The Terriers travel to good ole' Amherst,MA on Friday to continue their Hockey East schedule against the UMass Minutemen. UMass currently sits 7th in HE with a 6-9-1 conference record. They are 9-12-2 overall but have some impressive wins @ BC and home against UNH. They are a dangerous team and it is always tough to take all 3 games against a conference opponent. BU swept the home and home back in October by scores of 5-2 and 3-2. The Minutemen are lead by junior forwards Connor Sheary(5-12-17) and Brendan Gracel(11-11-22) along with classmate Mike Pereira (6-8-14).. They have won 2 of their last 3 and are riding the hot hand of sophomore goalie Steve Mastalerz who has started the last 3 games and has given up no more than 3 goals in each of those games.
This will be a tough test as it is the game before the Beanpot(which begins Monday) for the Terriers. However since 98-99, BU is 21-5-2 in games directly before a Beanpot game. Coach Parker seems to always have them ready to play(*knocks on wood). The team has every reason not to overlook UMass in a tough environment out at Mullins. BU put itself in a quick 2-0 hole out there last game and clawed back for a 3-2 win. You cannot get off to a bad start again and expect to win. This will be a test of the mental toughness of this team to take control of this game from the get go. You can't consistently come back from 2-0 deficits(see @PC last weekend, @ UMass in October). Goalie Sean Maguire will get the nod Friday while Matt O'Connor will start in the Beanpot on Monday. Coach Parker also said today at the Beanpot Luncheon that he expected Evan Rodrigues back from his hand injury for the game on Friday. That is certainly good news as he is a top 6 forward and the hottest scorer on this team. That whole second line of Nieto-O'Regan- Rodrgiues is really clicking right now. It will be important for the 3rd line of Lane- Rosen - Kurker to continue to score and become a legitimate scoring threat. That line has scored goals in 2 of the last 3 games and will be key coming down the stretch for this team.
Hatrick Swayze, GW and myself will be making the trip so we should have a recap at some point before the Beanpot. Yes we are going out there like this
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