Eight days ago, Boston College was one of the hottest teams in the country, surging after its first Beanpot title in a decade and boasting the look of a Frozen Four darkhorse. Now, the Eagles are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament entirely.
Their bitter rivals from down the road are the main reason why.
BU had little to play for in the Battle of Comm Ave except for playoff seeding and the chance to ruin the Eagles’ season. Which, to be clear, is not a good thing. The Terriers would far rather a Hockey East regular season title, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, or even just an at-large bid to the dance be on the line. But all three went out the window a long time ago.
That’s why, during his rinkside interview at Agganis Arena ahead of the series opener on Friday, senior Owen McLaughlin said: “We have nothing to lose.”
And the Terriers have done pretty well under those circumstances. Since any hope of a late-season surge was extinguished at the Beanpot final on Feb. 9, BU has won three of four. A 5-1, sweep-clinching victory at Conte Forum on Saturday put the Terriers on only their second three-game win streak of the season — and first of the second semester. It’s a significant threshold, given BU will need to win at least three in a row to save its season in the Hockey East tournament.
And there’s a good chance the Terriers might need four in a row. Therein lies some of the value in BU’s regular-season finale on Saturday. If the Terriers win at UMass Lowell, they’ll be on a four-game bounce for the first time all season.
That — cliché as it may be — is peaking at the right time.
Jay Pandolfo was asked about that cliché, and if he felt BU was trending in that direction, in the Conte Forum press room.
“I hope so,” BU’s fourth-year head coach said. “Right now, we’re trying to not even think about that. We’re trying to get better every day and better every game.”
To that end, one thing feels obvious: BU is a better team now than it was a few weeks ago.
Just ask Boston College.
A look at the Hockey East standings headed into the finale
UMass defeated BC on Thursday night, ending BU’s chances at HE’s No. 4 seed and the home quarterfinal that comes with it. The Terriers will either be the No. 5 or No. 6 seed, depending on their result in Lowell and Maine’s result at Vermont. The difference there is enormous. The No. 6 hosts a first-round game on Wednesday; the No. 5 skips the first round entirely.
BU will be the fifth seed if…
- BU wins in regulation and Maines loses in any form, either in regulation, overtime or a shootout.
- BU wins in overtime or a shootout and Maine loses in regulation.
If BU loses and Maine wins, in any form, the Terriers will host Vermont in the first round. If the Terriers sneak into a first-round bye, they’d open their HE tournament campaign at either UMass or Boston College (likely BC). BU won each of its regular-season games at Mullins Center and Conte Forum.
BU is mathematically eliminated from at-large contention. It must win the Hockey East tournament to qualify for NCAAs. Playoffstatus.com gave the Terriers a six-percent chance to win HE as of Friday night.
Fondrk’s status in question
The freshman forward missed Saturday’s game at Boston College with an undisclosed injury, after skating as the extra forward on Friday.
Pandolfo said Fondrk will be a “game-time decision” in Lowell. He’s only got three goals and eight points in 25 games this season, but was running as a top six forward in BU’s series against UNH three weeks ago.
“Hopefully he can get ready,” Pandolfo said. “Because he’s been playing really well lately.”