Maine Hockey Journal

No home ice advantage in PC-BU series

The big in conference match-up over the weekend involved Boston University and Providence College. The home and home series saw the visiting team win each night.

On Friday night down in Providence, R.I. saw the BU Terriers defeat the Friars 4-1. BU fired 41 shots on South Portland native Jon Gillies as Evan Rodrigues had a goal and two assists in the victory. Jack Eichel had a goal and assist while Cason Hohmann had two assists. Matt O’Connor only needed 17 saves to pick up the victory in goal.

The following night, the Friars earned the 2-1 victory at Agganis Arena in Boston. Again the Terriers were able to get plenty of shots on Gillies as they fired 37 on him. Shane Luke picked up his first points of the year for Providence College with a goal and an assist. Mark Jankowski, the Calgary Flames first round pick in 2012 – the same year the Flames selected Gillies in the third round – also picked up his first goal of the year. If this is the year that Providence College breaks through and wins Hockey East or possibly the NCAA Title, they will need Jankowski to take his game to that next level.

1. Not a good weekend for UNH

It wasn’t a good weekend if you are an University of New Hampshire Wildcat fan. UNH was swept by UMass-Lowell 2-0 and 8-2. They are off to a slow start with their record sitting at 2-4 right now. Obviously the River Hawks are having another strong season, but it’s still no excuse to lose 8-2 and get shutout at home. The next four games (two against Michigan St. and Northeastern) are winnable games. At worse the Wildcats should split those four, but the reality, they should take three games.

2. Mario Lucia incredible goal rate

As stated before, Notre Dame has been an offensive juggernaut this season. One of their keys to their success offensively has been junior forward Mario Lucia. He leads all conference skaters with ten points in eight games. That 1.25 goals points per game through eight games. What is more impressive is in those eight games, he has eight goals. It helps to have a hat trick mixed in but still impressive. To go one step further, they are all even strength goals. Will his father, Don Lucia – University of Minnesota coach – will have a game plan on Friday to cool him off.

3. Hockey East teams take part in the Liberty Invitational

The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. – home of the New Jersey Devils – hosted a pair of games on Sunday featuring Merrimack and Connecticut. Merrimack faced the defacto home team in Princeton in the first game where Merrimack defeated Princeton 6-1. In the second game Connecticut fell in much more competition game against in state rival Yale, 2-1. This is another event to grow the college game in a market where college hockey isn’t that prevalent in. That might change as the Big Ten is hoping to add more teams to the conference. Rutgers – based in Piscataway Township, N.J. – who just joined the conference is one of those schools who have been mention that they might add varsity hockey in the future.

Games to watch

1. Boston University at Boston College, Friday, 8 p.m.(NBCSN)

There’s not much need to be said about this match-up. One of the premier rivalries in the country. Not too often this rivalry sees two draft eligible players be the headliners. That’s what you have this year in BU Jack Eichel and Boston College’s Noah Hanifin. Both are expected to go in the top five in next summer’s entry draft with Jack Eichel expected to be one of the first two picks.

2. Michigan State at UNH, Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m.

It’s an important two game set for both team as they both are trying to get to the next level. Both teams sit at 2-4 and look to each .500 for the season.

3. Notre Dame at Minnesota, Friday, 8 p.m.(Big Ten Network); Sunday 5 p.m.(ESPNU)

Another two game series between in the Hockey East-Big Ten Challenge. Minnesota is off to a 5-1 start while Notre Dame is 5-2-1. It’s one of those series where you expect one time to come away with three points. I don’t see a sweep from either team but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the two games end in a time.

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