Friday, January 18, 2019

Weekend Preview: Boston University Terriers

Peter Diliberatore has 3 goals in his last 5 games and takes a plus 10 rating in against BU

Boston University Head Coach: Albie O'Connell (1st Season) 8-8-3

2018-2019 Boston University record: 8-8-3 (7-5-2 Hockey East)

All-time vs. Boston Unversity: Boston University leads series 3-0

Boston University Key Players: Bobo Carpenter (F), Shane Bowers (F), Joel Farabee (F), Patrick Harper (F), Logan Cockerill (F), Dante Fabbro (D), David Farrance (D), Chad Krys (D), Jake Oettinger (G)

The Terriers are a team that is starting to get hot again. After starting the season 4-8-2, Boston University is 4-0-1 in their last five games dating back to mid-December. In those four wins they are averaging 4.5 goals per game as this talented roster is beginning to finally come together for another possible second half run. Quinnipiac has yet to beat Boston University in three previous meetings and this is likely to be a very challenging game with how Quinnipiac has played recently and the improvement of Boston University in the last month.

While the Terriers average 2.63 goals per game don't let that number fool you. The talent is better than that and they are finally starting to show it with the 4.5 goals per game in their last four wins. Bobo Carpenter leads them with 10 goals and he has been one of the Terriers most consistent players in the past four years on Commonwealth Avenue. Joel Farabee has shown why he was selected in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers with 16 points in 19 games. Fellow first round pick Shane Bowers is second on the team with 7 goals and is starting to get hot with points in four of his last five games played. While Patrick Harper has been a bit of a disappointment on the stat sheet, he is still a player to watch as he can score at any time. The Terriers power play has also disappointed a bit as they are a middle of the pack team at 17.7% given the talent they have up front.

The Terriers are loaded with talent on the back end with five NHL draft picks all picked in the first three rounds, led by captain Dante Fabbro who leads the team in scoring with 17 points. For all the talent they have they are still a middle of the pack team in terms of goals allowed at 2.84 per game. That number in the last five games during their unbeaten streak is down to two goals per game so they have improved in the past month to where they are talent wise. Penalty kill wise they are a shade under 80% at 79.5% so this is a possible area where the 4th best power play in the country could do some damage.

Junior goaltender Jake Oettinger is likely in his final season with the Terriers and is having a solid season with a 2.54 goals against and a .924 save percentage. He takes up a lot of space in the crease with his 6'5 inch frame and has had good success against Quinnipiac going 2-0 with a shutout as well to boot. It will definitely be a challenge to get shots by him on Saturday.

This is the second to last non-conference game for Quinnipiac and important for pairwise implications as Boston University is a team primed to make a second half run and move up in the pairwise as well. A win against the Terriers coupled with them going on a big run down the stretch would make a potential win like this look much better come March.

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