Sure, Northeastern men’s hockey coach Bruce Crowder doesn’t really look like Bill Murray from the movie “Groundhog Day,” but lately, he probably feels like him.
With Saturday night’s 4-2 loss to second-ranked Boston College, NU extended the school’s record for worst start to a season – still winless at 0-9-2.
But that’s not why Crowder must feel like Murray’s character, who gets stuck in a rut where he wakes up every morning in the same bed to the same alarm-clock song and endures the exact same day despite any efforts to avoid this fate.
In each of the last eight Northeastern hockey games, Crowder’s crew has scored exactly two goals. No more, no less. In fact, NU has lost by a score of 5-2 five times thus far in 2003, and won just once in their last 20 games, dating back to last season.
Saturday’s loss to the Eagles (9-2-3 overall, 5-0-2 Hockey East) was almost a carbon copy of the Huskies 5-2 defeat at the hands of New Hampshire eight days prior.
The Huskies raced out to a 2-0 lead after one period on goals by freshmen Yale Lewis and Brian Deeth, just as NU had done against the Wildcats a week before.
And, just as against the Wildcats, NU saw its advantage evaporate in the second frame.
“It can be frustrating, it can be disappointing,” said Crowder, in his eighth year at the Husky helm. “One thing we have to do though is keep working, though.”
Center Jason Guerriero, despite his two-assist performance, was obviously despondent after the contest.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do, those plays are supposed to happen. It’s nothing special, they’re plays we’re supposed to make,” the 5 foot, 8 inch junior said of his two assists – his first of the year. “Unfortunately those aren’t happening day in and day out, and that’s the reason for what’s going on right now. Other teams make those plays and they’re winning.”
“Guys that get recruited here come from a team where they’re the best player,” he continued. “It’s hard to deal with this.”
Longtime Boston College coach Jerry York was surprised at the Huskies’ lack of success in 2003.
“Northeastern came out and really played well, and had us back on our heels. They played exceptionally well,” he said. “It was a good test for us.
“I find it hard to believe they haven’t won a game yet, because that’s a pretty good club we played,” York added. “They’re going to be dangerous as the year goes on.”
Northeastern began the game with a nifty goal from freshman Yale Lewis 1:29 into the game – his second of the season. Lewis took a pass from Guerriero at the BC blue line, raced in on goaltender Matti Kaltiainen and somehow slipped the puck past the 6-foot, 2-inch, 207-pound netminder while being sandwiched by a pair of Eagle defenders.
Five minutes later, freshman defenseman Brian Deeth scored his first collegiate goal after Guerriero wheeled around the back of the net and slung a pass to Deeth just outside the BC crease.
After goaltender Keni Gibson held off 15 first period shots, and two penalty kills, NU headed to the first intermission with a two-goal advantage.
Then, with five minutes left in the second period, NU saw its best chance at bucking the winless trend vanish in a matter of seconds.
With a two-man advantage late in the second period, NU junior defenseman Tim Judy turned the puck over to BC sophomore Stephen Gionta steps away from the NU crease. After a few strides, Gionta ripped a shorthanded wrist shot past Gibson.
After not only failing to convert on the high percentage scoring situation, but giving up a rare 5-on-3 goal, NU looked lost, recording just four shots on Kaltiainen the rest of the game.
“Steve Gionta made an outstanding play to swing the momentum back to us,” York said. “We needed something like that, down two goals. You don’t see many goals down 5-on-3, I’ll have to watch that on tape tonight.”
With 1:09 left in the frame, Eagle sophomore Chris Collins ripped a slap shot goal past Gibson on a set play off a faceoff in the NU zone.
In the third period, BC junior Ryan Shannon used an NU defender to screen Gibson (38 saves) and potted the winning goal on a wrist shot from just inside the offensive zone at the 5:14 mark. Eagle senior Tony Voce capped the game’s scoring midway through the third period when he received a masterful feed from All-American center Ben Eaves inches in front of the Northeastern goal and snapped a one-timer past Gibson.
Saturday the Huskies are home against the University of Vermont, starting at 7 p.m.
