Weekend Recap - Blind Squirrels are Still Blind

- Actual footage of Northeastern trying to play hockey this weekend. Wobbly would have been their most effective forward. If you don't get the reference, read our preview from Thursday

The BU Terriers swept the Northeastern Huskies in their home and home series this past weekend. BU did so rolling three lines each night as numerous forwards were benched for a night(4 Friday, 4 Saturday) for a violation of team rules. The players who did play, played well as BU found the scoring touch that they seriously lacked in South Bend last weekend. The Terriers also got solid performances from both Matt O'Connor and Sean Maguire once again as both continue to put up solid numbers and play better than their numbers indicate.

On Friday night, BU celebrated senior night before the game and continued the celebration into the first period as Kevin Duane scored off of Colton Saucerman's leg to give the Terriers a lead that they would never give up. Danny O'Regan would make it 2-0 less than 30 second later. Both goals were shots that NU goalie Clay Witt would want back as both beat him 5-hole and were not difficult saves by any means.  BU would stretch the lead to 3-0 on a Robbie"Carrots" Baillargeon breakaway goal midway through the second. NU would score once to make it a 3-1 game but never got any closer as Ahti Oksanen " finnished" the game with a 200 foot goal on an empty net. BU held on for the 4-1 win and their most convincing win since an October win vs Wisconsin.

Friday night was a big win for the team as they proved to everyone that they could beat a top 10 team with 9 forwards and 5 D(the 6th D TJ Ryan was injured in the game and did not return). It was also a big win in that it was Jack Parker's number retirement night as a ceremony took place during the first intermission(video included after the jump). It was a well done ceremony and Coach Parker certainly deserves it for all he did for BU hockey. He catches so much hate from opposing fans which makes you realize what a good coach he was. Opposing fans don't hate bad coaches. For example, we love Jim Madigan. Coach Parker's #6 is now the second retired number in BU hockey history along with Travis Roy's 24.Congrats to Coach Parker and all of BU hockey.



Despite it being Northeastern's senior night, it quickly became the Matt Lane show at Matthews Arena. BU got out to a 1-0 lead on a powerplay goal by Lane. Doyle Somerby did a great job of getting a low, hard shot on net from the point off the draw. Mike Moran did a great job screening Witt who left a juicy rebound for Lane to bang home. BU would give up the next two goals to NU to give them a 2-1 lead midway through the second. NU's first goal was on a Braden Pimm wrister that bounced up off Matt O'Connor off his back and into the net. It certainly is one that he would like to have back. The second NU goal was off an odd man rush where NU found the trailer who let a wrister go top shelf past Matt O'Connor. BU would take over the scoring from there as would tie the game up 3 minutes later on a breakaway where he faked forehand and made Clay Witt shit his pants while he beat him backhand. Doyle Somerby scored the game winner less than two minutes later off of a nice play by Tommy Kelley who turned a 1 on 2 into a legitimate scoring chance before Somerby put the puck past Witt from his backhand. Mike Moran scored the insurance marker 8 minutes into the third to ice the game as NU could not beat OC even with a 6 on 4 advantage late. BU held on for the 4-2 win and first road victory of the year.

The defensive corps was key for BU this weekend as Garrett Noonan and Ahti Oksanen stood out to me as having good nights both nights. Somerby scored his first collegiate goal while recording his first multi-point game as a Terrier. Pat MacGregor also contributed offensively and was solid in the defensive end. Oksanen made one bad decision in the offensive end all weekend and he made the play to keep the puck in the zone but it was a chance he needs to eliminate from his game for the times when he doesn't make the play.

The sweep and 4 points for BU knocked Northeastern down to 15 in the pairwise and down to 5th in Hockey East. This forces the Huskies into a must win QF next weekend at UNH which is no easy place to play. BU moved into 9th place in HE with the win Friday and now travels to Notre Dame this Saturday for the one game opening round game. If BU happens to lose(highly unlikely), the season will be over. If they win(highly likely), they will travel to BC, Lowell or Providence for a HE QF series. I'll be there live because I wouldn't miss the beginning of the catholic school knockout tour for anything but you can see the game on NBC sports network.