Women's Ice Hockey (12-7-1, 7-6-0 WHEA) at #6 Boston College (13-3-3, 10-2-1 WHEA)
Date & Time	Saturday, Jan. 7 - 2 p.m.
Venue	Conte Forum - Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Watch	BCEagles.tv ($$)
Game Notes	BU
Live Stats	sidearmstats.com
Twitter	@BUGameDay | @BUwhockey

   
The Boston University women's ice hockey team will open the 2017 portion of its schedule on the road when the Terriers leave town to face No. 6 Boston College on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.

BU (12-7-1, 7-6-0 WHEA) and BC (13-3-3, 10-2-1 WHEA) split the first two games of the regular-season series back in November, with each team earning a 5-3 home win. BU won the most recent meeting (Nov. 5) thanks to a five-goal third period. While this is the last Hockey East game of the regular season for the two rivals, they will also meet in the opening round of Women's Beanpot on Jan. 31 at Northeastern.

The Terriers enter the new year having closed 2016 with a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over No. 2 Minnesota on Dec. 10 at Walter Brown Arena. Senior co-captain Natalie Flynn capped a two-goal day with her overtime-winner to give BU its second victory over a ranked opponent this season. Five different Terriers in total scored a goal in the victory and four different skaters had multiple points.

Graduate student Mary Parker and junior Victoria Bach each lead Hockey East with 26 points while Parker is also second in the country with 17 goals. Bach will not be able to add to her point total on Saturday though, as she likely will play for gold with Team Canada at the 2017 Nations Cup in Germany. Through two games, Bach has two goals and an assist in that tournament, including the eventual game-winner on Thursday.

Saturday's showdown will feature two of the top offenses in the nation. BU ranks third with an average of 3.70 goals per game, with BC just above the Terriers in second (3.89). BU however is one of just two Hockey East teams (Vermont) that has not been shut out this season. In fact, only one of the Terriers' 12 wins has come when BU is held to fewer than four goals.

BC improved to 13-3-3 overall after escaping with a 4-3 win over Syracuse on Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles sit atop the Hockey East standings with 21 points; BU is one of just two league foes to defeat BC this season.

Sophomore Makenna Newkirk leads the Eagles in points (22) and assists (16). Freshman Delaney Belinskas is the Eagles' top goal scorer (13) and is one of four Eagles to have at least 20 points. Junior goaltender Katie Burt has started all 17 games in which she has appeared, posting a 1.84 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Terriers following Saturday's game as BU remains on the road for a trip to UConn on Tuesday, Jan. 10.