It’s not often that you advance to the Beanpot championship game and don’t play Boston University. In fact, it’s happened just once in the last 22 years.
Monday will be no different for the Northeastern men’s hockey team, as it takes its fourth shot at ending a 16-year title drought in quest for the ‘Pot against the Terriers starting at 8 p.m. at the FleetCenter.
Backed by the first-career two goal game from junior John Laliberte and a 36-save gem from junior second-string goalie Stephan Siwiec, No. 14 Boston University (16-10-2, 11-4-2 Hockey East) advanced to the title bout by downing No. 1 Boston College, 2-1, Monday.
“I thought we played the game we wanted to play,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “We got great goaltending from Stephan and some opportunistic goals from Laliberte, but I thought the best part of the game was how well we played in the third period once we got the lead. Instead of sitting on it, we went after it pretty good, and the time of possession in their zone for us was real good.
“In general, I thought it was a real well-played game by both teams: physical, real quick, but real smart.”
Senior Ryan Shannon scored the Eagles’ lone goal five minutes into the game to put his side up, 1-0.
“It hurts,” he said after the game. “But more importantly we got a good look at our team and what we bring to a big venue. We can learn a lot from this. There’s still a lot coming our way with Hockey East and the national tournament. So, we get to see the reality of what we’ve got and make some changes.”
Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder expects goaltending, as always, to be a major factor in the 53rd Beanpot championship game.
“I think goaltending is gonna be a key,” NU coach Bruce Crowder said. “They got great goaltending out of their kid [Monday], who hasn’t played much. I don’t know what the Curry situation is over there, but they’ve got two kids who have been doing the job for them.”
Parker said if regular goalie John Curry is healthy (Parker confirmed there is a chance he will be), he’ll start Monday’s tilt.
Northeastern goalie Keni Gibson made 39 saves and was huge during three shorthanded situations in the first overtime period of his team’s 2-1 win over Harvard.
“He’s been the foundation for this team all year,” Crowder said. “He was very consistent right out of the gate, and we need that out of him. Any hockey team that wants to be successful needs that type of goaltending and Keni’s brought that to the table this year.
“I think [having Keni back there] is huge, because I think it makes everyone feel a little more safe. It gives everybody the opportunity to make decisions they wouldn’t make if they weren’t sure of themselves.”
