McDavid and Eichel continue playoff pursuit

Monday, 03.30.2015 / 3:00 AM

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer / 2015 NHL Draft blog

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2015 NHL Draft blog
McDavid and Eichel continue playoff pursuit

Erie Otters captain Connor McDavid and Boston University freshman Jack Eichel, the projected top-two prospects eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, remain in the thick of their respective playoff races.

McDavid had one goal and one assist in a 6-5 victory against the Sarnia Sting in Game 3 of his team's best-of-7 first-round series of the Ontario Hockey League on Sunday.

McDavid, who had 44 goals and 120 points in 47 regular-season games, has two goals and five points in three postseason matches. Erie leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Sarnia on Tuesday.

Boston University reached the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time since winning its fifth national title in 2009 when it defeated Yale University 3-2 in overtime on Friday and Minnesota-Duluth 3-2 on Saturday to win the Northeast Regional.

EICHEL VS MCDAVID

EICHEL MCDAVID
Week (2 games) Week  (3 games)
0 g, 1 a, 1 pts 2 g, 3 a, 5 pts
Season/playoff stats (38 games) Season/playoff stats (50 games)
24 g, 43 a, 67 pts 46 g, 79 a, 125 pts

It marks the 22nd time the Terriers (27-7-5) have reached the national semifinals but the first under coach David Quinn, who took over the program two years ago when Jack Parker retired after 40 seasons. Eichel had the primary assist on Danny O'Regan's game-winning goal 7:27 into overtime against Yale.

Eichel was held without a point against the Minnesota-Duluth but had three shots on goal and won 15 of 23 faceoffs. Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin said after the game that Eichel is a special player.

"You can sit and focus on him; you have to pay attention on any team to the best players," he said. "He's certainly a great hockey player that's a threat any time he's out there and our guys did a good job. It happens sometimes when they don't get points but they're still a factor in the game and he certainly is one of those players. Most of the times it might not seem like those guys are getting points but they are doing other things but they find a way to make that play."

Boston University will play the University of North Dakota in the national semifinals on April 9 at TD Garden in Boston at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Boston University has played in the Frozen Four three of the previous six times it has been held in Boston. The Terriers played in the Frozen Four in Boston in 1960, 1972 and 1974. They did not qualify for the Frozen Four in Boston in 1973, 1998 or 2004.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mikemorrealeNHL