Dec. 2 – Northeastern 9, Notre Dame 1

The Huskies extend their winning streak in a 9-2 rout over the #2-ranked Fighting Irish in South Bend.
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Dec. 3 – Northeastern 2, Notre Dame 1

Northeastern continues its winning ways and completes the clean sweep with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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Dec. 10 – Northeastern 4, UMass-Lowell 3

Northeastern grabs a second period lead and pulls away on an empty-net shorthanded goal, capturing their sixth consecutive victory, 3-2 over Lowell.
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Dec. 30 – Northeastern 3, Princeton 3 (F/SO)

The Huskies give up three power play goals and finish regulation 3-3 but survive a tense shootout to advance to the Mariucci Classic championship.
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Dec. 31 – Northeastern 3, Minnesota 2

Northeastern scores two five-on-three goals while holding #2 Minnesota scoreless on the power play, as the Huskies win the Mariucci Classic 3-2.
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Nov. 4 – Northeastern 1, Merrimack 1

Merrimack stuck with the game plan and suffocated Northeastern all night, coming away with a 4-1 win at Lawler Arena.
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Nov. 5 – Merrimack 3, Northeastern 2

Mike Collins scores two to erase Northeastern’s two goal lead before the Warriors capitalize on a mistake to win in overtime, 3-2.
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Nov. 11 – Boston College 2, Northeastern 1

In another heartbreaking loss, the Huskies take an early lead but mistakes lead to BC chances, and a game winning goal with 2.8 seconds remaining.
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Nov. 12 – UMass 4, Northeastern 2

Another third period penalty leads to the game winning goal for UMass, with the Minutemen taking the game 4-2.
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Nov. 18 – Northeastern 5, Providence 2

Northeastern jumps out to an early lead, then seals it late to claim their first win in over a month, 5-2 over Providence.
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Nov. 19 – Northeastern 4, Vermont 1

Ludwig Karlsson scores two goals as the Huskies claim their first 4-point weekend with a 4-1 victory over Vermont on Homecoming.
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Nov. 25 – Northeastern 4, Michigan 1

For the first time this season, NU comes from behind to win, scoring 4 unanswered goals to take down #11 ranked Michigan.
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Oct. 7 – Northeastern 3, UMass 3

Northeastern gets a wild last-second goal in regulation to come back and tie UMass on opening night at Matthews Arena.
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Oct. 9 – Maine 6, Northeastern 3

Northeastern gets a wild last-second goal in regulation to come back and tie UMass on opening night at Matthews Arena.
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Oct. 14 – Northeastern 4, New Hampshire 0

Northeastern storms out to a 3-goal lead in the first period, and cruise to a 4-0 victory over the Wildcats, shutting out UNH for the first time. Chris Rawlings earns his ninth career shutout, tying a program record for career shutouts.
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Oct. 21 – Merrimack 4, Northeastern 1

Merrimack stuck with the game plan and suffocated Northeastern all night, coming away with a 4-1 win at Lawler Arena.
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Oct. 22 – Boston College 4, Northeastern 3 (F/OT)

The Huskies forfeit a 2-goal lead halfway into the third period, eventually losing in overtime 4-3 to the #1-ranked Eagles.
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Oct. 29 – New Hampshire 5, Northeastern 2

The Huskies hold on to a 1-goal deficit through two periods, but after a lengthy delay due to a power outage, it was another third period collapse, with UNH taking the win 5-2.
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Duquesne president Charles J. Dougherty mentioned the A-10′s plans for expansion in an email he sent to his board of trustees explaining his decision to fire basketball coach Ron Everhart. The email was obtained by CBSSports.com. “The A10 conference itself is on the verge of a major improvement with the addition of new high quality university programs,” Dougherty wrote. “All of this amounts to an exciting professional opportunity for a new coach.”

On Wednesday, news broke that Georgia State was in discussions with the Sun Belt conferencel. The move would be primarily motivated by GSU’s football program, which since its inception has been thought of as leverage for GSU to move to an FBS-participating conference. A move, reported by McMurphy, would come as early as 2013.

The Sun Belt is strongly considering extending an invitation to Georgia State and the parties have had informal discussions. An invitation could occur in the coming weeks with Georgia State a possibility to be added to the league as early as 2013, sources said.

While Georgia State would compress the conference’s geographic spread, the loss of VCU and Mason on the basketball side would be seismic shifts for competitiveness in the league. Adding to the unease is the sense that Old Dominion and James Madison are beefing up football programs, aiming at the FBS. While most of the discussion is conjecture and speculation, it’s a fascinating glimpse at conference realignment which is still unfolding. Mike Litos, as always, has a calm and reasoned discussion about why a move from VCU and Mason won’t come for at least another few months.

Hockey got a dose of realignment talk on Wednesday as well. UConn, which had recently hired a consultant to evaluate its hockey program, is reportedly applying to become Hockey East’s 12th team in 2013, as reported by College Hockey News:

Connecticut is believed to be the first choice among a large majority of the conference’s athletic directors. It is a natural fit because it is a state school in New England, a la Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Mass.-Lowell and Vermont. And Connecticut’s women’s program currently plays in Hockey East.

A 12th team would move the number of conference game to 22 (teams would play each other twice each season), increasing the non-league games by 5. UConn’s main hurdle is its arena: they currently play at the small Frietas Ice Forum, which holds less than 2,000 spectators, inadequate for Hockey East’s arena standards.

Go to pickemhockey.com/bracket.

Join the group named WRBB (password: Huskies).

The top three finishers win these prizes:

1. New England Revoloution Adidas practice jersey and shorts
2. New England Revolution t-shirt + schedule poster
3. New England Revolution schedule poster

Prize giveaways are limited to current Northeastern students.

Listen again to the entire game broadcast below:

1st period

Season Finale – NU vs BU [1st Period]

2nd period

Season Finale – NU vs BU [2nd Period]

3rd period

Season Finale – NU vs BU [3rd Period]

Overtime

Season Finale – NU vs BU [OT]

Northeastern celebrates the game-winner on the final day of the season (Photo: Dave Luca)

BOSTON — The game had no meaning for the home team, and little real meaning for the visitors. But this was Northeastern-BU. The game always means something, if only to foment the bitter (if one-sided) rivalry that these two neighbors renew three-plus times each season. And it felt that way on Saturday night at Matthews Arena, as Northeastern came out with an intensity and determination that had been lacking in the second half of their season, refusing to give in and coming away with a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory to finish the regular season. And it fit the script: Vinny Saponari exacted a bit of revenge on his former team, potting the game-winner to send Matthews Arena into a frenzy one final time.

Click here for the box score.

Our thoughts after the jump…

Our observations

• Clay Witt looked sharp in his third start of the season, stopping 36 shots and keeping his positioning under control for the vast majority of the game. Many argued that Witt deserved to get more playing time, but in the opportunities he was given earlier in the season, he did not seem to seize those chances. Who knows what the roster will look like in the fall, but if Saturday was any indication, Witt may still have another word to add about his potential.
• It was a penalty-filled game, with 27 penalties whistled. More than anything else, though, it was an inconsistently officiated game. There were stretches where seemingly everything was being allowed, but in an instant, every nick and bit of contact would then be called. Hockey East was the most penalized league this year, and officiating is a going to be a topic of discussion at the summer meetings, without a doubt.
• Many were wondering where this ‘compete level’ was all year for Northeastern, and they’re right to ask that question. Certainly a lack of intensity late in games hurt NU not only in the second half of the season, but tracing all the way back to the first half of the year, when the Huskies started 1-7-2. The Huskies had lost several one-goal games over that stretch, a number of them when they had held the lead at one point. So to see a battle to the finish on Saturday night makes you wonder what might have been for a team that seemed unstoppable in non-conference play in December.
• You’ve got to feel terrible for Mike McLaughlin, who couldn’t even play in his farewell game due to an upper body injury. Jim Madigan echoed the established sense that McLaughlin “does everything right” on and off the ice, and will be a great ambassador of the program as an alumnus going forward.

Quotable

“Where could I have done a better job? Where could we as a coaching staff done a better job?… We’re not going to run a military camp here, but I think we need to bring in more accountability that the players are looking for… Accountability brings winning.” – Northeastern coach Jim Madigan

“It’s big for me. They’ve been great to me in giving me a second chance to come back and play in Hockey East. I loved it while it was at BU and I love being here. It’s been a great school for me and it’s been great spot, and it felt good to score a goal that meant something.” – Northeastern winger Vinny Saponari

QuickCast 2012-03-03 BU

Kieran Millan stopped 25 shots on Friday night.

BOSTON — It was a fitting end to the Huskies’ season. A solid period of play over a ranked opponent, on the road, an early lead, followed by a devastating barrage of offense from Boston University in the second period to seal a 5-2 victory at Agganis Arena on Friday night. With UMass defeating Merrimack in Amherst, it eliminated Northeastern from postseason contention. The Huskies gave up their 11th shorthanded goal of the season, while Chris Rawlings was pulled after two periods of play.

Click here for the box score.

Our observations after the jump…

Our observations

• The Huskies got a great start with a solid first period, jumping on top less than a minute in with a Garrett Vermeersch strike from the right circle. Northeastern was forechecking well, playing responsibly on defense (especially backchecking) and took advantage of BU turnovers in the neutral zone, clicking effectively on transition plays. But it only lasted for 20 minutes.
• In the second period, it all unraveled quickly as the Huskies gave up a power play goal and less than 19 seconds later were beaten on a quick transition play. After 20-plus minutes of great work, the lead was erased and the Huskies bench looked absolutely defeated. This follows a similar pattern of play from other leads given up during the season. Chris Rawlings was hung out to dry multiple times and made some good saves, but was yanked after two periods in favor of Clay Witt.
• It was a microcosm, in some sense, of the Huskies’ season with a shorthanded goal allowed (the 11th of the season), lots of sloppy defensive zone play and poor communication or selfish work on offense. In all, it was a decent effort for Northeastern, who didn’t give up on the game despite being down 4-1 after two periods, but ultimately mental lapses cost the team a chance to win, as it has all season.

Quotable

“I didn’t like the way my team played tonight. The puck jumped into the net for us tonight, but Northeastern had the much better chances and much better opportunities. They played harder and smarter than we did for the most part… we got the goals, but we didn’t play well… the reason why we won this game was because our goalie played unbelievable. Kieran Millan was terrific tonight.” – Boston University head coach Jack Parker