Matinee Dog Fight

It was another Hockey East Saturday here in the Hub of Hockey as I got to spend some quality time at Historic Matthews Arena. Today’s matchup was a matinee between the Boston University Terriers and the Northeastern Huskies. In this long running matchup, the records don’t mean squat when these rivals face-off; but there’s more to this story than just wins and losses.

The Terriers came into this one at 1-6-0 overall, but those numbers don’t give a true picture of the squad.  Outside of their W against UNH (sorry for the stray Wildcats), BU has matched up against nothing but ranked opponents thus far this season.  They’ve squared up against Minn-Duluth (#3), Colgate (#8), Brown (#15) and now NU sitting at #12. For the Huskies? They’ve had an easier road to today’s tilt outside of their matchup against the buzzsaw that is currently Quinnipiac University. 

So let’s put their records aside for the moment. This was BU’s last trip to Historic Matthews Arena. Think about that. The Terriers have played many a game here in the old barn and I’m sure they want to close it out with a dub. From the Huskies’ perspective? I’m guessing that they remember last year’s Hockey East Championship game? So, what I’m saying is that both sides were dialed in for this one. 

In net for BU was Mari Pietersen making her 4^th start of the campaign, facing off against Lisa Jönsson at the other end of the sheet. The game started as if the sides were shot out of a cannon (you gotta love the weekend home and home series), but NU had the edge in zonetime and chances. 

Jaden Bogden got the Huskies on the board first when she finished off a ridiculous dish from Éloïse Caron. Allie Lalonde (last night’s hero) put a shot on net from the LW circle and the puck found Caron at the goal line at the right post. Caron dropped the puck between the wickets to the blue paint and Bogden punched it home.

Say it with me: Good things happen when you go to the net! 

As the period was winding down, Caron doubled up the score. After she gathered the puck at the top of the zone she dog-walked a BU defender at the RW circle before going far-side top corner. Sick move finished off with a goal scorer’s placement. She even faked out the Jumbotron camera in the arena. 

The sides opened the 2^nd skating 4 aside but neither team could take advantage. The bad intentions and physical play ramped up as the period progressed and with about 12 mins to play the Huskies cashed in on a power play. Jules Constantinople put a laser on net that Lily Shannon tipped up over Pietersen’s outstretched left leg for the 3-goal lead. 

Less than 30 seconds later Kristina Allard notched her first goal of the season with a definitive “Matthews’ Bounce”. Lily Brazis won the face-off in the BU zone and Ella Blackmore laid a perfect cross-ice pass to Allard streaking down the RW. Allard was looking for a Husky at the net front but the puck caromed off a BU defender and into the cage. This goal triggered a goalie change from BU as Michelle Pastechnyk came in for relief of Pietersen.

Allard after her goal (probably)

So it looked like the Terriers were done, until they weren’t. Sydney Healey came in on a breakaway with 3 Huskies hot on her tail, but was able to outwait Jönsson to spoil the shutout. Healey showed unbelievable patience to wait out the NU netminder on this one before going forehand-backhand-shelf. And you have to love a goalie apple as Pastechnyk got the assist on this one.

With about 6mins to play BU closed the gap to a pair when Greta Henderson finished off a goalmouth scramble with her first of the season. After about 3 whacks at this one, she finally punched it home under the outstretched NU netminder

In the third BU got whistled for a major and the Huskies made them pay with 2 goals on the advantage. First was Shannon and Constantinople re-creating their earlier goal (but this time with a drag-snap from Jules) Then Lalonde put a shot on net from the left circle and the puck rebounded to Bogden at the goal line to the left of the net. Luckily she’s a righty as Bogs sniped this home in the open net. 6-2 and this was all over. Right?

With less than 2mins to play Clara Yuhn  said she didn’t hear no horn as she beat Jönsson to make it 6-3 on the afternoon. Sorry to Yuhn but there’s no video of her Geno.

With the goalie pulled Morgan Jackson put the nail in the coffin with an ENG to finish things off and send the Doghouse home happy. Hard work pays off as Ms. Jackson played outstanding hockey throughout today’s game.

Some observations from the press box:

• Both sides were laying out on for blocks and taking the body whenever it presented itself. Don’t try to tell me late Oct/early Nov games don’t mean anything in Hockey East.
• NU’s Emy McDermid and BU’s Kaileigh Quigg can both play on Team Brownie any day. Let me know when you see McDermid glide cause I haven’t seen it yet. All she does is go-go-go. And Quigg was involved at all points in all phases and skated equally hard on the back check and forecheck today. Love watching those types of players.
• Lucy Thiessen has to have one of the wildest tape jobs in NCAA hockey. Seriously, look at it. You have to be a good player to tape your stick like that.
• Best game I’ve seen Bogden play since she came to NU. I’m sure she was thrilled to get one past her former Clarkson teammate Pasiechnyk. Some advice for the two of them: Bogs invite your parents to every weekend series and Pas how about some spray paint for that Clarkson set up.

The Huskies host UVM next weekend at Historic Matthews Arena while the Terries hit the road up to Orono for a pair against the Maine Black Bears.

Shout out to friend of the podcast Shelly Looney who was on hand to drop the puck to start this one off. Northeastern is bringing out the Legends of Matthews for these puck drops and is there anyone more deserving of Looney? (look her up)

Keep your head on a swivel for a new pod dropping any day now.

And please, follow us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod

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