So the grand Thursday night hockey experiment is over, and the BU Icedogs went 2-2 thanks to their 5-0 pasting of Merrimack College last night. What was most remarkable wasn't the score, or the shutout. It was that a game that was televised and had a score like 5-0 was over by 9:30. I love the 15 second face-off rule, even if it does lead to truncated performances of the fight song. (I'd hoped for a sound clip, but only could find sheet music. Hope your tuba's handy).

The oddest thing about this game was the naming of the game's three stars. The game's third star was Merrimack's Joe Exter, who in just under 50 minutes made 28 saves but gave up four goals. I suppose having the home team get all three stars can be seen as gauche, but I'm not sure this is the sort of performance Exter would want notice for.

Second star went to John Sabo, while the number one star went to Ryan Whitney, he of the "Greatness" tag. Both tallied a goal and an assist, though we were uncertain that Whitney actually potted the goal he was credited with.

Sean Fields, who stopped 24 shots en route to his fifth career shutout, was left starless. He was gracious in post-game interviews, noting that the play in front of him made his job easier. I can attest that, for the last couple of minutes at least, this was not in evidence, as Merrimack did have some opportunities. Of his five shutouts, three have been against Merrimack. That may have something to do with it, too.

We're through with Fridays just in time for the Beanpot to mess the schedule up. No games this weekend as BU faces Harvard on Monday at 5 pm. I think we should win this one, even though Harvard's got a better record and is one place ahead in the US College Hockey Online poll. We did best the Crimson in our annual pre-Thanksgiving tilt (one of Fields' two non-Merrimack shutouts, stopping 36). I'm not thinking it's going to be a cake walk, but rather in the two-goal difference sort of thing. We do seem to have problems if we don't get to 3 goals, so if Harvard can play stern defense trouble would be in the offing.

NU-BC is kind of sad to contemplate, but I can hope for the best.