NCAA Players Making Mark in NHL Play

Former NCAA players have been making their mark in the NHL recently following Friday's trade deadline.

Joel Farabee (Boston University) scored the only goal of the game Saturday night to lift Calgary to a 1-0 win over visiting Montreal. Charlie Coyle (Boston University) assisted on the game-winning goal that same evening in his first appearance with Colorado, as the host Avalanche defeated Toronto, 7-4, while Brady Tkachuk (Boston University) fired home the game-winner in overtime as host Ottawa downed the New York Rangers, 4-3. Cole Koepke (Minnesota-Duluth), a 2019 NCAA champion, tallied twice in Boston's 4-0 win at Tampa Bay, while Zach Hyman (Michigan) did the same for Edmonton in a 5-4 victory over visiting Dallas. 

Adam Fantilli (Michigan), the 2022 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, notched his second career NHL hat trick tonight as visiting Columbus routed the Rangers, 7-3. Chris Kreider (Boston College) tallied a shorthanded goal for the home team, while Jonathan Quick (Massachusetts) made 20 stops in goal for the Rangers. Drew Helleson (Boston College) notched the game-winner as Anaheim upended the visiting New York Islanders, 4-1.

Lastly, defenseman Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) of the St. Louis Blues will be sidelined until mid-April with a knee injury. He has a career-high 15 goals to go with 20 assists for 35 points in 62 outings so far this season.

BU's Coyle Nets First NHL Hat Trick

Just shy of 800 career regular-season games, Charlie Coyle (Boston University) finally netted his first NHL hat trick.

Coyle, 31, a 6-foot-3 forward from East Weymouth, Mass., scored three times on Thursday night in the Boston Bruins' 5-2 win over the visiting New York Islanders at TD Garden. He tallied Boston's second, fifth and sixth goals, the first one on the power play and the final one into an empty net, as the Bruins improved to 11-1-1 on the 2023-24 season. James van Riemsdyk (New Hampshire) drew an assist on Coyle's second goal, his second assist of the night, for his own 601st career NHL point.

Drafted 29th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2010, Coyle has recorded 152 goals and 250 assists for 402 points in 798 NHL regular-season games to date with the Bruins and Minnesota Wild, and also helped Boston to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. In 12 outings so far this season, he has notched 5-7—12 points. 

A product of the South Shore (Mass.) Kings junior program, Coyle played a year-and-a-half at BU before turning pro in 2011, after registering 10-30—40 points in 53 NCAA appearances with the Terriers. He also represented the U.S. at both the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning gold and bronze medals, respectively.

Blues Knot Stanley Cup Final at Two Games

Zach Sanford (Boston College) had an assist for the second straight game as the St. Louis Blues tied the Stanley Cup Final with a 4-2 win at home on Monday over the Boston Bruins. The series is now tied at two games apiece.

The win was the first ever in the Blue's Stanley Cup Final history, and assured more one home game for St. Louis this postseason, which will be played Sunday night. The Blues scored twice in the third period to break a 2-2 tie for the win.

Charlie Coyle (Boston University) scored a goal for the third straight game for the Bruins, who will now host Game Five on Thursday night (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC).

Krug's Four Points Boost Boston to Game Three Win

Torey Krug (Michigan State) scored one goal and set up three others as the Boston Bruins regained control of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final with a 7-2 victory in Game Three at St. Louis on Saturday night. Boston now leads the best-of-seven series, two games to one.

Charlie Coyle (Boston University) and Sean Kuraly (Miami) scored first-period goals to help put Boston up, 3-0, after 20 minutes, while Krug scored the final goal of the second period to give the Bruins a 5-1 lead over the host Blues at that point. Noel Acciari (Providence) then tallied an empty-net goal in the final frame, with Krug assisting on another goal to make him the first Bruins defenseman to ever record four points in a Stanley Cup Final game.

Krug now has 16 points in 20 playoff games this spring. Boston also finished the night with four power-play goals as a team, scoring those four man-advantage goals on just four shots.

Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) scored the Blues’ second goal on a power play in the third period, assisted by Tyler Bozak (Denver), while Zach Sanford (Boston College) set up the first goal of the night for St. Louis in the second stanza for his first career NHL playoff point.

Game Four will be held Monday night in Missouri (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC).

Blues Tie Stanley Cup Final with OT Victory

Jaden Schwartz (Colorado College) assisted on the tying goal late in the first period, and the St. Louis Blues went on to knot the 2019 Stanley Cup Final with a 3-2 overtime victory over the host Boston Bruins in Game Two on Thursday evening. It was the first win ever in the NHL's championship series for the Blues in 14 tries, dating back to their inaugural appearance in 1968.

Charlie Coyle (Boston University) opened the scoring on Thursday with a power-play goal for the Bruins, while Sean Kuraly (Miami) set up Boston's second goal that put the home team ahead briefly, 2-1. Game Three will be played Saturday night in St. Louis (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC).

Bruins Go Up Two Games on Canes

Matt Grzelcyk (Boston University) scored two goals, and Charlie Coyle (Boston University) and Torey Krug (Michigan State) tallied three assists apiece as the Boston Bruins pasted the visiting Carolina Hurricanes, 6-2, on Sunday afternoon in Game Two of the 2019 Eastern Conference Final. Boston now leads the best-of-seven series, two games to none.

The Bruins scored twice in each period, and held a 6-0 lead before Carolina scored two third-period goals. Connor Clifton (Quinnipiac) notched what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the second period, the first goal of both his NHL and Stanley Cup Playoff career, while Danton Heinen (Denver) collected a goal and an assist for Boston.

Game Three will be played on Tuesday night (8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC) in Raleigh, N.C.

ADDENDUM: Boston won the series in four games, by scores of 5-2, 6-2, 2-1 and 4-0.

Bruins Take Conference Opener Against Carolina

Steven Kampfer (Michigan) opened the scoring Thursday night at TD Garden with his first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff goal, and the Boston Bruins went on to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-2. Boston leads the best-of-seven 2019 Eastern Conference Final, one game to none.

Trailing 2-1 after two periods of play, the Bruins scored four goals in the final 20 minutes, including two power-play goals 28 seconds apart to take the lead for good. Charlie Coyle (Boston University) then tallied an empty-net goal to make it 4-2 for the Bruins, assisted by Sean Kuraly (Miami), before Chris Wagner (Colgate) notched the Bruins' fifth goal unassisted.

Game Two is set for Sunday in Boston (3 pm. ET, NBC TV).

BU's Coyle Traded for Harvard's Donato

Two Boston-based former NCAA centers were exchanged by their respective NHL teams earlier this week. The Minnesota Wild traded Charlie Coyle (Boston University) to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, in return for Ryan Donato (Harvard) and a fifth-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Originally drafted 28th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2010, Coyle had spent his entire NHL career with the Wild. Through 479 career NHL regular-season games with Minnesota, he has posted 91 goals and 151 assists for 246 points. A native of East Weymouth, Mass., the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward played in 53 games with BU from 2010 to late 2011, and recorded 10-30—40 points in 57 outings with the Terriers. He then joined Saint John (QMJHL) in 2012 and put up 38 points in 23 games, along with 34 points in 23 postseason contests, before turning pro that fall with Houston (AHL). 

Donato, 22, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and a U.S. Olympian in 2017-18, made his NHL debut last spring with the Bruins shortly after finishing his third and final campaign at Harvard. He registered five goals and nine points in his first 12 regular-season appearances with the Bruins, who drafted him 56th overall in 2014, and split this season between his native Boston and Providence (AHL). In 47 career NHL outings, he has tallied 11-9—20 points, after recording 60-44—104 points in 97 career games with Harvard after prepping at the Dexter School, and in junior hockey with both South Shore (USPHL) and Omaha (USHL). As a sophomore in 2016-17, the six-foot, 193-pound Donato also helped the Crimson to both an ECAC Hockey League championship and an NCAA Frozen Four berth.

Two Clubs Back in Contention, One Set to Sweep

Jonathan Quick (Massachusetts) made 28 saves on Monday night as the Los Angeles Kings climbed back into their Western Conference quarterfinal series of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 overtime win at San Jose. The Sharks, who had won the first two games in Los Angeles, now lead the best-of-seven series, two games to one. Game 4 is Wednesday in San Jose.

In Minnesota, the host Wild stormed back from a 2-0 first-period deficit to register a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars yesterday. Erik Haula (Minnesota) had a goal and assist to lead the Wild, while Charlie Coyle (Boston University) picked up an assist. Patrick Sharp (Vermont) scored twice for Dallas, which leads the series, two games to one, and will again try to extend its lead in Game 4 on Wednesday in St. Paul.

Lastly, the Washington Capitals, the NHL's top team during the regular season, tallied five power-play goals to move to the brink of a first-round sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers with a 6-1 triumph in Pennsylvania. Jay Beagle (Alaska Anchorage) scored the final goal for the Caps, who now lead the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, three games to none, and will look to close it out on Wednesday.

Team USA Off to Solid Start at World Juniors

Former Boston University forward Charlie Coyle scored three goals as the U.S. National Junior Team blistered Denmark, 11-3, on Monday evening to open the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

Coyle, who left BU earlier this month to sign with Saint John (QMJHL), scored the Americans' first goal of the tournament. He was also a member of last year's squad that earned a bronze medal at the WJC in Buffalo.

Coyle's former BU teammate Adam Clendening posted two assists against Denmark, while USA team captain Jason Zucker of Denver University added a goal and two assists in Monday night's win. University of Minnesota forward Nick Bjugstad also scored a goal for the U.S., as did Gophers teammate Kyle Rau and Boston College's Bill Arnold. Stephen Johns of Notre Dame tallied the final goal for the U.S.

Former Michigan recruit Jack Campbell, who is now with Windsor (OHL), made 21 saves in net for the Americans, who are headed by Dean Blais, head coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Blais guided the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2010 WJC in Saskatchewan, the last time the tournament was held in Canada.

The Canadians, who earned a silver medal at the WJC last year, opened this year's tournament with an 8-1 pasting of Finland, which will face the U.S. on Wednesday. Colorado College forward Jaden Schwartz had two assists for Canada in Monday's win in Edmonton.

... And Another One Gone ...

Boston University sophomore forward Charlie Coyle, who won a bronze medal with the U.S. in last season's IIHF World Junior Championship held in Buffalo, has left school to play for the defending Memorial Cup champion St. John's Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, according to the Patriot Ledger.

A native of East Weymouth, Mass., Coyle played for the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League before enrolling at BU in the fall of 2010. He also played for both Thayer Academy and Weymouth High School in the Massachusetts scholastic ranks.

Coyle tallied seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 37 games a year ago with BU, and had posted three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 13 outings so far this fall. He played his last game for the Terriers in a 5-1 win at Maine on Dec. 10, notching one assist, and finished with 10-27—37 points in 50 collegiate contests.

A first-round draft choice of the NHL's San Jose Sharks in 2010, Coyle's rights were traded to the Minnesota Wild in June. He was named to the preliminary roster for the 2012 U.S National Junior Team earlier this month, and that team will compete in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. According to the St. John's web site, Coyle is expected to join the Sea Dogs following the tournament.

BU (10-5-1 overall, 8-4-1 Hockey East) is second in its conference, and is also ranked ninth in the nation by USCHO.com. The Terriers will return to action on Dec. 31 in a nationally-televised game at Notre Dame.