Strong start powers BU past New Hampshire, 3-2

#9 BU defeated New Hampshire, 3-2, on Senior Night at Agganis Arena and the win pulled the Terriers into a fourth place tie with Lowell.  Terriers received goals from captain Matt Grzelcyk, assistant captain Danny O’Regan and Bobo Carpenter, along with a strong goaltending effort from Connor LaCouvee.

After LaCouvee foiled a New Hampshire shorthanded breakaway, BU took the lead when Grezelcyk’s wrist shot bounced past Daniel Tirone, with Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Charlie McAvoy assisting. Terriers doubled the lead with a power play goal when Shane Switzer found O’Regan all alone at the back door for a shot that glanced off the goalie and into the net.

Terriers struck again with the man-advantage in the second period. Brandon Fortunato’s shot off a Jordan Greenway pass was blocked but Carpenter corralled the puck and backhanded a sharp-angle shot past Tirone for a 3-0 lead.  After two periods, BU had a 30-10 shots lead.

BU eased up on the attack in the third and the Wildcats struck for a pair of goals in the first seven minutes from Aza Nazarian and Cameron Marks—the first on a goal-mouth rebound and the second on a hard wrist shot from the circle to LaCouvee’s right. Terriers had numerous chances to extend the lead, but the best opportunities either missed the net or were stopped by Tirone. The final minute became a bit dicey when a penalty to BU and a pulled goal gave UNH a 6-on-four advantage, but LaCouvee held the fort and picked up his first win in a start since November.

Terriers recognized six seniors in a pregame ceremony: Grzelcyk, O'Regan, Matt Lane, Ahti Oksanen, Mike Moran and Sean Maguire. 

Maguire missed his second consecutive game with a hand injury. Also out of the line-up were Brandon Hickey--injured in Friday's contest--and Robbie Baillargeon, who was injured in practice.

► In the final weekend of regular-season action, BU travels to Notre Dame for a pair, while Lowell has a home-and-home against BC. If the Terriers and River Hawks remain tied in points, BU will earn fourth place and a first-round bye.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score.

● Video highlights

● Post-game comments: David Quinn, O’Regan and LaCouvee  

● Boston Hockey Blog: Pluses & Minuses; Senior Night gallery

● Daily Free Press recap; Seniors recognized, set tempo

● USCHO recap

Looking ahead

2016 recruit Dante Fabbro assisted on a pair of goals in Penticton’s 5-0 win over Victoria. Fabbro has a 14-49-63 scoring line in 42 games for the first-place Vees and leads all BCHL defensemen in scoring.

2017 recruit Hank Crone scored his 13^th goal of the season in Fargo’s 5-2 loss to Sioux Falls. The left-shot forward from Cedar Hill, Texas, has 28 points in 45 games for the Force.