Boston College Will Again Be Engraved on the Stanley Cup

With only four NHL teams still playing, and one of those on the brink of elimination, the odds are practically guaranteed that a former player from Boston College will get a Stanley Cup ring this spring.

Whoever wins will join a Stanley Cup-winning Boston College contingent that includes Doug Brown (Detroit, 1997, 1998), Brian Gionta (New Jersey, 2003), Bill Guerin (New Jersey 1995, Pittsburgh 2009), Brian Leetch (New York Rangers, 1994), Joe Mullen (Calgary 1989, Pittsburgh 1991, 1992), Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh 2009), Ryan Shannon (Anaheim 2007) and Kevin Stevens (Pittsburgh 1991, 1992).

They include Rob Scuderi (BC' 01) of the Los Angeles Kings, who won his first Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, and was a member of BC's NCAA title team in 2001.

Stephen Gionta (BC '06) scored his first career NHL goal for the New Jersey Devils in the regular season finale against Ottawa, and has added two more tallies plus two assists in the playoffs while providing energy and physical play on New Jersey's fourth line. Former BC teammate Peter Harrold (BC '06) has provided some offense from the Devils' blue line in the NHL postseason in the form of four assists.

Brian Boyle (BC '07) scored three goals for the New York Rangers in the first round against Ottawa, but has been slowed somewhat since suffering a concussion in the same series off of a Chris Neil hit. He still added an  assist in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against New Jersey. last but definitely not least, Chris Kreider (BC '12) has been the rookie find of the playoffs, and stepped right into the Rangers' postseason lineup fresh off a second NCAA title in three years with the Eagles. Despite some rough spots, he has tallied five goals and two assists in his first 15 NHL playoff games, including a pair of game-winners, and a huge insurance goal in Game 3 versus the Devils.

The Phoenix Coyotes, down three games to one to LA in the Western Conference finals, have no BC players on their roster this season.

It's been said that the road to the Stanley Cup begins in Chestnut Hill, Mass. It appears that will "ring" true once more in 2012.

Former College Players Come through Again for Devils

Just like they did in the first round against the Florida Panthers, the former NCAA players on the New Jersey Devils played significant roles in their 4-1 win in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday evening.

Peter Harrold (Boston College) helped set up Adam Larsson’s game-tying goal early in the third period, before Zach Parise (North Dakota) drew the lone assist on Dave Clarkson’s eventual game-winner. Stephen Gionta (Boston College) and Travis Zajac (North Dakota) then combined on Zajac’s wrap-around goal that effectively put matters out of reach at 3-1 with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.

Contributing in intangibles if not the scoring column was Andy Greene (Miami), who blocked five Philadelphia shots and started the rush that led to Clarkson’s goal. Mark Fayne (Providence) logged nearly 21 minutes of ice time on defense, while forward Ryan Carter (Minnesota State) provided one shot, one hit, and 50 percent efficiency on face-offs in skating on the fourth line.

Game 3 will be played Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.