AMHERST, Massachusetts — The preseason No. 1 in the country did not get the start it wanted in its hopeful march to the Frozen Four. In fact, there were early worries that this might turn into a huge disaster.

Just about everyone you talked to in college hockey said the Boston University Terriers were the runaway favourites to dominate opponents on a more or less nightly basis from October to April. But in their first game, they needed overtime to beat a middling Bentley team, then gave up six goals in a loss to UNH, got demolished by the U.S. national development team in an exhibition game (a stunning 8-2 final), and were handled 4-1 by Notre Dame.

Few would have envisioned a 1-2-0 start for this group, with 13 drafted players and a world-class draft-year prospect, by any means. Let alone a