#11/12 Terriers came back from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat UConn, 3-2 in overtime, on a snipe by freshman Luke Tuch. BU had tied the game, played at Freitas Ice Forum, with six minutes left in regulation on Max Kaufman’s first goal as a Terrier. Freshman goalie Vinny Duplessis stopped 27 shots to register his fourth win in as many starts.
With the win, BU improves to 9-2-0 and remains in second place behind BC in the Hockey East Power Index. The Terriers, who have won their last four games, also are second in points percentage.
The hosts, who came out fast and would dominate the opening period, got on the board early when defenseman Carter Berger’s shot from in close deflected past Duplessis at 1:28. The Huskies doubled the lead at 15:32 when Brian Rigali, attempting a pass through the crease, sent the puck off BU defenseman Cade Webber’s skate and it skittered past Duplessis’ skate into the net. It would be the last puck to get by the Quebec native.
In the final minute of the period, Kaufman controlled the puck at the BU blueline, passed ahead to Logan Cockerill and took a return pass into the right circle. Although dogged by two UConn defenders, the transfer from Vermont backhanded a pass onto the stick of fast-charging Jay O’Brien in the slot. He beat Tomas Vomáčka five-hole for his team-leading seventh goal, cutting the Huskies lead in half.
tw-align-centerAnd here's a look at that goal.
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) February 20, 2021
What a look by Kaufman! OB with his team's leading seventh goal of the season.#GoBU pic.twitter.com/tvo4qMEcNM
Neither team could find the net in a more evenly played second period. BU had an extended power play early on following a major penalty, but O’Brien was called for interference, cutting it short.
With just over six minutes left in regulation, freshman Webber won a puck battle along the left boards and when the puck came back to him, he dished it ahead to Cockerill. The captain closed to the bottom of the circle and whipped a pass to Kaufman, who, unmarked in the slot, one-timed it past Vomáčka to knot the score at 2-2.
tw-align-centerWE'RE ALL TIED UP!
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) February 20, 2021
Max picks a GREAT time for his first goal as a Terrier.#GoBU pic.twitter.com/bdXlLXjmxE
At 17:47 Markus Boguslavsky and Artem Shlaine were sent to the penalty box, creating a 4-on-4. A minute later the Huskies took another penalty giving BU a 4-on-3 advantage. The Terriers were unable to score, but the last penalty carried over into overtime, for the first 43 seconds.
As time wound down on the power play, Tuch skated the puck through center ice, creating an odd-man rush. He slid the puck ahead to Cockerill whose attempt to cut to the middle was stymied. Tuch picked up the puck in the right circle, veered into the slot and ripped a shot over Vomáčka at 0:44 of overtime—one second after the power play had expired.
tw-align-centerBOOM! TUCH IN OVERTIME!
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) February 20, 2021
A huge road W.#GoBU pic.twitter.com/dPg8TPm0fX
“It was an unbelievably hard-fought game," said Head Coach Albie O’Connell. “We didn’t get off to the greatest start, but we got better as the game went on. They’re a really good hockey team, especially in their own zone, and posed a lot of problems for us.”
Duplessis was the only Terrier goalie dressed for the game as Drew Commesso has not yet been cleared to return and Ashton Abel was injured earlier in the week.
“I think Vinny knowing that he was the only guy to go, he played another terrific game,” O’Connell added. “He really managed the game well. He was a big factor and is off to a terrific start for any goalie.”
BU has won 9 of its first 11 games for its best start since the 1997-98 season when O’Connell was a junior wing and Chris Drury won the Hobey Baker Award.
After yielding 15 first-period shots, BU tightened up in its own end and limited UConn to seven in each of the last two periods.
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Post-game comments Albie O’Connell
● Boston Hockey Blog recap
● WTBU Sports recap
● College Hockey News recap
● USCHO recap
Women’s Team
On Senior Day, the Terriers dropped a 2-0 decision to #6 Boston College at Walter Brown Arena. After the teams played two scoreless periods, the Eagles scored twice in an 18-second span and BU was unable to respond.
BU finishes the regular season with a 6-5 record and will wait to hear who they’ll face in the conference playoffs.
Prior to the game the team recognized five seniors: Rachel Allen, Jesse Compher, Nara Elia, Corinne Schroeder and Kristina Schuler
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Post-game comments: Coach Brian Durocher
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