Yale at Boston University: Pregame Notes and Line Combinations

BOSTON -- Good evening and welcome inside Agganis Arena on the campus of Boston University where the Terriers are set to host Yale in one of just three Division 1 games on the schedule tonight.

Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The game will be streamed live, and for free, on TerrierTV with Bernie Corbett and Mark Linehan on the call.

Tonight’s 66th meeting between the two programs will break a tie in the all-time series, currently standing at 31-31-3. Five of the last seven contests have gone to overtime, including BU’s 3-2 win two years ago in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs won by the same score last Dec. 11 in New Haven.

However, no game in this series dating back to 1924 ― or, no game ever, I’m willing to say ― has ever featured a Nick Boni-Gnome giveaway. Until tonight, that is.

The game marks the last of the first semester for both teams, after which the Terriers will see seven players leave to join Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal and Toronto.

Freshman defenseman Dante Fabbro reported to Canada’s World Juniors training camp before BU’s most recent weekend series in Vermont. The two-game trip to Burlington ended with freshman Jake Oettinger making 28 saves for a 4-0 win Saturday night, his first collegiate road shutout.

The Bulldogs extended their unbeaten streak to four games (2-0-2) with a Friday night, 7-3 win over RPI, but a 5-3 loss to Union snapped it the following night.

Tonight’s game is Yale’s first of four in a row against Hockey East foes as Northeastern, Connecticut and Providence are its first three regular-season opponents after the holiday break.

Senior captain John Hayden leads the Bulldogs with nine goals, but his 15 points are equal with sophomore Joe Snively for the team lead. Snively scored three goals in the Elis’ action against Capital District opponents, including two against RPI.

Here are tonight’s lines:

BULLDOGS (4-5-2, 2-5-1 ECAC Hockey)

Mitchell Smith - Robbie DeMontis - Mike Doherty
Frankie DiChara - Evan Smith - John Hayden
Luke Stevens - Chris Izmirlian - Ted Hart
Joe Snively - Ryan Hitchcock - Andrew Gaus

Adam Larkin - Matt Foley
Billy Sweezey - Chandler Lindstrand
Henry Hart - Charlie Curti

Sam Tucker
Patrick Spano

TERRIERS (9-5-2, 4-2-2 Hockey East)

Ryan Cloonan - Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson - Patrick Harper
Jordan Greenway - Clayton Keller - Bobo Carpenter
Nikolas Olsson - Patrick Curry - Nick Roberto
Oskar Andren - Gabriel Chabot - Chase Phelps

Chad Krys - Charlie McAvoy
Brandon Hickey - Shane Switzer
Brien Diffley - Doyle Somerby

Jake Oettinger
Connor LaCouvee
Max Prawdzik