Boston College Women’s Hockey Eyes Key Hockey East Matchups After Split Weekend
Coming off a rollercoaster road trip that saw both the highs of overtime triumph and the lows of a tough loss, Boston College women’s hockey is back on home ice this weekend for a pair of pivotal Hockey East matchups. The Eagles host Providence on Friday night at Kelley Rink before heading to Bentley Arena on Sunday to take on Northeastern. Both games will stream live on ESPN+.
A Weekend of Contrasts
Last weekend was a tale of two games for BC. The Eagles opened with a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over No.
13 Holy Cross, showcasing their resilience and ability to close out tight games. But the momentum didn’t carry over into Saturday, when they ran into a buzzsaw in No.
6 UConn and fell 6-2. Those games marked the third time this season BC has faced both Holy Cross and UConn, and the results were a reminder of the fine margins in top-tier college hockey.
Despite the split, the Eagles managed to put up eight goals over the two-game stretch, matching their opponents’ scoring output. That offensive spark is something they’ll look to build on heading into two more crucial conference clashes.
Thomas, Maffeo Lead the Charge
Freshman phenom Ava Thomas continues to be the engine of Boston College’s offense. She was named Hockey East Rookie of the Month for January after a blistering stretch where she led the conference in assists (8), points (13), and shots on goal (74) across eight games. Her six-point explosion (2 goals, 4 assists) in an 8-2 win on Jan. 16 was one of the most dominant single-game performances in the league this season.
Thomas enters the weekend leading Hockey East in total points (41), and she’s showing no signs of slowing down in her first collegiate campaign. She’s not just producing-she’s dictating the pace of games.
Olivia Maffeo has also found her scoring touch, netting three goals last weekend and continuing to be a threat from the blue line. Sammy Taber chipped in with three points (1 goal, 2 assists), and Emma Conner added three helpers of her own. Between Thomas’ dynamic playmaking and Maffeo’s timely scoring, BC is proving it has multiple weapons that can tilt the ice.
In net, Bailey Callaway picked up the win against Holy Cross with 34 saves, while Grace Campbell stopped 35 shots in Saturday’s loss. Campbell, who has started 29 games this season, remains a steady presence between the pipes with a .923 save percentage and two shutouts.
Eagles by the Numbers
Boston College enters the weekend with a 13-16-1 overall record and an 11-8-1 mark in Hockey East play. The Eagles have scored 76 goals this season while averaging just over 32 shots per game.
Thomas leads the team with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists), followed by Taber (25 points) and Madelyn Murphy (21 points). Maffeo has now tallied eight goals on the year, with several coming in recent weeks.
Defensively, BC has been active in front of their goaltenders, blocking over 400 shots this season-good for more than 13 per game. That kind of buy-in from the skaters has been key to keeping games close, especially against high-powered opponents.
Scouting the Opponents
Providence Friars (Friday, Kelley Rink)
The Eagles are already 2-0 against Providence this season, having outscored the Friars 13-3 in those matchups (5-1 and 8-2 wins).
BC holds a 47-43-4 all-time edge in the series and is 27-19-2 when playing at home. The Eagles have also taken seven of the last 10 meetings, making this a matchup they’ll feel confident heading into.
Providence, meanwhile, comes in with a 9-19-2 record and has struggled to find offensive rhythm. The Friars are averaging just 1.80 goals per game and have allowed 3.30 on average. Their power play has converted 10 times on 64 opportunities (.156), and they’ve been outscored by 44 goals on the season.
Reichen Kirchmair leads the Friars with 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists), but as a team, Providence is shooting just .066 and averaging fewer than 28 shots per game. For BC, Friday is an opportunity to assert control early and keep the pressure on.
Northeastern Huskies (Sunday, Bentley Arena)
Sunday’s matchup with Northeastern is a different story.
The Huskies are one of the top teams in the conference with a 23-6-1 overall record and a dominant 18-1-1 mark in Hockey East play. They’ve already taken all three meetings against BC this season, and they’re doing it with a stifling defense and balanced scoring.
Northeastern averages 3.1 goals per game while allowing just 1.8-a testament to both their defensive structure and elite goaltending. They’ve scored 93 goals this season and are outshooting opponents with an average of 34.7 shots per game. Their power play is clicking at 21.5% (23-for-107), and their team save percentage sits at a stellar .932.
Lily Shannon leads the way offensively with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists), followed closely by Stryker Zablocki (14 goals, 23 assists). The Huskies have been efficient, disciplined, and deep-everything you want in a contender.
For BC, Sunday’s game is a chance to measure themselves against one of the best. It’s their fourth crack at Northeastern this season, and while the Huskies have had the upper hand so far, the Eagles have shown flashes of the kind of play that can make things interesting.
The Road Ahead
With just a handful of games left in the regular season, every point matters in the Hockey East standings. Boston College has shown it can compete with top-ranked teams and win gritty, high-scoring games. Now, the focus shifts to consistency-something they’ll need to find quickly with the postseason looming.
This weekend presents two very different challenges: a must-win against a struggling Providence team, and a test of mettle against a powerhouse Northeastern squad. If the Eagles can bring the same energy they showed in their OT win over Holy Cross-and if Thomas keeps playing like one of the best freshmen in the country-they’ll give themselves a shot to make some noise in the stretch run.