Boston University
Merrimack
Men's Ice Hockey Hosts Merrimack on Friday
February 6, 2020 | Men's Ice Hockey
Former BU standout and Miracle on Ice legend Mike Eruzione will be signing copies of his new book, "Making of a Miracle," in the concourse before the game and during the first intermission. He will be joined by co-author Neal Boudette (COM'84). After the game, a post-game autograph session will take place with several members of this year's team.
The Terriers (10-8-7, 7-4-5 Hockey East) are coming off a thrilling overtime win versus Boston College in the Beanpot semifinals that officially went down as a tie due to new NCAA protocol rules. BU earned a 3-2 comeback win at Merrimack three weeks ago. The Terriers are 46-16-5 (.724) all-time in games held in between the Beanpot. However, BU is just 0-2-1 in these games over the past three years.
Coach Albie Connell's team is 6-2-2 since the start of December and has scored at least three goals in nine of those 10 games.
BU is the only team in the nation with four players with 25 points or more with all of them averaging at least a point per game. Junior David Farrance leads the way with 32 points (12g, 20a), which is tied for the most of any defenseman in the country. Senior Patrick Harper is one point behind with 31 (12g, 19a) while freshman Trevor Zegras (8g, 19a) and senior Patrick Curry (15g, 10) have added 27 and 25 points, respectively.
BU and Merrimack have played 118 times since first meeting on Dec. 11, 1964, and the Terriers hold a commanding 90-20-8 (.797) advantage. The Terriers are 22-3-2 (.852) in the 27 meetings that have taken place at Agganis Arena.
Merrimack dropped both ends of a weekend series at Maine last weekend and enters Friday six points out of the final playoff spot in the Hockey East standings. The Warriors are 3-9-1 on the road this season. Merrimack has defeated UConn twice and its other four wins have come against New Hampshire, Rensselaer, Holy Cross and Vermont.
Senior Tyler Irvine leads the Warriors in both points (22) and goals (10) while freshman d-man Declan Carlile (2g, 16a) has added 18 points. Sophomores Chase Gresock (8g, 9a) and Logan Drevitch (6g, 11a) and senior Sami Tavernier (6g, 11a) have tallied 17 points apiece.
The Warriors have three freshman goaltenders with Jere Huhtamaa (.856, 3.52) and Troy Kobryn (.881, 3.45) splitting the majority of the time.
Curry is on a six-game point streak with eight points (5g, 3a) during the stretch. Zegras has eight points (2g, 6a) during his current five-game point streak.
The Terriers' power play has gone 9-for-20 (.450) over the past six games, which came immediately on the heels of an 0-for-19 skid.
Goaltender Ashton Abel joined the team at the semester break and is undefeated in five starts (3-0-2). On Wednesday, Abel was named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Month for January after leading all league netminders in both goals-against average (1.68) and save percentage (.936) during the month. He currently boasts a 2.05 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage and is coming off a career-best 35-save effort in Monday's Beanpot triumph.
