Roberto, Kelley goals spark BU to a 2-1 exhibition game win

With a pair of freshmen finding the back of the net, BU edged St. Francis Xavier, 2-1, in an exhibition game at Agganis Arena last night. Tommy Kelley scored the game-winner late in the third period after Nick Roberto had opened the scoring with a first-period power play goal.

The 1-0 lead lasted just a minute and a half, as SFX’s Rob Slaney, jammed home a power play rebound after sophomore Sean Maguire had made the initial save. Maguire stopped eight shots in his 20 minutes in net. Senior Anthony Moccia, seeing his first-ever game action made seven saves in the middles stanza, while sophomore Matt O’Connor stopped all 16 shots he faced in the final period.

Head Coach David Quinn said he was pleased with the effort and physicality of his squad after just seven hours of official practice time.  He noted thestrong performance and skill shown by BU’s nine freshmen,  a penalty kill that succeeded on six of seven opportunities and the way the Terriers rebounded well from a sloppy first five minutes of the third period. 

Roberto, who led the Terriers with seven shots, earned first-star honors. Kelley was the second star and SFX goalie Drew Owsley, who made 43 saves, was the third star.

Sophomore Danny O’Regan and freshman Robbie Baillargeon assisted on Roberto’s goal, while sophomore Matt Grzelcyk and Roberto assisted on Kelley’s game-winner.

BU was on the short end of the faceoff battle (27-35) but O’Regan won 14 of 25 draws.

● Go Terriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Boston Hockey Blog recap and Michelle Jay photo gallery

● Post-game comments: Roberto, Patrick MacGregor

● Post-game comments: Quinn

● Post-game comments: Moccia

                                              

Looking back

Alex Chiasson continues to wield a hot stick for the Dallas Stars, netting the game-winner goal in a 2-1 win against Washington. The MVP of BU’s 2011-12 squad now has eight goals in his nine NHL starts.

The Dallas Morning News reports: 

 Chiasson is the first player in the NHL to score eight or more goals through his first nine games since the 1992-93 season (Rob Gaudreau – nine goals) and just the seventh player since the start of the 1983-84 season, per Elias Sports Bureau. The only other active NHLer to score eight goals in his first nine games besides Chiasson is Teemu Selanne (ANA).

● Washington Post recap

● Video

Former BU captain Nick Bonino scored his first goal of the season in Anaheim’s 4-3 overtime win against Minnesota

Looking Ahead

2014 recruit J.J. Piccinich scored a goal and added an assist in Youngstown’s 6-3 loss to Waterloo. The 6-0, 190 lb., right wing has six goals in six games this season and his nine points are second best in the USHL scoring race.

2016 recruit Clayton Keller scored his fourth goal of the season as the Shattuck St. Mary's Prep team drubbed Team Southwest  7-1.