Sunday, October 17, 2021

Special teams pace 4-1 Terrier win; Sullivan sets Penguins coaching record

A pair of power play goals and a highlight reel shorthander powered the Terriers to a 4-1 win against Sacred Heart, earning a split of the weekend series at Agganis Arena. BU goal scorers were three juniors—Sam Stevens, Ethan Phillips and Wilmer Skoog—and freshman Tyler Boucher. Drew Commesso turned aside 30 of 31 shots including 19 in the third period. BU killed all five Pioneer power plays, keeping its PK record for the season perfect at 17 for 17.

Terriers dominated the opening period, outshooting their visitors, 13-5, but they were held off the scoresheet until an offensive zone face off at 16:28 during a penalty kill. Stevens fired the puck off the draw and beat goalie Justin Robbins high to the glove side.

Energized by the Stevens tally, BU doubled its lead early in the second period with some slick passing on a power play. From the left boards, freshman Brian Carrabes fired a cross ice pass to junior transfer Matt Brown in the right circle. The junior transfer one-timed a pass to Boucher outside the crease for a redirection past Robbins.

The two-goal lead lasted just five minutes as the Pioneers scored on the rush. Todd Goehring racing up the right side got a step on the defense and lasered a shot from the right circle past Commesso.

BU got that one back at 10:01, again with the man-advantage. Junior Robert Mastrosimone took a pass from classmate Domenic Fensore, skated to the right circle and whipped a pass to Phillips between the dots for a redirection and a 3-1 lead. For the Newfoundland native, who missed nearly all of last season with an injury, it was his first goal since January 2020.

Early in the third, BU scored its only even-strength goal on the rush. Fensore raced up the left and slid a pass to Skoog in the left circle for a quick wrister that beat Robbins low to the glove side. Phillips also assisted for his second point of the game.

The Pioneers controlled both the face off dot and puck possession the rest of the way, outshooting BU 19-7 in the third period, including seven power play shots. But only a few of those attempts were grade A and Commesso handled them all.  

Coach Albie O'Connell, discussing his team's preparation, pointed out "We challenged the group today. We had some hard meetings...about how we need to play to win. And I thought we responded really well." He added that "our penalty kill all weekend was good and our power play was good tonight."

BU converted two of five power play opportunities after connecting on one of six in three previous games.

Addressing a question about Stevens' goal, O'Connell said, "That play was an incredible goal, not on the shot but the intelligence and where his stick placement was going into the draw. That's a big momentum swing. Our bench got some life from it."   

"Noting a telling difference from Friday's game, he explained that "Our D zone transition was really good. We had guys protecting our net a little bit more. We told the D to push the pace and get up ice."

Interviewed after the first period for the live stream, Stevens explained that he’s been practicing that shot and “wanted to catch them by surprise.” 

► BU had the edge overall in face off wins, 36 to 28, although the Pioneers dominated in the third period. Skoog won 12 of his 19 draws.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video Highlights and Post-game comments from O’Connell and Phillips

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

● WTBU Sports recap

 

Looking ahead

2023 recruit Jack Harvey scored a power play goal—his third tally of the weekend and fifth of the season—in Chicago’s 5-1 win against Muskegon.

2022 recruit Anton Castro stopped 36 shots for Fargo in the Force’s 5-4 win against Lincoln. The Mendota Heights, Minnesota native has two wins and a shootout loss in three starts this season.

2022 recruit Michael LaStarza’s power play goal in the final minute of regulation tied the game and Waterloo went on to win in overtime, beating Dubuque, 4-3.

Looking back

With Pittsburgh's 5-2 win against Chicago, former Terrier captain Mike Sullivan became the winningest head coach in Penguins team history with 253. Evan Rodrigues contributed an assist in the Pens’ victory.

● NHL.com report

 

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