Sunday, February 07, 2021

Tuch and Duplessis send BU past #1 BC, 3-1; '70-'71 flashback UPDATED

Behind a 40-save performance by freshman netminder Vinny Duplessis in his BU debut and a pair of goals by classmate Luke Tuch, #15 Terriers defeated top-ranked BC, 3-1. With the victory, BU takes four out of six points in the home-and-home series. 

Due to fewer games played, BU is in sixth place in Hockey East, but owns the second-best winning percentage (.750). The victory also moved BU back into third place in the PairWise rankings.

The game was the first between the Commonwealth Avenue rivals at Walter Brown Arena since Dec. 3, 2004, when an unassisted Brad Zancanaro goal gave the Terriers a 3-2 win and gave Jack Parker his 700th career win.

The Eagles got on the board first on a power play midway through the opening period. As time ran down on the penalty kill, Drew Helleson’s shot from the blueline went off Duplessis’s chest and the rebound was pushed to the goalie’s left when Eamon Powell swept it toward the goal. The puck appeared to be under Duplessis’s pad, but it was ruled to have crossed the goal line.

BU got that one back just two minutes later with its own power play tally. Dylan Peterson fought off two BC defenders to control the puck and sent it to Alex Vlasic at center point. The 6'6" sophomore defenseman closed to the high slot and wristed a shot past Spencer Knight for his second goal of the weekend with Wilmer Skoog providing a screen. Nick Zabaneh had the second assist.

At 9:35 of the second, Matt Quercia head-manned the puck to Skoog on a 2-on-1 break. The Swedish centerman waited for the Eagle defender to commit, then crossed the puck to Tuch in the right circle for a one-timer that would prove to be the game-winner.

In the opening minute of the final period, Case McCarthy broke up a BC rush and sent the puck to Skoog skating up the right side. He closed to the face off dot and backhanded a pass toward the crease where a streaking Tuch redirected the puck behind Knight.

BC dominated the remainder of the period, out-shooting BU 13-5, but the Terriers minimized the grade A chances and swept away rebounds. With three minutes remaining, BU took a penalty and the Eagles pulled Knight for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Duplessis stopped four shots and the Terriers kept BC at bay to the final buzzer.

Defkit’s Terrier Takeaway

A very impressive weekend for a very shorthanded BU team, taking 4 of 6 points from the #1 team in the country. The coaching staff deserves credit for stocking the shelves with players that can play at this level, especially given the pandemic challenges. Where would they be if Thomas Jarman and Joseph Campolieto hadn't been brought in "mid-season"?

- The clear #1 star was Duplessis who looked confident right out of the gate. He did a nice job stopping dump-ins behind the net and made several stops through screens. His stop on Newhook was obviously key. I think he becomes the #2 goalie on this team, based on this game. It's hard to argue against him being given a shot at a rotation with Commesso. One game does not make a career, but it's a great start for sure.

- The coaches drew up a nice game plan to deal with BC's speed and skill. Mark Linehan touched on it during the broadcast - short breakout passes to forwards coming deep into the d-zone. And Mark also pointed out BC's aggressive play would likely give up some 2-on-1s, which it did several times. Tuch's first goal was on one, and we had at least two other opportunities.

- I noticed on the stream that Jamie Armstrong was standing in the hallway giving the guys the high fives as they were entering the locker room after the game. I would expect an upperclassman to be doing that. Son of an NHL GM, is he a future captain?

- The only negative was Cade Webber taking a very dumb penalty that could have completely changed the game, killing our momentum. He is an older freshman, so hopefully it only takes one time to learn.

- Jay O'Brien has some nice skills, but I am already sensing that the coaches don't trust his two-way game enough yet. He saw a lot less time in the third period, while we were protecting the lead. Guys like Markus Boguslavsky and Sam Stevens have shown they grind it out and will see lots of time in these situations.

-Terriers blocked 18 Eagle shot attempts with Sean Driscoll and Matt Quercia each stopping three.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Post-game comments: O’Connell, Duplessis

● WTBU Sports recap 

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

● College Hockey News recap

 

‘70-‘71 Flashback: Feb. 5, 1971, BU 4-Clarkson 1

#2-ranked Terriers won their fourth straight game and improved to 17-1-1 after dominating 1970 national finalist Clarkson (19-3-1) by a 4-1 score at Boston Arena. BU poured 50 shots on All-American Bruce Bullock, who kept the game from becoming a rout.

The Golden Knights took a 1-0 lead in the opening minute of the game following a BU turnover, as Brian Mason beat BU's Dan Brady from ten feet in front. The Terriers got the equalizer when Bob Gryp rang a shot off the crossbar after a Wayne Gowing pass and Jake Danby converted the loose puck for his team-leading 18th goal.

BU continued the attack in the second period with 14 shots, but didn’t take the lead up 17:48 when Steve Dolloff set up Bob Brown for a 35-footer.

Eight minutes into the third period, Captain Steve Stirling provided some breathing room. With Clarkson on a power play, he stole the puck at the BU blueline, broke in alone and beat Bullock with backhander to the glove side.  Gryp closed out the scoring knocking home his own rebound, assisted by Danby and Brown.

Coach Jack Kelley called it “one of our finest overall performances of the year,” adding, “Our players gave 100 percent-plus performances.” BU completely throttled the Clarkson attack, with Brady forced to stop only 16 shots en route to his sixth win in as many starts.

Looking ahead

2022 recruit Michael LaStarza scored his sixth goal in Waterloo's 2-1 loss to Fargo.

Looking back

Clayton Keller scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in the Coyotes’ 3-1 win against the Blues.

● NHL.com recap and video highlights

Trevor Zegras scored a goal and added two assists in his first professional game to lead the AHL San Diego Gulls past Bakersfield, 4-1.

Bobo Carpenter scored the only goal for Bridgeport as the Sound Tigers lost to Providence, 4-1.

Women’s Team

Terriers complete their home-and-home series against Merrimack today at Lawler Rink at Noon. The game will be live stream on College Sports Live. BU blanked the Warriors on Friday night, 6-0.

Senior goalie Corinne Schroeder was named to the watch list for the national goalie of the year award.

 

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