Game-day information: Game 37 at No. 8/6 Boston University
When	Friday, March 10, 7 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Agganis Arena  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	Live Stats  |  Watch  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes and yearbook	Game Notes  |  2016-17 Media Guide
Vote For Your Huskies	J. Stevens: Senior CLASS WATCH: Huskies Hungry For The Hobey
Social media	WATCH: #RiseUpNU Download the new GoNU App: iOS  |  Android @GoNUmhockey  facebook.com/GoNUmhockey instagram.com/GoNUathletics  Use #GoNU and #RedBlackOnePack

BOSTON -- The last two Hockey East champions are set to square off in the conference quarterfinals this weekend as the Northeastern men's hockey team travels down the street to battle No. 8/6 Boston University in a best-of-three set. Northeastern and Boston University are meeting for the sixth time in the Hockey East playoffs, and first since 2011. It'll be the fifth meeting in the league quarterfinals, with each team taking two series.
 
The champ is here
Coming off last year's historic run to the Hockey East championship, Northeastern is back and looking for a repeat performance in 2017. In league history, 22 defending Hockey East champions have reached the semifinal round the following year (71%), while just eight have repeated as conference champions.
 
Northeastern in the Hockey East quarterfinals
The Huskies are back in the conference quarterfinals for the third time in four years, and 24th time in team history. Northeastern is 17-31 all-time in quarterfinal matchups, including a 4-5 mark against Boston University. The Huskies are looking to advance to the Hockey East Semifinals for the second straight year and ninth time in team history.
 
The all-time series with Boston University
The Terriers come into Matthews Arena leading the all-time series against the Huskies with a record of 162-58-9. It's been a rivalry that BU has historically dominated, but Northeastern is looking to snap a six-game winless streak against their Hockey East foe.
 
Boston University won the regular season series against the Huskies, 1-0-1, thanks to a 4-4 draw at Matthews Arena before a 3-0 win the following night in early November. In the first game, Zach Aston-Reese redirected a Ryan Shea shot from the point through traffic and into the back of the net to force overtime and eventual 4-4 tie. NU erased 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 over the final 20 minutes of regulation to pick up its first league point of the season that night.
 
Boston University would score three goals in a span of seven minutes midway through the second period the next night at Agganis Arena on a pair of goals from Patrick Harper and one from Keiffer Bellows.
 
Scouting the Terriers
Boston University finished the regular season in a three-way tie for first place with UMass Lowell and Boston College after a 13-6-3 record in Hockey East and 21-10-3 overall.  The Terriers looks to continue their success coming of a bye weekend after claiming a piece of the Hockey East regular season trophy with a win over Notre Dame on the final night of the season.
 
BU is lead by freshman forward Clayton Keller who leads the team in goals (19) and points (38).  Freshman forward Patrick Harper has also had an impressive freshman campaign potting 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points on the season.  Also keep an eye on North Reading native Bobo Carpenter who has scored 13 goals this season.
 
BU's goaltending has been strong this season.  Leading the way is Jake Oettinger who has posted an impressive .927 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average during his freshman campaign. Also playing 5 games in net for BU is junior Connor LaCouvee who has posted a .921 save percentage and a 2.70 goals against average. 
 
Recapping Saturday's win against Connecticut
Four points from captain John Stevens and 32 saves from Ryan Ruck set the tone for the Northeastern men's ice hockey team, which potted four power play goals en route to a 6-2 victory and series sweep in the Hockey East first round against Connecticut, 6-2.
  
With Northeastern leading 3-2 through two periods, UConn was assessed a five-minute major for contact to the head midway through the final frame, giving NU an extended power play. That's when the Huskies put the game out of reach, scoring three times in a span of four minutes to take a commanding four-goal lead late in regulation.
   
Northeastern took an early lead on a goal from Brendan Collier 4:09 into the game before Aston-Reese gave the hosts a two-goal lead midway through the second period. A pair of UConn goals from Brian Morgan and Miles Gendron bookended a power play tally from Adam Gaudette to send NU into the locker room with a 3-2 lead.
 
The five-minute major to UConn proved to be the turning point as Northeastern scored three times in a span of 3:39 to put the game away with a pair of goals from John Stevens and a final strike from Jeremy Davies.
  
Hobey hopefuls
Zach Aston-Reese and Dylan Sikura, two of the highest scorers in the nation this season, have been named as candidates for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey. 
 
The top ten finalists will be announced on Wednesday, March 15. Fans will have the opportunity to let their voices be heard during the Hobey Baker fan vote by visiting HobeyBaker.com/vote. Fans can vote once per day through their Facebook account. 
 
Stevens named a finalist for Senior CLASS Award
Captain John Stevens has been named a finalist for the Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) award, an honor given to senior student-athletes who excel in competition, community, character, and in the classroom.
 
"John is the epitome of what a captain is about in the characteristics he possesses," said head coach Jim Madigan. "He's a quiet leader, and at times quiet leaders are the most effective because they only speak up when there's something important to say. He leads on and off the ice and is always doing the right things. As a person, he has high expectations for himself. He goes about his life trying to be the best he can be and getting better each day as a student, a person and an athlete."
 
Aston-Reese named Player of the Month
For the second time this season, Zach Aston-Reese has been named both the National Player of the Month and Hockey East Player of the Month. The Staten Island, New York native led the nation in scoring in February with 17 points on seven goals and 10 assists.
 
Aston-Reese had points in six of Northeastern's eight games in February, leading the Huskies to a 5-3-0 record and securing home ice in the opening round of the playoffs this weekend. He had multi-point efforts in five of those games, including two three-point nights and two four-point nights.
 
In select company
Zach Aston-Reese's electric 2016-17 season is something rarely seen on Huntington Avenue. His 62 points are seventh on Northeastern's single-season record list, and are the most points in a season since Jay Heinbuck (70) in 1985-86.
 
Over the last five seasons in college hockey, only nine Division I players have reached 60 points in a single-season. Of those, only three have reached 60 points in fewer games than Aston-Reese (35): Kyle Conner (34 games in 2015-16), Jack Eichel (34 games in 2014-15) and Johnny Gaudreau (31 games in 2013-14). Two went on to win the Hobey Baker and the third reached the Hobey Hat Trick.
 
He's also just one of three players in the last five seasons to reach 50 points in less than 30 games (Kyle Connor in 2015-16 and Johnny Gaudreau in 2013-14).
 
In addition, Aston-Reese is the only player to score 21 goals in his first 21 games over the last five years, and is the only Husky in the last 30 years to record three hat tricks in a season.
 
At the half century mark and beyond
Zach Aston-Reese became the first player to reach 60 points in a single-season since Jay Heinbuck in 1985-86 earlier this season. He was joined on Feb. 24 by Dylan Sikura and Adam Gaudette in the 50-point club. 
 
It's just the third time in team history that Northeastern has had three players reach 50 points in the same season, and first time since 1975-76: Jim Martel (66), Dave Sherlock (61) and Charlie Huck (51).
 
0 to 100, real quick
On Feb. 24 at Maine, Aston-Reese became just the eighth player in program history to record 100 points in two seasons, and first since 1990. He recorded 43 points last year on 14 goals and 29 assists before this year's 62-point performance (30 goals, 32 assists). Here's who has done it:
 
• Zach Aston-Reese: 2015-16 to 2016-17
• Harry Mews: 1988-89 to 1989-90
• Rod Isbister: 1984-85 to 1985-86
• Dave Sherlock: 1974-75 to 1975-76
• Jim Martel: 1973-74 to 1974-75 and 1974-75 to 1975-76
• Charlie Huck: 1973-74 to 1974-75 and 1974-75 to 1975-76
• Art Chisholm: 1958-59 to 1959-60 and 1959-60 to 1960-61
• Rich Cavanaugh: 1955-56 to 1956-57
 
Aston-Reese climbing up the ranks
Senior assistant captain Zach Aston-Reese has been one of Northeastern's go-to players during his career on Huntington Avenue. He has 24 career power play goals, which is the second most in the nation among active players, while his 13 game-winning goals are tied for second in the country. 
 
Overall, Aston-Reese has 147 points (65 goals, 82 assists) in 143 career games, which ranks fourth in career scoring among active skaters nationally. He also became the 25th player in team history to reach 125 points earlier this season, and is currently tied for 12th in career scoring at Northeastern.
 
Aston-Reese is just the ninth player in team history to reach 60 points in a season.
 
Filling the net
Zach Aston-Reese has been scoring goals at an alarming rate this season, and is either tied for or has the outright lead among all skaters in the nation in total goals (30), shorthanded goals (four), multi-goal games (eight), hat tricks (three), second period goals (16) and goals in wins (21).
 
His 30 goals are already the most for a Husky since Jay Heinbuck in 1985-86, and he also tied the school record of four shorthanded goals in a season, held by Bryan Esner (2006-07) and Randy Bucyk (1982-83).
 
On Mar. 4 he became the first Husky since Heinbuck in 1985-86 to record 30 goals and 30 assists in the same season. Only four Huskies have ever done that:
 
• Zach Aston-Reese in 2016-17 (30 goals, 32 assists)
• Jay Heinbuck in 1985-86 (30 goals, 40 assists)
• Jim Martel in 1974-75 (32 goals, 31 assists)
• Leu Dupere in 1962-63 (33 goals, 34 assists)
 
Talented triumvirate
Zach Aston-Reese (30 goals, 32 assists), Dylan Sikura (20 goals, 36 assists) and Adam Gaudette (26 goals, 26 assists) are all enjoying breakouts seasons, ranking in the top-six in the nation in scoring.
 
Aston-Reese had hat tricks in consecutive games on Dec. 18 and Dec. 30, and is one of two players in the nation (T.J. Moore, Holy Cross) to record a hat trick in two straight games, and one of only seven players in the country with multiple hat tricks this season.
 
Sikura's goal on Feb. 25 at Maine also gave Northeastern three 20-goal scorers (Aston Reese 29; Gaudette 25; Sikura 20) for the first time since 1985-86. The trio makes Northeastern the only team in the nation to have at least three skaters with 40 points or more. 
 
The three have also combined to make up half of the Huskies' total scoring this season, and their 170 points are the third most for any Husky trio in a single-season:
 
1. 179 points in 1974-75 (Jim Martel, Dave Sherlock, Charlie Huck)
2. 178 points in 1975-76 (Charlie Huck, Jim Martel, Dave Sherlock)
3. 170 points in 2016-17 (Aston-Reese, Sikura, Gaudette)
 
Good Gaud
Adam Gaudette has been one of the top players in the nation, recording 26 goals and 26 assists in 35 games, which is tied for 18th on the team's single-season points list. It took him 41 games to reach 30 points last season. The Braintree, Mass. native had a 12-game point streak (15 goals, six assists) and an eight-game goal scoring streak snapped last Saturday. Both were the longest of his career.
 
His 82 career points in 76 games are the second most in the nation among sophomores (Brock Boeser, North Dakota). His +14 goal differential from last season is tied for the sixth largest goal increase in the nation this season:
 
Name (Team): Goal Increase
1. Jason Salvaggio (New Hampshire): +20
2. Michael Iacopelli (Western Michigan): +19
3. Alex Tonge (Robert Morris): +17
4. Zach Aston-Reese (Northeastern): +16
5. Mike Vecchione (Union): +15
6. Adam Gaudette (Northeastern): +14
    Troy Josephs (Clarkson): +14
 
It just comes natural
Dylan Sikura is tied for fourth in the country with 56 points this season, and second in the nation with 36 assists in 36 games. On Mar. 4, he became the 10th player in team history to record 35 assists in a season, and first since Mike Tayler in 1993-94. His 36 helpers rank sixth on NU's single-season list.
 
The Aurora, Ontario native has at least one point in 29 of the team's 36 games this season. His 20 goals and 56 points in 36 games are double his total from all of last season (28 points in 36 games), and his +28 point differential from last season is tied for the fifth largest increase in the nation this season. 
 
On Jan. 27 at UMass Lowell, he scored three goals in the final 7:19 of regulation to lead the Huskies to a come-from-behind win, becoming the first Husky since Cody Ferriero on Dec. 29, 2012 at Harvard to score three goals in a period. Sikura's third period performance was also the first natural hat trick for a Husky since Kevin Roy against Connecticut on Feb. 13, 2015. 
 
The straw that stirs the drink
While Zach Aston-Reese, Dylan Sikura and Adam Gaudette have received most of the praise for their work in 2016-17, it's been the under the radar play of captain John Stevens that has resulted in much of their success. Stevens provides the defensive work that allows the Huskies to transition up ice and has a strong ability to maintain puck possession in the attacking zone to distribute the puck to his linemates for scoring chances.
 
Stevens is averaging one point per game in a season that forced him to miss 13 games due to an upper body injury. On Feb. 24 at Maine, he reached 100 career points, and has 26 goals and 80 assists in 136 career games. Stevens has also reached that total without having recorded a multi-goal game in his collegiate career until last Saturday against Connecticut.
 
He, along with Zach Aston-Reese, are the first Huskies since 2010-11 (Wade MacLeod and Tyler McNeely) to reach 100 points in the same season.
 
With class
Despite having one of the largest senior classes in the nation, the Huskies have received production from all four classes midway the season:
 
Class: G-A-P (National Rank)
Freshman: 19-41-60 (t-34th)
Sophomore: 37-48-85 (t-23rd)
Junior: 36-76-112 (6th)
Senior: 44-69-113 (t-6th)
 
Zach Aston-Reese (62 points), Dylan Sikura (56 points), and Adam Gaudette (52 points) are tied for the nation's lead in senior, junior and sophomore scoring, respectively.
 
Power up
NU is averaging 5.28 power play opportunities per game this season, the fifth highest in the nation, and have cashed in 55 times, the most in the country, and the most for the Huskies since 1981-82 (55). It's just the second time in team history that the Huskies have scored at least 50 PPG in a season.
 
Of NU's 370 points this season, 162 have come on the power play (43.7%), the most in the nation.
 
Eleven different Huskies have found the back of the net on the man advantage, including 16 from Adam Gaudette, the most in the nation, as well as 13 from Zach Aston-Reese.
The 29 combined PPG between the two are equal to or more than 32 teams have total this season.
 
Gaudette's 16 power play goals are a new single-season school record, previously held by Rod Isbister (14) in 1984-85.
 
Sikura, Aston-Reese and Gaudette are among the national leaders in power play points this season:
 
Name (Team): Points
1. Dylan Sikura (Northeastern): 32
2. Tyler Kelleher (New Hampshire): 31
3. Brady Ferguson (Robert Morris): 28
4. Zach Aston-Reese (Northeastern): 27
5. Michael McNicholas (New Hampshire): 26
6. Adam Gaudette (Northeastern): 25
    Mason Jobst (Ohio State): 25
 
Veterans carrying the load
Northeastern, with 14 juniors and seniors on the roster, is tied for the ninth most upperclassmen on NCAA rosters this season. The two classes have combined for 225 points (80 goals, 145 assists), which is second in the country. 
 
Get in front of it
A contributing factor to Northeastern's low shots against total has been the shot blocking abilities of the skaters in front of their own net. NU has blocked 551 shots in 36 games, the fourth most in the country and good for a 15.31 per game average that ranks sixth in the nation. 
 
Garret Cockerill, meanwhile, leads the team with 79 blocks and an average of 2.19 that is 13th in the country and third in Hockey East. He had a career-high six blocks against New Hampshire at Fenway Park on Jan. 14.
 
Cockerill keeping up
Junior Garret Cockerill plays in all situations for Northeastern, and is one of the team leaders in time on ice per game. This year, though, the Brighton, Mich. native has continued to chip in at the offensive end of the ice, and is fourth on the team with 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists), a new career high and the most points for a Northeastern defenseman since Jim Fahey had 46 points in 2001-02. 
 
His 0.92 points per game are sixth in the nation, and tied for second in Hockey East, among defensemen. He's one of eight defensemen in the nation with 30 points.
 
The Ruck stops here
After winning the starting job midway through last season, sophomore goaltender Ryan Ruck left his mark on the Husky record book after his first season at Northeastern. As a freshman a year ago, the Coto de Caza, Calif. native went 20-11-4 in 35 starts, the third most single-season victories in team history and a team record 2.36 GAA. 
 
He also cracked NU's single-season record book in games played (37; tied for third), save percentage (.909; ninth), minutes (2185:24; fifth) and shutouts (two; tied for seventh). After starting his career 0-9-2 between the pipes, he responded by going 20-2-4 in his final 26 starts and already holds the Hockey East record for career postseason victories (six). 
 
Ruck is currently fifth on Northeastern's all-time wins list (38) and tied for sixth with three career shutouts. He's also the first Northeastern goaltender since Brad Thiessen to win at least 35 games in two seasons.