Men’s Ice Hockey: PLAYER RATINGS vs. Massachusetts
By: Dan Shulman
OFFENSE: A
The Boston University Terriers offense exploded for seven goals against the UMass Minutemen, and were applying constant pressure in what was there strongest outing of the season. The passing in the offensive zone was crisp and superb, and the zone time was dominated by the Terriers all night long.
DEFENSE: A-
There were a few instances (see both UMass goals) where the defense faltered, but the Terriers were able to stonewall the Minutemen for the greater part of sixty minutes. On both goals, the blue-liners looked disinterested, but on all other occasions of any offensive threat for UMass, the Terriers were quick to use their physical and skillful advantage to outplay the Minutemen.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A+
Both special teams units were stellar on Saturday. The power play went 1-3 while the penalty kill went 4-4 and supplied a shorthanded goal. Most of UMass’ power play time looked like BU was on the man advantage, as the Minutemen never could really set up shop in the offensive zone.
GOALTENDING: A-
Sean Maguire was left out to dry on both UMass goals, but shut down the Minutemen for the rest of the night. His play is calm, cool, and collected and he knows what to do in tricky situations. On two occasions, Maguire prevented a breakaway by skating out toward the blue-line to clear a puck away, and has consistently been a good puck-handling goaltender all season.
TERRIERS’ THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT
- Matt Grzelcyk
Grzelcyk has returned from injury (again) and has been the Terriers’ biggest contributor in the second half of the season. The captain netted his first collegiate hat-trick, a natural one at that, and was +3 on the night.
- Bobo Carpenter
On a day where his sister, reigning Patty Kazmaier award winner Alex Carpenter, played against the BU Women’s Hockey team at Walter Brown Arena, Bobo was the best Carpenter sibling to take the ice Saturday. Scoring once and adding an assist, Carpenter had five shots on goal and was a +2 rating.
- Charlie McAvoy
Finally playing to his full potential, McAvoy has really come into his own as of late, and Saturday was no different. Recording two assists, McAvoy was a team-high +4 and even had a shot on goal.
HM: Robbie Baillargeon – two points (1G, 1A), second goal in as many games, three shots on goal, +3 rating…Robbie sparked the third line and has started to show signs of the Baillargeon who won Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 2014
HM: Ahti Oksanen – when you record 10 shots on goal, it’s worth mentioning. Some teams barely do that in a game, but Ahti did it singlehandedly. Had zero points but was a +1 on the night.