Merrimack Scores OT Win Over BU, 2-1

Meanwhile, in North Andover, the BU Terriers men's team lost to the Merrimack Warriors (11-15-1 overall, 7-9-1 in Hockey East conference play) when the Warriors' Caelan Fitzpatrick scored a goal 20 seconds into OT.

 

Jack Harvey scored the sole BU goal in the first period. The Terriers fall to 15-10-1 overall, 10-6-1 in conference play. Goalie Mikhail Yegorov made 26 saves against 28 shots on net (.929).

Coupled with the women's loss less than an hour ago, it's been a tough night for BU hockey. The women can avenge their loss tomorrow against Providence. The men have to settle in and get ready for the Beanpot championship game Monday against archrival BC. 

 

Terriers Fall to UConn, 3-1

 

BU's Neely Nicholson scored an even-strength goal in the second, but that's about all UConn allowed in this game, as the Huskies went on to win, 3-1. Callie Shanahan wasn't exactly a slouch in the net, either, making 30 saves on 33 shots (.909).  But despite Nicholson and Shanahan's best efforts, it's still an L for BU. 

However, the Terriers, 16-5-1 in Hockey East play, remain in first place with a tenuous 1-point lead over UConn (16-4-2).   

Better luck tomorrow when BU faces Providence (13-7-2) on Terrier home ice at 4:00 pm.

Kyrie Sucks: Celtics Lose to Mavs, 127-120

Can't say they didn't try. Just like on Sunday, the Celtics fell way behind in this game, trailing 104-83 after three quarters and then trailing by as many as 27 early in the fourth. But then, just like on Sunday, they mounted a comeback and outscored the Mavs 30-10 in the last nine minutes. But unlike Sunday, it wasn't enough and there was no dramatic Tatum buzzer-beater to clinch the game, and Dallas won by seven.

Jaylen Brown of the Celtics and Klay Thompson of the Mavs both led their respective teams with 25 points. Flat-earth theorist and one-time Celtic Kyrie Irving scored 19. Fortunately for the Celtics, Kyrie's new teammate Anthony Davis sat this one out and hasn't yet made his Maverick's debut - the score could have been much worse with Davis in the lineup.

The Celtics are 36-16 and still lead the Atlantic by 1½ games. They trail the Conference-leading Cavs by 5½ in  the East.  

They head to Madison Square Garden next for a Saturday-night game to defend their division lead over the Knicks.       

NY Rangers Beat Bruins, 3-2

 

The two-game winning streak comes to an end. The Bruins drop a road game in New York and fall to 27-23-6, fifth in the Atlantic, although still tied with Tampa.  However, by the logic of the NHL point system and playoff rules, Tampa Bay would qualify for the postseason if the season ended today but Boston wouldn't. 

David Pastrnak scored a goal in the second period and extended his streak to 12 games with either a goal or an assist, tying Brad Marchand (12 games in 2019-2020). Elias Lindholm got the other goal tonight.

The Bruins will head back home to the Garden where they'll face the Vegas Golden Knights (31-17-6) on Saturday. Puck drops at 3:30.  

  

Boston Celtics Beat First-Place Cleveland, 112-105

 

The Celtics, first in the Atlantic Division, have become the most reliably entertaining team to watch lately. After Tatum's game-winning jumper as the clock expired Friday and then Sunday's epic 26-point comeback, the Celtics have set the bar pretty high. This game wasn't quite as much of an edge-of-the-seat nail-biter, but anytime you play the team with the best record in the NBA, it's never easy. The Cavs, first in the Central Division and first overall in the Eastern Conference, didn't concede anything and contested everything, but the Celtics answered every challenge thrown at them and came away with their fourth consecutive Double-You.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 22 points. Derrick White scored 20, Porzingis 19, and Brown 16. The C's are 36-15 and now five back from the Cavs in the East.

Want more excitement? Thursday night they host the new-look, Doncic-less Dallas Mavs. Anthony Davis isn't expected to make his debut until Saturday, but you never know what might happen in the Garden.  

Bruins Shut Out Minnesota, 3-0

 

The Boston Globe opined today that it's now or never for the Bruins. "In the crowded race that is the NHL's Eastern Conference, the Bruins find themselves on a familiar patch of turf, running a distant 10th in the 16-horse field with 28 games to go before the finish line," Kevin Dupont wrote. "Next up, the visiting Wild, the NHL's top road team (20-6-3), Tuesday night at the Garden." 

"If this were truly a horse race," he continued, "now would be the time for jockey Joe Sacco to employ the whip hand. The interim coach, 18-13-3 (.574) since taking over the bench in November, needs to wring every ounce of will from a club that has been challenged to score goals and equally fighting to keep pucks out of the net."

Well, whatever Sacco did evidently worked, as the Bruins shut out the Wild. Goalie Jeremy Swayman made a total of 35 saves, and Morgan Geekie, Trent Frederic, and BU's  Charley McAvoy (Class of 2017) scored goals.  Boston is now 27-22-6 on the season, tied for fourth in the Atlantic with Tampa Bay and still 10th in the wild card horse race. 

It's off to New York to play the Rangers tomorrow night next the Bruins. 

 

BU (Women) Beat Northeastern in OT, 3-2

 

You have to picture it: No. 13 Northeastern (18-9-1) versus No. 14 BU (18-8-1). Matthews Arena, Northeastern's home ice. The Huskies, after trailing 2-0, scored two quick goals late in the third and forced OT. Northeastern's got all the momentum and confidence, the home crowd is going wild, and the rafters are thundering. 

And then, with 30 seconds left in the first OT, BU's Alex Law scores a goal. Game's over. BU wins.

Before Law's OT goal, Kaileigh Quigg and Clara Yuhn scored the two regulation goals. Goalie Callie Shanahan made 33 saves on 35 shots (.943).

A great upset win for the Terriers. Next up: UConn at Walter Brown (home).   

Beanpot Championship Game Is Set

Last night, the No. 1-ranked collegiate ice hockey team in the country, the despicable BC Eagles, beat the reigning Beanpot champion Northeastern Huskies, 8-2, to set up a BC vs. BU matchup in  the 2025 Beanpot title game. 

Historically, BU has dominated the Beanpot, making it to the title game 56 times in 70 years and winning 31 titles, most recently in 2022. Some hockey parity has emerged in the Boston basin in recent years, however, and the Terriers have only won the Beanpot twice since 2009.

BC won eight of the first 13 Beanpots and then 6 of seven times between 2010 and 2016. However, they haven't won the title since their 2016 victory and only made it to the championship game once since then. 

I went to BU (1976-1980) so naturally I hate BC. I happen to know that the Jesuit school team is "woke," the priests are all perverts, and their mothers dress them funny. Go, Terriers!   

BU Destroys Harvard, 7-1, in Beanpot Opener

 

It's Beanpot Season! The annual BU, BC, Harvard, and Northwestern bloodbath on ice. Beantown college students tremble in  anticipation of these games, and endlessly debate who will get the bragging rights for 2025. According to Google, the average price for a Beanpot ticket is $221.28 and can range up to $12,825 (Taylor Swift prices). When I was a BU student back in the 1970s, tickets were free to students. You had to line up early as demand exceeded supply, but there was no cost.

In this opening matchup, Harvard drew first blood, scoring on a power play 5:44 into the first period. But that was it for Hah-vid. After that, BU scored seven unanswered goals, two on power plays and five at even strength. When the smoke finally cleared, Devin Kaplan had two goals, Cole Hutson had two, his brother Quinn Hutson had one, and Shane LaChance and Jack Harvey both had one apiece. In only his third collegiate start and his Beanpot debut, freshman goalie Mikhail Yegorov turned away 26 of 27 shots on net to earn the win.

Feels good to be a Terrier right now.

Reigning Beanpot champions Northeastern plays No. 1-ranked BC at 8:00 tonight, and the winner of that game will play BU next Monday, February 10.

Celtics Come Back from 26-Point Deficit, Beat Sixers in Philly, 118-110

 

Do you believe in miracles?  The Celtics looked all but dead today in Philadelphia, falling behind the Sixers by 26 points late in the third. But then the Celtics turned on their championship-caliber superpowers and rallied back for a road win against the Atlantic Division rival Sixers, 118-110. 

Tatum and Brown both got double doubles - Tatum, 35 points and 11 assists, and Brown, 21 points and 10 rebounds. Tatum played for all but three of the game's 48 minutes. 

After Tatum's game-winning jumper as the clock expired Friday and then this epic comeback, the Celtics have been pretty entertaining this weekend.  The win is Boston's third in a row and the team improves to 35-15. 

Speaking of entertainment, the Celtic's next game is at the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (40-9). Expect fireworks.

Terriers Beat Catamounts, 4-1

 

Sydney Healey scored goals in the first and third periods, Julia Shaunessy scored in the second, and Luisa Welkie scored in the third as the No. 10 BU women beat No. 34 Vermont, 4-1, in Hockey East action for their fourth straight win.

With the victory, the Terriers (15-4-1) earn 48 points on the season and first place in the Hockey East standings, ahead of UConn, who lost today to Providence, 6-3. 

They'll play UConn Friday, February 7 on home ice at Walter Brown, but first they play at Northeastern (12-7-1) on Tuesday (6:00 pm).    

Bruins Bounce Back, Beat Rangers 6-3

 

Pastrnak scored a hat trick, the BU Charlies (McAvoy, Class of '17, and Coyle, Class of '12) each scored a goal, and Pavel Zacha figured, "What the fuck?," and scored a goal of his own, too. Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves on 25 shots (.880). The Rangers never led in the game.

Boston is now 26-22-6 on the season, fourth in the Atlantic with 52 points. 

The Bruins are staying put at home and will host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday (7:00 pm).