Back on the Right Track?

The Boston College hockey team got back on the winning track this weekend with two hard fought and exciting games over the University of Maine. While Maine is still a team on the rebuild this year they did eke out a 2-1 victory over the Eagles at Alfond back on November 9th so it was not a team to be taken lightly.

What I liked about the last two nights was that the team finally had some of its spark back. due to the plethora of away games the past two weeks I have only been able to watch the games on TV and the team clearly was lacking energy and that ability to close out games (evidenced by the two games they allowed to be tied up in the final minute of regulation). But this weekend the energy was back. They were hitting, skating hard, and making things happen. I would still like to see some more shots on net but those will hopefully come with the increased energy.

Two players that really seemed to elevate their play were Benn Ferriero and Brian Gibbons. Gibbons did not get a lot of points on the weekend but we was working hard every shift, hitting people (just ask Gustav Nyquist who nearly lost his head late in the third period last night when Gibbons came blasting off the bench and cleanly levelled him at center ice), and providing energy. Ferriero seems to have better games when he gets physical which he was this weekend. He's a strong skater with a solid frame and while he is also gifted offensively, much like Milan Lucic, when he brings that physical element to his game he gets more into the flow and becomes the complete player he can be which usually translates into points for him.

Sometimes the emotion can get a little too high as Petrecki will now sit for the game next weekend for his undisciplined (a word often linked to Nick Petrecki unfortunately) head-butting in the final minutes of the game. It will be interesting to see who will take Petrecki's place and make up for his physical presence in a game. The stretch between now and the 20th of February may make or break the Eagles season. They have several games against teams they must beat (Providence, Amherst, Lowell) and the Beanpot, where victories over Northeastern and BU would certainly solidify their hold on an NCAA berth and a chance to defend their national crown.