U18s edge BU on future Terrier's goal; Hat trick for Brady

                                         Photo Credit Kyle Prudhomme

The NTDP U18s edged the Terriers, 4-3, in a matinee exhibition game at Agganis Arena, with 2022 recruit Quinn Hutson scoring the third-period game-winner. Hutson, a forward for the USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks, and  Chicago Steel wing Jack Harvey had been added to the USA roster for the game, joining Quinn’s brother, Lane Hutson and Devin Kaplan, for a total of four BU recruits skating for the NTDP.

            L-R: Harvey, Q. Hutson, Kaplan, L.Hutson

For U18s, who had previously hung defeats on Notre Dame, Michigan State, Michigan Tech and Wisconsin, the victory was their 12^th in a row—including wins over both USHL and NCAA opponents.

BU, which was back on the ice just 16 hours after Saturday’s night overtime tie and shootout loss, opened the scoring late in the first period on Ty Gallagher’s power play blast from the blueline. Case McCarthy and Nick Zabaneh assisted.

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Here's a look at Gally's power-play goal that gave us a 1-0 lead heading to the first intermission. pic.twitter.com/HZnxLxjqLM

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) December 11, 2021

The U18s tied the score two minutes into the second period on the rush when Rutger McGroarty’s rip from the left circle sailed past Ashton Abel, making his first appearance of the year for BU.  Midway through the period with BU on a power play, the U18s scored on a 2-on-1 rush with Brady Berard finishing.

BU tied the score on its fourth power play opportunity early in the third. Robert Mastrosimone redirect of a Domenick Fensore shot  went off a U18 defender and came back to the junior forward who buried it.

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Here's a look at Mastro's goal that tied the game at 2-2 early in the third. pic.twitter.com/fNSsTTIT07

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) December 11, 2021

Four minutes later the NTDP’s aggressive checking on penalty kills produced a second short-hander. Cutter Gauthier stole the puck from McCarthy at the point, broke in on Abel and beat him low to the stick side for a 3-2 lead.

Another turnover led to Team USA’s fourth goal. Fensore’s pass attempt from the D-zone boards was intercepted by Quinn Hutson—the older brother—who made a beeline to the net, deked Abel and slid the puck home low to the glove side.

BU closed the gap to one goal with three minutes left in regulation. Matt Brown took a McCarthy pass along the right boards, skated to the faceoff dot and fired home a shot high to the goalie’s stick side with Wilmer Skoog providing a screen.

Terriers outshot the visitors, 41 to 24, but the shorthanded tallies and critical turnovers proved the difference in the outcome.

BU rested a number of players while others were sidelined by the flu. Goalie Drew Commesso and forward Dylan Peterson left for Junior National Team camp So, defensemen John Copeland and Sean Driscoll were pressed into duty as fourth line forwards.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights and post-game comments

● USA Hockey recap

Looking back

A Brady Tkachuk hat trick, his first as a pro, led Ottawa to a 4-0 blanking of Tampa Bay. Tkachuk, with 11 goals and 21 points, is second on the Senators in both categories. He is the youngest team captain in Ottawa history. 

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🚨 🚨🚨 Here is another look at Brady Tkachuk's @enterprise hat trick from earlier today! pic.twitter.com/iMwz42RRhe

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 12, 2021

● NHL.com Tkachuk's first NHL hat trick powers Senators past Lightning

Charlie McAvoy's fourth goal was the game-winner in the Bruins' 4-2 win against Calgary. Matt Grzelcyk had an assist for Boston.