Game-day information: Game 34 vs. Boston University
When	Saturday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Matthews Arena  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	TELEVISION: NESN  |  Channel Listings Live Stats  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game notes (PDF)  |  2014-15 Yearbook  |  Media Center
Promotions	VOTE: Roy for Hobey Baker  |  House of Dogs
Social media	@GoNUmhockey  facebook.com/GoNUmhockey  |  RSVP to the Facebook event  instagram.com/GoNUathletics  Use #GoNU

BOSTON -- Coming off a 6-5 victory on the road last night, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team will look to make it two in a row against No. 4 Boston University tonight at Matthews Arena on the final night of the regular season.
 
Thank You Seniors
Prior to the game, the Huskies will honor their four seniors (Dax Lauwers, Torin Snydeman, Adam Reid, Clay Witt) for their dedication to the Northeastern program and the Northeastern community. During their careers on Huntington Avenue, these four student-athletes have led the Huskies to three Hockey East playoff appearances, three appearances in the Beanpot championship game, and have spearheaded a turnaround in culture of the Northeastern hockey program.

Recapping last night's 6-5 win at No. 4 Boston University
Northeastern scored three times in the first and added three more in the second period before holding off No. 4 Boston University in a back and forth bout on Friday night at Agganis Arena, 6-5.
 
The Huskies received goals from six different skaters, while John Stevens had three assists. Clay Witt made 24 stops in goal while Matt O'Connor had 25 saves before being replaced by Connor LaCouvee (nine saves) midway through the game. NU outshot Boston University 40-29 in the game, including a 34-18 edge through the first 40 minutes of the game. Both teams took advantage of its power play opportunities, with each squad going three-of-four.
 
Playoff picture
With the final night of the regular season upon us, there is still much to decided in the league standings. Northeastern can finish anywhere from third to sixth in the final standings, meaning NU can still secure a first round bye with a win and some help tonight. Here's how the Huskies can finish:
• Seeded No. 3 with a win, a UML loss, and a PC loss.
• Seeded No. 3 with a win, a UML loss, a PC tie, and a BC loss or tie.
 
• Seeded No. 4 with a win, a UML loss, a PC tie, and a BC win.
• Seeded No. 4 with a win, a UML win, and a PC loss or tie.
• Seeded No. 4 with a win, a UML tie, and a PC loss.
• Seeded No. 4 with a win, a UML loss, and a PC win.
• Seeded No. 4 with a tie, a UML win or tie, a PC loss, and a UND win.
 
• Seeded No. 5 with a win, a UML tie, and a PC win or tie.
• Seeded No. 5 with a win, a UML win, and a PC win.
• Seeded No. 5 with a tie, and a PC win or tie.
• Seeded No. 5 with a tie, a UML loss, and a PC loss.
• Seeded No. 5 with a tie, a UML win or tie, a PC loss, and a UND loss or tie.
• Seeded No. 5 with a loss and a UND loss or tie.
 
• Seeded No. 6 with a loss and a UND win.
 
The all-time series with the Terriers
Northeastern and Boston University are meeting for the third time this week, with the season series tied a one win apiece. The Terriers lead the all-time series 157-58-8 as NU looks to pick up victories vs. BU on consecutive nights for the first time in program history.
 
Scouting Boston University
Boston University currently sits atop the Hockey East standings with a conference mark of 13-5-3. Boston University boasts the second ranked offense in the nation – tops in the Hockey East – averaging 3.69 goals per game. The team's point total of 310 is also ranked second in the country, while BU's 2.41 goals allowed per game average comes in at No. 22 in the nation.
 
At the top of the stat sheet for Boston University is Jack Eichel. The freshman leads the team in points (52), assists (36), and plus/minus (+34); his point and assist totals also lead the nation. Behind Eichel is Evan Rodrigues, who has 47 points, second in the nation, after scoring 17 goals and assisting on 30 others after last night's hat trick. Ahti Oksanen is the team's leading scorer with 20 markers.
 
Matt O'Connor has been between the pipes for BU this season. He's gotten the start in both games vs. NU this week, and has a 2.25 goals against average and .925 save percentage. 
 
Offense explodes against Connecticut
In NU's two-game sweep of UConn, the Northeastern offense potted 15 goals, including a 9-0 victory at Matthews Arena on Feb. 13. It was the most goals scored in a two-game span since the 1993-94 season when NU defeated Illinois Chicago on Nov. 6 (10-9) before a 5-4 win against Boston University on Nov. 12.
 
The Huskies offensive outburst against UConn on Feb. 13 marked the first time they've scored nine goals in a game since defeating Alabama-Huntsville 9-1 on opening night last season (Oct. 11, 2013). NU's nine-goal margin of victory was also the largest for the Huskies since defeating Connecticut 10-1 on Oct. 11, 2012.
 
Huskies off to a hot start in 2015
Since returning from the holiday break, the Huskies have been playing some of their best hockey of the season. NU is 10-3-3 since the start of the new year and is unbeaten in nine its last 11 games. The Huskies' nine-game unbeaten streak was tied for the fourth longest unbeaten streak in program history and first since the 2007-08 season when NU went unbeaten in 11 straight (9-0-2). The Huskies are also tied with Boston College for the third best winning percentage (.750) in the nation in the last 18 games.
 
Offense starting to find the net
The Northeastern offense has hit its stride in the last 18 games with 75 goals, first in the nation in that span. Of those 75, 27 have come in the third period, which is tied for second in the country.
 
The Huskies also have more goals in February (41) than they did in the first half of the season (36 goals in 16 games).
 
Power play clicks at UMass
After starting the season 0-of-18 on the man advantage, the Northeastern power play has emerged in the last 29 games, going 32-of-126 (25.4%), which is third in the nation and second in Hockey East in that span. NU's 32 goals on the man advantage are the second most in the nation in that span.
 
On Dec. 16 at Massachusetts, the Huskies went 5-of-9 on the man advantage, the most power play goals in a game since scoring five against Merrimack on Nov. 21, 1992. The outburst upped NU's power play percentage to 20.8% after entering the game against the Minutemen with a 15.9% success rate on the man advantage.
 
Cardiac canines
NU is 11-3-3 since returning from the holiday break, and has come from behind in six of the last 16 games. NU erased a three-goal deficit in the third period on Jan. 2 vs. St. Lawrence before potting a pair of third period tallies the next night against the Saints. Then on Dec. 6, the Huskies stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period to top No. 19 Yale, 3-2. In the last 18 games, Northeastern is outscoring its opponents 48-30 in the final 40 minutes of regulation, and 24-10 in the third period alone.
 
Northeastern's grade-A chances
With 97 goals through 32 games of the season, NU has done most of its damage from high-percentage areas. Of Northeastern's 97 goals this season, 87 of them have come from the grade-A area (89.6%).
 
Power play production
With NU tied for sixth in the nation in power play percentage (32-of-144; 22.2%), several Huskies have upped their point totals while on the man advantage. NU has 95 of its 295 points this season on the power play (32.2%), while Kevin Roy has 17 points on the man advantage, which is tied for eighth in the nation, tied for second in Hockey East and 40.4% of his season total (17-of-42). He is one of only 11 players in the nation with at least 17 power play points.
 
That was fast
On Jan. 24 against Notre Dame, Zach Aston-Reese scored two goals in 10 seconds to break a 1-1 tie early in the third period. It marked the first time since Jan. 22, 2000 in the first period at New Hampshire that Northeastern scored twice in 10 seconds. Before that, the Huskies scored twice in six seconds in the first period against Illinois Chicago on Nov. 6, 1993.
 
40/40 Club
On Monday night against Boston University, Kevin Roy reached 40 points in a season for the second consecutive year. He's the first Husky to accomplish the feat since Jordon Shields logged 46 points in 1994-95 before another 43 in 1995-96.
 
Second act
A trio of sophomores has led the charge for the Huskies through the 2014-15 season. Dalen Hedges (nine goals, 24 assists) is second on the team with 33 points this season, while Mike Szmatula (13 goals, 15 assists), Matt Benning (22 assists) and Zach Aston-Reese (11 goals, 10 assists) trail close behind more than halfway through the year. Last season, the now sophomore class was fourth in the nation in rookie scoring with 125 points (42 goals, 83 assists).
 
This year, they lead all sophomore classes with 141 points (44 goals, 97 assists). The next closest is Boston College with 118 points.
 
Roy named Hobey Baker Award candidate
For the second straight season, junior forward Kevin Roy has been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors an elite NCAA men's ice hockey player who exhibits both athletic talent and strong sportsmanship.
 
Voting is now open for fans that would like to show support for the junior. Fan voting plays a crucial role as the field will be cut from the 68 players nominated to just 10 finalists. Those who wish to vote may submit a ballot at HobeyBaker.com once every 24 hours.
 
On Feb. 13 vs. UConn, Roy also became the 34th player in program history to reach 50 career goals. Roy leads the Huskies with 42 points this season on 18 goals and 24 assists. He is tied for seventh in the nation in total points, tied for 13th in goals and tied for 14th in assists.
 
Hot Sauce
Since returning from injury on Nov. 7, Colton Saucerman has made his presence felt, especially at the offensive end of the ice. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native is tied for fifth on the team with seven goals this season. All of Saucerman's goals have come on the power play, which is tied for eighth in the nation and makes him the only defensemen in the nation with at least six power play goals.
 
Platoon between the pipes
For the second straight season, Northeastern's opponents have gotten a look at two of the Huskies' top netminders early in the season. Redshirt senior Clay Witt started the team's first two games of the season before Derick Roy got the nod in six straight games. Roy responded by making a career-high 38 saves on two occasions against two of the nation's top teams (No. 6/4 Colgate on Oct. 18 and No. 6/7 UMass Lowell on Nov. 7).
 
Witt ranks second all-time at Northeastern in bothgoals against average (2.60) and save percentage (.921). He's also in sole possession of fourth on the NU all-time list in career shutouts (five) in 68 career games.
 
On Jan. 3 against St. Lawrence, Roy got his first start in nearly two months, and allowed a season-low two goals while making 21 stops en route to a 4-2 victory. In his last seven games, he's posted a 2.12 goals against average and .922 save percentage. In those games, Roy is 5-1-1 in those games, tied for the third most wins in the nation in that span.
 
Clay cementing his place among NU's greats
Clay Witt's 27-save performance against Connecticut last Friday moved him into fourth on Northeastern's all-time shutout list (five). Next on the list is Keni Gibson, who recorded seven from 2001-05.
 
Witt was named a nominee for the Mike Richter Award on Friday, given annually to the nation's top collegiate netminder.
 
Let me help you
Clay Witt made 30 saves on Monday night against Boston University, but also added an assist on Kevin Roy's third period goal to help NU mount a comeback. It marked the first time that a goaltender assisted on a goal since the 2011-12 season when Chris Rawlings had a helper at Notre Dame on Dec. 3, 2011.
 
Benning chipping in
In addition to his high minute total on the Northeastern blue line, sophomore defenseman Matt Benning has found the time to contribute in the offensive zone, as well. The St. Albert, Alberta is one of six defensemen in the nation with at least 22 assists this season. Benning has 17 assists in his last 18 games, and 12 in his last 11. \
 
More on the series vs. UConn
Northeastern used a five-goal first period to open the floodgates against Connecticut last Friday night. It marked the first time since the 2006 that NU had scored five goals in a period when the Huskies scored six in the third period in a 7-2 win vs. Holy Cross on Dec. 30, 2006.
 
NU, Michigan State agree to three-sport deal
Northeastern and Michigan State have agreed to a three-sport, home-and-home series in 2015-16, as announced on Dec. 10 by Northeastern Athletics. The Huskies will host the Spartans in men's and women's basketball, as well as men's ice hockey on Dec. 18-19, 2015, before returning the games in East Lansing, Michigan, the following season.
 
"This is a very exciting opportunity for our athletic department," said Peter Roby, director of athletics and recreation at Northeastern. "We are thrilled and appreciative of Athletics Director Mark Hollis and our friends at Michigan State for their willingness to bring their teams to Boston and help us create such a fun weekend."

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