The Boston College Eagles will travel west to South Bend, Indiana to face their Catholic rivals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Eagles will have to get use to the travel as Notre Dame will be coming to Hockey East in 2012 from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association as that conference disbands due to the creation of the Big Ten Hockey Conference and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
This will be a battle of two top ten teams in the latest USCHO.com poll on Friday night. I have chronicled Boston College’s success this season. Let look at the Fighting Irish.
They are 8-2-2 overall and 6-1-2-0 in the CCHA and are led by two sophomore forward s Ty Tynan and Anders Lee.
Tynan a small forward was overlooked in the 2010 NHL Draft, but the Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the third round in 2011. He has three goals and 17 assists in 12 games. Lee was overlooked in the 2008 draft before being drafted in 2009 in the 4th round by the New York Islanders. He has 12 goals and five assists in 12 games.
Detroit first round in 2009, Riley Sheehan has four goals and eight assists in ten games.
Defensively, freshman Robbie Russo has two goals and four assists in 12 games. In net, Mike Johnson
has seen the majority of the action, with a 5-1-2 record, with a 2.24 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.
In the end, I see Boston College pulling this one out in a close one. They have something to prove after getting blown out against their arch-rivals on Sunday. As for the football game this Saturday, I will take Notre Dame to defeat Boston College.
Other Friday night games
Vermont at Boston University
This looks like a trap game for the Terriers after defeating Boston College on Sunday and they will be facing New Hampshire on Saturday. I still have to take the Terriers because the Catamounts haven’t looked good at all this year. Sophomores Matt Nieto and Charlie Coyle are getting it together offensively.
Providence at Northeastern
I have been on the Friars band wagon all season and I am not jumping off in this game. Nate Leaman has pushing all the right buttons this year and getting production from all the classes. Although you never know what the Huskies will bring. If Northeastern can play defensive game, they have a chance.
Maine at Massachusetts
A battle of two middle of the pack teams that look like they are going in the opposite direction. The Minuteman are coming of a non conference win over Holy Cross while the Black Bears lost two heart breakers to UMass-Lowell. I like the Minutemen’s depth to prevail
UMass-Lowell at New Hampshire
The Wildcats are up there where they are suppose to be and I say they will win a high scoring game. Their veterans are finally getting it together and at least two points is a must this weekend to on the top half of the conference. The River Hawks will provide a tough test with their offensive prowess, but I like New Hampshire.
Saturday’s Games
New Hampshire at Boston University
This will be an entertaining game between two teams off to a slow start. You can go either way in this match-up, but I think with the game in Boston I like the Terriers. Can the Terriers potentially three solid games from their goaltending? Can Stevie Moses continue his solid play? This should a one goal game.
Vermont at Northeastern
A battle at the bottom of the standings and I think Vermont will pick up the victory. I thought of them as at middle of the pack team at the beginning of the year, they should start to turn the corner. With Rawlings in net for Northeastern, he can steal a game. At the end of the day I like Vermont’s veterans.
Massachusetts at UMass-Lowell
Another intriguing rivalry game between two teams I like coming into the weekend. I think Lowell with the wins over Boston University and Maine, they are on a roll. I like how Riley Wetamore is playing and the emergence of freshman Scott Wilson.