Saturday, March 07, 2020

BU tops NU, 3-0; regular-season finale today


Combining stingy defense and opportunistic offense, BU blanked #16 Northeastern, 3-0, at Matthews Arena. The win assured BU of a playoff berth—either the fifth or sixth seed—depending on the outcome of today’s game against the Huskies at Agganis Arena.



Puck drop for the regular-season finale, which is also Senior Day, is at 4 p.m. In addition, BU will mark the 25th anniversary of its 1995 NCAA championship team.



Terriers limited NU to just 16 shots, while blocking 14 attempts, as Sam Tucker recorded his third shutout of the season. BU received second period goals from Captain Patrick Curry and Cam Crotty and a third period tally by Wilmer Skoog

David Farrance assisted on all three goals, giving him a team-leading 43 points, tops for a D1 defenseman. He also set a new points mark for a BU defenseman in the Hockey East era, surpassing Tom Poti’s 42 (1997-98).



After a scoreless first period, BU opened the scoring seven minutes into the middle period. Jake Wise’s blast from the top of the right circle was saved by NU’s Craig Pantano, but Curry outmuscled defenders in the slot and his backhander went off the goalie and a skate and then into the net.


After an NU attempt hit the outside of the net and BU killed a Husky power play, Farrance’s entry pass was redirected from the slot by Crotty just inside the right post. Trevor Zegras also assisted.



Five minutes into the third period, Farrance set up Kasper Kotkansalo for a one-time blast. Skoog, skating across the crease, deflected the shot under the crossbar for a 3-0 lead.


“I thought our D corps played terrific,” said Head Coach Albie O’Connell. “I thought they were the difference for our team. Their ability to break the puck out and then add some offense. I thought they defended well.”



Curry, who leads the team with 19 goals, has points in the past six games and in 12 of the past 14.



● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score


Post-game highlights O’Connell

● Boston Hockey Blog recap, Three Takeaways



Looking ahead
A pair of 2022 recruits, defenseman Lane Hutson and forward Devin Kaplan, have been named to the NTDP Evaluation Camp roster and will compete for spots on next year's U17 team later this month. Both play for the North Jersey Avalanche 16U team.

New England Hockey Journal thumbnails:


Kaplan, committed to Boston University, has missed much of the 2019-20 season with an injury. Hailing from Bridgewater, N.J., Kaplan played up on North Jersey Avalanche 16-U last season and was with the team again this year before his lower body injury. Kaplan is a power forward with size, strength and a hard shot. 

Hutson, a Boston University commit, is playing for the North Jersey Avalanche 16-U. A dual citizen, Hutson is averaging two points per game in AYHL games while excelling in other contests as well. Hutson is on the smaller side, but he’s got great feet and skill. His older brother, Quinn Hutson, is also committed to the Terriers. His father, Rob Hutson, is a coach with the Avalanche and a former collegiate player for the now defunct University of Illinois-Chicago program.



USA Hockey report 

 



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