by Scott Weighart, GoTerriers.com

BOSTON – The Boston University men's ice hockey team was riding high with a season-best seven-game winning steak from Dec. 1 through Jan. 20 - a string that put them on top of the national polls and PairWise rankings.
 
Suddenly, the well-oiled engine of the Terrier offense stalled for a spell. They got swept in a home-and-home series with archrival Boston College, which meant the Eagles took away those top spots. A few days later, the Terriers lost in frustrating fashion to another perennial foe in Northeastern, as a controversial too-many-men penalty call in overtime led to a power-play goal and a 4-3 win for the Huskies.
 
Badly needing to shift the momentum, Terrier coach Jay Pandolfo dealt the lineup a new hand by playing a pair of Jacks. Keeping freshman sensation Macklin Celebrini at center, Pandolfo tabbed Northeastern transfer Jack Hughes as the top-line left wing. In a bit of surprise, Pandolfo also moved first-year forward Jack Harvey up to right wing. Harvey had only played five of the team's first 24 games this season.
 
Since then, the Terriers have got the motor running on the scoreboard once again. It began with a satisfying 6-3 road win at New Hampshire, as Hughes paid immediate dividends with two goals and an assist, with Harvey providing the primary helper on both of Hughes' goals.
 
That helped BU go into the Beanpot semifinal not only revved up for revenge against BC but confident that it was back to full speed. The Terriers stormed to a 4-1 lead and then hung on for a 4-3 victory against the top-ranked Eagles.
 
Was anyone worried that the Terriers would look past Merrimack on Friday night? If so, those concerns were left in the dust as BU piled up five goals in the second period, including three goals in the last 90 seconds of the middle frame. After not scoring a goal in his first seven collegiate games, Harvey scored his first two collegiate goals in a stunning span of just 27 seconds.
 
Suffice it to say that this Terrier team has all cylinders firing as they look to claim another Beanpot Championship against Northeastern on Monday night. That deflating weekend against BC now feels like a distant memory.

"It was just such a hyped-up weekend," senior right wing Dylan Peterson said. "Maybe we were a little stiff during those two games, but we knew that wasn't going to decide our season. We had a huge bounce-back game. Everyone contributed. We knew our time was coming. We all feel that shift in the locker room, and now we're full stride."
 
Terrier captain Case McCarthy joined in the scoring fun on Friday night. His goal and assist nearly matched his previous total of three points for the season to date.

"Everybody gets little bit more relaxed seeing the puck go in the back of the net," McCarthy said. "I think we're playing more direct, using our speed more, using the strengths of our game. Our forwards are doing a great job down low. Getting to the net front isn't always pretty, but it's definitely been helping."
 
Moving Hughes and Harvey to the top line is certainly looking like a great move by Pandolfo.

"Both of them have the ability to make plays; they're both very calm with the puck," the second-year BU coach said. "They like to play the give-and- go game, and they work well with Macklin. It's been nice to see. They've developed a little bit of chemistry."
 
If Terrier fans might have overlooked Harvey due to his lack of playing time in the fall, Peterson made it very clear that his teammates were well aware of his potential.

"I just think he hadn't got the opportunity yet," Peterson said. "Everyone knew he was such a good player. You can see it every day in practice."
 
"We just have so many good guys," Peterson added. "It's honestly good. It's competitive to get in the lineup. When he got his opportunity against UNH, he was in a good spot with Celebrini on the first line. He just took advantage of the opportunity. You can't say enough good things about that line. They just dominated tonight." 
 
As much as anything, the rearranging of the lineup underscores how much depth the Terriers have. Every very good college hockey team has two lines that can score, while the top teams often have a strong third line. Yet the Terriers have four lines that are legitimate threats to score in every game.
 
The current fourth line is Sam Stevens (seven goals), Shane Lachance (nine goals), and Devin Kaplan (four goals and 11 assists). Third-line left wing Jeremy Wilmer had a goal and assist against Merrimack and trails only sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson on the team with 22 assists.
 
"We have a very deep team," McCarthy said. "I think a lot of guys are comfortable with each other on the ice and that shows, especially lately. You can throw guys together, wherever it may be, and they're going to find each other."
 
Peterson's first goal on Friday was his seventh of the year, and he's on pace to make his senior year his best for the Terriers.
 
"I've battled through some things over the years," Peterson said. "I feel really good right now; I think I'm starting to find my game. There's been an identity that I've been chasing for four years - just that power forward style. Pando especially has harped on me for the past two years about finding that identity, to be that power forward who can skate and shoot and just be a direct player." 
 
After taking care of business against the Warriors, the Terriers head into the Beanpot title game on Monday. For the second week in a row, they will have the opportunity to exact some revenge on a team that beat them very recently.
 
It won't be easy. Northeastern lost its first seven Hockey East games in the fall, but the Huskies' 3-2 overtime win over Harvard in the Beanpot semifinal means that they now have a five-game winning streak that includes a 6-3 win over a very talented Maine team as well as the win over BU.
 
"Northeastern was not healthy at the beginning of the year," Pandolfo said. "They've gotten healthy, and they're playing a heck of a lot better as a team. We always have tight and tough matchups with them."

"Emotions are going to be high," Pandolfo added. "It's a great environment. We've just got to be ready to play our game. They're very good in the neutral zone, very good at keeping things outside, so we've got to make sure we're getting pucks into their end and getting pucks to the net."
 
As McCarthy pointed out, it comes down to consistency.

"These games down the stretch, you have to bring it for a full 60. You can't take your foot off the gas for even a shift."
 
As the season accelerates toward the finish line, the Terriers hope to start the final stretch by ending up in the driver's seat as Beanpot champions.