Down two goals with less than three minutes left in regulation—then
a frenzied comeback and OT win? As Terrier fans know, Nick Bonino has been there, done
that---successfully. So last night when Anaheim snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in game six of its
series with Dallas, it had to seem like “déjà vu all over again” for the former
Terrier captain and sniper.
The script was a little different from BU’s D.C. Miracle in the 2009 National championship game, when Bonino sent the game into overtime with a one-timer that saved the Terriers season. The Ducks, seeking to close out a stubborn Stars club, were trailing by two for the third time in the game and had pulled their goalie. Bonino took a pass behind the Dallas net, skated out to the side and roofed a shot over Kari Lehtonen to close the gap to one with 2:10. Then he was involved in the mad scramble in front of the Dallas cage that saw the Ducks knot the score with 24 ticks left on the clock. And 2:47 into overtime, Bonino, standing just at the edge of the faceoff circle, wristed a dart past Lehtonen, clinching the series for Anaheim and ending the season for Dallas and Alex Chiasson. The two ex-Terriers shared a hug in the post-game handshake line.
Bonino, who is featured in the current issue of The Hockey News (“This Duck’s Rise is Mighty”) earned the game’s first star as well one of ESPN’s three stars of the night.
● NHL.com recap and video highlights
● LA Times recap
● The Hockey News recap
● Post-game interview
The season also came to end for Kevin Shattenkirk, whose St. Louis Blues were eliminated by defending champion Chicago, 5-1. The former BU captain and All-American recorded a career-best 45 points during the regular season and also played for Team U.S.A. in the Winter Olympics. Another former BU defenseman, Adam Clendening, is on the Blackhawks roster for the playoffs, but has yet to appear in a game.
Looking ahead
Half a world away in Finland, Team USA completed its run to the gold medal in the IIHF World U18 Championships, defeating the Czech Republic, 5-2. 2014 recruit Jack Eichel helped Team USA get on the board early with a stretch pass leading to a rebound goal. Later in the first period, 2014 recruit Johnathan MacLeod assisted on a goal that increased the lead to 3-0. Two more U.S. goals in the second put the game out of reach.
The script was a little different from BU’s D.C. Miracle in the 2009 National championship game, when Bonino sent the game into overtime with a one-timer that saved the Terriers season. The Ducks, seeking to close out a stubborn Stars club, were trailing by two for the third time in the game and had pulled their goalie. Bonino took a pass behind the Dallas net, skated out to the side and roofed a shot over Kari Lehtonen to close the gap to one with 2:10. Then he was involved in the mad scramble in front of the Dallas cage that saw the Ducks knot the score with 24 ticks left on the clock. And 2:47 into overtime, Bonino, standing just at the edge of the faceoff circle, wristed a dart past Lehtonen, clinching the series for Anaheim and ending the season for Dallas and Alex Chiasson. The two ex-Terriers shared a hug in the post-game handshake line.
Bonino, who is featured in the current issue of The Hockey News (“This Duck’s Rise is Mighty”) earned the game’s first star as well one of ESPN’s three stars of the night.
● NHL.com recap and video highlights
● LA Times recap
● The Hockey News recap
● Post-game interview
The season also came to end for Kevin Shattenkirk, whose St. Louis Blues were eliminated by defending champion Chicago, 5-1. The former BU captain and All-American recorded a career-best 45 points during the regular season and also played for Team U.S.A. in the Winter Olympics. Another former BU defenseman, Adam Clendening, is on the Blackhawks roster for the playoffs, but has yet to appear in a game.
Looking ahead
Half a world away in Finland, Team USA completed its run to the gold medal in the IIHF World U18 Championships, defeating the Czech Republic, 5-2. 2014 recruit Jack Eichel helped Team USA get on the board early with a stretch pass leading to a rebound goal. Later in the first period, 2014 recruit Johnathan MacLeod assisted on a goal that increased the lead to 3-0. Two more U.S. goals in the second put the game out of reach.
● Recap/photos and box score
● IIHF recap
● Lowell Sun report
● Hockeysfuture.com interview with Eichel discussing the tournament and his future plans.
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