Men’s Ice Hockey: Player Ratings vs. Providence

OFFENSE – Grade B

The Boston University offense mustered four goals against a Providence defense and goaltender with a sub-two goals against average. Friday night, despite many chances to score, the Terriers couldn’t find a way past Friars’ goalie Nick Ellis. With under two minutes remaining and the BU goalie pulled, the Terriers finally broke through from Ahti Oksanen’s splendid tally. Saturday, after two dormant periods and frustration brewing, the Terriers solved the stalwart Providence defense, scoring three times in the third period. The third period offense returned to its top form from a year ago this weekend as the Terriers scored four goals against arguably the country’s best defense.

DEFENSE – Grade B+

The Boston University defense allowed four goals over to games against a Providence team that had been averaging 4.57 goals per game going into the weekend. Three of the four goals came on the power play, and the one even strength goal came as a result of a defensive breakdown in the slot. The defense held the Friars’ top line, which had registered 24 points coming into the weekend, to just one goal and four points for the weekend. BU shut down the top ranked team in the nation, and despite not getting a win, they got the better of the weekend series with two ties.

GOALTENDING – Grade A-

Connor LaCouvee was not the first choice goaltender in preseason, but after taking over in the opening weeks, the sophomore has truly stepped up to the task and earned his starting spot. LaCouvee made 64 saves on the weekend. Although he couldn’t get the win in either game, Connor LaCouvee made some game saving stops, including multiple odd-man rushes and a few dazzling saves on Friar break-aways. His impressive performances helped BU keep pace with the nation’s best team, a huge confidence booster for a young team.

SPECIAL TEAMS – Grade C+

While the power play had stark success, the penalty kill struggled against an immense Providence special teams. The Friars’ power play, which maintained its impressive average of one goal per game while on the man-advantage, struck thrice and converted at 25% on the weekend. Meanwhile, the power play remained stellar, with two goals and a 20% conversion rate over both games. While the Terrier power play unit shined, the penalty kill left much to be desired.

TERRIERS’ THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. Jakob Forsbakca Karlsson

There is a new man in the presidential race and his name is JFK. Same name, different face. Regardless of his lack of political enterprises, freshman Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson etched his name into Terrier fans’ hearts this weekend contributing to all four goals. His scrappiness showed on Friday as he won a loose puck back to his Scandinavian linemante Oksanen for the tying goal. Saturday, JFK and Oksanen hooked up again via Matt Grzelcyk, this time on the power play. JFK added two markers of his own to pace the Terriers.

2. Ahti Oksanen

The Finnish phenom Ahti Oksanen showed once again that he was out of his scoring drought, netting two goals on the weekend for his team leading fifth and sixth tallies. The marksmen scored a classy wrist-shot on Friday to tie the game, and then on a one-timer from an impossible angle on Saturday. Besting Friars’ goaltender Nick Ellis has not been easy for opponents this season. Not only did Oksanen do so twice, but he did it with two unbelievable goals.

3. Connor LaCouvee

LaCovee played both games this weekend and stood tall this weekend against a potent Providence team. His efforts kept BU in the game, and led to a weekend split of the points with two ties.