The #15 Terriers of Boston University take on the #12 UMass Lowell Riverhawks this weekend in a crucial home and home series. Lowell took the first game of the year by a 4-3 margin which was marked by Garrett Noonan's "spearing" of goalie Doug Carr. Carr sold the call and that call probably cost the Terriers the game. It also got us blocked by Hockey East on Twitter but that is all in the past. This series is crucial for both teams as they fight for home ice in the conference playoffs and for NCAA tournament bids. The top 6 teams in Hockey East are all within 5 points of each other and every game left is crucial.
Now I could go on and on about how important this weekend and Tuesday's game against Merrimack is but I am not going to. I could talk about Lowell has only lost 2 games in 2013(one to Maine) and how strong they have been charging up the standings of late. I could talk about how the Terriers need to build off last weekend's solid performance in Orono. I can give you a bunch of stats about guys who make Lowell go like freshman goalie Conor HELLebuyck(8-1-0, .936. 1.75 GAA) or Joe Pendenza(10-14-24) and Scott Wilson(8-15-23). I could also say how much of a shithole the city of the Lowell is. I could talk about how one USCHO "expert" picked BU to get 0 points in their next 3 games. 0. The other picked a 1-2 record. I could go on and on about the media disrespect and writing this team off. I am going to avoid all of this because other people write about that already and do it much better than us.
This preview/paragraph is going to focus/be all about the first shift of the game. That is the only shift we are concerned with right now. Then, when that shift ends, we will be worried about the next shift. No, we won't have a preview for each shift so shut it. First shift of the game is going to start with Cason Hohmann winning the draw and then the first line needs to develop a nice cycle with forwards Wade Megan and Sahir Gill. The first shift will set the tone for the game and the weekend. BU needs to be physical early and keep possession in the offensive zone putting all the pressure on HELLebuyck and just let OC chill and do his thing down the other end. Then the second line will come on and do the same. Rinse,cycle, repeat for 60 minutes and BU will have 2 more ponies and a bump in the pairwise. It is all about one shift at a time. One play at a time. When this team makes the game simple for themselves, their talent takes over and they win hockey games. That is what they need this weekend and what they did so well Saturday night in Maine when they scored 4 unanswered goals in a 15 minute stretch. Go BU! Lowell sucks!
No comments:
Post a Comment