"It’s like déjÃ
vu all over again" Yogi Berra
Sluggish start, better second period, then
third-period domination. That familiar scenario is the quick summary of BU’s 5-2
win against Colgate in yesterday’s late afternoon matinee at Agganis Arena.
Evan Rodrigues scored the game-winner and an insurance goal for BU
#1 ranked Terriers fell behind to the
physical and hard-working Red Raiders on a first period backhander by Tyler
Spink that beat Matt O’Connor high as Colgate out-shot BU 12-6. Early in the
second with a man-advantage, BU knotted the score. Freshman Chase Phelps,
joining the second power play unit, was stationed just outside the crease and
rapped home a pass from senior assistant captain Cason Hohmann for his first
collegiate goal.
The Terriers had the upper hand throughout the second
period, but Colgate regained the lead on a late power play goal. After O’Connor
made an initial save, Mike Panowyk knifed the rebound out of the air for his
fourth goal.
Just 16 seconds into the third, Jack Eichel produced the
equalizer racing through center ice and wristing home a shot from the left circle
that kissed the post to goalie Charlie Finn’s glove side. On the goal, junior
captain Matt Grzelcyk (photo) recorded the first of his three assists in the period.
Midway through the third, senior assistant captain Evan Rodrigues completed BU’s
second power play goal converting junior Ahti Oksanen’s centering pass in the high
slot to give BU its first lead.
Terriers continued to press the attack and only a few
sparkling saves by Finn kept the score close. Late in the period after
Grzelcyk’s shot from the point was blocked, the puck was nudged forward to
where Danny O’Regan had position on a defender outside the crease and the
junior wing beat Finn for his eighth goal and extended his point scoring streak to 10
games. Rodrigues’ empty-netter in the final second produced the final tally.
Grzelcyk, who had “his best game of the year,” according
to Coach David Quinn, earned first-star honors, while Eichel was the second
star.
► O'Regan's goal extended his scoring streak to 10 games during which he has six goals and eight assists.
► O'Connor stopped 27 shots to earn his eighth win.
► BU's face off performance continues to improve. Eichel won 13 of 26 draws, while Matt Lane won 8 of 16.
►BU outshot Colgate in the third period, 13-10, but
allowed the Raiders few grade A opportunities.
Terrier Takeaway Today’s
entry from blog reader pmitch
1. Jack Eichel proved why he is an elite player. His goal gave the team the momentum needed to
rally and eventually win the game. His wrist shot was an absolute rocket - NHL-caliber all the way.
2. Another sluggish first period. This troubling
tendency is going to rob them of some important wins, like it did in the recent
Harvard game. Quality teams will exploit this defect. Coach Quinn and his
staff have some motivational figuring to do.
3. The high energy
of seniors Cason Holmann and Evan Rodriguez sets an exemplary tone for the whole
team. They hustle in all three zones,
and Rodrigues’ work ethic paid off with two goals.
4. Gotta love Brandon Hickey on the point. A great skater,
he fires a low, hard, accurate shot from the point, which he is not hesitant
about unleashing. No wonder he was such a heavily pursued recruit.
● USCHO recap
● Boston Globe recap
CHECK BACK LATER FOR GAME DAY INFORMATION AS BU TAKES ON DARTMOUTH
Looking ahead: Another productive night for future
Terrier centers.
2015 recruit Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson followed up his hat trick
on Wednesday with a goal and a pair of assists to lead Omaha past Tri-City, 4-2. The right-shot forward from Stockholm has 10
points (6G, 4A) in his past
five games and is second on the Lancers in scoring.
2015 recruit Max Letunov’s 11th goal of the season—and fourth
in four games— late in the third period pulled Youngstown even with
Muskegon. After a scoreless overtime, the Moscow native also scored in the
shootout, but the Lumberjacks edged the Phantoms, 3-2.
● Phantoms recap
2015 recruit Robert Carpenter assisted on Sioux City’s
only goal in a 3-1
loss to Fargo.
2016 recruit Clayton Keller assisted on a pair of goals,
including the game-winner as the NTDP U17s earned their first USHL win, 4-2,
against Dubuque. Keller leads the U17s in scoring with a 14-18-32 line in 21
games.
Looking back
Thanks to the blog reader who pointed out this NHL
Network Radio interview with former Terrier defenseman and current Chief
Amateur Scout for Nashville, Jeff Kealty. A
member of BU’s 1995 national championship team, Kealty is one of two ex-Terriers
in the Predators’ front office, along with Assistant General Manager Paul Fenton.
Women’s Team
#5/6 Terriers doubled up Dartmouth, 4-2, in Hanover, N.H.,
in a Saturday afternoon game, raising their record to 10-3-2. BU scored twice
in the first with senior captain Marie-Philip Poulin crashing the net to sweep
in a rebound for her eighth goal of the season, followed by Lillian Braga’s first
goal on a nice give-and-go with freshman Rebecca Leslie. In the second period
Sara Lefort extended the lead, with her 11th of the season, a
laser-quick wrist shot. Just a minute into the third, BU made it 4-0 on Poulin’s
second of the game, coming on a power play. The Big Green countered with two
third-period power play goals. Sophomore Victoria Hanson stopped 20 Dartmouth
shots for the win.
● Post-game comments: Coach Brian Durocher (audio)
