Boston University
UConn (HEA Quarterfinals)
No. 20 Terriers Open Postseason at Home vs. UConn
March 7, 2018 | Men's Ice Hockey
| #20 Men's Ice Hockey (17-13-4, 12-8-4 HEA) - #4 Seed vs. UConn (15-17-2, 11-12-1 HEA) - #5 Seed |
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|---|---|
| Date & Time | Friday, March 9 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10 - 7 p.m. Sunday, March 11 - 5 p.m. (if necessary) |
| Venue | Agganis Arena | Boston, Mass. |
| Tickets | Friday | Saturday |
| Watch | Friday | Saturday |
| Listen | TSRN |
| Live Stats | GoTerriers.com |
| Notes | BU | UConn | Hockey East |
| @BUGameDay | @TerrierHockey | |
The Terriers, seeded fourth in the Hockey East tournament, will take on the fifth-seeded Huskies on Saturday (March 10) at 7 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will take place on Sunday (March 11) at 5 p.m.
This is the first-ever postseason match-up between the two programs. They faced off three times in league play this season, splitting two games at the XL Center and tying at Agganis Arena. BU now joins Northeastern as the only schools to have played every Hockey East member (past or present) at least once in the league tournament.
BU has won 10 straight home games in the Hockey East playoffs, the longest current streak of its kind in the league and the longest in program history. The Terriers have hosted a portion of the Hockey East tournament in 28 of the 34 seasons of the league's existence, including 13 of the last 14 years. The lone exception over that span came in 2014.
Twenty of the Terriers' 24 skaters have scored at least one point against UConn over their careers. The group is led by junior Bobo Carpenter, who has eight points (6g, 2a) against the Huskies, all of which have come this season.
The Terriers and Huskies have had 10 prior meetings and BU is 5-3-2 in them, including an even 2-1-2 mark at Agganis Arena. In the most recent meeting three weeks ago, UConn rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the third period to post a 5-4 overtime victory at home. BU took three out of the four points from a home-and-home weekend in October, skating to a 2-2 tie at Agganis Arena on Oct. 20 before beating the Huskies, 6-3, on Oct. 21 in Hartford.
UConn finished tied for fifth in the Hockey East standings with 23 points and an 11-12-1 record in league play. The Huskies are 0-6 all-time in the Hockey East tournament, having been swept on the road in quarterfinal series at New Hampshire (2015) and Northeastern (2017) and in an opening-round series at home against Vermont in 2016.
The Huskies had a seven-game win streak come to an end in the regular-season finale, a 3-2 home loss to Massachusetts on Feb. 22.
UConn boasts a strong penalty kill at 83 percent, which ranks 14th nationally, and its 53.5 faceoff percentage is good for eighth.
Junior Maxim Letunov leads the Huskies in points (27) and assists (16) while sophomore Alexander Payusov (12-8--20) and senior Spencer Naas (12-11--23) share the lead in goals.
Sophomore goaltender Adam Huska hasn't played since suffering an injury in mid-January and has posted a 2.52 goals against average and .914 save percentage in 25 games. Senior Tanner Creel has started the past nine contests and has an .891 save percentage and a 3.20 goals-against average on the year.
BU had only two losses in its final 14 games of the regular season, going 9-2-3. This is the first time since 1992 - and third time overall - that the Terriers are the No. 4 seed in the league tournament. The Terriers are 0-2 all-time as the No. 4 seed, losing single-game quarterfinals to Northeastern in 1987 and Boston College in 1992.
BU has an overall Hockey East tournament record of 70-39-1 (.641), including a 47-23-1 (.669) mark in the quarterfinals.
Carpenter enters the playoffs with team highs in both points (30) and goals (18). Freshman Shane Bowers (16g, 11a) and junior Jordan Greenway (10g, 17a) have added 27 points apiece and the team's balanced scoring attack has also gotten 26 points from sophomore defenseman Dante Fabbro (9g, 17a) and freshman Brady Tkachuk (7g, 19a).
Sophomore goaltender Jake Oettinger used a strong second half to post a .912 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average during the regular season.
Since going 0-for-6 on the power play, including a full 5-minute major, in a 2-2 draw with Providence on Jan. 13, BU has gone 12-for-41 (29.3%) with the man advantage. That conversion rate is the fourth-best in the country during that span and the best among Hockey East teams.
