BU edges UMass on Carpenter's OT goal

#9 Terriers defeated UMass, 2-1, in the opening game of their best-of-three first-round series at Agganis Arena. BU needed the full 60 minutes plus 9:34 of overtime before freshman Bobo Carpenter’s second goal of the game ended things.

The teams meet again tonight with BU looking to eliminate the Minutemen. Game time is 7 p.m.  Links for the live-stream, radio and GameTracker are here.

Despite a 15-7 BU shot advantage, UMass took a first-period lead when captain Steven Iacobellis took a pass in the left-wing circle, cut past a defender to the goalmouth and put a forehand shot past senior Sean Maguire. 

Terriers tied the game early in the second when senior assistant captain Matt Lane chased down the rebound of his own shot and centered it to Carpenter for a backhand finish. BU nearly took a lead early in the third when freshman Charlie McAvoy’s pass sent senior assistant captain Danny O’Regan in alone, but goalie Nic Renyard stoned him with one of his 46 saves. Later in the period, Renyard stopped a point blank chance for senior Ahti Oksanen, who’d been set up by Lane.

Six-and-a-half minutes into overtime, Maguire made a pair of sparkling saves on Ray Pigozzi as BU drew a penalty. During the ensuing kill, BU had a great chance for a shorthanded goal, but freshman Jordan Greenway’s pass bounced over O’Regan’s stick. The game-winning sequence began when sophomore Brandon Fortunato sent a shot on net with Oksanen attempting to screen Renyard. The Finnish forward slipped the rebound to Carpenter who had driven to the net and scored on the forehand.

Reynard earned the game’s first star; Carpenter was the 2^nd star and Maguire, who stopped 29 shots, was 3^rd.

Carpenter, who was promoted to second line center for last night's game, has scored nine of his 11 goals in the last 19 games.

Maguire, who lowered his GAA to 2.09 and improved his save percentage to .930, has yield one goal or less in eight of his last 12 starts.

BU had a decided advantage on draws led by Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, who won 16 of 22 faceoffs.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Post-game comments: Quinn, Carpenter

● Boston Hockey Blog: Pluses & Minuses

● Daily Free Press recap; New-look 2^nd line

● USCHO recap

Looking back

Evan Rodrigues assisted on three goals in Rochester’s 7-2 win against Springfield.

Women’s Team

Terriers face off with #6 Northeastern this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the Hockey East semifinal at Lawler Rink at Merrimack. BU is seeking to defend the conference championship that it has won the past four seasons.

BU won only one of three regular-season conference games against the Huskies and also dropped a decision in the Beanpot Tournament.

NU’s Kendall Coyle leads the nation with 49 goals, while Denisa Krizova is tied for third with 37 assists. BU is led by sophomore Rebecca Leslie, with 48 points, and classmate Victoria Bach who has 21 goals.

At the Hockey East banquet, Bach and Leslie were announced as second-team All-Stars, while junior Alexis Crossley earned honorable mention.

The championship game will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. and will be live-streamed free.

● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, @BUGameDay

● HockeyEastOnline.tv  (subscription)