WIth four goals in the third, BU beats back Colgate

"It’s like déjà 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.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Post-game comments: David Quinn, Rodrigues & Phelps

● Daily Free Press recap

● Boston Hockey Blog: Pluses & Minuses .

● 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.

● Recap and box score

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 11^th 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.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Post-game comments: Coach Brian Durocher (audio)

●Valley News recap