"The consolation game may not seem like a big deal, but it was still a great thrill to be playing in Boston Garden," said Devin, who grew up in Braintree.

"I've been watching the Beanpot for 15 years. It's a big event around Boston. You've got 15,000 fans watching you play in the Garden, and anyone who grew up playing hockey in New England dreams of playing there."

Does this mean that B.C., in light of the fact that virtually all of its players are from the Boston area, has a home advantage?

"I don't think so," Fusco answered. "The fact that Northeastern's won two in a row with almost all Canadians proves that isn't true."

And if the Eagles don't have an advantage stemming from their hometown roots, then doesn't their size give them an edge on the smaller ice surface of the Garden?

"Yes and no," Fusco replied. "A quick team on a small ice surface can be very effective."

"If it's an advantage, then it's a very small one," Bourbeau added. "B.C.'s a skating team too."

According to Fusco, "If we use our speed, it will look like we have seven or eight guys on the ice."

In any case, almost any performance will be an improvement on last year's opener, in which a flat Crimson squad was manhandled by a slower, but bigger B.U. team, 5-3.

"Last year we didn't come out ready to play," Fusco commented. "We didn't start playing until halfway through the second period, and by then it was too late."

"This year we will be a little bit looser," he added. "We'll be ready."

The action gets underway tonight following the Northeastern-B.U. prelude which starts at 6:15 p.m. The winners go to next Monday night's championship to battle for the title of king of Boston's college hockey playground.

The losers go to the consolation and the long wait until next year