CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue is back. Boston College and Boston University renew Beantown's historic rivalry for the first time in 2014-15 on this Friday evening at Kelley Rink.
Puck drop for tonight's 266th meeting between the teams is set for 8 p.m. NBC Sports Network is on the Heights to televise the game to a national audience with Dave Goucher and Ken Hodge on the call.
BU holds a slight 129-119-17 edge in the all-time series, but lost each of the three head-to-head contests last season and six of the last nine. The Eagles won 5-1 on the road on Nov. 8, 2013, 6-4 here in Chestnut Hill on Jan. 17 and 3-1 in the Beanpot semifinal Feb. 3 at TD Garden. This is the first time since the 2012 Beanpot final that both BC and BU are meeting as top-five teams in the nation.
This season's clashes have added meaning, however, with top 2015 NHL Draft prospects Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin going head-to-head. Agganis Arena will host the second meeting on Jan. 16, 2015.
The Eagles dropped a 1-0 decision at UConn on Wednesday night in the first-ever meeting between the teams. Sophomore Thatcher Demko made 21 saves in the contest, but BC's national-best streak of 106 consecutive games without being shutout came to an end.
BU got off to its best start since 2001 at 4-0-0, but was a 2-1 home loser to Providence last Saturday. Eichel has scored a point in each of his first five collegiate games, including a goal and an assist in a dominant 4-1 win at Schneider Arena on Friday. The Terrier defense has allowed just 1.20 goals per-game, second in the nation to Northern Michigan.
Here are tonight's lines:
TERRIERS (4-1-0, 2-1-0 Hockey East)
Ahti Oksanen - Jack Eichel - Danny O'Regan
Evan Rodrigues - Robbie Baillargeon - Cason Hohmann
Nikolas Olsson - Matt Lane - Nick Roberto
A.J. Greer - Mike Moran - Chase Phelps
Matt Grzelcyk - John MacLeod
Brandon Fortunato - Brandon Hickey
Doyle Somerby - Brien Diffley
Matt O'Connor
Connor LaCouvee
Anthony Moccia
EAGLES (4-2-0, 1-1-0 Hockey East)
Zach Sanford - Ryan Fitzgerald - Alex Tuch
Quinn Smith - Austin Cangelosi - Brendan Silk
Destry Straight - Adam Gilmour - Chris Calnan
Cam Spiro - Michael Sit - Danny Linell
Ian McCoshen - Noah Hanifin
Scott Savage - Michael Matheson
Travis Jeke - Teddy Doherty
Thatcher Demko
Brad Barone