[GDT] NCAA Finals; Providence (Jankowski, Gillies, Gilmour) vs Boston (Hickey) 5:30 - TSN2

[MrMastodonFarm]

Four Flames prospects will battle it out this evening, conveniently after the Flames put the boots to the jets this afternoon.

Mark Jankowski, Jon Gillies and John Gilmour of the Friers will take on our 3rd round pick of 2014 Brandon Hickey.

Here's a video from back in early March when all four of them took in the Flames game in Boston together,


http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/c...or_hockey_east

Hockey East will have a rooting interest at both ends of the ice when Boston University engages conference rival Providence College in tonight’s NCAA Frozen Four championship game at the Garden.

The Terriers vs. Friars represent the third time two Hockey East teams have squared off in the title game since the conference was formed prior to the 1984-85 campaign. BU defeated Maine 6-2 in the 1995 title game in Providence. Maine needed overtime to dispatch New Hampshire 3-2 in the 1999 championship in Anaheim, Calif.

“I think it’s a nice little story, but I think it is great for our league and I mean that sincerely,” said BU second-year coach David Quinn.

“We think we have as good a league if not the best league in college hockey. The building will be packed and there will be a lot of passionate Providence College fans and a lot of passionate Terrier fans. Two teams that know each other and I think it is going to be a great matchup.”

BU and Providence finished 1-2 in the regular season, but their respective runs quickly went in different directions. BU went on to win the Hockey East tournament title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Northeast Regional. Providence was eliminated by New Hampshire in the Hockey East quarterfinals and was the final team to qualify for the NCAA field of 16 teams.

The Terriers and the Friars split a home-and-home series back on Halloween weekend, with each team winning on foreign ice. BU beat the Friars 4-1 in Providence on Oct. 31, while PC beat the Terriers 2-1 the following night at Agganis Arena.

“They took it to us the first night,” said PC senior left winger Shane Luke, “but the second night we rebounded and that’s been our philosophy all year.

”

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/20...8xJ/story.html

After a rocky first half, the Friars figured it out in the second half and learned the lessons they needed to.

“Early in the season, we played against some tough opponents,” said senior center Ross Mauermann. “We were working hard but not getting the results we wanted. We kind of knew we just had to keep working hard in practice and keep bringing it.”

Mauermann said in some ways, it was a matter of simplifying the game.

“I think the biggest thing was to make sure we were getting pucks to the net, and not trying to make the pretty play all the time,” he said. “Early on, we were doing that too much.

“In the second half, it was just get back to our hockey, getting pucks to the net, being gritty and getting second chances. It has paid off for us here in the tournament for sure, with a lot of second-chance goals.”

Pulling for the Friars in this one since Gillies and maybe Jankowski might jump pro this summer but hoping for a good game with more solid performances for our four guys.

[GranteedEV]

Hope this goes to OT!

[Finger Cookin]

Jankowski has been really great in the tournament so far, from the bits I have seen. Hope the Friars can pull this out!

[MyFlamesFirst]

It's a good day to see lots of flames prospects play!

[ForeverFlameFan]

Jankowski has been developing greatly.

I still believe this long term project can still pan out and turn out to be a bottom 6 center behind Monahan and Bennett.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Jankowski has been developing greatly.

I still believe this long term project can still pan out and turn out to be a bottom 6 center behind Monahan and Bennett.

From what I seen in the Friars last game, folks should really be raising the bar on Jankowski. The skill and smarts are unreal. He's great, far better than people will give him credit for. If my guess is right, the Flames are going to soon have 3 top 2 centers on their hands.

Mark my words, just like Gaudreau , he's going to smash the doubters.

[devo22]

GO FRIARS!!! Nothing against Hickey, but I take three Flames prospects winning the title over one ... plus it'd be the perfect ending for Gillies before turning pro (and maybe Jankowski as well).

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by devo22

GO FRIARS!!! Nothing against Hickey, but I take three Flames prospects winning the title over one ... plus it'd be the perfect ending for Gillies before turning pro (and maybe Jankowski as well).

Yeah, pulling for the Friars too. This is Hickey's freshmen season he he'll have another chance. The Friars boys are all third year and plenty of thoughts on Gillies and Jankowski not making it to a 4th.

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by dammage79

From what I seen in the Friars last game, folks should really be raising the bar on Jankowski. The skill and smarts are unreal. He's great, far better than people will give him credit for. If my guess is right, the Flames are going to soon have 3 top 2 centers on their hands.

Mark my words, just like Gaudreau , he's going to smash the doubters.

If Janko turns out as a defensively responsible 3rd line center that can contribute some offence, it makes Backlund trade bait in a few years.

[Buck]

It will be interesting to see if Janko plays against Eichel head to head and if he can keep him in check


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Just in case anyone needs viewing options.

The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:30pm local time and can be seen on ESPN in the United States and TSN2 in Canada. The game will also be available via online streaming on the WatchESPN app or TSNGo app if you have a cable subscription to either channel.

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2015...-gambling-odds

[Flame19,289]

Rooting for Providence in this one.

I really like what Nate Leaman has done in the past few years; first laying the groundwork for Union's title in 2014, and now, in his 3rd season at Providence.

Neat 3 degrees of separation factoid...
Leaman recruited Josh Jooris when he was at Union. Now, Leaman and the Friars return to the NCAA final, a game in which Providence last played back in 1985 when the Friars lost to an RPI team that included Jooris' father.

A win today by Providence would give the NCAA its third first time champion in the past three years (Yale in 2013, Union in 2014).

[sureLoss]

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
Lines:
Luke-Mauermann-Mingoia
Saracino-Acciari-Pinho
Rooney-Jankowski-Tanev
McParland and Demopoulos

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
PC defense:
Walman-Gilmour
McKenzie-Monk
Parisi-Florentino
Adams

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
Same lineup for BU, too:
Rodrigues-Eichel-O'Regan
Greer-Hohmann-Oksanen
Olsson-Lane-Baillargeon
Phelps-Moran-Roberto

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
Defense:
Grzelcyk-MacLeod
Hickey-Fortunato
Somerby-Diffley

[sureLoss]

[Stay Golden]

More Flames related hockey today, nice.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

More Flames related hockey today, nice.

Been a fun couple days. Lots of potential future Flames on display.

[SHOGUN]

Will be interesting how Janko matches against Eichel. I feel Gillies will have a huge game for the Friars.

[getbak]

Jack Eichel became the youngest Hobey Baker winner yesterday, and only the second freshman to ever win it (Kariya being the other). BU has already won two trophies at the Garden this season, the Beanpot and the Hockey East Championship.

Eichel will likely go down as the greatest "one and done" player in NCAA hockey history. He's going to be a great consolation prize for either the Sabres or Coyotes for not getting McDavid.



Shut him down, Jon, John, & Mark.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

Will be interesting how Janko matches against Eichel. I feel Gillies will have a huge game for the Friars.

They played twice this year, back on Halloween weekend. First game the Friars lost 4-1 with Eichel having a goal and assist, the 2nd game Providence shut out Boston 1-0.

Friars and especially Jankowski really struggled to start the season though.

[sureLoss]

I think the key for BU will be Matt O'Connor. Providence doesn't have an offense as talented as Eichel, but they have been very opportunistic in the last few games.

If Matt O'Connor shuts the door, Providence won't have a chance.