CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – After meeting in the Beanpot final on Tuesday night, Northeastern (18-10-3, 13-7-2 WHEA) and No. 6 Boston College (21-3-5, 15-2-3 WHEA) will battle yet again on Friday, this time at BC's Conte Forum at 2 p.m.
REMATCH OF TUESDAY'S BEANPOT FINAL
Northeastern and Boston College contested a classic Beanpot final on Tuesday evening at Matthews Arena. Sophomore
Kasidy Anderson put the Huskies ahead just over a minute into the third, before the Eagles replied with two goals in a span of five minutes midway through the final frame. Sophomore
Brittany Bugalski earned the Bertagna Award for the Beanpot's top goaltender after stopping 50 pucks (.943 save percentage) over two games in the tournament.
BUGALSKI IN ELITE COMPANY
In winning the Bertagna Award on Tuesday,
Brittany Bugalski became the fourth goaltender in program history to claim the honor, joining Erika Silva (2000 and 2001), Florence Schelling (2012) and Chloe Desjardins (2013).
In less than two collegiate seasons, Bugalski is already moving up the NU record books in a number of categories. Bugalski has played 3,399 minutes over 57 collegiate games; both the ninth-highest marks in program history. Bugalski's career GAA of 2.08 ranks as the fifth-best mark in program history, while her .922 save percentage ranks fourth. The Boynton Beach, Florida native also ranks within the program top-10's in career saves (9th), career shutouts (9th) and career wins (9th).
KRIZOVA ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Junior
Denisa Krizova will suit up for the Czech Republic National Team when IIHF Olympic qualifying takes place on Feb. 9-12 in Switzerland. Krizova and the Czechs will look to make history by qualifying for their first-ever Olympic tournament. The team will face host Switzerland, Denmark and Norway in a round robin format with the top squad qualifying directly for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Krizova is not the only Northeastern connection in 2018 Olympic qualifying. Alumna Lucie Povova will also suit up for the Czech Republic, while alumna and Olympic bronze medalist Florence Schelling will be in goal for Switzerland. Schelling made 13 saves in Switzerland's opening-round win over Denmark on Thursday.
All games can be streamed live for free here.
BRAND FEATURED IN 'KAZ WATCH' SERIES
Junior forward
McKenna Brand was recently featured in
USA Hockey's 'Kaz Watch' series, which profiles some of the candidates for the 2017 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the top player in Division I women's ice hockey. The article, written by Dan Scifo, explores Brand's 'inspired' season with a nod to her connections to a pair of past Kazmaier winners, as well as her roots growing up in the hockey-rich state of Minnesota.
After scoring 18 goals in her first two seasons combined, Brand has exploded onto the scene in her third collegiate campaign with an NCAA-high 23 goals in 31 games. The Nevis, Minnesota native has contributed in the clutch all season long with five game-winning goals (tied for sixth in the nation) and three shorthanded goals (tied for second).
HOCKEY EAST PLAYOFF PICTURE TAKING SHAPE
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Hockey East playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Boston College has clinched the regular season title and will be the No. 1 overall seed. Northeastern sits in second place with 28 points, six clear of Vermont in third. Spots 3-7 in the standings are separated by only four points, while Merrimack and Maine will battle it out for the eighth and final playoff position. Northeastern has mathematically clinched a top-four finish and will host a WHEA quarterfinal series on Feb. 24-26.
ANDERSON COMING ON STRONG
Sophomore
Kasidy Anderson has emerged as an offensive catalyst for the Huskies over the second half of the season. The Shaker Heights, Ohio native has scored six of her 10 goals since the start of 2017, including a snipe against Boston College in the Beanpot final. Since the turn of the new year, Anderson has accumulated 11 points in 11 games, including a four-point outburst against UNH on Jan. 28.
