Knot Happy

Boston College second-year center Brian Gibbons just silenced the … um … silence, beating Carroll. That wasn’t hard to do, seeing as the ‘keeper was on his caboose, and coach Donato wasn’t too thrilled with the turn of events. The usually reasonable helmsman popped up onto his bench, berating the officials (about perceived kick-in goal, … Read more

Crashing In = Cashing In

This is turning into P.O.’s show, as the speedy 5’10” sophomore pocketed another rebound goal. Matt McCollem generated the first shot, which popped way out to Michaud who was crashing the net. 2-1 Harvard, over 12 to play in the second …

Latest Icing Ever

As in, that was just. Small pet peeve is when the officials are late on the blow; that’s how players get unnecessarily injured. Saw it last week, saw it again tonight. It’s a needlessly risky act. I Will Survive from the Harvard musicians again … this band director must’ve really liked “The Birdcage” or something … Read more

BC PP #2

The last time BC had a power play, Steve Rolecek and Jimmy Fraser forechecked the heck out of them. Time to see if it’s a repeatable skill. Eagles on the advantage, Chad Morin to the box.

End 1

13-10 BC in shots, each team’s converted a 5×3, and the loudest thing in the arena right now is the Zamboni. Some observational notes: I’m noticing an NU kid holding a “B.U. <3 A-Rod” sign … the Eagles’ band loves Coldplay (see my previous note) … and I’m betting top dollar that there will be … Read more

And Away We Go

With four minutes to go in the first, we’ve got a live one. Sure, the score is still 1-1, but it’s becoming clear that these teams are feeding off something other than the swirling void encircling the ice. BC frosh Paul Carey somehow found a way to pick up the puck behind Carroll’s net, drop … Read more

Refs Keeping Busy

At least the stripes aren’t too proud to occupy themselves. Another 5×3, this one swinging BC’s way as Rence Coassin is sent off. The Eagles potted the game-tying goal right away, with Joe Whitney blasting one by Carroll from the point. The literally 14 Superfans I can count in the BC section rejoice.

BC to the PP

Now the Eagles get a chance, and boy, must they like their chances: the Crimson are a woeful 77.6 percent on the kill this year. As one of the WHRB (Harvard radio) staffers pointed out, Harvard’s opponents collectively have a top-three power play nationally. The BC power play, by the way, is also around 16 … Read more

The 5×3

BC’s penalty kill this year: just shy of 16 percent. Harvard’s power play: just above 16 percent. That’s convenient. Time running out on the Crimson; 20 seconds left on the Petrecki minor and only a post to show for it. … I stand corrected! A mighty roar erupts from the three dozen currently composing the … Read more

Count the Fans

The most populated section appears to be 307. About 26 people, give or take … all wearing Scarlet & White. Appears the BU fans came out early to compensate for leaving early last week. Harvard embarking on a 1:13 5×3 … Petrecki to the box for BC, no surprise there.

The Matchup

Harvard head coach Ted Donato is playing sophomore Ryan Carroll between the pipes — his first start of the year, and his third appearance. Jerry York made no such moves, giving John Muse a chance to finish what he started, literally: Muse was replaced for the first time in his two-year career last week, giving … Read more

Beanpot Blog, Round 2

Welcome to the ever-popular consolation game. The Harvard Crimson face off against the Boston College Eagles in front of a friends, family & ushers crowd, with a few dozen Boston University and Northeastern fans thrown in just for fun. The anthem receives an A- … Harvard’s a capella quintet, The Callbacks, were appropriately attired for … Read more

Almost the Home Stretch

It seems like I just took my Christmas tree down and yet there’s only a few weeks left in the regular season. The NCHA and MCHA regular seasons conclude next weekend, with the rest of the leagues following shortly after. We’ll crown a national champion 40 days from today. Here’s a breakdown of where we … Read more

Shootouts won’t count double

With news Thursday that the WCHA women’s league won’t use the result of shootouts to determine tiebreakers in the league standings, everyone is in agreement. The CCHA and the Hockey East women’s league already made that same determination, and it only seems to make sense. Those leagues are awarding shootout winners an extra point on … Read more

All She Wrote: NU 6, BC 1

That’s that. The final siren served as the formal ending to a bloodbath that had long ago been decided: final score, 6-1 Northeastern. On to the Beanpot finals, where they’ll tangle with an undoubtedly fortunate-feeling Boston University, which escaped Harvard by the skin of its teeth. See you all next Monday!

Shot Totals are Stupid

BC has been credited with 45 shots tonight. Even if NU had 80 under their logo (and they don’t, it’s 26), I’d still be sitting here, railing against shots as the be-all, end-all statistical indicator of game flow. Shots mean squat if you can’t develop screens, can’t create cross-ice opportunities, can’t crash the net and … Read more

Suffocation

I don’t think the Eagles have held the puck in the offensive zone for as many as ten seconds in about four hours. Or so it feels. Northeastern is not only stymying the Maroon & Gold in the neutral zone, but they continue to come hard after the puck in the offensive end as well. … Read more

No. 1 vs. No. 2?

As the “nine minutes” chant rims around the arena the way the puck rides the dasher, it suddenly dawned upon me that should Notre Dame (currently No. 2 in the polls) lose a game against Ohio State — and they have two “opportunities” to do so — next week’s Beanpot finale could very well pit … Read more