Eagles’ speed will challenge Bears’ defense

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The fans at Thursday night’s Boston College-Maine Frozen Four game should be treated to a close, fast-paced game, according to four Hockey East head coaches.

“It’s going to be a terrific game. It’ll be up for grabs,” said New Hampshire coach Dick Umile. “They’re the two best teams in our league. It’s too bad they’re meeting in the semis and one won’t make it to the championship game.”

“They match up very well. BC has a lot of scoring power, but Maine has goaltending and they’ve done an extremely good job defensively. It should be an interesting game,” Umile added.

Umile said BC is very talented but “doesn’t get enough credit for how hard they work. They work as hard as Maine does.”

His Wildcats went 1-1-1 against BC under coach Jerry York this season and 1-2 against Maine and coach Tim Whitehead.

Umile said the key for Maine will be to “not get outnumbered on rushes. That’s what we did well against BC. And we did a pretty good job in the defensive zone. BC can really cycle the puck.”

UMass Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald said the “first goal looms very large.

“Clearly, Maine is a team that doesn’t beat itself and BC has enough firepower to never be out of a game. One of the big keys will be Maine’s ability to transition the puck,” said MacDonald, who considers BC the favorite.

The big question will be how BC goalie Matti Kaltiainen plays, MacDonald said.

“How many times has he let in three bad goals in a game? He may let in a couple of bad ones, but he’ll shut the door after that,” said MacDonald. “If BC moves their legs, that’s trouble for Maine. Maine needs to engage them and be in their grilles all night. The footspeed of BC’s forwards against Maine’s defense isn’t a good matchup for Maine.”

MacDonald said BC’s forwards can pick the puck up off an offensive-zone cycle with a lot of speed, so “Maine’s pursuit angles will be critical.”

Providence coach Paul Pooley said both teams move and transition the puck quickly.

“Maine has played in a lot of tight games and is used to them. They feel comfortable in them,” Pooley said. “BC really had a strong game against Michigan [in the Northeast Regional] and came back [from a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 in overtime]. Power plays and who takes care of the puck better [will be keys].”

Goaltending is another pivotal factor, according to Pooley.

“Jimmy Howard struggled against Harvard, but came back and played well the next game [2-1 overtime win over Wisconsin],” Pooley said. “[BC center] Ben Eaves came off the bench after missing five minutes with [leg] cramps and scores the winning goal.”

“Kids like [Maine left wing Todd] Jackson can skate and create things,” Pooley added.

He said they have both had layoffs spanning a week and a half “and I’ve always felt that’s a huge factor. Who handles the layoff the best? Who comes out of the layoff with more jump?”

Faceoffs will be another critical component.

“BC tied the Michigan game off a faceoff. Maine is good on faceoffs. A faceoff can create offense because you gain puck possession. If you lose it, you’re chasing,” said Pooley.

“It’ll be a skating game. It will be close unless one goalie plays poorly and then it could be a two-goal game,” predicted Pooley.

“The biggest thing is the kids in the pipes,” said Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder. “BC has a little more offensive explosiveness, but if Howard is equal to the task, it puts Maine in favor. If Maine gets some opportunities but Matti is equal to the task [it puts BC in favor]. The goaltenders are the difference-makers.”

“It will be a great college hockey game. It will be fast. Nobody will sit back,” added Crowder, who feels Maine will have to contain the line of Ben and Patrick Eaves and Tony Voce.

“That line singlehandedly took down Michigan. If Maine can keep them off the scoreboard, they’ll enhance their chances of winning greatly,” Crowder said.

Maine has east’s best NCAA mark

Maine has the best record in NCAA Tournament play among all of the eastern schools.

Maine will enter the Frozen Four with a 25-15 mark in NCAA games for a winning percentage of .625.

That’s fifth-best in the country.

Boston University is the only other eastern school above .500 at 33-29 (.532).

Among other prominent eastern institutions: Northeastern is 3-3-1, Merrimack 2-2, Cornell 14-15, RPI 7-8, Boston College 26-33, New Hampshire 11-18, Providence 9-15, Clarkson 12-21-1, Harvard 14-27, Vermont 1-4, and St. Lawrence 5-24.

The top four programs are North Dakota (31-14, .689), Michigan (43-20, .683), Lake Superior State (20-11, .645), and Wisconsin (29-17, .630).

Minnesota is right behind Maine at 47-29 (.618).

Jackson, Howard gain honors

UMaine’s Todd Jackson was named the Defensive Forward of the Year by USCHO.com Tuesday while goalie Jimmy Howard was named to the USCHO’s second team and forward Michel Leveille was selected to the All-USCHO Rookie Team.

Jackson was part of one of the nation’s stingiest defenses and anchored the shorthanded unit. His five shorthanded goals tied for second in the nation.

Also receiving USCHO awards were: player of the year, Junior Lessard (Minnesota-Duluth); rookie of the year, T.J. Hensick (Michigan); coach of the year, Mike Eaves (Wisconsin); defensive player of the year, Yann Danis (Brown); most improved player, Evan Schwabe (Minnesota-Duluth) and Jon Smyth (Colgate); unsung hero award, Dan Boeser (Wisconsin); and sportsmanship award, Steve Saviano (New Hampshire).

Joining goalie Danis and forward Lessard on the All-USCHO First Team were Zach Parise and Brandon Bochenski of North Dakota, Thomas Pock of Massachusetts and Keith Ballard of Minnesota.

Named to the second team with Howard were UNH’s Steve Saviano, Boston College’s Tony Voce, Minnesota’s Thomas Vanek, Denver’s Ryan Caldwell and Ohio State’s Doug Andress.

Joining Leveille on the all-rookie team were Michigan’s T.J. Hensick, North Dakota’s Brady Murray, Michigan State’s A.J. Thelan, Wisconsin’s Ryan Suter, and Cornell’s David McKee.