Not Your Average 3rd Line

Parker Milner and the defense might be the reason that the Boston College Eagles have resumed practicing as they get ready for the Frozen Four in Tampa next weekend. But on the offensive side, BC is getting goal scoring from everywhere, including what the score sheet has the nerve to call "the third line." What team wouldn't like to have a line with Paul Carey, Pat Mullane and Johnny Gaudreau playing that role? Carey is big and fast, Mullane is a playmaker and the best faceoff man on the team and Johnny Gaudreau is what is meant by the term phenom. Eagle Action sent The Kid to the Heights Wednesday afternoon for a chat with Gaudreau and Mullane.

EA: How have you three developed into such a powerful line ?

Mullane-I think it's just a lot of different dynamics. We get along together and we all play an honest brand of hockey. We all play a brand that is inside our comfort level. Paul Carey does what he does well. He uses his speed and size really well and Johnny you know, he is really skilled and we want to get him the puck down the stretch. With myself, I am focused on improving my play in the defensive zone, especially on the defensive zone faceoffs.

Gaudreau-Paul is just a big guy and he is great with the puck and he is good in his own zone. Patty has a great vision so its a good match. Unfortunaltley, we didn't get paired together at the start of the year but we have been playing really well.

EA:What is the biggest thing that has changed since being swept up in Orono ?

Mullane- I think everyone has kind of bought in so to say. Everyone has bought into Boston College hockey you know, buying into what the team wants to accomplish, not you own personal goals. We need to put the team first and the goal of winning as a team first and foremost. So, if you watch, guys are getting pucks in deep and and not turning the puck over as often. For myself, you now I would turn it over and I would say "No big deal" no when I do that, I am more bought in and when I don't have a play, I am getting it in deep.

Gaudreau- You know after Maine, we had a huge team meeting and we did a good job of figuring out what we needed to do to improve and obviously we have done that over the past couple of months. We found a lot of problems, especially turnovers and we got that out of our system and since then we have been great.

EA: What did you guys do well this weekend versus Air Force and Duluth ?

Gaudreau- Well ya, you know we did a good job of keeping things simple and not trying to do to much. Getting pucks in their zone and not turning it over in our zone.

EA:What do you guys know about the University of Minnesota ?

Mullane- Well you know, I was getting bored in class today and looked at their stats and said you know wow they have some great players that can put the puck in the net like Haula, Rau, and Bjugstad that can really put the puck in the net but if you look at our team, we also have some guys that can really put the puck in the net so it should be a great matchup. I also know their goaltender (Patterson) is playing extremely well right now so it will be a fun matchup for us.

EA:What do you guys need to do to win a championship ?

Gaudreau- Well like I said, the turnovers are big, we gotta come at them with all four lines. Our fourth line has been great you know it's amazing what they have accomplished so far this season so hopefully we can come away with a victory.

EA:How does it feel to be back in the Frozen Four after losing to Colorado College last season ?

Mullane- Obviously, it feels great to be back as a team. You know, freshman year, I didn't have as big of a role as I do this year (obviously). My first year we kind of walked through everyone and everyone was like "wow". Last season you know we found out that you know, this is hard to do. We said this year we're going to show up and we're going to play hard. We know how hard it is to get back and that flight down to Tampa will be fun.