March 15, 2008

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BOSTON - After opening its best-of-three quarterfinal series against UMass Lowell with a 5-3 win on Friday, the No. 14/13 Boston University men's ice hockey team will look to advance to the Hockey East semifinal round for the seventh straight season when the teams meet again on Saturday (March 15) at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast online by B2 Networks.

Senior Pete MacArthur tallied three points (2g, 1a) last night and junior linemate Chris Higgins added a pair of goals. The Terriers allowed the game's first goal, but reeled off three straight tallies to take a lead they would never relinquish. The visitors got to within one on two occasions - at 3-2 and 4-3 - but BU got a late empty-netter from Higgins.

The teams combined for five power-play goals (including all three of UMass Lowell's tallies). BU outshot the visitors, 33-29.

Senior goaltender Karson Gillespie will get the start tonight for the Terriers, who got a 26-save performance on Friday from sophomore Brett Bennett.

Following last night's win, the Terriers have now won at least one game in the Hockey East playoffs in each of the last 16 years, the longest streak of its kind in league history. The last time BU exited without a win was 1992, when Boston College posted a 5-2 victory over the Terriers in a single-game quarterfinal.

In league quarterfinal history, the second seed is now 37-1-1 all-time against the seventh seed.

BU has remained the hottest team in the country, posting a 10-1 record over its last 11 games. During the 11-game stretch, the Terriers have scored nearly twice as many goals as their opponents (41-21).

The Terriers have won their last seven home contests -- an Agganis Arena record (building opened in January 2005). BU will be aiming for eight in a row, something that hasn't been done since stringing together 10 straight wins at Walter Brown Arena spanning two seasons in 1997 (Feb. 28-Nov. 29).

The Terriers and River Hawks head into Saturday's game having played each other 81 times since first meeting in the 1983-84 season. Over that period, BU holds a commanding 57-16-8 (.753) advantage. In the Hockey East playoffs, the Terriers are a perfect 6-0 against the River Hawks, including the 1994 championship game, two semifinal match-ups (1995, 1997) and two consolation games (1985, 1996).