Parise turns away 29 BU shots
WORCESTER, Mass. -- Jordan Parise had all the answers on Friday night.
The North Dakota goaltender certainly had help from his teammates and the video replay official, but it was Parise who turned away all 29 Boston University shots as the Fighting Sioux (23-14-5) blanked the Terriers 4-0 in front of 8,360 at the DCU Center to advance to Saturday's East Regional final vs. Boston College (8 ET, ESPNU).
In addition to posting his second shutout of the season and second in national-tournament play (3-0 vs. Holy Cross last season), Parise helped UND stop all 10 BU power plays as he improved his unbeaten streak to 10 games (8-0-2).
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"Their pucks went in the net and ours didn't. That was the difference," he said.
With UND leading 2-0 early in the second, it looked like BU was back in the game when Brian McConnell beat Parise off a scramble play in front, but the Terriers' John Laliberte was ruled to be in the crease and the goal was disallowed.
The Fighting Sioux quickly turned that call into more misfortune for BU when Rory McMahon made it 3-0 at 8:49 and that goal — not to mention Parise — effectively demoralized the Terriers the rest of the way.
Just like he turned away everything else the Terriers sent his way, Parise was also quick to deflect the postgame praise from both sides.
"Everyone picks up their play around playoff time and I'm fortunate that my team picks it up as well," Parise said. "It's our team, our defensive corps and everybody buying into a system. I can take a little bit of credit for that but it's mainly been my team."
"He's been very solid all year," UND coach Dave Hakstol added. "He's really been consistent and I believe it's a matter of focus. And the defense and forwards in front of him are doing their job and stepping forward, which you need in playoff hockey."
Saturday night's game with the Eagles will be the second meeting of the season between two of the bigger brand names in college hockey. Thanks is large part to a three-goal first period, BC beat North Dakota 5-3 at Conte Forum on Oct. 29 — giving BC head coach Jerry York his 700th career win.
"I know they took it to us in the first period when we played out here," Parise said. "If there are a lot of penalties it could be a shootout, but if we stay clean and they stay clean, it's going to be a helluva game."
That was the case the last time these two teams met in the NCAA tournament. In the 2001 title game in Albany, N.Y., a Krys Kolanos overtime goal gave the Eagles the 3-2 win and their first national championship in 52 years.
This time it won't be a national title on the line but rather a trip to the Frozen Four, with the winner heading to the April 7 national semifinals in Columbus, Ohio.
Parker has played both teams and gives the edge to his Hockey East counterparts.
"I'm not trying to give BC the kiss of death, but I've said all along I think they're the best team in the nation," he said. "And North Dakota is just losing guys out of the lineup to injury and BC is just getting guys back.
"North Dakota will have their hands full tomorrow night," he said.
Just like BU did with Jordan Parise.
David Albright is a senior editor at ESPN.com and can be reached at david.albright@espn3.com.
