Terriers top Friars on Ruikka, Chiasson goals--UPDATED

Despite being outshot 40-20 by Providence, BU earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Friars at Agganis Arena. Terriers’ scoring came from redshirt sophomore Ryan Ruikka (photo) and sophomore Alex Chiasson, each of whom had a goal and an assistant. For Ruikka, who missed the two previous seasons with injuries, it was his first career goal and first career point. Kieran Millan, who took home first star honors with 39 saves, only yielded an extra-attacker goal with eight seconds remaining in the game. BU killed all seven Providence power plays during which the Friars took 14 shots.

Coach Jack Parker was pleased with the Terrier’s defensive effort pointing out that BU had blocked numerous shots and had limited the number of grade A scoring chances for Providence. In his post-game remarks (below) he discussed Ruikka's long comeback from injuries and his strong defensive effort in the games to date.

• GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
• All-Access Video highlights

• Slide show

• Boston Hockey Blog recap and grades

• Boston Globe recap
• Providence College recap
• Providence Journal recap

• Post-game comments from Parker, Chiasson and Ruikka

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Looking back

There was a familiar face behind the Providence bench last night. Former Terrier standout Clark Donatelli is a volunteer assistant to Friars coach Tim Army. A 60-goal scorer with 135 career points as a Terrier, Donatelli played 35 NHL games with the North Stars and Bruins. His family's construction company built Schneider Arena and, according to urban legend, Clark was the first to skate on its rink as a teenager.

John McCarthy, playing his ninth game for the Sharks, scored his first NHL goal in San Jose's 6-1 win over Edmonton. Late in the third period, McCarthy, positioned just outside the crease, backhanded a rebound (video) into the Oilers' net.

Former BU All-American Mike Grier turned aggressive forechecking into primary assists on two Sabres goals at Buffalo ripped New Jersey, 6-1.

Lots of BU alums in Wilkes Barre Saturday night as the Baby Penguins beat the Binghamton Senators, 2-1, in a shootout. Former Terrier MVP John Curry stopped 37 of 38 shots for the Pens. Brian Strait and Eric Gryba—teammates and roommates at BU—were on opposite bluelines. Neither participated in the shootout. A pair of ex-Terriers—who each played on NCAA title teams— were behind the benches, as well. John Hynes (1995 title team) is the Penguins head coach while Steve Stirling (1971) is a Senators assistant.

Ryan Weston, who began the season with ECHL Las Vegas, has rejoined Phoenix’s AHL farm team in San Antonio where his reunited with his former Terrier teammate Pete MacArthur, who is in in his first year at San Antonio.

Looking ahead

2011 recruit Alex Privitera had an assist and scored a shootout goal for Muskegon in its 5-4 shootout win over Indiana in USHL play. 2013 recruit Adam Erne had a shootout goal for Indiana.

Youngstown goalie Matt O'Connor thought he'd have a night off, but was called upon for a relief effort in the Phantoms' 4-1 loss to Dubuque. O'Connor stopped all 14 shots he faced.

Watchorn leads women’s team
Junior Tara Watchorn scored a goal and assisted on two others in the BU Women’s Hockey team’s 3-2 win over Clarkson. The fifth ranked Terriers now have a 6-1-0 record and equaled a program record with six consecutive victories. Freshman center Marie-Philip Poulin scored the game-winning goal while freshman winger Taylor Holze scored her first collegiate goal. Kerrin Sperry, also a freshman, made 15 saves

•Go Terriers.com recap and comprehensive box score.