#8 Boston University Terriers 2-0-1 (0-0-1) T-4th

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Massachusetts Minutemen 0-2-1 (0-0-1) T-4th

WordPress, which has been a huge pain in the ass recently, ate my game preview last week where I went over the components of the BU team in some detail. In fact I continue to have blog problems so if there a lot of typos, I mean more than usual, I apologize now. Anyway, I don’t really feel like recreating what I did last week. Instead I’d like to breakdown last week’s tie at Agganis and see if we can see what went well and what needs improving.

Let’s start with the obvious. UMass gave up two goals early and had to claw their way back. This HAS to stop. UMass has yet to play with a lead this season. It would make Jeff Teglia’s, who will start tonight in place of Paul Dainton, night a lot easier if the Minutemen can get on the scoreboard first. This means they have to come out flying. At the point that BU took the 2-0 lead they were outshooting UMass 8-4. From that point to the end of regulation UMass outshot the Terriers 24-21. Not only will it be important for the freshman goaltender to get an early lead, it’ll also be a great way to get what’s going to be a big crowd into the game early.

Another must for the Minutemen is to get the power play going. The extra man advantage looked strong in the season opener against the Gophers where they went 2 for 6 and put 13 shots on net. The next night it dried up going 0 for 5, but they were still active with 10 shots in those opportunities. However last weekend they again went 0 for 5 but managed just one shot in those times. Obviously this can’t happen. I hope Toot has them looking at tape from that first game to see what was clicking. Things improved on the other side of the special teams as UMass killed all four of BU’s chances. However they still come into the game with the 45th penalty kill in the nation, giving up 4 goals on 13 chances.

Teglia received praise for his game last week and from everything I’ve heard he deserved it, holding a top ten team to just two goals on the game. But, at least looking at the numbers, it appears that the defense in front of him improved as well. First off, for the first time this season UMass allowed less than 30 shots on goal for 6o minutes (BU had 6 shots on goal in overtime). But what really stood out to me was the increase in the number of blocked shots. In the two games out in Minnesota UMass blocked 25% of the shots taken by the Gophers. Last weekend against the Terriers this number increased to 32%. Hopefully this is in indication that UMass is getting better positioning on the forwards as well as moving better in their defensive zone.

The last key for UMass tonight goes back to something I mentioned in my first point. The crowd. It really should be a good one, hopefully. BU always tends to bring out the big crowds and tonight should be another one of those. The team should be happy to be back home after starting the season in two of the tougher barns in hockey, even if neither was full when they played. But for 13 players this will be their first taste of hockey in the Mullins. Hopefully the fans will be loud and into it and the players can feed off the energy. Hockey returns to Amherst. I thought you’d never get here.

Beer The Triangle
Last weekend for Homecoming I met up with some fellow alumni at the Moan and Dove in South Amherst to be pleasantly surprised to find they were offering all pints of their beers for just $4. Yes, only $4! But if you’re hoping to partake in such an amazing deal, forget about it. It’s over. But a glance at the M&D’s current blackboard shows a bottle special of Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere. Now if you’re looking for a pumpkin flavored beer with lots of cinnamon, this isn’t it. Jolly Pumpkin is the name of the brewery, based out of Dexter, Michigan. They also have a brewpub in Ann Arbor where I was introduced to their beer while out there last month for the UMass football game and I liked it so much I went back the night before I left. And in fact, I was told by one of their servers that despite their name they never even had a pumpkin beer for their first five years of existence. And the one they have tastes nothing like pumpkin, but is still oh so good. I would call their beer very “artisan”. Sort of artistic, craft brewing. A lot of saisons and sours. Something a beer snob would like. Anyway, it’s rare to find Jolly Pumpkin out this way so I recommend swinging by South Amherst and checking them out while you can.

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Matt Vautour has a preview of tonight’s game, praising Darren Rowe’s play of late.

Channel 22 WWLP looks at tonight’s home opener as well.

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The Burlington Free Press picks UMass to finish 8th this season.