Hockey Squad Greets Boston College After Disappointing Road Trip West

Back from a disappointing 2-2 western road swing, the Harvard hockey team returns to the friendly confines of Watson Rink tonight to take on Boston College. Face-off time is 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles don't figure to give the Crimson too much trouble. B.C. has a mediocre 5-6-1 record, and is 2-3-1 in ECAC play. The Eagles are coming off two straight losses to Cornell, 10-7, and Brown, 6-4, in the ECAC Holiday Festival Tournament in New York over the weekend.

The B.C. offense, led by wing Richie Smith, is one of the more potent around, tallying 35 goals in its six ECAC contests.

The Eagle defense, however, is another story. ECAC opponents have averaged six goals a game against the porous B.C. defense, and the Harvard scoring machine is a sure bet to keep intact the Eagles' goals-allowed average.

In its 11 games, the Crimson has scored 68 goals for a better than six-goal-a-game average. The Harvard defense has remained solid giving up just 29 goals for a 2.63 average. Goalie Brian Petrovek is currently the top ECAC goaltender.

Despite the losses to Michigan and St. Louis, Harvard is still perched atop the ECAC with a perfect 7-0 record. In addition, the Crimson is in first place in the Ivy League with a 4-0 record.

The game against Boston College marks the beginning of a key four game home-stand for the Crimson. A big win against the Eagles would be a good way to start it off.