#3 BU’s defense of the Beanpot title it won a year ago was derailed by Northeastern as the Huskies defeated the Terriers, 3-1. After BU trimmed Northeastern’s lead to one goal late in the third period, an empty-net goal ended the Terriers’ comeback hopes.
The defeat, BU’s second this season at the hands of their crosstown rivals, also ended the Terriers’ seven-game winning streak.
With their win, the Huskies will face Harvard in the championship game—something that, incredibly, had never happened before in 69 previous Beanpot Tournaments. And, for the first time, BU and BC will meet in the consolation game next Monday.
BU out shot Northeastern 34-29, but, until the final two minutes, could put nothing past Devon Levi, the reigning Mike Richter Award winner. His teammates helped him out blocking 21 shots. Four BU power plays produced no goals.
“I thought it took us a while to get going," said Head Coach Jay Pandolfo. "For whatever reason, we weren’t ready to play. Not a great effort on our part… we pushed it in the third period, but you know, it’s too late."
He continued, “We definitely had to do a better job of getting in front of them. Maybe early, trying to play a simpler game and putting pucks behind and getting to work. I didn’t think we had that mindset at all.”
In an evenly played first period, Northeastern finally broke the ice at the 14:00 minute mark. Aidan McDonough was left unmarked in the left circle, took a cross ice pass from Vinny Borgesi and buried the shot before Drew Commesso could lunge across the goal mouth. For McDonough, the top goal-scorer in Hockey East it was his 18th goal.
tw-align-centerAidan McDonough is throwin' a garden party y'all. #HowlinHuskies | 📺 @NESN pic.twitter.com/Le51vEo9Ue
— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) February 7, 2023
Northeastern doubled its lead in the opening minutes of the second period on Jakov Novak’s seventh goal. After a face off win, NU’s Jeremie Bucheler’s shot from the left point hit Case McCarthy in front of the net. The rebound fell to Novak who had an empty half side of the net to shoot at.
BU had two power plays and ten shots in the period, but the Huskies kept the Terriers from reaching grade A areas.
With six minutes remaining in the period, Northeastern had
a two-on-one break, but Commesso came up big, robbing Riley Hughes to keep the
deficit at two.
tw-align-centerHUGE stop by 'Messo to keep us within two.
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) February 7, 2023
📺: NESN pic.twitter.com/1fJj1OqLYj
Five minutes into the third period, Wilmer Skoog worked a give-and-go with Devin Kaplan deep in the Huskies’ zone. Skoog’s shot seemed labeled, but Levi flashed the glove to keep BU scoreless.
tw-align-centerDevon, that man has a family. #HowlinHuskies | 📺 @NESN pic.twitter.com/Osuc0iNhWt
— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) February 7, 2023
BU continued to dominate the third period with a 16-7 shot
advantage. The Terriers finally put one past Levi with two minutes remaining after pulling Commesso for an
extra attacker. Matt Brown, took a pass from Dom Fensore and wristed a low shot from the top of the left circle that went under Levi's pad on the glove side with Skoog setting a screen. Lane Hutson had the secondary assist. It was Brown's 13th goal.
Terriers pressed for an equalizer and attempted four shots. With 30 seconds remaining, Hunter McDonald broke up a play, controlled the puck and slid it into the empty net for the 3-1 final.
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Post-game comments Coach Jay Pandolfo
● Video highlights, photo gallery
● Boston Hockey Blog Nerves get the best of BU, Terriers fall to NU
1 comment:
I thought NU’s second goal was a bit soft but Andrew Raycroft highlighted in the intermission that the initial shot never made it to Commesso but rather deflected off McCarthy. That said, Commesso didn’t have a chance on either of the goals.
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