PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The 2006 movie “The Departed” was filmed in South Boston, not far from the Boston College campus in Chesnut Hill, Mass. The film might remind the University of Denver that Johnny Gaudreau, Bill Arnold and Kevin Hayes have departed Boston College, moved on to professional hockey.
The Pioneers have a chance, a good chance in an NCAA rematch against Boston College on Saturday. Same teams, much different lineups. Minus Boston College’s top 2013-14 line that combined for six goals and 13 points in a 6-2 blowout over Denver a year ago, Saturday’s NCAA Tournament East Region opening game might finish in opposite fashion. The Pioneers (23-13-2) are much better equipped to face the Eagles (21-13-3).
“BC, they had a special line last year, with Gaudreau, Arnold and Hayes,” DU captain Grant Arnold. Gaudreau now plays with the Calgary Flames and Hayes with the New York Rangers.
“They took it to us pretty well and it was very disappointing to end our year like that. But this year, we’re on a mission, and I think a lot has changed.”
Denver is the higher seed at Dunkin Donuts Center, and the Pioneers would also be the favorites if the game were not played 50 miles from the Boston College campus. The game a year ago was the Northeast Region semifinal in Worcester, Mass., and DU had little chance in coach Jim Montgomery’s first year at the school.
The Pioneers would not have qualified for the 2014 NCAA Tournament without winning the inaugural National Collegiate Hockey Conference tournament. This year, they obtained an at-large bid as the No. 5 seed. BC — which was ousted from Hockey East’s tournament March 15 and hasn’t played since — is No. 11.
“We started the year with the eye on that we were going to be here,” Montgomery said. “The journey has prepared us, and it’s been our mission all year to have success in this tournament. “Last year, we were emotionally spent when we got here because winning the NCHC was the only way in. This year, the focus and the determination by our team in practice has been very impressive. And we’re ready.”
Denver has been the better offensive team this season behind freshman Danton Heinen and sophomore Trevor Moore and a handful of big and experienced forwards. Heinen (team-high 45 points) and Moore (21 goals) are one of the country’s most dynamic duos, playing between senior center Daniel Doremus. And DU has three other lines that can score, plus All-American senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia and two others of his ilk in junior Nolan Zajac and Will Butcher.
“Being with Monty for a second year, combining that with seven seniors, and I think the overall comfort level and confidence level is a lot higher than last year,” LaLeggia said.
BC is dependent on its top young line of freshman center Alex Tuch, freshman left wing Zach Sanford and sophomore right wing Adam Gilmore. The Eagles’ top five scorers are freshmen or sophomores, and have no seniors in the top 10. But a big, physical blue-line corps is difficult to penetrate and sophomore goalie Thatcher Demko is a second-year starter with significant international experience with Team USA.
“They are kind of what we were last year,” Montgomery said. “It is very similar. They have Demko and last year we had (senior goalie Sam) Brittain. They generate their offense from two lines this year. We probably only had one line that could score last year. They’re a little deeper than we were last year.”
DU and BC split a nonconference series in Denver on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, both with 2-1 scores. In the finale, DU won in overtime without LaLeggia and second-line center Quentin Shore, who both had the flu.
“Both teams have changed a lot,” Arnold said. “Throughout the season there’s going to be a lot of peaks and valleys. For us, I think we’ve really grown and learned that we have to have all four lines going and focus on the process.”
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or
By the numbers
Denver vs. Boston College comparison in key statistical categories, with national ranking in parentheses:
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| Denver | Boston College | |
| Goals per game | 3.29 (9th) | 2.84 (23rd) |
| Goals allowed | 2.45 (28th) | 2.32 (15th) |
| Penalty minutes | 10.6 (36th) | 11.6 (26th) |
| Power-play pct. | 21.6 (9th) | 15.2 (39th) |
| Penalty-killing pct. | 83.9 (25th) | 86.9 (12th) |
