Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

[TonyTheTiger20]

...if BU can stay out of the NU invitational this year.

Muse has been shaky, and our offense has been ridiculous - and balanced. We have about 9 players with 3+ goals. Should be a fun, fun game to watch.

Also, BU was my safety school. Discuss.

 

[BUT09]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

I'm reserving judgement on how BU might fare until after Friday night. I can't allow myself to be optimistic after two ties and a win.

That being said, if the team can't get up for a game against BC, I think that will say a lot about where the rest of the season is headed.

 

[joegrav]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

I felt that way watching a struggling BC team get blown out at BU in January last season.

BU will be okay this year but they're not where they need to be yet. BC wins big.

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

It would not be a very fun walk out of Agganis if we lose to a bu team we should beat handily. Ah, rivalry games.

 

[BU Hammer]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

I think this will be maybe the most telling weekend for BU hockey this season. I'm looking for two things:

1. Does BU have the leadership and focus to get up for the Vermont game with BC coming to Agganis the next night? Attitude, as Parker has said, has been an issue all year with this team. The team seemed to shake that last week and put together two solid efforts against Harvard and Cornell –– and in a sense, I see tying Cornell as a small victory, considering the way the game started out.

2. We're gong to find out just how talented BU really is when they take on BC. Attitude, focus, all that garbage that's distracted from BU's real talent level are going to be thrown out the window –– BU will show up to play BC and will play at its max level. BC is as talented as any HE team, IMHO, so if BU can compete there, I'll start to believe the turnaround is coming. If BC beats them handily, well, I'll know BU's "A" game really is probably only good enough for the middle of the pack in HE.

My guess: BU has a breakout weekend, beats Vermont, but spotty goaltending from Rollheiser and a couple defensive breakdowns costs them a 3rd period lead in a high-scoring affair, and everyone on Comm Ave goes home unsatisfied with a tie (I'm thinking like 5-5 or 6-6, something crazy like that).

 

[BUT09]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

I think this will be maybe the most telling weekend for BU hockey this season. I'm looking for two things:

1. Does BU have the leadership and focus to get up for the Vermont game with BC coming to Agganis the next night? Attitude, as Parker has said, has been an issue all year with this team. The team seemed to shake that last week and put together two solid efforts against Harvard and Cornell –– and in a sense, I see tying Cornell as a small victory, considering the way the game started out.

2. We're gong to find out just how talented BU really is when they take on BC. Attitude, focus, all that garbage that's distracted from BU's real talent level are going to be thrown out the window –– BU will show up to play BC and will play at its max level. BC is as talented as any HE team, IMHO, so if BU can compete there, I'll start to believe the turnaround is coming. If BC beats them handily, well, I'll know BU's "A" game really is probably only good enough for the middle of the pack in HE.

My guess: BU has a breakout weekend, beats Vermont, but spotty goaltending from Rollheiser and a couple defensive breakdowns costs them a 3rd period lead in a high-scoring affair, and everyone on Comm Ave goes home unsatisfied with a tie (I'm thinking like 5-5 or 6-6, something crazy like that).

If BU could take 3 points on the weekend, I might be one of the people on Comm Ave NOT unsatisfied with a tie.

I thought you freep types weren't supposed to make predictions?

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

It would not be a very fun walk out of Agganis if we lose to a bu team we should beat handily. Ah, rivalry games.

You could all hold each other's genitals as you go, that would make it more fun. I know Nick P. would absolutely love to be included in that, heck I bet he would be in even if you win by 10.

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

If BU could take 3 points on the weekend, I might be one of the people on Comm Ave NOT unsatisfied with a tie.

I don't know, last year, when the roles were reversed, I would have been pretty good with a tie.

 

[joegrav]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

I think this will be maybe the most telling weekend for BU hockey this season. I'm looking for two things:

1. Does BU have the leadership and focus to get up for the Vermont game with BC coming to Agganis the next night? Attitude, as Parker has said, has been an issue all year with this team. The team seemed to shake that last week and put together two solid efforts against Harvard and Cornell –– and in a sense, I see tying Cornell as a small victory, considering the way the game started out.

Yeah - there are good ties and bad ties, and that was a good tie for BU against Cornell. Whether or not this game would be a 'good tie' for BC depends on the circumstances of the game.

I just don't see BU getting 5 or 6 goals, the way they've been going. I know they scored 6 against Harvard (and Harvard is sooooooooo awesome, I read so in pre-season press clippings Yale too ) but they haven't had a huge offensive performance against a good team.

 

[joegrav]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

I don't know, last year, when the roles were reversed, I would have been pretty good with a tie.

Well, last year's first game at Agg was a tie, but you can't really say the roles were fully 'reversed' - BC hadn't started nosediving yet, and BU had already established themselves as a top-5 team by December. Then by January they were already rolling and were clear-cut #1.

BC is off to a pretty good start but they're nowhere near where BU was last year, not yet anyway.

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

Well, last year's first game at Agg was a tie, but you can't really say the roles were fully 'reversed' - BC hadn't started nosediving yet, and BU had already established themselves as a top-5 team by December. Then by January they were already rolling and were clear-cut #1.

BC is off to a pretty good start but they're nowhere near where BU was last year, not yet anyway.

This is true. I think I was remembering the feeling I had at the 2nd @BU game.

 

[Federal League]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

You could all hold each other's genitals as you go, that would make it more fun. I know Nick P. would absolutely love to be included in that, heck I bet he would be in even if you win by 10.

I think you're getting a little confused about who does what. UVM does the elephant walk. BC does the Beanpot Trot.

 

[BUT09]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

Yeah - there are good ties and bad ties, and that was a good tie for BU against Cornell. Whether or not this game would be a 'good tie' for BC depends on the circumstances of the game.

I just don't see BU getting 5 or 6 goals, the way they've been going. I know they scored 6 against Harvard (and Harvard is sooooooooo awesome, I read so in pre-season press clippings Yale too ) but they haven't had a huge offensive performance against a good team.

The Cornell tie felt like a win. Though maybe that was just in perspective.

The problem with BU's offense is it is really spotty. There is enough talent for it to be really potent (Bonino, Chiasson, Connolly, Saponari, even the defensemen), but the execution and finish just isn't there a lot of the time.

 

[joegrav]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

Last year BU's offense-from-the-d-men was freakin' scary, like nothing I've seen at the NCAA level. Especially Warsofsky and Shattenkirk who were two of the most entertaining players to watch last year, imo.

From browsing through the BU thread it seems like y'all think Warso has dropped off this year. What happened? Just a sophomore slump? Or is there something in particular that's dragging his game down?

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

Last year BU's offense-from-the-d-men was freakin' scary, like nothing I've seen at the NCAA level.

IMO the scariest part of BU last year was the powerplay. Oy.

 

[Federal League]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

From browsing through the BU thread it seems like y'all think Warso has dropped off this year. What happened? Just a sophomore slump? Or is there something in particular that's dragging his game down?

He suffered a hip injury that kept him out of 3 games. Parker also experimented with him at LW for 2 games.

Before the injury, I think he was his usual phenomenal self. Then he got the injury, they rushed him back for the game at Maine, and he was clearly not even close to being ready to play. So, he missed the next 2 games as well and then got moved to wing, where he was clearly struggling to adapt. Now he's been back on D for the last two games, and I think he's starting to look a lot more comfortable again. If he isn't already back to normal, I'd say he's very, very close.

 

[Agganis]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

From browsing through the BU thread it seems like y'all think Warso has dropped off this year. What happened? Just a sophomore slump? Or is there something in particular that's dragging his game down?

I don't agree with (or remember reading someone posting) this sentiment. IMO he has been the best D so far this year (when healthy or not at forward as FL noted) and it's virtually impossible to make an argument that hes not one of the top 3 D. However, when the team is coming off of last year's high and is below .500 no one is immune to criticism. Also the returning 4 D were expected to fill at least a significant portion the shoes of Gilroy and Strait left, and they probably still have room to grow into those shoes, but IMO losing Quinn could be one of the most underrated losses in the programs history, which could be the larger issue as far as the D is concerned.

 

[Tater]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

Last year BU's offense-from-the-d-men was freakin' scary, like nothing I've seen at the NCAA level. Especially Warsofsky and Shattenkirk who were two of the most entertaining players to watch last year, imo.

From browsing through the BU thread it seems like y'all think Warso has dropped off this year. What happened? Just a sophomore slump? Or is there something in particular that's dragging his game down?

Being in VT, I've only been to a few games, but in those (esp. against UNH) I think Warsofsky is the best player on the ice.

 

[FiveHole12]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

The team seemed to shake that last week and put together two solid efforts against Harvard and Cornell –– and in a sense, I see tying Cornell as a small victory, considering the way the game started out.

BU to the EZAC... a perfect fit.

 

[BU Hammer]

Re: Boston College @ Boston University, 12/5 - The First Of Four Venues

Being in VT, I've only been to a few games, but in those (esp. against UNH) I think Warsofsky is the best player on the ice.

I've been to all but two games, and although I think this might a slight overstatement, Warsofsky has looked very good when healthy and at defense. I'd argue Bonino (when healthy) and Connolly have been the best players on the team. Warso's a clear number three, IMHO, with Chiasson and Shattenkirk (over the last 3-4 games).

I know I might be in the minority, but I think Shatty has improved tremendously, and looked very good against Cornell. The breakaway goal notwithstanding (Shatty pinned that one on Colby -- leadership might still need some work), he has been much, much better facilitating on the power play and in the offensive zone in general.