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.

Hockey East "Hat Trick" on One NHL Play Sunday

Three former Hockey East players all figured in a penalty-shot situation on Sunday night, in an NHL contest between the Chicago Blackhawks and the visiting Los Angeles Kings at the United Center.

Chicago's Viktor Stalberg (Vermont) was upended by Rob Scuderi (Boston College) as the former broke in on Jonathan Quick (Massachusetts) in the third period. Quick made the ensuing save on the penalty-shot attempt by Stalberg, who could have become the goat of the game towards the end when he drew a penalty in the final minutes of play. The Blackhawks killed off that infraction and the game went to a shootout that was finally won by the Kings, 3-2.

Stalberg helped the Catamounts to the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four, while Scuderi was a linchpin on the Eagles' 2001 national title team, and Quick backstopped the Minutemen to the 2007 NCAA Tournament as a sophomore. Former UVM skater Patrick Sharp scored one of Chicago's two goals in regulation on Sunday night, but misfired on his shootout attempt, while Stalberg was again stopped by Quick. The former UMass netminder ultimately pokechecked Marcus Kruger on the final shootout try to preserve the win for Los Angeles.