BU: '22-'23 Season: Sail The Boats

[J.D.]

The Gopher Hobey arrogance has me almost rooting for you. Almost. Most of them seem entirely dismissive of what Lane Hutson did this year because Matthew Knies is a good forechecker.

[Rogie21]

The last time BU played on April 1. Two days after beating the Gophers, 7-3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5POvz7dUA7A

[BU93]

Was thinking going back to 1974 how many times I felt just “happy to be here” and not thinking they should or have a decent chance of winning. Maybe 97 but that changed after the Michigan win. The last three I felt they were the favorite and they won 2 of those and the other was fumbled away by the goalie. This year feels like gravy. I wonder how everyone feels about the least confident and most confident final 4’s. Most ‘78, ‘95, ‘15 Least ‘23 , ‘97, ‘90 (because of Wisc).

Since the drought of the 2000’s I feel “happy to be here” every time now. As someone who started following this team in the fall of 89, I was really spoiled for quite a while there. I really feel once you get here, anything can happen. For this one, we didn’t just sneak in. We got here winning 9 straight including a Hockey East Championship along the way. I know we’re not the favorite, but I like our chances against anyone right now.

[BU93]

The Gopher Hobey arrogance has me almost rooting for you. Almost. Most of them seem entirely dismissive of what Lane Hutson did this year because Matthew Knies is a good forechecker.

They will be experiencing Lane Hutson very soon. Nothing like a dose of disrespect to motivate you.

[Jofa]

They will be experiencing Lane Hutson very soon. Nothing like a dose of disrespect to motivate you.

just a guess but I think 5 yrs from now Knies will be a middling NHL player at best and Hutson will be a dynamic player for the hated Habs.

[mnstate0fhockey]

The Gopher Hobey arrogance has me almost rooting for you. Almost. Most of them seem entirely dismissive of what Lane Hutson did this year because Matthew Knies is a good forechecker.

I don’t know of any Gopher fans who are dismissive of Hutson. All the Gopher fans I know think he’s incredible. Admittedly, we haven’t had the chance to see him play as much as you guys, but he put up one of the best seasons, if not the best, by a freshman defenseman in NCAA history and was one of USA’s best players at the world juniors.

[mnstate0fhockey]

just a guess but I think 5 yrs from now Knies will be a middling NHL player at best and Hutson will be a dynamic player for the hated Habs.

Personally, I think both will have great NHL careers.

[Cross Check]

Knies over Hutson is comical. It really is.

Probably so, but there's no way the voters were going to make it three freshmen, even if they were deserving. Just was not going to happen. Fantilli was 100% going to be one of the nominees (and should have been). You could argue another upperclassman over Knies, like Jason Polin, but I think it was inevitable that when the game of musical chairs ended, either Cooley or Hutson was going to be left without a seat, deserving or not.

[Stauber1]

The Gopher Hobey arrogance has me almost rooting for you. Almost. Most of them seem entirely dismissive of what Lane Hutson did this year because Matthew Knies is a good forechecker.

Oh please. There was only one person being dismissive of a player, and it wasn't any of the Gopher fans.

[defkit]

Jofa - good question. Like BU93, the '90 Final Four in Detroit was the first for BU from the point I started following them. A quick synopsis of my mindset:

1990: despite clearly being on the rise and stocking talent, that team was only 25-17 I believe. The stunning series win in East Lansing over #1 MSU certainly had us feeling we could beat Colgate. At that time (my senior year) I didn't know enough about Wisconsin to be able to judge our chances. But after seeing what they did to Colgate, I think they were winning that thing regardless.

1991: Now this team was on a dominating run. We destroyed Michigan and Clarkson, so there was certainly reason for confidence. 15 goals and several posts later, it wasn't meant to be.

1993: I honestly don't recall much, just remember being frustrated with the chokehold LSSU put on us (and most other teams).

1994: Beating Minnesota in St. Paul, plus LSSU having to win 3 straight OT games made me very confident we would avenge the prior year.

1995: We didn't have an official win against Maine in the regular season (0-2-2 with I think a Shootout victory?), so I certainly wasn't thinking we would win by 4 goals. Shawn Walsh always made me nervous.

1996: the team peaked too early, so I had very little confidence.

1997: The win over Michigan is one of Parker's greatest games. Unfortunately I think he underestimated North Dakota's offense and moved away from the passive forecheck, and we couldn't keep up. I certainly felt we could win it all once we beat the Wolverines.

2009: very confident given the seeds that were knocked out before the FF.

2015: was very nervous about beating North Dakota (they were the higher seed), but once we got past them, it seemed the script had been written given the magical Eichel season and the fact that it was in Boston.

2023: We are the only #2 seed, and I am admittedly absolutely "thrilled to be here". I am going in assuming we will lose, hoping for a gutsy performance and a little luck to maybe get us past Minnesota.

[buoldtimer]

1997: The win over Michigan is one of Parker's greatest games. Unfortunately I think he underestimated North Dakota's offense and moved away from the passive forecheck, and we couldn't keep up. I certainly felt we could win it all once we beat the Wolverines.

As I recall, BU gift-wrapped 2 or 3 No Dak goals via brutal turnovers, including one by Drury.

[J.D.]

As I recall, BU gift-wrapped 2 or 3 No Dak goals via brutal turnovers, including one by Drury.

I was actually going through some old FF highlights and noticed one from this game. I forget the time score but a dman tried going up the middle and it got picked off at blue line and UND went in and scored. Sorta reminded me of Brian Boyle's goal in 2006 but not as egregious as that one.

[Bomber]

I always felt that 1997 hurt more than 1991. After beating that vaunted Michigan team, how do you not finish the deal? But then 2015 happened. The absolute pinnacle of gut-wrenching loses.

As far as expectations, 1994 is the tip of that mountain. I really thought that was a done deal. Heck, if the LSSU-Northeastern game were played today, LSSU doesn't get out of the first round (Look it up.)

This year feels like 1997. I just want to see them play their game, but I expect Minnesota's talent to win-out. Not to mention skating 5 D-men to contain that offense. *Shudder* Commesso is going to have to have the game of his life.

BU Hockey: Play Like You Have Nothing to Lose

[chickod]

Commesso is going to have to have the game of his life.

That's a given. Even with that it might not be enough. I've watched a ton of NHL this year (obviously given the Bruins great year) and what I've noticed, especially with the "huge" goalies now, is that the way to beat them is to get them moving side to side. There are more shots from OUTSIDE the face-off dots in one year than probably in the last 100 years. Nobody used to shoot from there, but the idea is to move the puck quickly before the goalie can get over. Similar to a skip pass against a zone in basketball. With a guy like Pastrnak they have been very successful doing that. If Minnesota can do that, I don't think there's much Commesso or anybody else would be able to do. So...we have to stay OUT of the penalty box, first of all. And then hope to get a couple of breaks, IMO. It's unfortunate that two of our outstanding players will be out and that our depth will be thin, but as everyone says, you can't make excuses, so it's "next man up."

[defkit]

I was actually going through some old FF highlights and noticed one from this game. I forget the time score but a dman tried going up the middle and it got picked off at blue line and UND went in and scored. Sorta reminded me of Brian Boyle's goal in 2006 but not as egregious as that one.

Chris Kelleher was the source of the other turnover, I believe.