BOSTON — The run of success the Northeastern University hockey program has enjoyed over the past four seasons is unprecedented. On Saturday night, the Huskies won their second Hockey East Championship in that span with a 3-2 victory over Boston College. The team is heading back to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons and have two Beanpot titles to go along with it. This season’s 27 victories is a program record.
Head coach Jim Madigan, associate head coach Jerry Keefe, and assistant coach Jason Smith have worked wonders to turn Northeastern into the best program in Boston after having experienced many down years since the glory days of the 1980s.
However, the 2018-19 season could be the coaching staff’s best job yet. Gone were Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Nolan Stevens. Outside of freshman Tyler Madden, there are a lot of forwards who were leftovers and considered to be Division III players by many, including this writer.
Of course, an elite goaltender can cover up a lot of shortcomings elsewhere in the lineup. Cayden Primeau, the MVP of the Hockey East Tournament, has done just that this season. The Montreal Canadiens prospect boasts a .936 save percentage. He stopped 67 of 70 shots during the win over BC and Friday’s overtime triumph over Boston University.
The defense in front of him is thin. While junior Jeremy Davies is one of the best puck movers in all of college hockey, his play in his own zone isn’t always as sharp. Local product Ryan Shea (Milton, Mass.) has developed into a very good two-way college defenseman. He and Davies both earned All-Tournament team accolades and rightfully so, logging huge minutes in each game. Senior captain Eric Williams exudes leadership qualities and has been the heart and soul of the team. Freshman Jordan Harris (Haverhill, Mass.) has also played a key role with his ability to retrieve and start the breakout while not delivering the offensive instincts of either Shea or Davies.
There are plenty of teams more talented than Northeastern that will be watching next weekend’s NCAA Tournament on television. Only once before in the history of college hockey has Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin all missed the NCAA Tournament. Each of those teams have rosters far greater on paper, but the Huskies outperformed all of them.
Keefe, who has been in line to take several high profiled jobs over the past few summers, is one of the sharpest minds in the game today. His ability to work with video, make adjustments, and game-plan are difference makers for the Huskies.
While the coaching staff should get plenty of credit for winning with a less talented lineup, there are plenty of concerns for Northeastern as it enters the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have been outshot in six of their last seven games. Unless Primeau can continue to bail them out, it could be a short run in the tournament.
Northeastern plays Cornell in one of two semifinals at the East Regional in Providence. The Big Red enter the NCAA Tournament banged up, including the potential absence of goaltender Matthew Galajda. The potential regional final against WCHA champion Minnesota State or Hockey East foe Providence won't be an easy matchup, but none of the three teams standing in the way of Northeastern and Buffalo are unbeatable.
Eagles came close
Boston College almost pulled off the improbable. After a subpar season that saw the team finish in seventh place, the Eagles toppled second seeded Providence in the quarterfinals, shutout top seeded UMass in the semifinals, and rallied to make things interesting against third seeded Northeastern in the final.
With the team rallying to tie up the score in the final, sophomore Logan Hutsko appeared to suffer a serious injury and was taken off the ice in a stretcher. The Florida Panthers prospect already suffered a gruesome neck injury while with the NTDP. Here’s hoping he makes a full recovery.
Leading scorer David Cotton had a very good tournament and will likely turn pro with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Parker, Texas, native had three goals and two assists in five games while earning All-Tournament recognition.
Saturday’s game will be the final one in a BC uniform for junior Joseph Woll. With projected first round pick Spencer Knight coming in and Woll being a highly regarded Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, he had to sign in order to prevent a logjam in the BC crease. The St. Louis, Mo., native will go down as one of the better goaltenders in college hockey history to not make a NCAA Tournament.
It would also be shocking if freshman Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) doesn’t bid farewell to the college game. A first round pick of the New York Islanders, Wahlstrom is likely to bolt for the pros. Due to playing for the NTDP and not in major junior, he can play in the AHL next season.
Terriers turning pro
Look for junior defenseman Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.) to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks over the next few days. While his offensive abilities are undisputed, his play away from the puck and his inability to play the game physically could hamper him from ever making the NHL. However, all indications are that he wants to turn pro and the Blackhawks are a willing partner.
Reports are that the Philadelphia Flyers have told freshman winger Joel Farabee, a first round pick in last summer’s draft, that the organization will support whichever decision he makes — if he wants to return to school for his sophomore or season or turn pro.
Junior defenseman Dante Fabbro is the most NHL ready of the Terriers. A first round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2016, he could have spurned the organization in favor of going back to school for his senior season and becoming a free agent next summer. However, multiple sources are indicating he will forgo his final season of eligibility to sign with the Predators.
The other significant flight risk is junior goaltender Jake Oettinger. A first round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2017, he certainly has the ability. However, he’s struggled with consistency and hasn’t always gotten great support in front of him. It will be interesting to see what he does. The Stars did sign another young goaltending prospect, Colten Point, last off-season, which could muddy the waters.
UMass' struggles away from Mullins Center continue at Hockey East semifinals
The Minutemen didn’t appear ready for primetime Friday night. Greg Carvel’s team was blanked, 3-0, by BC. It dropped the team’s record to 11-8 in games played away from the Mullins Center. In contrast, the team is 17-1 on home ice.
Still, UMass is a number one seed in the Northeast Regional, drawing Harvard in the first round. UMass should win that game, but a potential second round matchup against Notre Dame or Clarkson could be derail plans of Cale Makar and company advancing to the Frozen Four in Buffalo. However, it would be tough to pick against the Minutemen at least advancing to college hockey’s penultimate event.
