Oettinger stymies Friars; Terriers win, 2-1--UPDATED

Behind 38 saves from freshman goalie Jake Oettinger and junior Nikolas Olsson’s first goal of the season, the #5/6 Terriers edged Providence, 2-1, at Schneider Arena.  BU has now won four of its last five games, but last night’s didn’t come easily as the Terriers were outshot 39 to 18 and had to kill seven penalties.

And the contest started on a down note for BU when a Friar forecheck forced a turnover by sophomore Charlie McAvoy right in front of the BU cage, which Kasper Bjorkqvist quickly wristed past Oettinger.  Four minutes later, Providence had a golden opportunity to extend the lead, when senior Nick Roberto was whistled for a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head, but BU killed the extended penalty, as well as a 1:40 5-on-3, with Oettinger stopping six shots. PC outshot BU 13-4 in the period.

Photo by David Silverman Photography

Early in the second period, BU tied the score on a strong effort by sophomore Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, who took a pass along the right boards, drove hard to the net and backhanded a shot past the Friar’s Hayden Hawkey. Assists to McAvoy and junior Brandon Hickey.

Just 81 seconds later, Olsson, playing his first game in a month, corralled a loose puck near the right face-off dot and drilled a turn-around shot past Hawkey’s glove for what would prove to be the game-winner. Assists to freshman Gabe Chabot and sophomore Oskar Andrén.  Shots were 10-8 PC.

Providence pressed to score an equalizer in the third period, keeping the puck in the BU zone for much of the final 10 minutes of regulation, but Oettinger kicked out all 16 Friar shots.

Commenting on the ugly victory, Coach David Quinn said:

“Not going to apologize for winning a hockey game [where] you don’t feel great about your performance, because the season has a funny way of playing out. There are going to be nights where you play really well and you don’t win and they’re going to be nights where you don’t play great and you win. I think that was one of those nights tonight.”

Friars’ Coach Nate Leaman: "[Oettinger] made two or three big-time saves there that kept it a 1-0 game. That's what great goalies do,'

► BU has successfully killed 21 of the last 22 penalties over five games.

► Olsson's last goal came in the 2015 Hockey East title game vs. UMass-Lowell.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Daily Free Press recap, analysis

● Post-game comments:  Quinn; Oettinger

● Providence Journal recap

● HockeyEastOnline.com recap and video

►Terriers host Providence tonight with puck drop set for 7 p.m.

Looking ahead

2017 recruit Hank Crone scored his eighth goal and assisted on the game-winner as Fargo defeated Sioux Falls, 3-1. With 24 points, Crone is tied for third in USHL scoring.

●Fargo Force recap

2017 recruit Logan Cockerill (photo) continued to wield a hot stick, scoring his fifth goal in the past four games—and ninth of the season—in the NTDP U18s’ 3-1 win against UW-Stevens Point.  Fellow recruit Brady Tkachuk iced the game with an empty-net goal, his 10^th goal of the season.

● USA Hockey box score

2017 recruit Ty Amonte scored his 10^th goal and added an assist for Penticton, but the Vees dropped a 4-3 decision to Salmon Arm in double OT. Amonte has 25 points in 29 games for the Vees.

● Penticton recap

2018 recruits Jake Wise and Joel Farabee scored goals in the NTDP U17s 4-1 defeat of the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs last night.  With Team USA leading 1-0 early in the third, Farabee set up Wise for his fourth goal of the season. Later in the period, Farabee, who leads the team with 17 points, scored a shorthander for his eighth goal.

● USA Hockey recap

 

Looking back

Former Terrier Robbie Baillargeon scored a power-play goal and assisted on the game-winner in Arizona State’s 5-4 win against Colgate. A graduate transfer, Baillargeon leads the Sun Devils in scoring with 14 points (8G, 6A) in 14 games.

Women’s Team

A three-goal outburst in the second period powered BU to a 4-1 win against UConn in Storrs. Sophomore Sammy Davis, junior Nina Rodgers and grad student Mary Parker scored to give BU a 3-0 lead after two.  After UConn scored early in the third, junior Victoria Bach closed out the scoring. She and Parker each had a two-point night and are the Terriers’ point leaders with 25 apiece.

The win was BU’s sixth in a row with senior Victoria Hanson in goal for all of them.

The teams conclude the home and home series at Walter Brown Arena today at 3 p.m.

Game Day details and links.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score