Friday, November 30, 2018

BC, MSU Post Wins Against Rivals


Both Boston College and Michigan State men's hockey got back on track Friday nightand both did so against their respective arch-rivals.

BC rebounded from a one-goal deficit to post a 4-1 win at Boston University's Agganis Arena  as Joseph Woll made 38 saves for the Eagles, and Logan Hutsko scored two goals, including the second-period game-winner. BC (4-6-1 overall) will now host BU (4-7-1) at Kelley Rink on Saturday.

At Munn Arena, MSU's Mitchell Lewandowski notched the game-winner halfway through the third period as the Spartans (6-7-0) came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to top Michigan. Drew DeRidder made 43 saves for MSU, which also got three assists from Taro Hirose. U-M (6-6-2) will host the back end of the home-and home series Saturday night at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor.

Friday, November 23, 2018

BC Falls to Bentley, 4-2


Boston College men's hockey's non-conference woes continue.

The Eagles fell behind Bentley University, 3-0, on Friday at Conte Forum in the first-ever meeting between the two Bay State schools, en route to a 4-2 loss to the visiting Falcons. Bentley scored two goals in the second period, and added two more in the third, including an empty-net goal with 67 seconds remaining in regulation after BC (3-6-1 overall) had closed to within 3-2.

Tanner Jago and Will Garin staked Bentley to a two-goal advantage in the middle stanza, both with power-play goals, before Matt Lombardozzi scored early in the third period. David Cotton tallied the first Eagles' goal on a power play, his team-leading 10th goal overall of the campaign, with 11 minutes left in the third. Oliver Wahlstrom, the subject of much scrutiny the previous 24 hours as to whether or not he would stay at the Heights, then pulled BC within a goal with 1:31 left before Jake Kauppila hit the empty net for the Falcons, who got 23 saves from Aidan Pelino.

Bentley (4-7-1), a member of Atlantic Hockey, now has nine wins over the last 11 years against Hockey East opponents, and will play at Holy Cross on Saturday. BC, which got 17 saves from Joseph Woll on Friday, has not won a non-conference NCAA contest since defeating Arizona State at Conte Forum in Nov. 2016. The Eagles will return to Hockey East action next weekend with a home-and-home series against Green Line rival Boston University.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Minnesota's Martin Retires from NHL


Former NCAA defenseman Paul Martin (Minnesota) has retired from professional hockey.

Martin, 37, who played in 870 career regular-season NHL contests with the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and San Jose Sharks, finished with 50 goals and 270 assists for 320 points to go with 238 penalty minutes. A second-round draft choice of New Jersey in 2000, he never missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his 14 full NHL seasons, and also helped San Jose to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. He also tallied 6-4046 points and 44 PIM in 122 career NHL postseason appearances.

A native of Minneapolis, Martin played three seasons at the University of Minnesota for head coach Don Lucia. A former multiple-sport star at Elk River (Minn.) High School, Martin collected 20-7797 points and 58 PIM in 127 games overall with the Golden Gophers, including back-to-back 30-assist campaigns. He was also a member of Minnesota's 2002 and 2003 NCAA championship teams.

Martin, who served as an NHL assistant captain with both the Devils and Penguins, also represented the United States on the blueline in the 2001 World Junior Championship, the 2004 World Cup, the 2005 and 2008 World Championships, and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Red Wings Bounce Devils, 4-3


Michigan State and Michigan teamed up to knock down the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in Detroit.

With the game at Little Caesar's Arena tied at 2-2 in the third period, Detroit Red wings forward Luke Glendening (Michigan) blocked a pass by Devils defenseman Will Butcher (Denver) while the Red Wings were killing off a penalty. Glendening then skated down the left side before letting go with a shot at Devils netminder Cory Schneider (Boston College). Schneider made the save, but the rebound was put home by Justin Abeldelkader (Michigan State) with 7:10 remaining in regulation to give the home team the lead for good in a 4-3 victory, Detroit's third straight triumph overall. New Jersey has lost five of its last six outings after winning its first four games this fall.

Schneider finished with 27 saves in his first NHL start since undergoing off-season hip surgery, which was followed by three rehabilitation appearances with Binghamton (AHL). Travis Zajac (North Dakota) posted two assists for the Devils on Thursday, including one on a second-period goal by Blake Coleman (Miami). Jimmy Howard (Maine) finished with 25 stops for Detroit, while Dylan Larkin (Michigan) set up two goals for the Red Wings.

The two teams will meet again on Nov. 18 in New Jersey.