You may be surprised to find out that the Terriers have played in 35 outdoor hockey games in program history. However, that is all ancient history. The last time the Terriers took to the pond, Jack Parker was 10 going on 11, and Dwight D. Eisenhower was the leader of the Free World.
So throw that 20-12-3 record the Terriers own in outdoor games right out the window. They are 0-0-0 outside, and they are 1-0-0 in 2010.
This game will also be a completely different animal from the beautifully done NHL Winter Classic just a week ago. It may be played in the same house, but it certainly will not be the same game.
So what will the Big Green Box on Yawkey Way have in store for the boys of Commonwealth Avenue? Here are five things to watch for on Friday night.
#1: The Weather Outside is Frightful
Or at least it will be at gametime. According to my sources in the weather industry (weather.com) the snow will start falling in Boston around 9am on Friday. The snow will not stop falling until deep into the night. With the wind chill, it's going to feel like it is anywhere between 10 degrees -- 17 degrees.
Needless to say, the bitter cold and the non-stop percipitation are going to have a major impact on this game.
The Bruins skated on the sheet at Fenway the day before the Classic in a snow storm, and many of the players commented that as majestic a sight it was to behold, the white stuff made for some tricky playing conditions. As Blake Wheeler told WEEI, "Hopefully we are going to get some clear ice out there because with the snow it makes it pretty interesting. If not, that’s the way it is and we have to adapt to it and play the game accordingly.”
We saw what snow can do to an outdoor rink when the Sabres and Penguins met in Buffalo in the first Winter Classic. The puck got lost in corners, passes went awry, and basic stick-handling and skating became a nightmare, even for some of the games best.
Who will be able to adapt to the crazy weather? Which goaltender will be able to stay warm? How will the ice, which has been in place for about a month, hold up after an entire day of snow?
All of these questions will play a huge part in the outcome of this game.
#2: Bright Light!
Not only is this an outdoor game, but it's a night game. That means that the several hundred thousand watt bulbs will be burning bright throughout the game. That's right, the same lights that otufielders lose line drives in constantly.
This in addition to bizarre dimensions around the outside of the rink. The Green Monster looms large behind one goal, a vast open space about the length of a football field stretches out from center ice, and beyond the other goal lies the dugout followed by two levels of seats.
It will undoubtedly take both teams a few mintues to get used to the depth perceptions around the rink, as well as the bright lights bouncing off the white ice, right up into the player's eyes.
Jack Parker talked to the Herald about this issue:
“It’s always difficult for us to get used to the NHL rink because there’s so little room behind the net. This rink seems smaller because the radius of the corners are so tight. But I’m more concerned about the depth perception. In most arenas, after the boards there’s usually a crowd of people. Here, there’s nothing but open space.”
As did Shatty:
“It’s definitely a bit different than playing in an indoor arena. There are certain places where you can lose the puck in the sight lines. The boards bounce different, too.”
#3: Bring the Noise
BU BC games are notorious for their rowdy atmosphere, the incredible student sections, and the constant involvement of the pep bands.
But in case you haven't noticed, Fenway Park is a lot bigger than Agganis Arena or Conte Forum, and there's no roof to hold in the noise. The Winter Classic sounded pretty quiet on TV, and even though college fans are louder and drunker, this one may be no different.
There will be 35,000 people in attendance, but some of them will be hundreds of feet away, and hundreds of feet up. They will barely be able to see the game, never mind be heard by the players. Add to this the crippling cold weather that will naturally quiet down the fans anyway, and you could have a very low decidel level.
College Hockey Fans Are Not Quiet People By Nature
That being said, the student sections are stationed closer to the ice, and the majority of the noise should come from those folks. Whichever fan base can keep the energy level up throughout the game should be able to give a significant boost to the players, who will probably need it to take their mind off of the frostbite they are inevitably getting.
#4: Revenge Served Cold, and Desperate
These two teams met just over a month ago at Agganis, and to say the least, the result was not flattering for the home team.
It's never fun to lose to your rival, and it stings especially hard when you're in the midst of a brutal early season swoon.
So how will the Terriers react when they get their first shot at payback against Newton University? It's great to remember the disappointment and embarassment of getting run out of your own arena, but it would be easy for the Terriers to be a bit too fired up when they come out in this game.
In front of a national audience, playing with something to prove, skating at Fenway Park, and looking for revenge. All of these things could lead to the Terriers (cough Eric Gryba cough) to take some shots at the Eagles, and possibly some dumb penalties.
It's up to Jack Parker to keep his team focused, and out of the penalty box early on in this one. BU needs to establish itself by scoring goals and grabbing BC by the throat early on. Penalties are a vintage momentum killer, especially to a team that converts 24% (19 goals in 80 chances) of their power play opportunities. The Eagles are deadly on the man advantage, and that would be an easy way to lose a grip on this game.
#5: Pitching and Defense Win Championships
Well, it is a baseball stadium, so why not use baseball terms? Clearly pitching will not decide this game, but if the man on the mound controls the fate of the team at Fenway 81 games out of the year, the men between the pipes will decide this one.
Kieran Millan has been bad. Grant Rollheiser has been bad. Adam Kraus has been absent.
Will any of them step up? Can Kieran return to the form that earned him National Rookie of the Year honors last year? Can Rollie be a number one goalie? DOES ANYBODY WANT THIS FREAKIN' JOB???
My guess is that Parker will ride Millan as long as he justifiably can, which includes the game at Fenway. He showed glimpes of his old self against UMass, but there was absolutely no pressure in that game, and his defense, namely Colby Cohen, played one of their best games of the season.
Can Kieran be the man at Fenway on Friday?
Honorable Mention: Welcome Back
Defenseman David Warsofsky is back from his international conquest of winning gold at the World Juniors Championship, and Forward Joe Pereira is miraculously set to return from his hernia surgery after missing two measly games. Cross your fingers, your Terriers are at full strength.
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