Third-period explosion sinks BU

Terriers scored first in last night’s matchup with BC, but BC owned the third period with three goals to take a 4-1 win at Agganis Arena. Nick Bonino scored BU’s only goal in the loss, which ended the 40-game streak in which BU had not been defeated when Bonino scored a goal or assist. BC’s John Muse turned away 30 shots to earn the game’s first star. With a 1-0 lead early in the second period, BU had a 5-on-3 power play but failed to capitalize.

• GoTerriers.com recap
• USCHO recap and slideshow
• Boston Herald recap
• The Boston Hockey Blog: Jack Parker post-game comments, Bonino and Eric Gryba post-game comments, grading the Terriers.
• WTBU recap and Parker post-game press conference (audio)
• Comprehensive boxscore
• Video highlights

Looking back
• Rick DiPietro made his first rehab start for AHL Bridgeport, playing for 40 minutes against Springfield. After stopping all shots in the first period, he gave up three goals in the second in a 7-3 Bridgeport win.

• Jay Pandolfo returned to the Devils lineup after a shoulder injury had sidelined him for six weeks and played a strong two-way game, contributing an assist in NJ’s 4-3 shootout win over Detroit.

• Keith Tkachuk’s sixth goal of the seaon helped St. Louis to a 5-4 shootout win over the LA Kings.

• Chris Bourque may be feeling like a ping-pong ball after being claimed by the Washington Caps from Pittsburgh. Just prior to the beginning of the season, the Pens had claimed Bourque on waivers from Washington which tried to send its YEAR DRAFT CHOICE to the AHL. Bourque finally made it to Hershey, by way of Pittsburgh.

• Bill O’Neill, a blueliner on BU’s 1978 national championship team and the 28-year coach of Salem State has his team off to a strong start in Division 3 play with a 5-1-1 record including a 3-0 shutout of top-ranked St. Norbert’s in an early-season tournament. Dan Smolinsky, younger brother of BU 2009 grad Steve Smolinsky, is a freshman defenseman for the Vikings.

Looking ahead
• Another game, another goal for 2010 recruit Yasin Cissé, who notched his 12th goal of the season and an assist for Des Moines in the Bucs' 8-2 loss to Cedar Rapids.

Matt Nieto had a hand in both NTDP U18 goals during regulation--a power play goal and an assist--in a 3-2 shootout win over Tri-City in USHL play.