Tonight was hands down the weirdest hockey game I have ever experienced in my 28 years. Yes, Boston College defeated Boston University handily 9-5. Yes, Boston University has been over-ranked in the USCHO and USA Hockey polls for a few weeks. Yes, Boston College finally performed up to their talent level after a few weeks of off-play.
We had penalty shots, penalties that made no sense, goals scored mere seconds apart from each other, a change in goaltender for BU, BU players diving, BC players elbowing, shorthanded goals, power play goals – at one point, my husband said, “I think CBS College Sports ordered a smorgasbord of hockey activity for tonight’s game.”
And yes, BC’s Patch Alber has an old-timey physician’s name, BU needs to shoot the puck and realize that goals aren’t scored unless the puck physically enters the net, and BC’s goalie John Muse resembles a penguin attempting to launch off the ground when he’s making a save or counting off the last seconds of a penalty.
So if you’re BU, what do you do for Saturday night’s game at BC? What do you do for next week’s games against Northeastern and RPI? Who do you start at goaltender? Who is your first line? There is bound to be shake ups – and if there were not, fans would have the right to be livid – but how exactly does one reassemble this Terrier team?
Since I don’t even know where to begin, I leave it to you – if you were Jack Parker and Mike Bavis, what would you do?