Sunday, December 08, 2019

Terriers double up Huskies; Women sweep BC


A four-goal second period and a pair of goals by senior Patrick Harper and three assists by freshman Trevor Zegras powered BU to a 6-3 win against #8/12 Northeastern at Agganis Arena, sending the Terriers into the break on a two-game winning streak with victories over two Beanpot rivals. BU also received goals from sophomores Jack DeBoer and  Matt Quercia, and from freshman Robert Mastrosimone and Domenick Fensore. Graduate transfer Sam Tucker came up big once again with 37 saves.

The visitor came out with an aggressive forecheck and would outshoot BU in the first period, 17-7, but the only goal came off Harper’s stick. Case McCarthy pushed the puck ahead in the neutral zone to Harper, who split two defenders, skated in alone and beat Craig Pantano with a high backhand shot.

The second period saw multiple lead changes and seven goals. Northeastern produced two tallies in the first minute. First, Zach Solow scored from the goal mouth after Matt Fillipe stopped a BU clearing attempt and put a shot on goal. Seconds later, the sequence was virtually duplicated with John Picking finishing off a rebound.

BU needed just 30 seconds to respond. DeBoer skated along the left boards and dropped a pass to David Farrance whose shot was blocked. DeBoer corralled it in the left circle and wristed a shot bar down to Pantano’s glove side to tie the score at two apiece. Gabriel Chabot also assisted.

A minute later, with NU on a power play, Solow, on the rush, sent a cross-ice pass to Aiden McDonough whose wrister from the left circle was stopped by Tucker, but McDonough converted the rebound to give the Huskies what would be their final lead.

Again, BU responded quickly. At 4:17, Zegras entered the offensive zone, lost the puck, stole it back and slid the puck to Harper in the high slot for a one-timer that again beat Pantano high to the glove side.

After the five goals in four minutes barrage, the scored remained tied until 13:50 of the second when Ethan Phillips beat a Husky defender to the puck and from behind the goal line fed a trailing Patrick Curry.  His shot glanced off Pantano’s glove and the rebound went to an unmarked Mastrosimone who had a half-empty net and fired home his fourth goal and a 4-3 BU.  



Just under two minutes later, BU struck again. Zegras stopped an NU clearing attempt at the right point and handed the puck to Fensore who skated to the high slot and wristed the puck past Pantano, who was effectively screened by Jamie Armstrong.

BU would take four penalties in the final period, but killed them all, preventing Northeastern from narrowing the lead. On the third power play with their goal pulled to create a 6-on-4, Quercia stripped the puck from a Husky and fired it the length of the ice into the empty net to close out the scoring.

“We don’t play a game for a long time, so we finished on a good note,” said Head Coach Albie O'Connell. "I thought we did a good job at the start of the game protecting our cage. Our penalty kill was great. Our goaltending was good. I thought all four lines played well.”

Commenting on Zegras’ performance, he pointed out, “He was electric tonight. He does some interesting things on the ice. I think he put the puck between his legs and shot it three times tonight.”

Tucker added, ““We’ve been … really starting to find our identity in the defensive zone.” 

BU Oldtimer’s Terrier Takeaway

1. Last night's game, especially the first period, was played at a very fast pace. Certainly faster than any other game BU has played recently. Each team generated scoring opportunities from the initial rush, and established a sustained presence in the opponents' d-zone.
2. The 17-7 Northeastern first period shot advantage is mildly misleading. BU had several odd man rushes and extended possessions in the NU d-zone that didn't generate SOG's.
3. Trevor Zegras had a good game (3 assists). One man's opinion - His play in the offensive zone is a bit casual or nonchalant in some instances.
4. BU reacted well to NU's three quick goals in the 2nd period and the string of 3rd period penalties. The team fought back after a bad ten minutes in the 2nd period against Cornell, also. 
5. The addition of Jamie Armstrong to the 1st line with Zegras and Harper has worked well over the past two games.
6. So, after a stretch of games that could be generously described as mediocre, BU has played three consecutive games that can be labelled as good to very good, although Harvard has lost four straight games.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score 
● Video highlights and post-game comments 
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, Top Five Moments 
● WTBU Sports photo gallery 
● Boston Herald recap 

Looking ahead



2020 recruit Luke Tuch’s overtime goal sent the NTDP U18s to a 3-2 win against Youngstown, as Team USA completed a weekend sweep of the Phantoms with Tuch scoring in both games. He has nine goals and six assists this season and four goals in the past three games. Dylan Peterson assisted on the U18s' second goal. 
● USA Hockey recap, box score and highlights 

Looking back 
Nick Bonino’s 11th goal, assisted by Dante Fabbro, was the game-winner in Nashville’s 6-4 win against New Jersey. Earlier in the game Fabbro scored his third goal, assisted by Bonino. 
● NHL.com recap and video highlights 

Brady Tkachuk scored his 10th goal in Ottawa’s 4-3 loss to Philadelphia. Joel Farabee had an assist for the Flyers. 
● NHL.com recap and video highlights 

Women’s Team

Behind a pair of power play goals, #9 BU edged BC, 2-1, completing a weekend sweep of the #9 Eagles. Seniors Sammy Davis and Abby Cook were the goal-scorers while goalie Corinne Schroeder turned away 25 BC shots. 

After a scoreless period, BU took the lead during a five-minute major to BC. Sophomore Kaleigh Donnelly set up Davis with a cross-ice pass and the senior’s wrister to the top corner beat BC’s Maddy McArthur. Jesse Compher also assisted.






The Eagles responded midway through the third period on Kelly Browne’s power-play goal. But just two minutes later with BU on the power play, Cook’s blast from the center point eluded McArthur. Donnelly and Compher provided the helpers again.
🔽 pic.twitter.com/Ht918Q4718
— BU Women's Hockey (@TerrierWHockey) December 7, 2019



With the win BU improves to 12-4-1 overall and 7-4-1 in Hockey East. Compher’s two assists bring her career point total to 100 (33G, 67A).
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score 
● Video highlights 
● WTBU Sports photo gallery
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