Terriers fall to Minnesota in NCAA regional

BU’s attempt to rally from a two deficit after two periods was derailed by a Minnesota unassisted goal, as the Terriers’ rollercoaster 2011-12 season came to an end in St. Paul. Unable to duplicate their come from behind win over New Hampshire in the Hockey East tournament, BU fell, 7-3 with two empty-net goals and that score reversed the outcome of the previous Terrier-Gopher NCAA matchup in 1995, also a 7-3 game.

A slow start and a Gopher power play goal had BU trailing midway through the first period, but the Terriers knotted the score on Wade Megan’s team-leading 20th goal of the season, a power play marker. Minnesota regained the lead nine minutes into the second period before a strong individual effort by Ross Gaudet tied the game at two-apiece. Just minutes later, the game turned on a pair of Minnesota goals—27 seconds apart—aided by some Terrier defensive lapses.
Trailing 4-2, BU regroup and narrowed the lead to one early in the final period on an Adam Clendening slapshot. Terriers pressed for the tying goal with eight shots in the next five minutes, but an unassisted goal by Nico Sacchetti restored the two-goal margin and effectively ended the Terriers chances. Two empty-net goals produced the 7-3 final.

Alex Chiasson assisted on two of the three BU goals and finished as the team’s top scorer with 46 points. He and Chris Connolly led the team in assists with 31.

● GoTerriers.com recap, comprehensive box score
● Photo gallery
● Video highlights
● Post-game comments- Jack Parker, Connolly/Gaudet
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, analysis, Connolly feature
● HockeyEastOnline recap
● USCHO recap and photo gallery
● New England Hockey Journal recap
● College Hockey News recap and analysis

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Robert Polesello’s scored his 15th goal—and third in five games—assisted by 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon as Indiana beat Youngstown, 5-2. 2012 recruit Matt O’Connor made 50 saves for the flu-depleted Phantoms.