DETROIT – When this season began, Boston College goaltender John Muse was the team’s biggest question. Coming off surgery in the summer to repair his hip, head coach Jerry York wondered if we’d see the standout netminder before November.
When he appeared in net, though, to start the season, many were shocked. But a somewhat slow start and inconsistent play at times saw Muse on the bench heading into the playoff run. Freshman Parker Milner played made four straight and five of six starts between February 21 and the team’s opening playoff game on March 12.
It was that March 12 contest, though, a 6-5 win over Massachusetts, that Milner, for the first time looked a bit jittery in net. The net night, Muse was back between the pipes and has been there ever since.
“Parker was playing great,” said Muse, the day before his team faces Miami in the national semifinal at the Frozen Four at Ford Field in Detroit. “When you have a hot goalie, you don’t change it up.”
Point taken, certainly. Which might make some wonder if York ever thought about going back to Milner after the team 9-7 regional final victory over Yale. Muse surrendered a career-high seven goals, just a week after matching his previous career mark of six goals allowed in the Hockey East title game, a 7-6 overtime win over Maine.
Muse, though, was never concerned whether or not he’d be the starter on Thursday in Detroit
“As for the Yale game, they scored a bunch of goals, but a win’s a win,” said Muse. “That’s all we’re looking for right now.”