BOSTON COLLEGE 2025 - 2026

[Nick Papagiorgio]

This is what most of us have long thought on here but seems not to always hold true. For example last year Maine was the highest remaining seed and played in the 2nd game.

Maybe that’s how it starts but TV can override?

Make no mistake, NESN (and perhaps ESPN?) has a lot of say in the process. The league works with them on best solutions and each may have to bend in certain situations each season depending on certain variables. Sometimes the league needs a team from far away (Maine/Vermont) to be put into Game 2 even if it inconveniences the top seed remaining (and personally I do think a distinction can be made between the 1 seed and the top seed remaining but it's a minor thing some might not agree with). After all, an empty building for Game 1 doesn't help the league, which also benefits NESN/ESPN in the long-term.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Anyway, I'm surprised BC was able to muster such an effort against Maine on Friday. It is reasonable to ask where this effort was the past few weeks. Obviously we are ride-or-die with Cloutier, as that ship sailed a few weeks ago; he did well on Friday. I think one thing people forget is that BC was so far behind the curve in NPI so early, it probably put a panic of sorts on the staff and didn't really allow a goaltending competition to develop. After a few games, they felt like the proof was there and were forced to go with it. Worked for a while and got BC up to 74% likely in the tournament but it was time to test things out in the last week and they froze. It is what it is.

Jellvik really looked strong; he almost had a similar one-timer goal in the slot earlier in the game in the 2nd period. Impressive release. He really is a game-changer and he seems to be in game shape.

I think BC is probably fortunate to avoid UMass as that's a huge goaltending/coaching mismatch but with no at-large path I guess it doesn't matter if they come out of the first semifinal. While BC put a sideways 8 on Hrabal in the Garden 2 short seasons ago, a lot has changed. At this point the remaining three teams aside from BC are well-coached team with good goaltending so BC is going to have to generate offense in any way possible and be adaptable. The Stiga goal was a nice reminder of finding alternate ways to generate offense. Hemming has been quiet but I do still think his size will help BC be able to grind out games and bring more physicality if need be.

The backchecking effort was also great. Maine had nothing all night. I can't imagine driving all that way and have nothing to cheer for. Bummer lol.

Going forward now you can't change a thing in terms of the lineup card, obviously. Hope it works.

Is BC the best team remaining of these four? Absolutely. Now the question is, will they play like it? I will set expectations according to season results and will remain open to being pleasantly surprised.

I hope BC facilities scrubbed down the entire arena Saturday morning. The NU riff-raff on NESN (honestly reminded me of the old pinhead days when UML fanbase were considered "mutants") that was over there on Wednesday must have left quite the stench before Maine fans could even leave their own "mark" on Conte.

 

[BC/HE]

Make no mistake, NESN (and perhaps ESPN?) has a lot of say in the process. The league works with them on best solutions and each may have to bend in certain situations each season depending on certain variables. Sometimes the league needs a team from far away (Maine/Vermont) to be put into Game 2 even if it inconveniences the top seed remaining (and personally I do think a distinction can be made between the 1 seed and the top seed remaining but it's a minor thing some might not agree with). After all, an empty building for Game 1 doesn't help the league, which also benefits NESN/ESPN in the long-term.

I think the top remaining seed is given a choice on which game to play in. Almost always they want the opener for two reasons. One, more rest before the next day and two the possibility of OT raising havoc on the second game start time. There is also the distinct possibility of two OT games making the second game end very late. Maine probably wanted the late game last year in order to give their fans more time to get down to Boston. As you said Maine and Vermont are probably the only two that would use that reasoning.