has seven points (3g, 4a) in nine career games against the Eagles. Classmate Evan Rodrigues had added six points (4g, 2a) in 10 BC games.
BC has dropped its past two games after winning four straight. Most recently, the Eagles fell at Connecticut, 1-0, on Wednesday. The Eagles split a series at Denver last weekend and also earned wins over Colorado College, Massachusetts and RIT.
Sophomore Ryan Fitzgerald leads the Eagles in points (6) and goals (5). Four others, including freshmen Alex Tuch (2g, 3a) and Zach Sanford (team-high 5a), have five points thus far this season.
Sophomore Thatcher Demko has started all seven games in goal for the Eagles this season and boasts a 1.85 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
