Saturday, December 09, 2017

Lowell rallies past Terriers, 3-2




Terriers carried a 2-1 lead into the third period last night, but penalties and negative puck-luck led to two Lowell goals and a 3-2 Red Hawks victory.

BU got on the board in the game’s first minute when Brady Tkachuk, camped in front of the Lowell net, banged home the rebound of Jordan Greenway’s shot from the top of the right circle with Cam Crotty also assisting.  Later in the period with BU killing a penalty for too many men on the ice, Chris Forney’s shot from the point deflected off Jake Kamrass’ body and past Jake Oettinger.

The Terriers regained the lead just half a minute into the second period on a power play when Chad Krys directed Greenway’s drop pass to a charging Drew Melanson, whose wrister from the top of left circle beat goalie Christoffer Hernberg. It was the first goal as a Terrier for Melanson, a graduate transfer from RPI.

Oettinger and Hernberg kept their nets clean—and the score at 2-1— for the next 23 minutes. Early in the third with BU killing a penalty, captain Brandon Hickey was whistled for cross-checking, creating a 5-on-3 power play. Forney’s 50-foot one-timer beat a screened Oettinger high to the glove side.

After Hernberg robbed Shane Bowers on a put-back attempt in tight, the River Hawks took the lead on a play that epitomized BU’s lack of puck luck throughout much of the season. Ryan Collins shot from the left circle was saved by Oettinger, but the rebound went off the skate of Brien Diffley—defending a Lowell skater and with his back to the goal—and trickled into the cage before Oettinger could react.

BU played without defenseman Dante Fabbro, out with a lower-body injury, which has him day-to-day. John MacLeod took his place in the line-up.  Coach David Quinn, who felt Fabbro’s absence hurt BU’s power play, added:
“We need to capitalize on our chances and we can’t take this many penalties. They had seven power plays and we had two and a half. Unreal what goes on out there that doesn’t get called and the crap that gets called. It’s unreal to me. Don’t get me going. Absolutely absurd.”
Freshman David Farrance moved up from defense to skate at wing on a line with Bobo Carpenter and Hank Crone.

BU and Lowell complete the home-and-home series tonight at Agganis Arena with puck drop set for 7 p.m. The game will be live-streamed on TerrierTV.  Check back for GameDay information

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Post-game comments: David Quinn
● Daily Free Press recap and Melanson feature
● USCHO recap
● HockeyEastOnline recap

Looking ahead
2018 recruit Ryan O’Connell assisted on the game-winning goal as Canada West defeated Russia, 4-2, in a pre-tournament game of the World Junior A Challenge in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
● HockeyCanada.ca box score


Looking back
Thirteen members of the 1971 and 1972 BU National Championship team gathered for an annual reunion luncheon in Norwell, Mass. Among the attendees was Bob Crocker (BU '55) who served as Jack Kelley's assistant coach and chief recruiter. The '89-year old Crocker, the Dean of New England scouts, is now scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes after long stints with the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.
Crocker's collection of championship rings
● Championship highlight videos:  1971, 1972

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