By: Jared Shafran, News Staff
For the second time in three years, the men’s hockey team is playing in the Beanpot championship game. Ask anyone who follows the team how they’re feeling and they will tell you they’re “cautiously optimistic.” It’s hard for fans to get too excited about the game. After all, we haven’t won the tournament since before most of the current undergrads were born.
After a 4-0 victory over Harvard on Monday, head coach Greg Cronin was asked about what it would mean for the school to finally win after a 23-year drought. His reply?
“They would have to get both the NUPD and the Boston Police around that campus if we win.”
A quick glance at the matchup tells you the Huskies are going up against Boston College, currently the No. 1 ranked team in the country in both national polls, defending national champion, defending Beanpot champion, and a team that already knocked the Huskies off 2-0 back on Oct. 9 at Matthews Arena.
So while some media outlets in the Boston area have had stories with headlines like, ‘Northeastern In Position to Win First Beanpot Title in 23 Years,’ let’s be realistic. This team is a pretty big underdog in this game.
The Eagles are extremely talented on the offensive end, and kept virtually all of their production from last year’s championship team. Junior forward Cam Atkinson picked up right where he left off last season and has 20 goals and 15 assists. Forwards Brian Gibbons, Joe Whitney and Paul Carey are also having solid seasons, each already surpassing the 20 point mark.
In net, John Muse, already a two-time national champion, has been stellar. His .935 save percentage mark is tied for tops in the country and he is only surrendering 1.98 goals against, good for seventh in the land.
Worst of all for the Huskies, this team is hot. BC has won 12 of its last 13 games dating back to November, and Monday’s overtime victory over archrival Boston University will only boost their confidence.
However, there are a few things the Huskies have going for them. Their biggest asset right now is netminder Chris Rawlings. Fresh off a 41-save shutout of Harvard in the semifinals, Rawlings is having a terrific second half. With four shutouts in his last seven games, he too has climbed into the national statistics. He is third in save percentage, just behind Muse with a mark of .934, and 14th in goals against at 2.12.
Rawlings has also received a lot of help from his defense in front of him. The unit is currently ninth in the country in team defense, only surrendering 2.19 goals per game.
Most importantly, it’s no secret NU has struggled offensively this season. But senior forward Wade MacLeod has been there to provide consistent offense all year. MacLeod, averaging more than a point per game, leads the team in both goals (15) and assists (13). In addition, 15 of those points have come on the power play. In a close game when the Huskies need offense, MacLeod and his senior linemates Tyler McNeely and Steve Silva will be there.
So what to make of all this? It should be a heck of a college hockey game. Even though BC is perennially one of the best teams in the country, Northeastern has snuck up on them before, and has beaten the Eagles at least once in every season dating back to 2006-07.
On Monday, Cronin referred to the frustration for NU fans surrounding the tournament, saying they have had the mentality of “When are they going to win this thing?’” So why not this year? If the Huskies can pull this one out, it certainly won’t be forgotten soon.
