Re: Boston University 2010-11 Part III - Is That So Much To Ask?
But is the matchup against MC that lopsided? The goal difference on the year is +1 to MC, with two games on their home ice. You have to wonder how nerves would play in for MC playing at the Garden if they got there, whomever they play.
Depends on what you consider "the matchup". Head to head, yes, it was close, but BU did not win a game. In the head to head component of the PWR, that looks like "1-0" MC, since Merrimack won one game and lost none.
Abandoning the RPI/PWR and looking at league play, Merrimack has scored 29 more goals than they have given up, which is pretty similar to UNH (+33) and BC (+36) but a far cry from BU's mark (+7).
BU is only two points back of Merrimack, but got those points in part by three season sweeps of lower-ranked teams, Amherst, Lowell and Providence. They took no points from BC, but had good showings against Maine and UNH. Thing is, UNH itself has dropped in the PWR, so those wins are not worth nearly as much as wins against BC. Neither of the opponents BU has left can possibly boost BU's PWR that much, no matter what the result, as NU and UVM are not ranked highly enough. Conversely, MC has only one sweep (Amherst) but has taken every series it has finished so far, usually 2-1-- the notable exceptions being BU (1-0-2) and UVM (2-0-1). BU has made more points from its ties (5) than MC (3) and some components of RPI/PWR seem to only take into account wins. MC has two more league wins. That would be the next tiebreaker used, although in the case of MC and BU there's no need for it, as head to head goes first and MC owns the tiebreaker on the other three top teams.
Unfortunately for just about everybody who has had to play them this month, NU is peaking late, and they are now a much better team than their ranking indicates, so that is really a trap series. Nobody will be that surprised if NU takes a few points, but earning those points for BU will be a lot harder, and the win not worth as much in terms of the NCAAs.
Last point... nerves.
Frankly if this was a Merrimack team composed of some of the best MC players I've seen in the past two decades, I'd probably agree. This team has an entirely different composition, though. I've honestly seen nary a moment of panic or nerves, and Coach Dennehy has said he's made it a point to go after guys who have tourney-winning experience prior to playing college hockey. BC and BU may very well treat the Garden ice as a home away from home, but where I think that might have been a big factor against MC teams of the past, I think it will be greatly minimized this year. These guys believe they deserve to win; there's simply no "oh no here we go again" light that's going to go on over their heads if they go into a playoff game and the opponent scores.
That's not to say I necessarily think that MC would win such a game; only that they can, and that I don't think the spotlight is going to bother this team that much. I think perhaps last season's opener at NoDak caused that kind of reaction, but I think they are better prepared now.
she has been mostly MIA lately............g'night BU folk, it was enjoyable on here today............thanks for having me
. 