Saturday, February 13, 2021

BU edges Cats, 1-0, on Vlasic goal; ’70-’71 flashback— Terriers trounce UNH


Sophomore Alex Vlasic’s third-period goal and flawless goaltending by freshman Vinny Duplessis gave BU a 1-0 win in their opener of their series at Vermont’s Gutterson Field House. The teams meet again Saturday with puck drop at 6 p.m.

Terriers improved to 7-2-0, marking the third time the program has won seven of its first nine in the 2000s (the others were 2008-9 and 2014-15).

The win keeps BU in first place in the conference under the new Hockey East Power Index, just .02 ahead of BC.

Grade A scoring chances were few and far between throughout the contest with tight defense played at both ends of the ice.

BU finally broke through early in the third period when freshman Thomas Jarman started Vlasic up ice for a give-and-go with sophomore Jay O’Brien. Vlasic took a return pass in the right circle and backhanded the puck past goalie Gabe Carriere, who was making his first collegiate start.

Vermont had seven of its 18 shots in the third period but Duplessis prevented an equalizer and earned his first career shutout.  Coach Albie O’Connell pointed to several key saves the Quebec native made—an early breakaway and later on a back-door play—and praised the way Duplessis handled UVM dump-ins and managed the game, freezing the puck when needed and keeping it moving other times.

After two starts, Duplessis owns a 0.50 goals-against average, a .983 save percentage and a pair of wins.

O’Connell had strong praise for Vlasic, who scored for the third consecutive game, calling him “best player on the ice tonight,” and adding that the defenseman was the best player last weekend, too. And that he was “a beast, a man amongst boys out there.”

The Terriers, who had been averaging more than 13 penalty minutes per game, only took two penalties, killing both relatively easily. BU didn’t generate any serious scoring chances on four power play opportunities, and O’Connell gave credit to the Catamounts aggressive PK unit.

“Offensively, we weren’t sharp,” he said, adding that "we need some of those guys to step up and make plays at the right time,” as well as better manage the puck in the offensive zone.

BU had the edge in shots, 30-18, the first time the Terriers have outshot an opponent this season.

Captain Logan Cockerill returned to the line-up and had four shots on goal.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Post-game comments: O’Connell

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

● WTBU Sports recap

’70-’71 Flashback: Feb. 12, 1971 BU 8 UNH 3

The visiting Wildcats were no match for the Terriers’ speed and defense as BU rolled to an 8-3 win and their 19th victory in 21 games. Sophomore Ric Jordan led the way with two power-play goals

Still, it took until the final five minutes of the opening period for BU to solve goalie Bob Smith. Then, in short order, Jake Danby, Guy Burrowes and Captain Steve Stirling each found the net.

UNH got on the board early in the second, but BU extended its lead to 5-1 on tallies by Jordan and Bob Gryp. Another Wildcat goal was matched late in the period on a Bob Murray shot.

The final period saw goals scored by a pair of future Hockey East Coaches. Dick Umile, who would lead UNH for 28 years, scored early and Toot Cahoon, future mentor at UMass, scored late with Jordan’s second goal in between.  Dan Brady, who made three big saves in the first period before BU’s outburst, stopped 26 shots to gain his eighth win in as many starts. Smith turned aside 43 BU shots. Next up—the season’s second match-up with BC.

Looking back

Danny O’Regan assisted on a pair of goals in the Henderson Silver Knights’ 3-2 win against Bakersfield. He has six points in three AHL games.

Women’s Team

BU dropped a 4-0 decision to visiting Vermont, falling to 4-4-0 on the season. The teams meet again on Saturday with puck drop set for 5 p.m.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

 

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Site Meter