5 Things to Watch For Tonight

By Chris Aliano

1.  How does BU rebound from such an embarrassing defeat at the hands of a perennial conference bottom-dweller?  The Terriers weren't just beaten last night, they were handed an old fashioned whipping.  The Warriors skated around the Terriers all throughout the second and third period, and the Terriers showed very little fight after trailing 3-1.

2.  How effective will Nick Bonino be?  The alternate captain is back in scarlet and white, and it sure is nice to see him back on the ice.  Returning to action for the first time since he suffered a dislocated shoulder injury on Oct. 24 against Michigan, the junior center and his dynamic style can change the pace of the game by himself.  However, Bonino was held without a single point in the three games he has partaken in this season, and opposing defenses are aware that he is essentially the lone marquee type of threat the Terriers have aside from, at the moment, Alex Chiasson (who is out with an injury).

3.  What kind of performance will we get from Grant Rollheiser?  Rollheiser makes his first appearance since shutting out Providence College in the regular-season finale of 2008-09.  He brings a respectable 2.13 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage from last year, but has dealt with a high ankle sprain since the beginning of the season.  His defense in front of him will have to play much better than last night, when they let Merrimack waltz around them time after time.

4.  What do we expect from the all-freshmen third line?  Last season, the dynamic trio of Chris Connolly, Vinny Saponari and Corey Trivino were on the ice when the final goal was scored to clinch the national championship.  That was no fluke, considering just how much those three contributed down the stretch.  Tonight, Wade Megan centers a third line featuring Justin Courtnall and Ryan Santana.  Megan scored his first collegiate goal last night and has four points on the season, while Courtnall and Santana are yet to tally a point.  Still, Parker has been impressed by the play of Santana and the gritiness of Courtnall, who is not afraid to throw his big body at opponents.  They could be the X-factor tonight.

5.  Who will step it up and be a leader for once this season?  Let's be honest.  The Terriers have been lost on the ice.  Time and time again it's seemed as if they're out there looking for one of the seniors from last season to finish a scoring play or to bail them out of a bind on their own defensive end.  Kevin Shattenkirk has to shoulder some of the blame for that being the team captain, but it hasn't been all him.  The offense has had trouble finishing, indicative of the seven total even-strength goals the Terriers have recorded in eight total games.  That's a horrendous statistic, and one that needs to change tonight.  Who will step it up?