Sunday, October 23, 2022

Brown's 4-point night powers BU past UConn, 5-2 UPDATED

 

#9/11 Terriers bounced back from Friday’s hard-fought overtime loss to defeat #14/13 UConn, 5-2, before a crowd of 4,864 at Agganis Arena. Senior Matt Brown scored twice in the second period—including the game-winner—and assisted on two other tallies, while Vinny Duplessis delivered a strong 24-save effort, stopping two breakaways to protect the lead. The loss was the Huskies’ first of the season, while BU improves to 3-2-0.

With the forward lines tweaked, BU came out fast and aggressive and quickly put the visitors on their heels. The Terriers dominated with a 16-4 shot advantage but didn’t get on the board until 14:32 of the period. Brown raced the puck into the offensive zone and dished it to Dylan Peterson in the right circle. The 6’4” wing toe-dragged to get into the slot, where his shot was defended, but right to a charging Lane Hutson who buried a backhander for his first goal as a Terrier.

BU doubled its lead just 1:16 into the middle period. Senior Wilmer Skoog snared a UConn clearing attempt behind the cage. He quickly found Brown between the circles for a one-timer that beat Arsenii Sergeev high to the glove side.

A BU bench penalty for too many men on the ice put the visitors on the power play and Ryan Tverberg cut the lead in half, redirecting an entry pass from just outside the crease.

At the thirteen-minute mark, BU went a man up and took just 15 seconds to convert. Jay O’Brien, skating to his right in the offensive zone, sent the puck to captain Dom Fensore in the left circle. The captain closed toward the cage and zipped a cross-ice pass to Brown at the bottom of the right circle for a one-timer. Skoog applied his screening skills in front of Sergeev as the puck flew into the net.

Shots for the period were even—12 apiece—but BU extended its lead to 3-1, heading to the third.

BU found the net early in the final period as well, scoring on the rush. Brown raced into the Huskies’ zone on a 2-on-1, dishing to Lane Hutson just outside the crease. Sergeev made a sprawling save—although the red light went on—but the rebound was banged into an empty cage by Peterson for his first of the campaign and a 4-1 BU lead.

Midway through the period with BU on a power play, O’Brien sent a shot off iron and both Luke Tuch and Ryan Greene had grade A chances turned aside. Just after that man-advantage expired, Justin Pearson broke in alone but was stoned by Duplessis. At 15:29, Tverberg raced past two Terrier defenders and beat Duplessis, cutting the margin to two. UConn had a long possession in the Terrier zone, but the junior from Quebec City made several strong saves and stopped Tverberg on yet another breakaway.

With the UConn goalie pulled, Sam Stevens fired a shot from deep in the BU end into the empty net. Ethan Phillips assisted.

Final shots were BU 43, UConn 26. Terriers supported their goalie with 19 blocked shots, led by Case McCarthy with four. BU was on the short end of the face off battle but only by a 26-29 margin. O’Brien controlled 10 of 17 draws.

Addressing BU’s strong opening period effort Coach Jay Pandolfo explained, “Our structure was really good. We broke pucks out right away and we got on the attack. That’s what we talked about. We had to be better at D-zone closing off plays quickly and transitioning. And that’s what we did tonight. In the first period, we spent a lot time in their end and that’s what we wanted.” 

On Hutson's goal: “It was great to see him get his first goal.  Every time he has the puck on his stick it looks like he’s going to make a high-end play. He was really fun to watch tonight. He’s a competitive kid. He made some great plays. He had an excellent game.” Hutson has six points (G,5A) in five games.

Junior Cade Webber left the game in the third period and didn't return, but Pandolfo indicated he thought the defenseman was okay.

Brown, who leads BU in goals and scoring (4-5-9), added, "we did a good job getting pucks in deep, winning our battles. Turning the puck over in their zone helped us get second chances and that’s where we found a lot of our offense."

Regarding BU's power play goal, Brown said,“We struggled yesterday, but we did a good job getting pucks to the net and then creating chances off the rebounds. Once we got them scrambled and got them moving out of their diamond that was when we found success.”

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights/Postgame Interviews

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

● College Hockey News Turnaround Teams Share Spotlight

● WTBU Sports recap


Looking ahead

2023 recruit Doug Grimes scored the tying goal late in the third period and then assisted on the game winner as Lincoln defeated Des Moines, 4-3. The 6'3" power forward from Brookline has a 4-5-9 line in seven games this season.

Looking back

Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots in Dallas’ 5-2 win against Montreal, earning his fourth win in as many starts.

Brady Tkachuk netted a pair of goals, his third and fourth, including the game-winner on a power play, in Ottawa’s 6-2 win against the Coyotes. Clayton Keller scored his second for Arizona.

Joel Farabee had a hand in all three Flyers goals—a goal and two assists—as Philadelphia beat Nashville, 3-1.

Evan Rodrigues' power play rip gave Colorado a lead and the Avs went on to win, 3-2 against Nashville.

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Women’s Team

A three-goal third period brought BU to within one goal of BC, but the Eagles hung on for a 5-4 win at Walter Brown Arena Saturday.

Senior Julia Nearis had a pair of goals for the Terriers, including this highlight reel effort.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

 

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