Sunday, January 28, 2024

Swept!

 

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The 293rd edition of The Battle of Com Ave ended like the 292nd a hard-fought win for #2 BC over #1BU.

Terriers fell behind, 2-0, during a 1:13 span midway through the first period, first on a 5-on-3 power play goal, then during what Bernie Corbett calls the "power play hangover." BU battled back to tie the score with goals in the second by Shane Lachance and early in the third by Sam Stevens. But the Eagles took advantage of defensive lapses by BU to add a goal late in the second and another in the third. An extra-attacker goal by Macklin Celebrini brought BU close, but not close enough.

A clearly disappointed Coach Jay Pandolfo felt his team had played and competed well but had “shooting outself in the foot” with some lack of discipline and missed defensive coverages.

BU had an early shot advantage but the momentum shifted when Cade Webber was called for tripping at 8:20 and Dylan Peterson was whistled for a questionable boarding call. Terriers had nearly killed the 5-on-3 when Will Smith’s pass through the crease just eluded Stevens’ stick and found Gabe Perreault all alone for a 1-0 lead.

BU killed the rest of the man-advantage but after Webber blocked a shot, the puck fell to the left circle and an unmarked Lukas Gustafsson skated in from the point and ripped the puck past Mathieu Caron stick side to double the BC lead.

The eighth penalty of the opening period put BU on a power play at 18:37. With less than half a minute left, Quinn Hutson brought the puck into the BC zone and sent it around the end boards to Ryan Greene, behind the goal line. The sophomore center slid the puck to Lachance, crashing the net from the left circle for a wrister under the bar to Jacob Fowler’s stick side for his eighth goal.

Early in the second period, Peterson free the puck from a scrum in the corner of the BC zone and Luke Tuch won a battle for possession behind the goal line. He dished to Stevens breaking toward the net for a quick finish to the glove side. It was the grad student’s sixth goal and his fifth in the last eight games.

 

Twelve minutes into the period Caron made a strong save on Gentry Shamburger who had broken in alone. Minutes later Ryan Leonard beat Lane Hutson to a puck in the BU end and dropped a pass to an unmarked Cutter Gauthier, who fired a low wrister that sailed past Caron to restore BC’s lead.

Minutes later on the power play, BU fired five shots on goal but none got past Fowler and the period ended with BC up, 3-2.

Terriers entered the third, as they'd done the night before, needs to come from behind. BC blocked several early scoring attempts (en route to a total of 21 blocks) and midway through the period, Macklin Celebrini rang a shot off iron.

With 6:30 remaining in the third period, Peterson and Steven dashed into the BC zone, 2-on-1, but Fowler blocked Peterson’s shot and the long rebound sent BC racing the other way. Smith took a return pass in the right circle and beat Caron for what proved to be the game-winner.

With Caron pulled for an extra attacker, Lane Hutson passed to Macklin Celebrini in the right circle. He drifted toward the blueline and fired a long wrister that zipped past Fowler who was effectively screen by Lachance. It was the freshman's 17th.

BU had a few more chances in the final minute but couldn’t produce an equalizer. A Luke Tuch shot from the right circle went wide with eight seconds left and Hutson’s shot from the point was stopped by Fowler with one second remaining.

For the game, BU outshot BC 35-25 with 12 shots coming on six power plays, but only one produced a tally.

Terriers are back in action Tuesday facing Northeastern at Matthews Arena with puck drop at 6:30 p.m.

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score

● Highlights and post-game comments from Pandolfo

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

 

Looking ahead

2024 recruit Jack Pridham scored his 14th goal and added an assist as West Kelowna.defeated Chilliwack, 3-2, 2025 recruit Callum Hughes assisted on Pridham's goal and on the Warriors' second tally.

Looking back

Jake Oettinger stopper 24 shots as Dallas edged Washington, 5-4, in overtime.

Charlie McAvoy scored his seventh goal and Charlie Coyle fired his 18th in the Bruins' 6-2 win against the Flyers.

Jordan Greenway scored his sixth goal in Buffalo's 6-2 win against San Jose.

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