Sunday, October 29, 2023

UPDATED: BU rallies to sweep UMass with shootout win; Women use late goal to edge Maine

Image 

#9 Terriers rallied twice in the final period to tie #19 UMass at 3-3 in regulation and through a scoreless 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime at the Mullins Center in Amherst. BU  then grabbed the extra point in the Hockey East standings, winning the shootout, 1-0.

Macklin Celebrini scored both third-period goals for a conference-leading total of eight, while sophomore Quinn Hutson scored the only shootout goal. Devin Kaplan scored BU's first goal. But the hero for BU was junior Mathieu Caron who stopped 38 of 41 Minuteman shots in regulation and overtime, before turning aside all three UMass shootout attempts.

“I know it’s a shootout win, but it’s a big win for us,” BU head coach Jay Pandolfo pointed out. “Getting down a few different times in the game, being able to find a way to battle back, hopefully goes a long way for our group.

He added, “We weren’t at our best to start the game. It seemed like it took a little while to get our legs going. I give them a lot of credit. They played hard tonight. They were funneling everything to our net, getting to our net, winning a lot of battles and that was a part of the problem. We weren’t winning enough battles and they were.”

The hosts had their legs going, as well as a strong forecheck, from the first puck drop, as UMass dominated the opening period with a 13-8 shot advantage. The only goal scored, however, was a power-play tally at 9:37 by red-hot freshman Jack Musa, who was unmarked in the right circle and received a cross pass that he converted.

Terriers were markedly better in a more even played second period, despite a 16-7 UMass shot advantage.  BU got even at the 17:59 mark, following its fourth penalty in just 28 minutes. Luke Tuch, continuing his strong play of the previous night, head-manned the puck to just-out-of the-penalty-box Kaplan who skated in alone and beat Michael Hrabal to the glove side. Sam Stevens had the secondary assist.

Caron kept the score even over the next ten minutes with a few highlight-reel saves when the Minutemen's forecheck created in-close scoring opportunities. It appeared the teams would go to the locker room tied, but with under two minutes remaining, Dans Locmelis, forechecking deep in the BU zone, stripped the puck from Tuch and fired a shot from the right face off dot, that went through Caron's five-hole for a 2-1 lead. 

Back-to-back UMass penalties early in the third period gave the Terriers an opportunity to get even again. Shortly after the second penalty was called, Ryan Greene controlled the puck behind the goal line and passed to Jeremy Wilmer at the left boards. He skated toward the cage, drawing two defenders, and quickly dished the puck to Celebrini at the right circle. Macklin fired it under the crossbar for his seventh goal of the young season.

The 2-2 deadlock lasted just four minutes as UMass freshman Aydar Suniev's blast from center point through traffic went past Caron, putting the hosts on top for a third time.

BU had a 13-11 shot advantage in the third period, although UMass forced Caron to come up with multiple game-saving stops. With just over two minutes left in regulation, Tuch sent the puck into the left corner of the UMass zone. He chased it down and pass to a trailing Celebrini at the top of the circle. The freshman sniper made one quick deke and, yes, sniped a shot that beat Hrabal blocker side, knotting the score for a third time.

Both sides had scoring opportunities in overtime. Dylan Peterson raced down the left side and got around a defender, but was stymied by Hrabal at the goalmouth. 

Quinn Hutson was first up in the shootout and produced the only goal. Skating straight in, he wired a shot over Hrabal's glove. Caron stopped all three Minuteman attempts and the extra point went to BU.

Speaking with the Boston Hockey Blog after the game, Caron said,“Every game it gets a little bit better. Confidence is obviously building as a team. Things are starting to fall into place for myself and for other guys as well. “It’s a huge team effort. Being in these tight games early on is only going to make us better come playoff time.” 

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Coach Pandolfo post-game comments

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

 

Looking ahead

2024 recruit Kamil Bednarik scored his fifth goal, assisted by classmate Cole Eiserman as the NTDP U18s dropped a 5-2 decision to Madison.

 

Looking back

Charlie McAvoy's score--and soar through the crease, reminiscent of another Bruin blueliner--was the game-winner as Boston defeated Detroit, 4-1.

 

Women’s Team

 Image

Sophomore Clara Yuhn's power-play goal with eight minutes left in the third period broke a 3-3 tie and delivered a 4-3 win for Coach Tara Watchorn's first conference victory.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Coach Watchorn post-game comments

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

 

 

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Site Meter